Pre-Halloween Parties

Last Thursday was the beginning of our Halloween festivities and it all kicked off with a morning Halloween parade and party at Avery's school.

Avery made up her mind about what she wanted to be for Halloween back in August and she never waivered on her decision.

This year she was............

Alice in Wonderland!!!

Here is Alice in Wonderland in her classroom and her little sidekick (who we kept out of costume for this party) was so excited to be a part of all the fun Halloween excitement!

Lisa and I were in charge of the Halloween party this year so of course we copied everything off pinterest and did the mummy juice boxes, spider lollipops, halloween snack mix (in the bags), and two-ingredient pumpkin mini-muffins with chocolate chips (not pictured).

The morning started with a Halloween parade. Of course our girls thought they were in some sort of pageant and did their very best princess waves the entire time. Hilarious!

Strawberry Shortcake

Yep, still waving at the crowd

The girls in Avery's class, plus Gracyn who loved sitting with all the big kids

The boys in Avery's class. I was really excited to actually get to spend some time in Avery's class and see all the classmates that she is always talking about. It honestly is such a good group of really well-behaved, sweet, attentive kids!

Gracyn did so good in Avery's class and loved being a part of all the "big kid" fun.

Thursday evening we made the drive to Aunt Alli's school and went to her elementary schools' Fall Festival.

Mario, Alice and The Queen of Hearts!

I love this picture of my sister because this is honestly how she looks when she is working with children. Watching her interact with her students is so amazing and makes me swell with pride because she has a true gift to work with children with special needs and she does such an amazing job and gives her all each and every day and I could not be more proud of her! I love getting to see her work- makes me so happy to see her making such an impact. :-)

Mario and Luigi and the girls. Look at Gracyn's face- she did NOT like when they were wearing their mustaches! Ha!

The Queen of Hearts!!!

That is just the beginning of the festivities! Halloween hasn't even really begun yet!

Stinkface

Gracyn has this hilarious face that she gives that pretty much says "what do you want??!! Why are you talking to me? Just leave me alone!!!!"

Watch out world.....














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Fair Day at Avery's School

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My Lunch Dates

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The Pledge- All on Her Own!

The other day we were driving in the car and all of a sudden Avery started saying the pledge of allegiance in it's entirity- pronouncing most of the words correctly! I had NO idea she knew this or had been taught this in school. When I asked her teacher she said that she had just begun teaching the kids and that Avery just picked up on it really quickly. I am always amazed at her ability for memory retention- such a little smartie!

Trip to the ATX

Last weekend we met up with Daddy in Austin who was working there for the weekend. We got off to a rough start on Thursday afternoon with a crabby Gracyn who was waaayyyy past her bedtime plus stuck in traffic BUT after the initial hiccup we had a great time. I just love Austin. It is such a neat city that I love to visit, with SO many fun things to do!

On Friday we attempted to do a little Christmas shopping at the Round Rock outlets, then after a little naptime at the hotel we went to park to decorate our pumpkins! We met up with Mica later and ate a yummy dinner at Shady Grove-which may be my new most favorite place in the world. The ambiance is just like no other in Austin.




On Saturday we met up with Uncle Drew and Aunt Katie at the Austin Children's Museum- which was totally adorable. It's so nice because since Gracyn is walking now she just wandered around everywhere, just exploring her whole new world of mobility! After a nice lunch sitting on the patio, Avery got to hang with Katie & Drew (aka get spoiled by them) while Gracyn and I went for her afternoon nap.

The Sunday we met everyone at Austin Java for a good-bye brunch and then started our trip home. The girls did AMAZING on this drive. I was so impressed.

We made an impromptu stop by Nana's on Sunday to pick up Macy Dog and conned Nana & Papa into cooking us Sunday dinner! Of course Aunt Alli had to stop by and love on her girls for a bit :-)

Overall is was really such a good weekend. It definitely hard to travel with a baby who still needs to nap a lot, but luckily Gracyn is a pretty good sleeper and as long as she was in her pack n'play she slept pretty good. And Avery is at such a fun age where she is just so excited and game to try everything and go everywhere. Plus we got to spend some time with Daddy in a fun city! It's a win-win for everyone!!!!!

