Happy Halloween!

Haley and Kendall both enjoyed Halloween this year. Well, Haley enjoyed it and the rest of us enjoyed dressing Kendall up ;)

It was warm this Halloween, so to go to school, Kendall wore her Snow White costume.

From September October 2009

On Halloween night, however, we made the poor girl put on her lion costume. Haley was Dorothy, and when I suggested that Kendall wear her warm weather princess costume, Haley would have none of it. Mom and Dad came over to trick or treat with us. Here are Mom, Dorothy, and one of the two cutest lions I've ever seen ;)

From September October 2009

You can't truly be Dorothy without the shoes...

From September October 2009

Kendall didn't walk long. Kevin carried her for awhile (he ensured that she filled up her candy bag). Not long after he handed her off to me, she wanted to walk. I let her walk, but the poor child fell and skinned her face up pretty badly. Maynee took her home, but the big kids continued their trick or treating.

From September October 2009

Haley and her buddy Janna.

From September October 2009

When Haley spread her candy out, Kevin was quick to find and remove all of the 3 Musketeers.

From September October 2009

Haley was very pleased with her stash! Mommy has enjoyed it, too ;)

From September October 2009

Chicago

Haley got to take her very first plane ride recently when she and I we went to visit our friends Mara, Kevin, and David in Chicago! My godson David will be 3 early next year, and he and Haley had a wonderful time hanging out and seeing all the sights in the Windy City.

Haley was SO EXCITED about the plane ride and the trip. Here she is as we buckled up to drive to Charlotte. She could hardly contain her excitement.

From September October 2009

Haley did a great job sticking with me in the airport and taking care of her own bag. It wasn't until the very last leg of the trip - after arriving back in Charlotte on Sunday - that I took her bag from her and just let her walk thru the airport.

From September October 2009

Getting ready to take off - more smiles!

From September October 2009

Haley and David played very well together. Haley loves her buddy ;)

From September October 2009

Among all of our exciting field trips were... a trip to Field Museum, Navy Pier, the top of the Hancock Building, the Shedd Aquarium, the Chicago Zoo, and for the adult ladies - a late night Second City Show (thank you, Kevin, for babysitting;). Here are Haley and Mara on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier:

From September October 2009

We hit the Maas' favorite ice cream shop one evening after dinner. David decided he wanted to copy Haley most of the weekend ;) So when I put two straws in Haley's milkshake so I could share, David needed two, too.

From September October 2009

Haley was fascinated with the hermit crabs at Shedd Acquarium. Yes, of all the things she could be interested in, the hermit crabs were exciting to her.

From September October 2009

Haley and I with a view of the city skyline.

From September October 2009

Most of the zoo exhibits were closed, but Haley and David were not phased. They had a blast running and throwing leaves. Who needs animals?

From September October 2009

Buddies :)

From September October 2009

Our last stop before we headed to the airport was the American Girl doll store. Despite my efforts to convince Haley to pick out an outfit for her baby, she insisted that she just needs ANOTHER baby doll. I guess that's what grandmas are for!!

From September October 2009

We had a FABULOUS time in Chicago. Thank you Mara, Kevin, and David for being such wonderful friends, hosts, and tour guides :) We enjoyed our time with you so very much!!!

Things Kids Say

Here are 3 things Haley has told me lately that I really enjoyed...

1. Mom, I'm trying to focus. Please be quiet.
2. I wish we could never lose the remote again (this after Haley asked to watch cartoons, and Kevin and I told her she could watch whatever she wanted if she could find either of the remote controls that we misplaced).
3. OOOOH, Mommy, you look fancy!!! Where are you going?

And my favorite new word that Kendall is working on...

PLEASE! Sounds like peez ;)

Kendall's New School

Kendall started day care in September. While Mom recovers from her surgery, Kendall and Haley will both be in full time day care.

Kendall started going full time two weeks before Mom's surgery,and I was very pleased that she seemed to fully adjust over that two week period. The last few days that I dropped her off before Mom's surgery, Kendall didn't cry when I left her. One of my coworkers has a child in the same class, and he drops off about 30 or 45 minutes after me. So the first few weeks, I requested 'status reports' from him each morning on how Kendall was doing. When he first started giving me reports, he had to tell me that Kendall was crying by herself and not playing when he got there. By the end of the two weeks, though, she was playing. Yea, Kendall.

Kendall loves to pull the little clippy bows out of her hair, so lately, we are going the practical route and sticking with the Pebbles look.

Here is Kendall with her lunch box on her first day. Kendall knew this was her lunch box the moment we picked it up at Target. She did NOT want her sister to hold it (even at Target), and she enjoys walking around the house with it. Even though it's as big as she is ;)

From September October 2009

Pumpkins for my Pumpkins

From September October 2009

The girls had fun picking out pumpkins this year. Haley left with her own little pumpkin. Kendall seemed to misplace hers before we got to the checkout area.

From September October 2009