Trick or TREAT

Tonight is the night that Arden has been looking forward to for weeks. All day it had been overcast but warm. We don our costumes and started out of the house and wouldn't you know it that it started to pour to rain at our 4th house. The sun was trying to peak out 15 minutes earlier.

Luckily we were at a friends house where everyone was in their garage waiting for the rain to stop. As the rain stopped Thomas and I headed back home to pass out candy while Dave and Arden took off to conquer the neighborhood.

Arden was the Queen of the Spiders and Thomas a Cute Pumpkin. Arden really got into her role. I ran out to the car to get something when I returned she said:

"I am going to take your baby because I am the Queen of the Spiders."

Me: "You're going to take my baby"

Arden: "Mommy, it's pretend and yes I am going to take your baby because that's what the Queen of the Spiders does."

Where she came up with this I have no idea.

I must warn you there are a lot of pictures because I think my kids are pretty cute in their costumes.

The Kids Favorite Toy

My kids have something in common their favorite toy. Technically it's Arden's since she's the oldest but since it is a toy geared towards infants and toddler's it is quickly becoming Thomas' favorite toy.

The only problem is transitioning it from Arden to Thomas. I thought that would be easy when she moved out of the nursery into her big girl room. But she picked it up and carried it over to her room while proclaiming "We better not forget this." She literally plays with it every day. She will started the alphabet song and sing along or dance to one of the songs.

Since Thomas can sit up and he's tall. He can see and push most of the buttons and loves it too. He'll sit in Arden's room and play with it or I will move downstairs and Thomas will play with it for a long time. He's going to love it when he can use it to pull up.

No Pictures Please

Arden has a few pieces of jewelry that she loves to wear when we go out. She puts on her earrings, her rings and a necklace. I really want a picture of her wearing all of her bling but she will not let me.

She closes her eyes on purpose. She knows she is rocking the look but is shunning the local paparazzi.

Wordless Wednesday

A New View

Thomas wants to be mobile so bad but still can't figure it out. He's close but not quite.

He recently learned to throw. I will put several toys all around him and he'll pick them up one by one and throw them across the way to where he can't reach them and then scream for me to come and bring them back to him.

Tonight as I was cleaning up I needed to contain him. So I put him in the laundry basket and put all of his toys in there with him. He loved it. He played with everything without throwing them out. He sat there for about 15 minutes content. Needless to say I got a lot done. Arden was even jealous of her brother's new play area.

What We Did All Weekend

This pretty much sums it up.

Question of the Week

OK, I've cleaned the bathrooms, kitchens, done tons of laundry, vacuumed, mopped, and dusted multiple times (all with bleach). What have I forgotten to clean?

A Week Rewind

Last week was a very long week for us. Here is the brief rundown of what happened.

Last Sunday -- Arden wakes up with a fever. We stay home all day.

Monday -- Arden's fever is up to 101.7. Trying to keep her and Thomas separated.

Tuesday -- Arden is still running a fever but it breaks sometime after noon. She misses school.

Wednesday -- Arden's fever free. Thomas wakes up with a fever of 99.9. By 4:30 pm his fever is up to 102.9. I have him at the doctor's office by 5 pm. His fever is 104.1. I'm not panicking yet but very concerned. He tested positive for influenza. The doctor stated that it was more than likely H1N1 because he had his flu vaccine and 99% of our state has tested positive for H1N1. On top of this he also had an ear infection. Dr. felt that big sis shared the nasty little bug with her brother.

Thursday -- Thomas is still running a fever. Arden is on the mend.

Friday -- Thomas still has a low grade fever but Arden came down with another fever and complained of her ear aching. She was in the doctor's office by noon and also diagnosed with an ear infection.

Saturday and Sunday -- lots of laying around our house.

Monday -- I am going stir crazy and ready to get out but not doing so just yet. Waiting for the sun to shine and that might take a while.

I am very thankful for God answering our prayers and healing our kids. What a week.

Stuck in Reverse

Thomas is getting up on all fours and bouncing. He has yet to figure out the forward motion so he is stuck in reverse. Here's a picture of how far he can go. The toy blocks represent where he started.

He's going to be mobile just in time to explore the Christmas tree.

Party in Thomas' Room

When I need to keep Thomas in one place I will put him in his bed for a few minutes. Lately, Arden has wanted to join him. She'll ask me if she can play with Thomas in his bed. So I put her in there and they play together.

I love it because it provides me a few minutes without someone under foot. Thomas loves to have Arden join him.

Wordless Wednesday

Splish, Splash

Thomas loves to splash. He starts to smile as soon as the water starts running. He loves bath time. I love giving him a bath in the kitchen because it's easier on me.

I just love these pictures of him in the sink.

Carving Mr. Jack-O-Lantern

Since fall is officially here and October is flying by it was time for us to carve our pumpkin. Dave and Arden pushed up their sleeves and got started.


Arden thought it was funny to draw the face on the pumpkin before cutting.


