Halloween 2014

The night before Halloween, daddy came home from work with a few pumpkins...

Daddy was a little meticulous about pumpkin carving and nervous (understandably) about handing over a knife to Nat, even if it is kid-safe.  At one point I overheard Natalie say "Daddy, if you don't let me help, I'm going to put the eyes back IN the pumpkin."

This year for Halloween, Katie disappeared right after school and went to a neighborhood friend's house and participated in their Haunted Asylum experience.  She dressed up in normal clothes splattered with blood, laid on a bench quietly and after people entered the haunted house, sat up screaming as loud as she could.  She came home happy and said she had lots of fun (especially scaring some of the boys on her bus) - but we have no pictures of her.

 
Hot-Dog-Gus was less than impressed with Halloween this year.  He laid in the courtyard and tried his best to nap, but there were just too many noises, kids, smells to be able to successfully take a nap.  I think he got up once to bark at someone who brought their dog up our driveway.

 

After an evening full of trick-or-treating with daddy, Natalie decided she would like to give out candy for a while.  She sat patiently in the driveway and very nicely told people "Happy Halloween - please take two candies." 

Halloween "fest-ta-bull"

Natalie's school hosted a Halloween Festival (a hard word to say) this year in the school parking lot.  There were fire trucks and ambulances for the kids to tour, bounce houses, carnival-style games and trunk or treating.  We were lucky enough to have Grandpa Larry and Aunt Lori come along to enjoy the fun with us!

 

Heading down the bounce house slide - face first with a tiara over her eyes!

 

Pumpkin bowling with Miss Jill (her teacher).

Cake-walking.  It took her at least 6 turns to win something, but she was happy and patient.

 

Natalie and Eva - no hard feelings here.

Natalie and 3 of her princess classmates.

Halloween, in review

While working from home this morning, I found myself daydreaming and thinking about how fast the kids are growing up and how quickly time flies...


2011:  Katie the University of Arizona cheerleader, Natalie the baby and Gus the puppy

Gus' first Halloween - too little for the Hot Dog costume.

2012:  Katie the witch, Natalie the bumblebee and Gus the Hot Dog

2013:  Grandpa the Pumpkin, Grandma the witch, Daddy the banana, Katie the Purple Crayon, Natalie the Tooth Fairy and Gus the Hot Dog

Halloween painting

While daddy was busy, mommy needed a way to entertain a certain little monkey and also a way to ensure there was incentive to take a good nap.  So we went to the store, got some paints and then did some crafts after nap...

Natalie painted a very spooky purple, pink and yellow glittery ghost...

...and then decided that our kind of sad 10-year old terra cotta jack-o-lantern needed a lil facelift.

I was genuinely impressed with her level of concentration and interest.  So if you're reading this, and you happen to need anything painted, please feel free to send it over.  Just know it will likely come back covered with glittery paint.

Belated announcement

In case you hadn't heard, we are expecting baby #2 and expanding our family from a family of four to a family of five (not counting poor Gus)!!!  Baby is due November 20, but after Whit's 34-week ultrasound today, I'm not sure we'd be surprised if this mega baby decided to come out a few days earlier.

Here are some ultrasound photos, complete with explanation...

Top part of photo is a view of the heart right around the yellow line.
Bottom part of photo shows baby's heartrate (FHR = fetal heartrate) measuring at 153 beats per minute

Profile shot of baby with mouth wide open. 
You can't tell from this shot, but Whit got to see the little hairs on the head, so apparently baby is not bald.

And although Whit thinks this is a little creepy, here is a 4D shot of baby...

Look like we've got another thumb-sucker!!!
Here is a shot of baby with eyes open (more dark brown eyes?!?!) trying to find his/her thumb to suck.

And mommy may be crazy, but I swear I've seen that face/nose somewhere before...

NEW Park!!!!!!

After 9 years of staring at a dirt lot surrounded by an ugly chain link fence, the City finally finished our new City Park.  The kids were thrilled to see the fence come down and eager to check it out.

Mommy attended some of the planning meetings for the park and was excited to see how her playground equipment choices were received by the neighborhood kids.  The "merry-go-around" appears to be the biggest hit. :)

Once the trees get a little bigger and begin to add some more shade, this park will be wonderful!