Halloween

Sorry everyone, I could have sworn I already posted about Halloween, but I guess these are the dangers of sleep-deprivation combined with a busy routine.  Some days I ask myself "did I shower?" and I honestly have no idea.  TMI, I'm sure.  Anyway, we had a really fun Halloween this year.  The Captain is finally old enough that he's interested in and capable of doing toddler crafts, so we did.

We painted pumpkins.  The Captain's was a ghost.

We decorated the front porch with our painted pumpkins and a ghost line The Captain made, and some "foy yeeps" (spider webs)

We did a family theme this Halloween.  

Johnny is a pipe.  He made his costume himself.  Mario and Luigi got to go down.

The Captain loved being Luigi.  He asked me the other day if he could dress up and go trick-or-treating.  It was so cute.  How do you explain just one time to a toddler?

The Captain surprised me this year.  He still doesn't really like wearing hats, but I didn't think he'd like wearing gloves, or having me put a mustache on him.  And he loved both.     

To be honest, we picked this year's theme based on putting a mustache on a pacifier.  But Joy made a really cute Mario.  It's never too early to start cross-dressing.

What's in the question block?  No one knows, but we hope it's not a star.  This boy has enough energy without being invincible and extra fast. 

Joy's Blessing

This little sweetie was almost two months old when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit bringing this beautiful dress and lots of love.

Don't know why I love this picture so much.  Something about the contrast of leather and lace appeals to my artistic side, I guess.

 Mommy and Daddy love

My kiddos.  This is usually what goes on in our house, and although this picture didn't end in tears, most would.  We tell The Captain to be kind so Joy won't be scared of him.

Smile!

Just a word while you wait with baited breath for blessing and Halloween pictures.

The Captain has started asking me to "do yike this, Mommy" (do like this), usually when he's been naughty, or I'm mad at him.  He knows how to work the system.

So then I put my cheezy smile on, too.

And Miss Joy has taken up the game.  Smiling and pre-giggling at nothing at all.

We're having fun enjoying the cuteness.

Stats

For those who love Statistics, this isn't that kind of post, sorry.

Just an update on the kiddos.

Two month appointment for Joy showed:
Weight: 10 lbs. 14 oz.
Height: 23.5 in.

She is chunking up quite nicely, and a little too fast for my taste.

On his 2 1/2 year birthday, The Captain:
Weighs: 34 lbs.
Height: 38 in.

So, theoretically, you can double a 2 1/2 year old's height to have an approximate adult height, which puts The Captain at 6' 4", the same height as Daddy.  So that would make sense.  Tune in for the next 18 years, or so to find out if it's true . . .

Pumpkin Festival

After a busy Saturday of Book Club then 5 Guys for lunch, we went to the Pumpkin Festival again this year.  Last year we had such a good time, and this year was even bigger.  There was a big hay pile The Captain enjoyed climbing up and jumping off of.

And a hay bale maze for little kids.  I'm proud to say G had no trouble figuring it out.  

Grandma helping G pick a pumpkin.

Here come the superheros, all dressed in white.  They didn't even plan it, that's how you can tell they have magical powers.

My little pumpkin.

Zoo

The grandparents were in town, so we piled the kids in the car and drove to the zoo.  Our zoo is toddler-sized which is great, since I have a toddler.  

There are no big animals, but lots of rare or endangered animals.  For example, they have Red Pandas, aka Fire Foxes.  They are ridiculously cute, and they have a new baby Red Panda too.  There's also a Wolverine, grey wolves, and three huge pythons.  The Captain loved the birds, but mostly the train that rode around the zoo.  Best $2 I've ever spent. 

 They have a little playground that is for 5+ years, but that didn't stop The Captain.  He bravely slid down what should have been water slides, and even though he fell on his butt, he still got up and did it again.  Only not after I wanted to get a better video of it.

FAQs

Okay, so these aren't really Frequently Asked Questions, more like Frequently Made Statements, but if I had put FMS as the title you would have had no idea what I was talking about, would you?

Anyway, these are the FMS I have heard over the past 2 1/2 years of mothering and my best responses.

 "Wow, he's fat!"

"I guess I should stop feeding him butter."

 "I wish I had that much energy."

"I'll try to bottle it up during his nap.  Maybe I can sell it on eBay."

"Looks like you have your hands full."

"Are you looking to donate one."

"Oh, she's so cute."

"Thanks, I made her myself."