The first cut. Arden just had to have a knife too. She ran and took the cheese spreader out of the drawer and was ready to carve this pumpkin.


Then she opened the top and found all the guts.

She was pretty disgusted with the inside of the pumpkin and did not want to touch it at all. Dave ended up cleaning it out and toasting the seeds.


He now sits proudly and guards our front door.

Question of the Week

Whose ready for an extra hour of sleep next weekend?

The Phone Call

Arden pretends all the time on my work phone to call Paw Paw. However, she never wants to talk to him on the real phone until the other night.

I called Mom to talk to her while I was cooking dinner and I used Dave's work headset so I could be hands free. Well Arden wanted in on the action. After I hung up the phone. She asked if I would call Gran Gran back so she could talk to her.

She grabbed the headset and waited for the phone to ring. The rest is history. She talked to Mom for awhile and then was ready to talk to Dad. I'm not sure if everything she said was understandable but she had a great time.

My dad has a ton of patience with Arden to sit there and talk to her for about 15 minutes. My favorite thing she said was "What's Jack doing?" Jack's the dog. She is so sweet.

I managed to snap a picture while she was talking. I'm not sure she will be willing to do this again anytime soon.

7 Months

Thomas turned 7 months old on Sunday. Seriously, 7 months already. Time is just flying by. This week he has started pushing up on all 4's and scooting backwards. It won't be long before he is truly mobile.

Watching the Game

When both Thomas and Arden was born Dave couldn't wait to lay on the couch and watch football with the baby on his chest. Dave rarely sits on the couch, much less lay on the couch.


So it rarely happens.

The other night Thomas and Dave were watching football together. I went down stairs and found this:

I just wonder which one fell asleep first.

Overheard

Arden in the back making roaring sounds like a monster.

Me: "I'm so scared. A monster is going to get me."

Arden stops making the noise and says:

"Mommy call on Jesus he'll protect you."

Worldless Wednesday

Saving Time

Since Thomas starting sitting up on his own he gets put into the tub with Arden to save time. They both laugh and giggle. Good times.

Question of the Week

Can it stay warm all fall and winter long?

Bath Princess

After Arden's bath Dave wraps her up tight and she walks around the house like princess. She called it her "princess dress". It's wrapped so tight that she can barely walk but she loves. It has become a bath time ritual.

Mirror Image

Normally, I do not dress Arden and I alike but the other day it just happened. Look out world here we come.

The Fountain

While we were on campus we took a family picture beside the Memorial Fountain. The fountain on campus serves as a memorial for those who were killed during the plane crash in 1970. Each pipe that forms the tulip represents each person who died. The fountain is turned on every spring and on November 14 each year there is a memorial service and the fountain is turned off for the winter.

It is one of my favorite places on campus.

Wordless Wednesday

Post Game

After the ball game as we were heading out of the stadium the Marching Thunder drum line was performing outside the stadium.

They were fantastic. When we started watching there were two kids already dancing and Grammy suggested that Arden join the other kids dancing. Arden asked me to go with her and I did. After a couple of songs, Arden told me that I could join the crowd and showed me where to stand.

It was hard getting her to leave. It was so much fun.

In the last picture I am standing right behind her...you just can't see me. I didn't leave her side.

Homecoming 2009

This year we decided to travel to our Alma mater Marshall University for the homecoming game. The weather was beautiful, other than losing the game the day was perfect.

Arden loved watching the two Army guys skydive into the stadium. She said they were pirates, which was fitting since we were playing the East Carolina Pirates. She loved the cheerleader's pom poms that sparkled. She would stand up and yell "Go! Go!" when everyone was cheering. She also danced along when the band played. She was obessed with Marco even though she screemed when we went to take his picture. I must agree with her. I am not a fan of the new Marco. Bring the old Marco back.

Since our team isn't doing that great anymore the game was not sold out and we had plenty of room around us. Arden was able to walk around and choose her seat. She had such a great time.

Thomas also enjoyed the game. He slept for all most all of the game either Dave or I was holding him and he was very content.

Grammy also came to the game with us. We all had such a great time.

Here are some great pictures of the day.

Question of the Week

At what age do children learn to sleep in if you've been up late the night before?

The World's Best Big Sister

While I was doing the dishes I look over. I heard Arden saying "This is George, and he is a good monkey and always a little courous."

I look over and saw this:

She pulled up her chair and started reading Courous George to Thomas. He sat very quietly and listened to her. She read to him for about 5 minutes before becoming bored and decided to move on to something else.

Just A Swingin'

This weekend Dave put in the second child seat on our swing set and it has been a huge hit with the kids. Since Thomas is sitting up by himself and Arden loves to swing I can get both of them going at the same time.

As they were swinging I realized how much God has blessed us. I am so lucky to be able to stay home with these two and enjoy them. There are days that are messy and hard but the good times out weigh them. I am so thankful that the LORD provided Dave's job so I can enjoy my kids.

I Scream, You Scream

Thomas has found a new toy that he just loves.

Just wait until he taste the real thing. I think he's going to love ice cream.