Trick or Treat!

Birthday Parties, No Naps and Sugar Highs!

Where do I begin with describing our Saturday festivities?! The title just about sums it up.  We had a very FESTIVE weekend to say the least.  Saturday we were lucky to celebrate TWO friends' birthdays.  Brennan's 2nd birthday bash was held at The Vineyard's Community Park first thing in the morning.  I wasn't really able to talk or catch up with any adult friends because I had to keep my eye on Lexi the whole time.  The girl loves to climb!  She would run off to the tallest, scariest jungle gym and yell, "HI MAMA!" from the top!  All of the kids had a blast at the party and thoroughly enjoyed the ginormous pieces of cake that Brennan's mom Kelly was cutting. :)  Kelly even had pumpkins for all the kids to decorate and bring home with them.  I thought that was a very cute idea and wonderful activity for the kids, especially this time of year.

Here are some pictures from Brennan's Birthday Bash...

This is the pumpkin decorating table Kelly and her mom Hilda had all set up for the kids...so cute!

Lexi in her party hat. She loves her MoMo (Elmo)

Devin and Brennan with their party hats on.

 

 Gavin, Devin, Brennan and Lexi ready to dig in to that delicious cake!

The boys spending some quality time on the playground together!

We left Brennan's party and went home for a quick rest (very quick) and costume change.  Bridget's 3rd Birthday Party was a Halloween Dress-Up party so we had a practice run for Sunday/Halloween night.  Devin was so excited to wear his Batman costume and put it as soon as we got home.  Lexi on the other hand was supposed to be a hula girl but she wouldn't wear her lei, grass skirt or her floral bracelets.  So she was just a girl with flowers in her hair and on her shoes.  I'm hoping Halloween goes much better and she decides to keep her costume on.  Bridget's party was also a huge success.  Kids running around everywhere and they were all so very happy!  We got to trick or treat at Bridget's house and eat lots and lots and lots of candy and also drank lots and lots of chocolate milk!  Luckily Bridget's mom Jessica was prepared with a bounce house for the kids to jump off their sugar highs! (great idea!)

Party Hosts: The birthday girl, Snow White, and her brother, one of the dwarfs.  So cute!
 

 Batman and 1/2 of a hula girl with chocolate on her face!

Snow White, and her mommy, making a special birthday wish!



Bridget and Lexi having a snack together.

 

The kids bouncing their sugar highs off!

We had a fun filled Saturday to say the least.  That was the most fun they have had in a very long time.  Sunday we got to celebrate ANOTHER birthday.  We went to Grandma and Grandpa O'Dean's house to celebrate Grandpa's birthday.  We also enjoyed more SUGAR and had brownies and ice cream for dessert!!  I don't want to see another cake for quite awhile.  That being said; Halloween is Sunday and I have a feeling that will bring more sugar highs and an obsessed mommy scrubbing teeth. 

We are very excited to be spending Halloween with the Jarbo's again this year going to door to door in their wonderful, kid friendly, neighborhood.  Hopefully I'll get some good pictures of all the kiddos dressed up.  I also am hoping our kids keep their costumes on.  I'll try to post pictures early next week.  Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Painting Pumpkins

Last Wednesday Joanne welcomed our family over to her house for a delicious home cooked meal (thank you Sue!) and a festive arts and craft activity.  It was finally time we painted and decorated our pumpkins!  It began well and the kids were having fun but the two smallest ones quickly got sidetracked and bored. Miah Jane loved the feeling of paint on her hands and had fun making a mess.  Lexi had fun sticking the paint brush in her mouth and leaving evidence on her lips!  Devin actually wanted to paint his pumpkin and he completed 75% of the pumpkin before he decided he was all done too.  It was a fun and festive activity and its something our kids can do together year after year.  Hopefully each passing year will bring longer attention spans and less paint consumed by the artists!! :)

This was the set up...MJ in her high chair, Lexi and Devin sitting on towel layered chairs with grocery bags protecting Joanne's dining room table.

Miah Jane getting the hang of a paint brush.  She later opted for her fingers instead.

After trying to eat paint, I once again forced a binky in her mouth!  It's the only thing that I know works!

