Costume Party

We had a great time at I's 3rd birthday party. I was very excited that it was a costume party so I would have a second chance to get pictures of the kids in their Thing 1 and Thing 2 costumes. Blake still wouldn't wear the hat.

We made these great picture frames at the party. What a great idea!

Special Care Nursery

For Blake's first birthday we decided we wanted to do a little something to say 'thank you' to the staff of the Special Care Nursery (SCN) who took such good care of Blake for the first 2 weeks of his life. So for Blake's party, we asked people to bring a donation for the nursery instead of a gift for Blake. Our friends and family were very generous and we collected a huge bag of clothes, hats and blankets for babies who have to stay in the SCN.

Yes, I know Blake's birthday was a long time ago - the bag has been sitting in the entryway reminding me for over 6 months that we have to go drop it off. I wanted to go together as a family to make the donation and finally we had a free day that we were all healthy to be able to venture to the hospital. We were able to talk to a few of the staff and it was especially nice to see one nurse who had taken care of Blake quite a bit. She remembered us and she liked seeing how Blake had grown. Campbell of course chimed right in and gave the nurses an ear full.

Leaving the hospital, out of nowhere I got really emotional.  A combination of happy, sad and grateful tears. Happy and extremely thankful that Blake is healthy. Sad thinking about how time goes so fast and he's not a baby any more. And grateful that this visit to the hospital was a fun visit.

Front of my home made Thank You card

Inside of the card

My not so small babies

Going back to the car. This is when I lost it - watching Blake running down this hallway. I had walked this long hallway several times every day on my way to spend time with Blake in the SCN and it was weird being there again with him being so much older. He's running for crying out loud! Crazy to think that when he was in the SCN we were elated when he was finally strong enough to nurse one tiny drop of milk.

Papa's Visit

Papa came to my rescue this week while Gabe was out of town for work. He's the best Papa you could ever hope for. He's so imaginative and patient with the kids. He's constantly playing with them. It was a sanity saver for me to have his help while Gabe was gone. The kids had an absolute blast.

Papa is so creative. He comes up with the greatest games to keep the kids entertained. I am not exaggerating, the kids were having a blast being entertained by Papa confined in the guest bedroom with NO TOYS for over an hour while the stager was at our house moving furniture around.

He still loves Campbell's helmet.

Blake loves scooting around on little bikes. He can motor around so fast and maneuver really well for a little guy. Makes me nervous for what he's going to be doing when he can actually pedal. 

We put our house back on the market this week with a new realtor. So during the week there were appointments with a stager and a professional photographer and the contract signing with the realtor. I never would have been able to keep those appointments without Papa's help with the kids. I think the stager did a great job. She rearranged some furniture, did some decorating with existing things that I had around the house (I was happy about that otherwise I would've had to rent pieces from her) and consolidated the toys to one spot in the basement. The main level doesn't have a toy in sight, which makes it look a lot better for showings but is torturous for the kids. So we're cautiously optimistic that we'll find a buyer this time around. I really, really want a yard and a safer neighborhood for the kids.

Erika!

My dear, dear friend Erika from Mexico had meetings in town this past week. So she came a few days early and stayed a few days afterward so that we could spend time together and of course, shop, shop & shop! It's been many years since we last saw each other - before either of us even had kids.


Erika likes to stock up on some of her favorite things when she visits the States. For example, the mascara she likes is $6 at Walgreens versus $25 at Walmart in Mexico! And she says that clothes here are good quality and really cheap compared to what she can get back home. She stocked up on a year or two worth of clothes for her twin boys.

Campbell loved Erika from the second she met her. Campbell greeted Erika with a huge hug and immediately took Erika up to her room to show her all her things, talking her ear off the whole time. Before she left, Erika told Campbell that hopefully some day Campbell can meet her boys. Then, Campbell can teach them English and her boys can teach Campbell Spanish. Campbell very seriously responded, "No thanks, I already know a lot of Spanish." She knows a couple colors, counting up to 12, hola & mariposa (butterfly). So yes, basically fluent.

It was a super fun visit & we had so many great conversations. I hope we will be able to see each other again soon. We talked about all going on family vacation together when the kids are a bit older, which would be a blast.

