Happy Halloween

The kids had so much fun trick-or-treating this year! Avery was so excited to dress up as Dorothy...it is all she has talked about for months. The day we got her costume she laid it all out in the floor and got her movie case of the Wizard of Oz to make sure it really did look like Dorothy. Oakley, on the other hand, was less than thrilled with his costume at first! I thought it would be super cute for him to be the scarecrow. When I showed it to him the first time all he would say was "witch" and he refused to put it on. Thankfully, he did grow to like it and he finally started calling it a scarecrow! I promise in these pictures he was not mad at having the costume on, but mad because I was taking pictures and not leaving to go trick-or-treating. By the way...painting a 2 year old's face was NOT the best idea I ever had!!

This was the only picture I could get of both of them together...Oakley was just not having any of it and he was ready to go get candy!!

Fall

I have to say that I am a summer girl through and through, but there is something amazing and beautiful about fall. This year the colors were beyond beautiful and I honestly do enjoy the cool, crisp weather. Here is a picture off our back deck...isn't it outstanding...what wonderful God we have for sharing this beauty with us! Now I am ready to curl up on the couch with Jason, a good book, and the fire place burning!!

Oh, and here is a picture of what Avery and I did Friday night...face painting. Those are some pretty cool colors too if I do say so myself!

Carving Pumpkins

Here are a few pictures of the kids carving pumpkins. To be honest Daddy did most of the work while Mommy took pictures, Avery played in the seeds and Oaks played with Sidney (our dog.) So, good work Jason...you did a great job and the kids and I love you so much!!

Please excuse my son's outfit, dirty mouth and snotty nose...I do promise that I do not let him run around like this all the time! :)

Avery's pumpkin she made at pre-school and her and Oakley's "baby" pumpkins.

Family Pictures

A few months ago I did my friend Lisa's family pictures so to pay me back I had her do ours...and when I say ours I mean my family and my Mom, Dad, Sister and Brother. She had quite a few of us to deal with!! I usually stress out so bad when I do my kids pictures, but this time I just sat back and let Lisa do her thing. I did go ahead and edit them myself so she would not have to take time out of her busy life, but that is not the stressful part...she had to deal with getting Oakley to smile!! Anyhow, she did an awesome job!! She is such a blessing to have as a friend (and not just becasue she takes great pictures!) Thanks so much Lisa!!

Oh...and Lisa...HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we take the kids to Wooden Farms to pick out pumpkins. The kids always have so much fun. The only problem we have is they want to bring home a ton of pumpkins! Every year it is such a chore to get them to pick out just the right pumpkin...we usually go through five or six before they decide on the right one. And of course we have to get several of the "baby" pumpkins too!

I LOVE these girls!

Just when I think I can't take anymore and I need a break - Girls Weekend Rolls Around. Thank Goodness! Girls Weekend is something that my mom and her girlfriends started years ago. You take one weekend a year and get away..relax...enjoy the girlfriends that you never get to see...and simply take a break. A few years back we started the 2nd generation of girls weekend. We are all the daughters or daughter in-laws of my mom and her friends. For the most part we were raised with each other...we have know each other our whole lives. We don't see each other very often and if truth be told we may not have a whole lot in common out in the real world...but at the same time we have a lot in common - if that makes sense. Get us together for a weekend and we ALWAYS have a good time. Not only that, but each of these girls holds a special place in my heart. We have bond that cannot be broken. I truly feel that when I am with these girls I can be my most honest self, with no one casting judgement on me. It is no competion, the one with the most toys does not win, it is raw, true emotion that we share with each other. We share our fears, our past, our hopes, our dreams, our weaknesses, and our happiness with each other. Their is no judgement passed on these weekends...and what a relife to be among people like that!

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

~Matthew 7: 1-5

We will always be there for each other, never judge each other and long live GIRLS WEEKEND!

Sarah K. - she is expecting baby #2 in January...doesn't she look GREAT?!?!

The Beautiful Erin...her and Sarah were not able to join us on Saturday night...since they were not in the group shot I wanted to make sure and get them in!

Ariel lived in India for a year and we all had the privilege of having her henna our hands

The Girls...and Daisy

We call this our Pink Floyd shot! :)

Some of the amazing food we cooked! (OK...so the last picture was before it was cooked)

The Girls at The Tea House...they had excellent tea and great food!!


Erin's feet...I just thought they were cute!

YUMMY Sushi!! Friday night we ate at Osaka's on Frankfort Ave. and it was wonderful!

Oakley's New Haircut

Well, I did it...I had Rhonda cut all of Oakley beautiful blond hair off! I loved his hair and loved it long! I didn't really want to cut it, but at the same time I was kind of curious to see what it would look like short. Finally, after tons of debate I told Rhonda, "just do it." I thought I might cry, but I held strong and didn't shed a tear. How do I feel about it now? I like it a lot. (As always, Rhonda did a great job!) Do I like it as much as I did before? I'm not sure yet...it is pretty cute on him, but I LOVE longer hair on little boys. Oh well, it is just hair and it grows back. I guess I just had a hard time letting go. Now he looks like a totally different kid...a kid...not a baby...not a little bitty boy...a kid. On second hand, I am not sure I am ready for him to look so grown up yet. Guess I better let that go too. Everyday he gets one day older! Where did my baby go!!!!

So what do you guys think? Long or Short?

American Girl Place

While we were in Chicago I thought I would surprise Avery and take her to the American Girl Place. Let me tell you, this is what little girls dreams are made of!! I took Avery to brunch at the American Girl Cafe and then I let her pick out a doll and an outfit for her doll. The Cafe was so neat and the food was delicious. Since we did not have time to pick out a doll before brunch we used one of their loaner dolls to eat with. Avery immediately choose Kaya to have brunch with. Once we were done eating we headed into the store to start the challenging task of picking a doll and an outfit. She loved Kaya and had a hard time choosing, but in the end Avery decided on the Just Like Me Doll. She picked out a cute little purple outfit for her (Purple is Avery's favorite color) and then we took her to the salon to get her ears pierced. When the lady asked Avery what she named her doll she proudly said "Pocahontas." I think she had a love for Indians!! Since then Avery has not let Pocahontas out of her sight. She went to every restaurant with us, the race, the expo, sightseeing...you name it, Pocahontas was with us! It was such a fun girls day and I hope Avery remembers it forever. Any of you out their with little girls, I highly recommend going if you ever get a chance.

These were the conversation cards that were on the table. Avery and I had so much fun with these. I would ask the questions and she would answer. I pray that I never forget our conversations that morning...they were so precious!

Avery helping Kaya with her drink! :)

Avery's Hot Cocoa

She said it was supper yummy! It was perfect for that cold morning in Chicago!

Avery's Breakfast

My Breakfast

Desert!!

Standing in line at the salon to get Pocahontas' ear's pierced

"American Girl celebrates a girl's inner star - that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high, and dream big." ~American Girl

Hanging out at American Girl Place reading to Pocahontas

One excited and happy little girl!!

Chicago

This past weekend we headed to Chicago to cheer on my little sister at the Chicago Marathon. Katie did awesome and finished in a little over 4 hours! I am so proud of her! We got to see her between mile 25 and 26 and she was bookin' it. She looked like she was just out for a 3 mile run. :) Even though she is my little sister, I completely look up to her and envy her determination and dedication. She is an amazing sister and friend! Way to go Katie...I Love You!!

Here are a few pictures of our weekend in Chicago!

The view from the top of the Sears Tower

My Family

Katie after the race

Sorry for the blurry picture...I was jumping up and down and screaming and then remembered to take a picture.

The Chicago Skyline