Happy Halloween!

We didn't have time to carve pumpkins this year.......so I did the next best (and easier) thing!


Here is Gemma's pumpkin....


Spencer's....


and Gianna's! Truth be told, I borrowed the idea from the neighbor! The kids have no idea and I hope they enjoy the surprise when they get home from school!

Pumpkin Patch or bust!

Well I wasn't sure if we were going to actually make it to the pumpkin patch this year. I started taking the kids when Gemma was 3 and Spencer 2. This year either the weather was bad, someone was sick or we had plans that couldn't be broken. Well on Wednesday, the kids got out of school 2 hours early, (I've no idea why) and I decided if the weather was decent and everyone was healthy I would attempt the trip by myself. (It's really only a 15 minute drive from our house.)

The weather was gorgeous and everyone was healthy - so by 2pm on Wednesday we were on our way. Now all the other trips to the patch were on the weekend when everyone else was there, so I wasn't sure what to expect in the middle of the week. It was very quiet - which worked out well since I was alone with the three. Gemma and Spencer were a little disappointed that the hayrides only happen on weekends and the snack shack was also closed. Either way we got our 3 pumpkins and then headed over to the petting zoo. Gemma and Spencer ran around and I wrangled Gianna as she tried walking/staggering around.

Everyone is all smiles!

Gemma found her perfect pumpkin!

Here is evidence of my mistake - I let Gianna out of the stroller!!!

Once I let Gianna out of the stroller, I wasn't able to take many photos of Gemma and Spencer playing around. This was the last of the happy photos.

Now it's time to go home.....

Gianna is 13 months old!

I don't know when you stop keeping track of a child's age by months, so I think I'll continue to do it until Gianna has her 2nd birthday. Today my baby is 13 months old....

We didn't do much today since she has a bit of a cold, but I did catch a few photos to remember the day....

She is such a big girl loves to walk around. In fact, she never stops moving!

She was watching the squirels outside in this photo.


Here she is listening to Cookie Monster on Sesame Street. She loves when Elmo is on too!

And here is how I found my precious baby when I decided to call it a night. Snuggled up nice and close to her baby!

Trick or Treat Part 1

We went trick or treating at the grocery store! Byerly's puts on the event every year - all the staff is in costume, the store is decorated and they have a DJ to coordinate the hokey pokey and various party dances. Gianna spent most of the time in daddy's arms, but enjoyed watching all of the commotion.

As we were leaving the store I noticed the hay bails and pumpkins and decided we could "fake" the pumpkin patch picture! Thank you Byerly's!!

By the way - Gemma is a fairy, Gianna a butterfly and Spencer is a Power Ranger.

This Week In Pictures....

It's been a few days since I last posted so here is the update!

On Thursday, the 23rd of October, Evelyn, Gianna and I attended the monthly assembly at Gemma and Spencer's school. Spencer was awared Student of The Month! As you can see from the smile, he was very excited and proud. I must add, Gemma was Student of The Month for September, but the photos didn't turn out and I forgot to mention it last month. Sorry Gemma!
That same evening was Literacy Night at school. They had various tables set up in the gym with activities. Some had games, there was a book swap and even a spot set up for jump rope. However, Gemma and Spencer enjoyed the Poetry Jam. Spencer was nervous to do it at first, so he and I read a poem together. After that he wanted to do nothing else but read more poems. (Truth be told, he enjoyed hearing himself talk with the microphone!) Some by himself - and this one he and Gemma read together. I thought it was cute when they linked arms - they really are best friends.

The kids were home from school on Friday and the weather didn't cooperate for going to the pumpkin patch, so we just stayed home. But on Saturday, David finished putting the trim in the new room so that night we had our first official family movie night. We made popcorn, turned the lights low and watched Cars in surround sound.

Gianna enjoyed a bowl of her poofs - but kept trying to get our popcorn!

And to finish the weekend, we went to church in the morning and then to Nona's and Grandpa's for Sunday dinner. Gianna never stopped moving all day - I think that's what led to this impromp-tu nap shortly after getting home! Either way, I thought it was cute!

I'm Thankful....

I was online looking for a new US Navy sweatshirt for the kids. While surfing the net I found this website - http://www.cafepress.com/ and they have alot of cute shirts...however this one brought tears to my eyes. I'm so thankful David isn't anywhere else but home. I know that could change at anytime. I know of a possible "opportunity" that could happen in the next 9-12 months, but in the meantime, I am extremely thankful that every night when we go to sleep, the five of us are under the same roof.

Welcome Home Daddy1 InfantToddler T-Shirt
Buy this product at CafePress
Designed by An Army Girls Designs

Costume Preview

I'm sure I'm the only one that appreciates the cuteness....but please humor me. Have you ever seen a cuter butterfly??? The good thing about this costume - Gianna actually liked wearing it! She never tried to remove the hood!!! She'll look great trick-or-treating with her big sister "The Fairy" and her big brother "Red Power Ranger"! I call dibs on all the Recee's Peanut Butter Cups!

Let's Go Rollerskating!