Thank you for coming to spend time with us Erika! We LOVED every second!

Kids wearing the traditional Mexican outfits from Erika. She brought the kids so many wonderful gifts - adorable hand knit sweaters, toys & Erika's grandmother even knit a beautiful baby blanket for Blake. She brought me some cool traditional table linens, too.

We did some serious shopping.

Halloween

Campbell was super excited about trick or treating this year. She has been anxiously awaiting "Halloween Night" and kept asking if it was here yet for over a month. I had this grand plan to get use out of these Thing 1 & Thing 2 shirts that we had laying around. Perfect timing even because PBS has a new Cat in the Hat show that Campbell really likes. I even got crafty and knitted hats that looked like the crazy blue hair. Campbell wasn't impressed. She had her mind set on wearing her fairy dress up costume. We came to an agreement that she would wear the Thing 1 costume for pictures and then she could wear her beloved fairy costume for trick or treating.

Poor Blake woke up from a nap in a complete funk right before we were going out trick or treating. He wouldn't stop screaming and crying. I think his teeth were bugging him. Perfect time to get into a costume and take pictures.....

This is the best picture I could get of the kids in my oh so carefully planned coordinating costumes.

Or maybe this is the best one.

Campbell had a total blast. She flat out sprinted from house to house. It was so hilarious how she would chat up the homeowners...give compliments on their cute pumpkins, tell all about her Princess goody bag, go to great lengths explaining her costume, etc, etc, etc.

Poor Blake was content in the stroller as long as he could hold the flashlight. Next year hopefully he will have more fun. Although I'm not sure what we'll do about the candy and his food allergies. There is not much that he would be able to eat, I've heard where parents trade the candy the kids collect with safe, allergen free candy.

Getting ready.

Blake happy with a flashlight and his paci.

I love this picture - it captures how ecstatic Campbell was about the whole experience.

Classic sorting the loot with chocolate covered mouth picture.

One of these years I will get a good picture of the kids in their costumes. Remember this one...?

Poor little pumpkin stuck on the floor while we tried to convince Campbell to wear her costume.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins We Love Pumpkins

Have you seen the Barney's Halloween Party? Campbell has watched it a billion times in the car (that is why the Pumpkins, Pumpkins We Love Pumpkins song popped into my head while writing this post) on the way Up North so she is very excited and keeps talking about 'Halloween Night.'

I had good intentions of going to a real pumpkin patch this year. Somehow time got away from me (so we again) we got our pumpkins from the asphalt pumpkin patch along side the highway. Blake is always running too fast and falling as shown here at the patch.

Picking out the perfect pumpkins. Campbell chose her outfit all by herself for the big event.

Campbell drew and Gabe did the cutting.

Blake on the lookout for the squirrel. Again this year a huge fat squirrel kept eating our pumpkins. Perhaps it's the same squirrel from last year?

Great shot of Blake's curls fresh after a bath and a lot of brushing. Some curls are getting pretty long, but I can't stand the thought of cutting it. I don't think there will be curls after it's cut - the hair coming in looks pretty straight.

The squirrel took off the pumpkin top and moved it down the steps and then brought it back up the steps. When I said 'That rascally squirrel!' while we were watching the squirrel eat the pumpkin,  Campbell said 'Mom, you have to appreciate every thing in nature.'  Where does she get this stuff?!?!

Random October

Campbell has been into dressing up lately.

Blake decked out in Campbell's bracelet and sunglasses. The bracelet is usually the only thing Campbell can get him to wear when she's playing dress up. Go figure - he's not into tutus, purses or the crown.

Campbell was getting into a bad habit at dinner time of being very whiny and not eating unless I fed her.  Breakfast and lunch she ate like a champ, but for some reason she was losing it at dinner. So, I thought I'd try a reward chart where she gets a star when she uses her manners, doesn't whine, eats by herself, and enjoys her food. I didn't want to get into a battle over food and force her eat, but I did want to be able to enjoy a (somewhat) civilized family dinner. When she earns 3 stars she gets a small prize. I can't believe how well it's worked - she takes those stars very seriously.

Blake hiding in the pantry wearing his new PJ's.