HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

These are a bunch of pictures taken all throughout the holiday weekend. The top favorite on my list were the fabulous pumpkin pancakes we made for breakfast before all the festivities.
All dressed and ready for the Track-or-Treat. Well, except for Addison. She again did not want her picture taken. I really don't know why she gets traumatized when the camera comes out.

While the girls were trick-or-treating at the park, Dave snapped these of Addison. Apparently it's just me that gets the sad, crying side of her. All smiles for her dad.

Our cute little cat. She had some ears too, but wouldn't even keep them on long enough for a picture. Oh well.

Once she got one piece of candy, she had it all figured out. She was so cute, everyone just let her pick her own piece of candy. She's not shy!!


Returning home from the Track-or-Treat. At least she's smiling in this one. Aren't they all so cute?
Dave couldn't resist taking this one. After her costume was off, she was much happier

Addison loves this little chair and the pumpkin that sits on it. I don't know what it is, but all my girls have loved this little guy to carry around. He's seen much better days, I doubt he will last many more Halloweens.

Look at me, I know I'm cute!!

This year we decided to let the girls draw their own faces on the pumpkin and they did a great job.

Katelyn made hers into a girl pumpkin with eyelashes and all.

Then it was Kelsey's turn. We made it a double-sided pumpkin.

Cleaning out the insides.

Katelyn's pumpkin. If you look close you can see the eyelashes Dave tried to give it.
Kelsey gave hers eyebrows.
The big night.

After the girls got back with all their loot, Kelsey decided she wanted to push the button for the air cannon. Dave told her the line to wait for the trick-or-treaters to cross before pushing it. This is the huge smile on her face when she would send people away screaming. She decided that next year she will stay and scare everyone and I will go trick-or-treating for her. I tried to explain that moms don't go and get candy for their kids who want to stay home, but she wasn't hearing of it.

This year with Halloween being on a Sunday, we didn't put out very much at all. And it was so nice. It's fun to make it scary but honestly this was so nice to have a relaxing day and not be rushed to get everything out, dinner eaten, costumes on and out the door before it's 8 o'clock at night.

HaPpY eAsTeR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year we were lacking in the Easter festivities, not because we didn't want to but simply because Kelsey dyed eggs and had a egg hunt with all her preschool friends and then the next day we had our playgroup and dyed eggs, made Easter baskets and had another egg hunt. So both girls had plenty of candy and goodies to go around that we just decided to forgo ours that we had planned. Plus with the fair the same weekend, we are always so rushed to get everything done so we had a nice relaxing Easter weekend.

On Sunday morning, Dave had his meetings an hour later than normal so he made us breakfast and then still had time to see the girls hunt for their baskets. Originally we were going to wait till after church, which is at 9, but Dave concluded that our kids couldn't be the only ones not on a sugar high so we did it before. We told them what each of their baskets looked like and they were off. Once they found their baskets, the conversations ended and their mouths were quickly filled with the overflowing chocolate. Doesn't her face just say it all?

No time to waste. I'll make quick easy work of this.
Glad to see she didn't go right for the candy.
Katelyn handing over the loot.
Check out my basket, dad.
Of course we couldn't have a holiday without the girls getting new dresses for the occasion. Aren't they just so cute? I love that their dresses are similar, not matching because in 2 years, Katelyn will be getting the dress Kelsey is wearing. So matching, but not twins. I have the two most beautiful girls!!

The 4th of July

Better late than never. Since I've been preoccupied with posting our trip and getting our house and lives back in order, the 4th of July pictures got put on the back burner. The day of the 4th, Micaela flew in to drive up to Pine Valley with us the next day and to help out with Kelsey's birthday after the weekend. We only bought a few fireworks this year (shocking, I know) since there are so many firework shows that happen in our neighborhood. We had a small bbq with Kaylene and Micaela and then we went outside for the show. This holiday still remains to be one of my favorite holidays and Kelsey's least. Katelyn on the other hand has never cried at the fireworks and doens't get scared of the loud booms. Go figure. Their birthdays should be switched.

Katelyn loved all the fireworks, especially the sparklers.


It took serious convincing to even get Kelsey to take it out of Dave's hand. She just couldn't figure out why you'd want to hold "fire" that close to you.


But we told her to suck it up and deal with it. She'll learn to enjoy it!!

Our newest addition

to the yard. We've talked about getting one off and on and it seems we are on the same page at the same time, but we did it anyway. Dave did a bunch of research and checked everything out and then came home after work and said we were going to pick one up. We got it from Home Depot and it came with everything except the 4x4. All the other wood needed, it came with. The girls saw the box and were so excited, but I'm pretty sure they thought it was going to come assembled once we opened up the box. Much to their dismay, it didn't. But they were happy to help, just the same. It's almost a month old, but it's still new to them.


Staining everything to keep it nice a little bit longer.


And the girls were more than willing to help with paintbrushes just their size too.


This is one of the most prized possessions around our house. Kelsey and Katelyn fight over it. I have one for me upstairs for all my projects and they still run off with it.


It took all afternoon after staining to get it set up and by about 8 pm they could finally slide down. I had a meeting to go but when I got back it was almost complete. Look at how dirty her knees are and how tired her eyes look. But the smile was worth it.

The next day...


The ladder's not part of it, but it's the highest she's ever climbed.

See how proud she is

Kelsey is finally learning to pump. And Katelyn has a look of pure enjoyment on her face. For whatever reason, both my girls from their first trip to park on they both hate the swings. I should have counted my blessings back then.

Kelsey was unsure of this at first.

There is still a little fear in her eyes but she loves it now.

The finished product.

Although I've just saved myself having to run off to the park every chance they have some extra wiggles or energy to burn, I've now sentenced myself to hours and hours of pushing them on the swings. There is also the option for a sandbox underneath the tower, but we haven't told them that yet.