Halloween and stuff...

October 24th

One of my childhood best friends lost her sweet baby James at 9 days old. I am VERY blessed to have an AMAZING husband and AMAZING friends who made it possible for me to drive to Kansas for the weekend so I could be with her. 

Thank you honey. Thank you Jocelyn and Leslie. You guys are the BEST.

The kids spent the morning at Jocelyn's... Isabel felt like a big girl helping out with baby Elliot.

Isaac felt like a big boy doing "work" on the calculators.

Then they spent the afternoon at Leslie's. They were in play date heaven.

Baby Love

Leslie was amazing because she not only got her family ready for the Church Trunk-or-Treat but got my kids ready too. Thank you friend. Sad I missed and so grateful Eric was willing to take them!

Storm Trooper. He wanted to be one the second he saw them at Disney Land. But then, after wearing the mask and seeing Colin's AWESOME Ninja Turtle costume, he was no longer excited to be a Storm Trooper... So he ditched the mask...

...and was happier!

October 25th

Daddy took the kids to the park.

I love this picture. Daddy got her all gussied up, her cute little dress (daddy forgot the pants) and her new kicks from Auntie Jen!

I have very vivid memories of playing barbies, swimming, trampoline jumping, sleepover party FUN. It was an 8 hour drive to Manhattan, KS, and it went perfectly. I sang my heart out for the first 2 hours then listened to the audio book, "Proof of Heaven." Once in Kansas I was able to hug my sweet friend and meet her husband and kids. The services were beautiful and perfect for a little guy. I needed to leave after the luncheon, but knew she was in good hands with her family and friends. The drive home had a bit of sadness, but I sang away my tears, then finished listening to the book (I only thought it was ok... well the first half was good the second half was a bit repetitive). 

It was nice to know that the kids were in good hands so that I could focus on Marci and her sweet family. I have very vivid memories of playing barbies, swimming, trampoline jumping, sleepover party FUN. It broke my heart to see her family go through such a trial but it was yet another reminder of how important family is and how lucky we are to have amazing families.

Saturday night Eric took the kids to the Zollinger Halloween party where Isaac got his face painted like a blue tiger. I got home around 10:30pm and Isaac woke up pretty early 5am-ish and we had a good discussion about how awesome blue tigers are and we came to the conclusion that blue tigers are THE fastest tigers EVER!

He was very sad that we had to take off his blue tiger face for church. Very sad. So we our compromise was that we could go to the Arboretum Monday morning and have his face painted like....

October 27th 

(drum roll please) BLUE TIGER.

Look everyone... A Blue Tiger just hatched!

Sissy-girl, you cute little sass-a-frass.

Reagy and Sissy-girl are friends and are so cute together.

October 28th

You know the character "Cousin-Itt" from, Isabel reminds me of him with her crazy hair. It seriously grown straight forward. Monday afternoon, after the Arboretum we took Isabel in to see Dr. Straughn (she ran a low fever over the weekend while I was gone and was suuuuper fussy all Sunday and Monday). BUT, she checked out find and got her flu shot... Back to Tuesday morning...

I pulled Sissy-girls hair back, changed her diaper, and found spots. Lots and lots of spots.

After talking with the nurses and Dr. Straughn, it was decided that she was having a reaction to her MMR vaccination. 15-20% of kids react poorly to it. Go figure right. "May the odds be ever in our favor."

Oh, Isaac, my very exhausted, refusing to nap child. "I'm not tired mom. I just want some cereal when we get home." Said all of 2 minutes before he fell asleep.

October 29th

Are you seeing spots? Cause I sure am :(

Cutest spotted baby I ever saw!!

That afternoon we finally did our Halloween hand painting.

Isabel got a tad bit messy.

I seriously love love this hot mess.

'Lil Stingers last soccer game of the season. And oh.. my.. goodness.. Each and every child on not only our team but the other team as well were, holy cow, craaaaazy. Not one was paying attention. Not one had any idea of where. There was nothing to do but laugh.

There was a lot of this going on.

And this (knees in the shirt).

Then finally the end of the game came. His last walk through the victory arch.

And the last game party began!! Pizza. Capri Suns. Cupcakes. Donuts. Balloons. 

And MEDALS!!!!

And we were sent home with these....

Cutest soccer pictures in the entire world.

I sure love those chubby checkers.

His sports card!

October 30th

Halloween at school!

These are what Isaac gave his classmates.

Sometimes, I get knocked off my rocker and miss him so much I can't see straight.

2007-2012. Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. I love you.

October 31st

..Happy Halloween..

I love you Atti-bug. 

Spoooooky ghost pancakes.

Isaac was very excited then-

got his spoooooky face on!

Isabel especially love the chocolate chip eyes.

THEN... we went to Daddy's work to go Trick-or-Treating

Lunch! We missed the kids costume parade so neither of the kids ranked but we had lots of people say that they thought Isaac was by far the best "Superhero" costume!

My girly-ghost baby.

Ghost glasses in the goody bad.

Let the Trick-or-Treating begin!

Office to office. 

He got way too much candy.

After Isaac's bag weighed about 10 pounds, we went to daddy's office, visited with Daddy's awesome secretary Tway (sp?), we love her, and ate a few treats.

Daddy and Isaac went to get a juice and this cute little fluffy bum wanted to go to!

I asked him to smile and his response was this, "Mom!! They DON'T smile."

So if you remember, Isaac, after wearing the mask and seeing Colin's costume, did not want to be a Storm Trooper anymore, but I knew what would rekindle his excitement...FACE PAINT! So I did my very best to turn his face into the mask. I don't think I did so bad.

A little post game pumpkin carving.

"Storm Trooper pumpkin"

He was so excited.

Our spoooooky dinner eaten by candlelight.

Then... the real deal

  Trick-or-Treating

We donned these awesome costumes, got a few pics and hit the road.

Isabel the GHOST

Isaac the STORM TROOPER

We met up at the Zollingers, took a few cute pictures and were off.

It was COLD so after pics we bundles sissy-girl up.

It was so fun to watch Isaac have so much fun.

And I was so proud of him, he said thank you each time.

"May the force be with you!"

It was all fun and games 'til Isabel go too cold.

We hit up a few more houses then,

Storm Trooper on shoulders, we headed home. 

We had a grand total of ONE group of trick-or-treaters for Isaac to help put candy in their bags and he was beyond excited and afterward said, "Mom- I hope more customers come!!"

November 1st

A very chilly post Halloween morning spent at his preschools Fall Festival.

1st item of business, a pony ride.

Then, the train ride!

"Choo-choo!"

A big hit!

Then...

his make-up game... another goofy game full of goofy players.

And the goof troop scored!! 

November 2nd

For the life of me, I cannot remember what these dresses are called, but I thought Isabel looked absolutely adorable in it, Eric however, laughed and said she looked like a parachute! Such a stinker.

I think it's safe to say, I love my family. Really REALLY love my family. I am so grateful for eternity. So grateful that we are forever. We will always be forever.