A full family Halloween!

I was really excited this year to be able to have a real halloween. Carter's first Halloween was my first day back at work after having him :(, the next year Sean was here interviewing and last year Lincoln and I spent the evening in the hospital while everyone else trick-or-treated - so I was really excited to get to go as a family. The boys did great, Lincoln even walked up and got his own piece of candy at one of the houses. Carter and Bailey were so excited and did great saying Happy Halloween and thank you (and Bailey even gave some Love to some of the candy-givers - Love you, she said). It was a lot of fun and so great to have Mimi and the Kadlec family here for the big day. Here are some pictures of our adventures.

Lincoln is 1!

Well the baby is gone and the toddler has officially arrived! Carter was more excited about Lincoln's birthday than Lincoln, of course and he couldn't wait to have cake and open presents (he has since claimed all gifts as his own). We had a good birthday, Mimi arrived, we had some lunch at the lake, naps (and a long cake baking episode for me) & then a little party. Lincoln's cake turned out pretty well and as you see above ended with a crash onto the floor - he had his share of icing before it fell so it worked out just fine. How quickly the year has gone.

Trick or Treat!

Mmm - donuts!Lincoln was not so sure about the donuts!Our baby frog
Our almost family picture on the hayride

The Penguin eating fish - Swedish fish

Trick-or-treating at Storybook Forest

He really put on the costume!

We've had our first trick-or-treating adventure! Both boys enjoyed it but I think that the costume made Lincoln a little wobbly and he wasn't a big fan of that. I was so impressed that Carter actually dressed up - he tends to be a bit, shall we say finicky. about clothing and in fact still says he doesn't wear jeans or coats but that is a lot better than last week when he only wanted to wear shorts and t-shirts! Sean certainly has a way of selling what Carter needs to do to him and he gladly jumped into the penguin suit to get candy. He wants to do more trick-or-treating and every time he sees candy says "I need a candy snack".

We are on countdown for Lincoln's birthday - 3 days and our baby will be 1. He is acting one already with the walking around and into everything so I guess it shouldn't be a big change. His latest fun is to take cotton balls and pull them into small pieces, this isn't fun for me by the way. I'll send some baby with cake all over him pictures very soon!

Wow What a Week!

At the Pumpkin Patch

Getting into trouble!

Looking at the animals

Helping daddy

Exact quote "Linky and me are playing" (note to self do not let them play alone)

Riding his bike - check out the knees!

My Texas Girls - Michele, Konny & Amy

Oklahoma Girls! Kathie, Kristi, Carla, Kristin, Becky, Jessica & me

Well the pictures might say it all - we've been pretty busy! Even with virus after virus it seems we are finding some time to have fun. Lincoln is on a roll now - he's everywhere and into everything! I've never seen such a grabby kid! We ate lunch with some friends the other day and he kept grabbing at their things, he loves to see what he can get off the counter - especially in our bathroom or what treasures might be in the drawer - this morning sunscreen was his treasure of choice and he carried it around until he got the cap off and I had to take it away.

Carter is making his Christmas list these days - and I'll tell you even Santa and his Grandma and Mimi couldn't fill it! He wants everything, especially everything he sees on t.v. (damn Noggin) yesterday it was a baby who was in a baby bjorn type thing - now really, does he want it or just wants to say he wants it! Its going to drive me crazy but I guess that is what 3 is about! He has learned to ride his bike and does a really good job but for some reason (might be seat height) he tends to have his knobby little knees pointed out. I looked at his legs the other day and said - you've got your daddy's legs! Lincoln on the other hand has a little more mommy in his body. He is already wearing the jeans that Carter wore last fall - he's built differently and he's bigger. When he gets up from his nap I'm going to have to change his jeans because from here to dropping C of at school he must have popped the button on his jeans 4 times!

We've been having some ahhmm controversy at our house regarding wearing winter clothes. Carter is just so me sometimes, I'm sure that I was a total control freak as a 3 year old as well and he and I may always be in a power struggle. I am happy to report that he is wearing pants and long sleeves to school today and didn't throw himself on the floor or cry too much about it. And it is a good thing that he is bundled up because it was about 50 and expected to fall this morning.

I've been putting in some girl time hours this week and its been great! On Thursday, after much whining about wanting to go out with the girls - Sean kicked me out to go with them! We celebrated Kristi's 30th with her and had a good time kicking up our heels!

And on Saturday was my big getaway with the Texas girls. We had such a nice time chatting, shopping & drinking wine. I think I must have talked and talked and talked enough for a few months. In fact I talked so much that Konny fell asleep WHILE I WAS TALKING! She has assured me that is common for her and I wasn't totally boring her to death. The funniest story is that Michele and Amy sauntered off to bed (without telling us they were ditching us) so Konny & I sat outside and chatted for a while. Meanwhile our hostess Susie came to let their dog in and locked us out! We of course didn't realize this until quiet a while after she went inside and we had decided we needed to go to bed. Luckily we had my cell phone and thought "we'll call Michele and Amy" - good thought, except when they are ignoring you! We called, paged & texted for at least 30 min. before they decided that we really were outside. In addition to calling us some names because they thought we were trying to make them get out of bed - they even told us to sleep outside with the dog and finally when I told them the dog was inside and we were out they came to rescue us!

The next week should be just as entertaining with Lincoln's first birthday, Mimi & the Kadlecs visiting and Halloween! I'll post pictures of the Penguin and Pumpkin or Alligator just as soon as I can get them in their costumes!

FILM

I forgot how much I loved film until I got these pictures back today. Something about seeing what you might find on your camera is such a thrill.

Playing together!

Well between the puke and the snot the boys have still have a good few weeks of playing together and I think we might be healthy now! Lincoln learned how to assist in block building recently but he doesn't fully grasp that you build and don't take the blocks apart until Carter says to and you DON'T mess with his garage. When Carter was sick Lincoln took advantage of being the stronger brother and decided to attack him which was a good laugh for Linc & I - after months of Carter being the bully Linc got his turn! I think he has many turns to come for a payback. We've had to move furniture because the little guy figured out how to climb onto the couch from the block or from the book box and then can get up to the counter - he is after the phone but doesn't have a drop of fear. The boys have been taking turns in the rocking chair and Carter actually gives Linc much more time because he likes to rock his little brother which is pretty sweet. Their favorite new game is to escape onto the stool in the bathroom and fill the sink with water and splash and Carter even likes to put his head in the water - they have so much fun that I try to forget about the spots on the mirror. Lincoln is walking better every day and is so pleased with himself. He is now able to turn midstep and thinks that is exciting. Tonight after his bath he walked around so much that he was actually sweating - he was just so thrilled to be able to go that he went and went and went.

Carter has been giving us some good laughs lately - last weekend as he and Sean tried to collapse the excersaucer and they were struggling - Carter said "God dammit" about 10 times and all Sean could do was hide his face and laugh while I walked away. I also heard him saying "shit" in his room tonight. Now I know you are all thinking - it is her fault but it really isn't - I'm such a good sensor as a mommy most of the time, I mean I try really, really hard to keep my mouth clean! Carter also has some just plain old bizarre tendencies - like right now he is sleeping with his 3 puppies, turtle, duck, little blankie and big blankie - those the the ones he always sleeps with but now he's added a pillow from the office, a pillow from the couch, his school blankie and cow and daddy's pillow when he can get away with it. He also has taken his Chapstick to bed this week. I bet my list of things he's slept with would be comical since he used to insist on taking his toothbrush to bed.

They sure keep life interesting even when we are feeling badly these little men give us lots to smile and laugh about!

Walking!

He's on the move and I'm not sure what we are in for! Here is the proof!