Spooktacular Events.

We had a fun Halloween this year. On Friday, Lily and Aidan had a great carnival at preschool. My mom came down to play too. The kids had a blast. Sydney knew we were having their party that morning and found a reason to sneak by to say hi.

The kids all dressed up and ready to go.

Aidan's popcorn hand.

Decorating cookies.

Claire enjoyed a cookie too.


Grandma helped out Aidan's group most of the time.

A little face painting is always fun.

Tricycle races!

Fun songs at circle time.
My mom had to drop by the mall so we tagged along. Everyone loved the kids costumes. Lily had so many compliments on her hair... she was so proud.. it was super cute.

They even rode the carousel.
That night I took Sydney and Lily to our churches Trunk-or-Treat. Aidan and Claire were ready for bed so they stayed home with dad. The girls had fun getting candy and played games. Lily skipped and hopped every were she went. I thought she was going to explode with excitement.

Eating popcorn.

Playing a few games.

This is the only picture I have of Sydney's (warmer version) of her hula girl outfit. She decided it was to itchy and used last year's outfit for Halloween.

Because Halloween was on Saturday we saved the pumpkin carving for that morning.

Claire watched.

Sydney carved most of her own.

Lily did a great job too. Robbie only helped her turn the blade at corners.

Aidan enjoyed stabbing all of the pieces that fell out of the pumpkins.

Sydney told Aidan to take a bite of the pumpkins... so he did.

I guess we weren't super pumped about the pumpkins this year. I didn't get a picture of them finished... and we never even lit them or put the outside.. lol.

Our friends, the Baer's, had a double birthday party for their kids on Halloween this year. We had a lot of fun playing games and eating cake. Then we went trick-or-treating as a big group. It was a little crazy but a lot of fun. I think a lot of other people in the neighborhood decided go in groups too this year. The street was filled with people and kids. Cars had to inch by just to get past everyone.

I just had to point out what a wonderful night it was. It had been a little chilly a few days before but it warmed up just perfect for trick-or-treating.

We got home pretty late and Aidan really wanted a sandwich. He fell asleep on the table three times before he finally finished and went to bed. Poor guy.

One more!

I forgot one of my favorite pictures of her. It has always made me laugh.

Nothing like walking into a room and seeing this.

Connie

On the 17th of Oct I lost my kitty. She crawled under our bed and passed away during the night. The day before I could tell she was going to pass. I hugged her and kissed her and gave her as much love as I could. A few weeks earlier she began eating less and then she stooped completely. I hand fed her until the end but it didn't help. The doctor put her on some medicine but it didn't help either. At first we were worried that she was dying the same way Dude did (and it only being 3 months apart) but in the end we could tell they were completely different. We couldn't figure out what was wrong and I just couldn't afford multiple tests and ultra sounds. We had a few theories but that's all.

Enough sad stuff though! Onto the memories :)

Some of Connie's last days.

The early years.

She loved babies... and being the center of attention!

She loved to lay on and in everything, chew paper and help you with paper work and she never met a sink that she didn't love (to lay in or drink out of).

She was so great with the kids. She never scratched them and she tolerated a lot! She and Sydney really had a special bond. It's funny how animals to that. Dude always had an extra soft spot for Lily.

She was always in front of the camera. I have so many shots of her butt walking past my camera. I still think I see her every time I turn a corner.

She led a fat and happy life. I love my Connie! I miss her so much.

A bit about Sydney...

My beautiful baby girl is seven now. Ok she has been seven for a few months now... but it's still so hard to believe!! Most days I'm not really sure if I'm ready for her to be so old. We are facing so many new emotions and adventures... :). Do all kids go through a phase in which every word out of their mouth comes out in a whine? Yikes...
What a good kid though! Really. Sydney has such a kind heart. She is so helpful and takes the role of "the oldest" with great ease. You would think that because Robbie and I both grew up the oldest in our families we would sympathize with her a bit more... but we find ourselves asking her to do a lot of stuff for her siblings and blaming her for things that really weren't her fault. At the same time she gets to do things the others don't. Like going to a friends house after school, having slumber parties, or even running "work" errands with her dad. We have given her a little more freedom and independence and of coarse like most kids her age she has tested the limits of it :O. In the end we always learn a lesson and figure out what works for us all.
We're so proud of her every day and we try to remind her often.

Photo by Sarah Heinle

And for exciting news!

Sydney is very proud to announce... she has Glasses!

And... and new hair cut!

Such a goof.

Aidan's birthday party.

So this post is a little behind... but that's just how things are these days! Aidan had a fun birthday party. We decided to have a construction/building party. We had good friends and good food. What more do you need right?

Earlier in the morning Aidan had been helping his dad clean the garage and the back yard and he was filthy. Robbie said he was perfect for his party :)

While I wasn't looking Sydney put names in permanent marker (adults too) on ALL of the hats.

Robbie made little tool box kits for the kids to put together. He made a little work station for them.

The kids put the glue on...

... and the big kids helped nail them together.

And Voila!

Add a little bit of color and you have the perfect party favor!

We had a pinata but it was one of those pull string ones... and because we only had five kids we just decided to let them all pull the strings while Robbie held it up.

The tool boxes made for good candy holders.

And stuffed animal holders too.

Aidan was pretty excited about his dirt cake... ok I think he was actually excited about his new dump truck from Grandma.

Ok a quick explanation of Aidan's hat. He smashed his own and picked up one Sydney made for my brother (who wasn't actually there).

The boys shoveling us some cake. It's funny to me that the guys took over serving the cake... normally this does not happen. :P

Thanks Danielle, Merritt, Kadian, Kym and Kevin for coming to Aidan's party! I hope you guys had fun.

Kid stats!

I took Sydney, Aidan and Claire for their well checks this last week. Everyone got a clean bill of health. Sydney didn't do very well on the eye exam so we will be taking her to the eye doctor on Tuesday. She's been complaining of head aches recently... so if she ends up needing glasses that will be a problem solved :).
Claire (1) weighed 18lbs 15oz. Just a little more then Sydney and not quite as much as Lily (at one year).
Aidan (3) is 28lbs now and 36 inches tall. He is about 4 inches taller and 4 lbs heavier!
Sydney (7) weighed in at 46lbs and she's 47 inches tall. We're excited that she can officially go on the Indiana Jones ride next time we go to Disneyland. :)
Lily was a little sad that she didn't get to have a check up too. But she sad very good the whole time. I was so proud of her. She really is growing up.
They all are! sniff...

Walk this way

Even though Claire still crawls sometimes... she is definitely walking now. She needs a bit more practice to get a little steadier but she has really picked up the pace. Here's a video of her toddling around. Little cutie!

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