mild winter = playground!

Dr. Seuss

Just yesterday Kevin took the kids, very last minute, up to our Target for some Dr. Seuss event they were having.  They gave each kid a goodie bag (reusable shopping bag type) filled with stickers, crayons, snacks, etc).  There was a woman reading stories, as well as a nice sale on all Dr. Seuss books.  Kevin let Trent and Claire each pick out one book.  Trent went with One Fish Two Fish and Claire chose Fox in Socks.

Afterward, they went to the children's play area that is right outside of Target in the mall.  There, coincidentally, was another event of some sort.  They had a magician, balloon animals, the Chik-Fil-A cow, etc.  We learned that Claire is still afraid of characters (afraid may not be the correct word).  She wouldn't go near the big cow, but she liked it from a distance and she talking about it later in the day (just like with the Disney characters).

skatez

The other day my brother met us at the skating rink for "tot skate".  It was Claires first time donning a pair and it had been a full year since Trent's last time, so we had our hands full.  Claire surprisingly took to the skates right away and would giggle everytime her little legs wobbled.  I say surprisingly mostly because she was in a bad mood (thank you constipation).  Trent's reaction was the same as it was a year ago - he was ok with the skates but didn't want to wear them all that long.  We skated, played, ran around, ate a cookie, skated some more, then left.  Uncle Mike even put some skates on to help coax the kids a bit.

angry:happy

Hey kids, show me your angry face

Now show me your happy face

I'm honestly not sure if this is his angry or happy face - he's either cheesin' really hard or straining to do an angry face.

Happy Halloween 2011

The Halloween festivities began for us on October 21st.  The four of us got all dressed up to attend a party across the street that our neighbor was throwing for her almost-four year old grandson.  We ate pizza, painted pumpkins, did crafts, ate candy, and played a couple games.  Here are a couple pictures of us getting ready, and us at the party:

(click on photos to see larger)

she wasn't thrilled

with the help of food, she came around

big phanatic helping small phanatic

After the kid party, we walked back home to meet my parents who where babysitting that night so Kevin and I could go to an adult costume party.

On October 22nd we took the kids to White Clay Creek State Park for a pre-planned hayride and bonfire with friends from The Moms Group.

he wanted to bring his tractor and wagon thing

On October 27th we had a Halloween party for the kids in the Moms Group.

 Events for October 29th got canceled due to weather (SNOW!)

At some point we let the kids paint mini pumpkins.  They really enjoyed it!!
 (check back for the photo)

On October 30th we went to the Main Street Halloween Parade.  This was our fourth year walking to the event from our neighborhood (I say neighborhood instead of house because some years we walk from our house, but other years [this year] we drove to the beginning of our neighborhood and walked from there.  We did this because it was a little chilly and because we knew we'd have a hard time finding parking if we got any closer). 

somehow Kevin got stuck holding both...

...and i pulled an empty wagon. what the heck

After the parade we went home and carved pumpkins

Trent insisted on a Thomas pumpkin.  I chose a simple pumpkin face for me and Claire

The Grand Finale: Trick or Treating on Halloween night!

still hates it

first house = major score

home from trick-or-treating!