Halloween 2011

There really is little to compare to a child's delight when it comes to Halloween. As a Christian mom, I am somewhat torn between the celebration of all things evil and the child-like magic that comes from playing dress-up and asking complete strangers for fistfuls of gummy, goey, chocolatey candy. Being a chocolate lover myself, I find it hard to resist the stuff. But I digress. Ken went out trick or treating with us tonight and I asked something to the effect if he remembered trick or treating with his kids when they were little. He indicated that he and his ex wife didn't allow the kids to celebrate Halloween because of the pagan rituals, etc. Again, being a Christian, I can understand that following. His children didn't lack for anything as they were taken to fall festivals at church, etc. instead. Perfectly acceptable in my book.

But I wouldn't have missed tonight with my girls for the world! Amelia's year of special "firsts" & Abigail is now old enough to understand her magical version of Halloween (no ghosts, goblins or scary things yet for her...) and has been talking about trick or treating since she picked out her costume over a month ago. She has attended two fall festivals with her costume and now trick or treating. She was all too happy to carry her sister's bucket and fill it with candy "cause sissy is too little" she says. I'm sure she'll be all too happy to eat the stuff as well! That's ok, as long as it's her and not I! 

Happy Halloween!

Hard to believe that the girls are getting so big! Abigail is really looking forward to trick or treating this year! We are going as the Sesame Street crew. Hopefully I can make it to the mall by Monday so I can pick up a Cookie Monster t-shirt to go with Abigail's Big Bird and Amelia's Elmo costume. Hope you have a great Halloween and get more treats than tricks this year!

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Happy 4th of July America!

Ken and the boys, Marissa, Abigail & I went to the Dunedin Hometown USA baseball game, concert and fireworks in Dunedin on the 3rd. We had a great time! Jen and Joe and their gang & Stacy and Bryce joined us for the fireworks as well. The fireworks was one of the best I'd seen in a long time. Awesome family time!





Press "play" to see Abigail with her sparklers!

Swim Lessons for Abigail

Abigail is a fish out of water. She would be in the pool all day every day if I let her. Two springs ago we started her with baby swim lessons and she has been hooked ever since. By the end of last summer, she was swimming very short distances without her swimmies on and would dunk herself underwater. I'm hoping with a few rounds of lessons, by summers' end she will be swimming without assistance very well and can swim the length the pool by herself. Ambitious goals for a 3-yr. old, I know, but if anyone can do it - it's our little mermaid, Abigail!

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Lawn Work

We've been working on Grandma's yard for the last week or so. It is so blasted hot here that we can only work a couple of hours in the morning before we melt. Anyway, weeding and planting and carrying cement pavers from the store to the car and the car to the backyard and then once again in the right place (only to discover at least half of them had to be moved yet AGAIN) does have its rewards. Yesterday we took time to play in the hose before we wrapped up for the day. Sabrina and Abigail had an absolute blast! I really think it was Abigail's first time playing in the hose. Grandma ran to get the camera because she was having so much fun. Her denim skort was soaked and slowly began to fall down. Just look at the photos ~ it was HILARIOUS! I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! BTW - the yard is almost done!

Abigail discovered that by jumping up and down, she could hit herself with the spray of the water.

See those bags of mulch? Those 20 bags also had to be carried from the store to the car, from the car to the back yard, then distributed to their final resting place. We are not yet finished distributing those 20 bags.

The skirt is going...

going...

GONE! She will love these pics one day!

Easter Party at Tater Tots Child Care Center

The week of Easter (yes, I'm behind a bit...) Baby Girl's day care had a fun Easter Egg hunt. Her first! She enjoyed putting stickers on the eggs ~ and of course in her mouth! She danced to the music and found eggs on the playground. Later they made cookies and listened to the story of Jesus dying on the cross - toddler style! She came home with an Easter basket filled with goodies and a stuffed bunny. She also came home with chocolate on her dress - which came from Grandma's house. Go figure.

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