Happy Halloween

We had a blast at Halloween this year. It is one of my favorite holidays and I love to decorate and try to really make it a fun memory for the kids. This year our memory making got cut a little short as TONS of trick or treaters started showing up while we were just sitting down to our annual candlelit halloween dinner of fish sticks and mac & cheese. I know that seems like a random dinner, but I had that as a kid and for some reason it has stuck with me and now the kids look forward to it too. While trying to scarf down food, all of us got in a frenzy opening the door, talking to the neighbors and Kenzie was ogling all the other kids costumes. So, dinner went out the window and we put the kids in their costumes really quick and hit the road.

Kenzie is a professional now, so she was on the candy hunt as fast as she could possibly go between houses. Carson got the hang of things about halfway down the street and was running through yards up to the door yelling his version of 'Trick or Treat'. He also remembered to say his 'Thank You' too, most of the time with his back turned while he was headed to the next house, but he said it none the less.

Oh yeah, costume background - Carson was a lion because we got the costume as a hand me down from Ava, but it fit him just perfectly. I love his little face and his hair in it. Although, when I went to put it on for the first time all he did was scream and cry and say 'No like it' over and over again. I thought we might be in trouble, but as the candy hunt began on Halloween night, he forgot about not liking his hood and hand covers. Turns out it was super cold and it kept him warm anyway. As far as Kenzie goes, she did not like any costumes in the store that I took her to see and neither one of us had any good ideas about something to make as she didn't really want to be anything. Then one day at lunch, we were sitting at the table and she said she'd like to be a mommy for Halloween. She is really into the baby thing right now and she got REALLY excited as we dreamed up all the things she could do to look like a mommy. I got her organized with her twins, a baby bjorn, and her stroller. She packed her diaper bag and went in my room and grabbed a tiny purse that she put her play keys and cell phone in. She was delighted when it all fit on her stroller handles with her plastic pumpkin! She really played the part well right down to the sunglasses on her head!

Here are some pics of our fun - enjoy!

The Zoo

Tanner took the day off Friday and we took our first family trip to the zoo. It was a cloudy day and there was hardly anyone there, which you might think are negatives, but those two things made our zoo trip fabulous! We had all the exhibits almost to ourselves and the animals were out and about. Carson didn't enjoy it as much as Kenzie, but he was pretty content to stare at the animals when lifted up to see and very much enjoyed pushing his stroller around all over the place. Kenzie had a blast - she loved all the animals for the 60 seconds that her attention span lasts. The highlights for Kenzie were the train ride, feeding the parakeets, crawling through tunnels like a mole rat and getting to see the toddler gorillas.

Mackenzie is 4!

Time flies . . . it really does. That saying is probably overused and has lost most of its impact, but I really feel it right now - where did the last 4 years go? It hit me like a ton of bricks that my baby girl is 4 and growing up SO much everyday. I adore her now more than ever - her inquisitive looks with those 'big browns' while learning new things, her giggle box and infectious laughter, the way she loves her little brother and how happy she is just being together everyday. I am so blessed to have her - she has changed my life and my heart and I can't wait to see how much we both grow over the next year.

Here are some pictures of her last minute indoor Angelina Ballerina birthday party at the house. All the mouselings had an awesome time even though it was a little crowded. Two years in a row we've had rain. Maybe one day I'll learn not to plan an outdoor birthday party!

Mama's Tough Guy

Completely adorable. So what if he has a cast at 16 months? It is even so cute it makes me smile.

Kenzie's Bedtime Prayer Tonight

Kenzie: Dear God, please fly down here tonight and come sleep in my bed for a sleepover.
Mama: I think he heard you and he is going to come.
Kenzie: Noooo! I don't want him to come.
Mama: Well, he is already here, he is in your heart.
Kenzie: Dear God, how do you come here in my heart? Do you have a car or a truck?
. . . Silent Pause . . .
Mama: What did he say?
Kenzie: He said he has a bulldozer. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Carson's 1st Birthday

Wow - has it really been almost two months since I last blogged? Oops! Where did the time go? Oh, that's right - Thanksgiving, Christmas and a 1st Birthday celebration! The last few months have been such a fun, festive and rewarding time for myself and our family. This is the first year I have had time off from Accenture around the holidays and wow - what a difference a little time off makes! I used to be working so much overtime during the holiday season and this year I got to live life, enjoy the kids and make merry. What a blessing and a privilege!

One of the best parts about this holiday season was that the celebrations continued right into Carson's 1st Birthday! This year has completely flown by. I cannot believe our little boy is one. He has been such a sweet, delightful blessing the past year. I cannot even put into words how much our family has changed and how big a part of all of us Carson is. I am sure all of you out there who have two kiddos know what I am feeling, but to be cliche - our family feels so complete now. He lights up our lives with all his crazy adventures around the house while melting our hearts with how sweet he is. I think Kenzie summed it up best the other morning when she was looking across the table at Carson while eating breakfast and said "Mommy, I love our baby brother."

Here are pictures of his birthday party and some playtime in the snow on his actual birthday (yes we were in our PJs). Enjoy!