Questions With Avery-Take Two- Age 3 year 7 mo

Here is our 2nd round of "Questions With Avery." The first round is here, and it is hilarious to see which answers have changed and which have stayed the same. I just love this girl.

What is your name: "Avery"
How old are you: "Three" (holds up 3 fingers)
What's your favorite animal: "Giraffe""Because I just love a giraffe"
What is your favorite color: "Pink, and purple and red and green and blue. and purple. I like all the colors. and green and blue, and yellow. all of them"
Who is your best friend: "my best friend is Campbell" ( I could have guessed this because she tells me about 5 times a day "Mommy, did you know that Campbell is my very best friend." So sweet!
What do you want to be when you are all grown up: "A girl"
What is your favorite movie: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
What is your favorite book: "Cinderella"
What makes you happy: "When you kiss me and love me"
What makes you sad: "When I run into something and I bonk my head. That makes me sad. But everything makes me happy"
What is your favorite food to eat: "Psagetti and Macaroni and Mac and Cheese"
What is your favorite song to sing: "Belle" which song from belle? "Where they are in the ballroom and say Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. Thats the song Mommy"
What is your favorite game to play: "Dora's Worldwide Rescue" (on the leapster)
What is your favorite sport to play: "Sliding down the slide"
Where does Daddy work: "Upstairs in his office" "He works money" "He brings it to me and I put it in my piggy bank"
Where does Mommy work: "You work some money for me and you give it to me in my hand and you put it in my piggy bank."

How much do you love me: "To the moon" and she grabs my chin. <3 <3 <3

Pumpkin Patch 2011

We met the Burgess girls out at the Arboretum the other day and got our first little taste of fall in the pumpkin patch there. Of course I could not get Avery to separate from Campbell long enough to actually get a pic of my girls together but here and the few that I did actually get.




These two girls just love each other so much. Honestly they are best friends already. I always knew they would be :-)

Gracyn 1 year Appt

Being the mean Mommy that I am I made Gracyn's 1 year well-check appt for today. So sad for the birthday girl to get shots but surprisingly she did great! Dr. Weiser was impressed with how much she's talking and said she's "the perfect little girl!"
I agree :-)






- Just for comparison sake Avery was 22 lb 5 oz and 31.5 inches at her 1 year appt.

I have to say I was shocked when they said she is 90th percentile for height! I guess I will have two very tall, very skinny girls!!!

Gracyn did great with her shots and recovered faster than I had expected and both girls got their flu shots too!

Thank God for such healthy (perfect) children!

Happy 1st Birthday Gracyn Paige

Happy 1 year birthday my sweet baby girl Gracyn Paige!

I dreamed of you, I prayed and prayed for you, and I cried for you. Once you arrived I knew you were mine and God was making me wait because He knew I was supposed to be your Mommy. I was Gracyn's Mommy.

From the instant you were born you fit right into our perfect little family. You have brought us pure joy, bliss, and endless days spent just laughing at your fun little personality. You were, and still are, such a easy, low-key baby and make my life so easy.

When I look at you I think of "our song" You are My Sunshine. And its the complete truth because you are my sunshine, you make me happy all day long- no matter what. I will never be able to hear that song without immediately thinking of holding you at bedtime, inhaling that sweet baby smell, and looking into your sleepy eyes. Truly the best part of my day is this time spent every night with you. Just you and me.

You have taught me so much already in your 1 year of life. You have taught me true and honest love. A love that can bring you to tears in an instant. A love that I only learned I was capable of after I became a mother.

You make being a Mommy seem easy. Watching you grow and change over the past year has been such a honor. Now, as a 1 year old, watching you explore you world with your adorable little toddler swagger and inquisitive nature, I am soaking up each and every moment we are in.

You are a true treasure and your Mommy, Daddy and sister Avery love you so much. Avery dotes on you and takes such good care of you, and I know you will both be best friends and be taking care of one another for the rest of your lives and that brings me complete joy in the knowledge that wherever you are in the world you will always have a perfect best friend and sister to turn to. I look forward to watching you both grow up together.

Happy Birthday our sweet Gracyn Paige.

We love you to the moon and back.

She Can Have Her Cake....