Ah yes, this is how a real artist works.  You have to FEEL your art to create it!

Devin's finished product! A very colorful pumpkin.

Taaadaaa...Martha Stewart ain't got nothing on us! 

Pumpkin Patch Take Two

I was going through last year's pictures of when we went to the same pumpkin patch.  I couldn't believe how the kids have grown in ONE year.  Miah Jane was just a month old and Lexi was 10 months.  I had to post some pictures from last year and compare them with some from this year's visit.  It was so much fun looking through last year's photos.  I can't believe how little the kids were.

  Lexi - 10 months - October 2009                                              Lexi - 22 months - October 2010

                    

  Devin - 26 months - October 2009                                        Devin - 38 months - October 2010

 Miah Jane - 1 month old - Oct. 2009                                      Miah Jane - 13 months old - Oct. 2010

Joanne's brother-in-law Jordan took great pictures at the pumpkin patch last weekend.  I know I already posted some of mine but his are really good.  So I'm posting some more...Thank you Jordan!!

 Devin helping Miah Jane and Joanne pick the perfect pumpkin!

 Devin is always so sweet with his Miah James; it just warms my heart.

 That's our Devin Man...Curls on a non-humid day...so cute!

 A beautiful picture of Joey-Anne and Miah James (that's what Devin calls them both)

                                           How can you ever get mad at this little angel?! LOL

                                                                 Love the pig tails!

These next few shots are of Lexi sharing her water with Miah Jane.  Lexi doesn't share a lot these days and she was a little hesitant to share with MJ at first. But who can say no to their best friend?!

                                  Lexi had enough of that sharing...it was her turn now!

Miah Jane loved this little scarecrow girl.

 She even gave her kisses...so cute!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Today we decided to go and visit a pumpkin patch at St. Monica's Church. It was a beautiful morning and it was great to be outside once again.  The kids were supposed to pick out two pumpkins, one a piece.  However, we ended up with six or seven.  Our total was only six dollars so I guess we didn't do too much damage.  The kids had a blast and maybe we'll go back one more time and get a great big pumpkin that daddy can help carve.  For now we stuck with the small ones and we plan on decorating them this weekend.  I'm sure those will be some good pictures to post!  For now, here are some from our fun morning!

The cutest brother-sister duo in town!

 Lexi searching for the perfect pumpkin!

Found it!

Devin's turn to find the perfect one!

Devin showing off his strength! LOL

Starts with a little itch on the upper leg...

 Then it moves to the whole leg...

 It ends with dirty, itchy hands! I don't think Lexi likes hay!

Now this is much more comfortable!

Not sure if they liked the scarecrow at first

Devin is still unsure about the scarecrow...he doesn't trust him!

 Joanne and Miah Jane joined us today too!

As you can see we had a fun time at the pumpkin patch today.  It's nice to do some fall like activities in Southwest Florida!

Susan's Baby Shower

Sunday afternoon we showered Susan with lots of love, advice and baby gifts.  She and her husband Brian are expecting their first child, a boy, at the end of January.  It's unfortunate for us that they live on the opposite side of the country; Sacramento, California.  We will miss the play dates with them that all of us look forward to on the weekends.  Somehow I'm going to have to get my family of four out to California for a vacation once their baby comes.  We have two excuses to get out to California...The Boyd's and The Purdy's...enough said!

As mentioned previously, this past weekend was so much fun.  We had such a nice time at Susan's shower and then headed to The Naples Beach Club for sunset.  It was the perfect way to end the weekend.  Here are some pictures from Susan's shower...

The first two are pictures of my floral masterpieces.  I have not one creative bone in my body; combine that with my touch of OCD and having to have everything perfect and you get a huge fight between the left and right brain!  I was getting so mad at myself but I have to say I was very happy with the results.

The beautiful mother to be and her tiny baby bump!



Susan's sister Kristina made this amazing diaper cake!

Miss Kelly who helped keep my mimosa fresh & full!

Leah with baby Charlie, Susan with Miah Jane, Joanne, and Kara

Kara, Susan and Jo Jo

The whole gang who helped us celebrate with Susan.