Gemma went to a rollerskating party today and I couldn't help to take a few pictures of her. Not only was she dressed in her adorable Halloween clothes (note the candycorn pants!), but she wore her rollerblades for the first time. She got them for her birthday back in April!
Here she is in action - she even skated towards the middle of the rink! I can't believe how fearless she is...however I am probably the one to blame for lack of coordination. Oh well, you can't have everything!

Sick of being sick, Part 2

Gemma went back to school yesterday, though she did visit the nurse's office twice complaining of a stomach ache. Today, I was awoken by Spencer announcing that he threw-up in the sink. A sink is much easier to clean than the carpet, bedding, furniture....oh well, looks like we're not done yet! So much for having a fun 4 days off from school!

Sick of being sick!

Gianna came down with a stomach virus on Sunday morning....2:30 to be exact. Then by Sunday night - 7pm I was cursed. Both of us were on the upswing by Monday, BUT Gemma stayed home today. She hasn't had an "episode", but she hasn't had a thing to eat all day. It's 4:20 and she is on her second nap of the day....this isn't looking good. Oh - and Gianna took a giant step back today when she threw-up while in the living room. The ironic part....I was on the phone getting a quote from a carpet cleaner!
Please let this virus be out of my house soon!!!!!!!!!

Gianna's 1 year appointment

Just thought I'd share Gianna's stats -

She weighs 27 lbs and is 31 inches long! She is such a big girl...

Unfortunately this visit with the doctor also came with shots. Gianna was a total trooper; she did scream, but within just a few minutes she was smiling and laughing. We even stopped at the grocery store before heading home. Currently she is napping; and for those who are aware of her poor sleeping habits, she has been down for about 90 minutes at this point. That's a long time for Gianna!

Our Family Photos

We had family pictures taken in July at Harriet Island by a friend of the family who happens to be a professional photographer. The weather was perfect - the sky was a pretty blue with puffy white clouds and the green of the grass and trees was just gorgeous. As pretty as they were in color, I decided that black and white gave the pics a more timeless look.

I finally got around to ordering some to put on the wall in the dining room....this wall has been bare since we moved into our house 10 years ago because I was always looking for the "perfect" picture. Then we started having children and I just never got around to deciding which photos to hang. Well, our (my) problem has been solved. Now, I just need to decide on a photo for our Christmas card and I'll be good to go!

We did this photo at the very end, I love that Gianna is looking at the camera. You can't see it, but Gemma and Spencer were holding hands too!
I love, love, love this photo of Gemma. For some reason, she was being so shy and didn't want to look at the camera. Sarah got her at the perfect moment!

Spencer was such a ham! He and David took a few photos together wearing their hats too - Spencer really likes his Panama Jack hat, and he looks so handsome in it!
Here is the princess before she had teeth! Gianna loved the grass - when this photo was taken she was pulling grass and dropping it all around herself. I think Sarah photoshopped some of the random blades of grass out.

An oldie, but a goodie....

Gianna has a new favorite song. I have to say, she has good taste!!!

Another reason why I love my boy....

So when I picked up the kids from school yesterday, Spencer had a note to show me. It was from a kid in his class apologizing for hitting him at recess and saying he'll never do it again...blah blah blah. I immediately asked Spencer what happened - he told me that this boy, "R" was trying to push Gemma, but Spencer wouldn't let "R" get to her. He was using his body as a shield and "R" got fed up with Spencer and started hitting him. My big surprise was Spencer DID NOT hit him back!!! He kept his arms out trying to stop "R" and then told the teacher what had happened! (Part of me wished he would have hit the kid back - we know this boy from soccer and he is a pain in the a*s.) "R" was sent to the office and Spencer was a hero in Gemma's eyes (and mine too!) and he seemed pretty proud of himself for protecting his sister! Something worth mentioning - he never cried during the altercation. Which is a pretty big deal since Spencer can be a little too sensitive at times!

Gianna's Birthday Party

This past Saturday we celebrated Gianna's first birthday with a party fit for a princess! The weather was perfect and she was over her cold. Here she is with her Titi Edmee showing off her fancy party dress. It should be noted, that Titi Edmee and Titi Evelyn came to Gianna's birthday party immediately after landing at the airport after a 4-day girls weekend in Las Vegas. We know how tired you must have both been, but we are so glad you came to wish the little girl a happy birthday! Now when most people think of a "first birthday party", I'm sure pinata comes to mind! Well, Gemma and Spencer thought it was a great idea. The kids had fun trying to break it open - you would have thought it was made of cement! It took 6 kids, 2 turns each to crack it open....with a metal bat!!!! Thankfully, no one hit David with the bat.

Here Gianna is chilling outside with her cake and ice cream. I think she looks like she is going into a sugar coma from the expression on her face!
After a wardrobe change, Gianna tore into her presents. As usual, the wrapping was more fun than the gifts! It was especially nice to share the gift opening with Gianna's godfather, Chris. He had been in the hospital most of last week and didn't get discharged until Saturday afternoon. Most people would have wanted to go home after that, but not Chris. He and his parents came straight from the hospital just in time for cake. We had a very nice time visiting with them and watching Gianna play with the wrapping paper. Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated Gianna's big day with us!!! (You'll be getting something in the mail from her in the next week or so!!!)