It's beginning to look a lot like....

CHRISTmas!

Let the fun begin....I LOVE this time of year!

Why is it so quiet?

It has been a while since I last updated. I have racked my brain of something interesting, captivating or some sort of mishap but nothing. You see.... Cody has been an angel lately because he hasn't done THIS or THIS or THIS or THAT, oh and THIS and you cannot forget THIS and thank goodness not THIS. I'm sure this is only a phase and I will have something interesting to post sooner rather then later...all good things {times} must come to an end! sniff sniff

No worries....don't want you to think that my house is all peaches and cream...remember I have a pre-teen, toddler and two dogs that like to do this....

often.....

Trick and a little Treat

I have to say that I am not a HUGE fan of Halloween....don't like what it stands for, the decorations are horrible and all around dark and depressing holiday. But, I do LOVE the dressing up and the kids going from door-to-door to get as much candy as they can. I love that everyone is out and the laughter fills the (usually) fall crisp air.

For the first time we let Ashlyn go off on her own this year and trick or treat. Her main...and only goal this year was to get as much candy as she possibly could....so off she went with her pillowcase. No worries....she was with a few other girls and had her cell phone on her hip.

Aubrey was a little (OK...very) frustrated with us because we (Cody) were going way too slow and she knew she would not get near as much candy as Ashlyn. After all...it is a competition...isn't it? She was thrilled when she saw a group of her friends and adopted herself into their group. So, we were only left with Cody. Dell drove Cody/Mickey and Elena/Minnie (his sweet 'girl'friend across the street) from door-to-door to fill their pumpkins with candy. I honestly don't know (or want to know) how much he ate. He was in hog heaven with all that candy!

Pictures of the three of them was a little more difficult then past years.....here is my best attempt...

A bag of Jelly Belly's..... Candy Corn Witch.....

...and Micky Mouse (he was also called Humpty Dumpty and a cute little Lady Bug!)

That is what happens when Mickey will not wear his ears.

Minnie taking Mickey DOWN!

Now that's something to smile at!

Aubrey is following in the steps of her big sister and got her braces on! Now we have two that can not eat anything sticky, chewy, crunchy or hard. Pretty much stinks right around Halloween.... o well...more for me! :)

Arboretum

What makes a great day at the Arboretum?

Great Weather.....

Beautiful Flowers.....

Happy Kids....

but most of all.....Sharing the day with great friends....

Pumpkin Spice and everything nice!

The girls had the day off school for 'Fair day' but instead of the Fair we opted for the Celina Pumpkin Patch. Yes, I just took Cody there last week but the girls have been begging to go, so here I go for round two!

The kids had a ball feeding the animals, jumping off hay bails, riding tractors, picking up stray kittens, begging to bring home stray kittens, train rides, hay rides, picnic lunch and picking out the best pumpkin out there.

This my friends....is how memories are made!

Pumpkin Pie

Today our little playgroup made it out to the Big Orange Pumpkin Patch for a fun outing. The kids had a great time going in every different direction. Here are a few fun pictures......

Forget the thousands of pumpkins, he would rather play on the tractor.....
Much to my surprise, Cody did NOT eat the goat food.
Sweet friends......
Missy and Bode.....

Xaela and Tiffany.....

Family snap shot

For all you girls out there....everyday you wake up and wash (maybe), dry and style you hair. Most days (there is always that 'bad hair day') it looks pretty good. But, when you have your hair cut and styled (by a professional) it for you, you feel amazing. They can always get it much straighter then you can and it feels so light and fresh. You almost hate to wash it because you can never get it feeling and looking that same way. All that to say..... we had family pictures done this past weekend and that is how I feel. Photography is my love, but I am the one always behind the camera, taking the pictures. So to have someone do that for us it felt wonderful.

My mother-in-law was wanting to get the whole family (a task in of itself) together for Christmas pictures. After much planning it actually did happen.....and this is what Haley was able to capture. What great memories we are able to preserve.