Happy Halloween

from our neighborhood to yours! We had such a great time trick-or treating tonight. I could watch my kids climb the steps to all my neighbors' houses and say "trick-or-treat" all night long and love every second of it!!

Here is my little princess and her fearless defender Optimus Prime greeting Daddy just home from work.

We set out at about 6:30PM. 

We don't see our neighbors here in Iowa all that much so it is such a great time to greet everyone.

Those who weren't home were kind enough to leave candy on their doorstep.

After we had visited about 15 houses Optimus Prime declared that he had been to enough houses this Halloween.  He was cold and done. So we headed home.

We had just set foot in our front door and set down our Princess when the tears began.  She went to the door and tried to open it, crying "doggie, treat." She was NOT done trick-or treating!!  Ryan and I were surprised that she had an opinion about it.

  Well, how could anyone say "no" to this sad face?  We couldn't. 

And why was little Rue so devastated about being home??

Because she was enthralled with meeting every "doggie" in the neighborhood -and there were quite a few. I had never noticed them before.  But that is what little Rue thought Halloween was all about -meeting all the dogs and kissing them. And everyone was thrilled to show off their pets to such an adorable Princess Leia.

So I ran Christopher Robin's hands under some warm water, found his hat and gloves, and provided him with some transportation, and we set out to meet more doggies,- and get candy too.

and after we had met another street of dogs, little Princess Leia had finally had a very HAPPY Halloween!



Robin and Rue with their cheeks full of candy.

And that's what it's all about-having a Happy Halloween!





The cat came back

Last fall when Ryan was working out front in our yard, a friendly cat wondered up and watched him work.  About an hour later we heard some excited shrieking from Jace.  We were so shocked to find the cat all cozy on his bed!! We decided it had snuck in our house through the garage. 

The other morning while I was busy getting ready to take Jace to speech, I heard a familiar shrieking and investigated.  The cat was back!!  And Robin and Rue were thrilled!  But  I had to promptly put the cat back out because the Dr. is unfortunately HIGHLY allergic to it. 

 I am just planning on it coming again next fall for it's annual visit.

Birthday week- Grand Finale

While we were at Planet X for Christopher Robin's birthday, a very special package was delivered on our doorstep.

It was from Grammy and Poppy. -Freddy and Grandma Bell helped too.

What do you think it was?? 

An awesome "wheat harvester". You can call it a Combine too, but Christopher Robin calls it a "harvester."

After Dad consulted with the instruction booklet, he was able to get it all assembled.

And Christopher Robin loved it!!!!

"oh, it's so cooool!"

But while Daddy was assembling it,

and Mommy was taking pictures,

little Rue was busy too!

She quietly decided she just couldn't wait any longer for

some delicious 

Birthday cake!

And now, last but not least, Freddy included with the harvester an extra little gift for Christopher Robin.  It was a little Knight figurine. 

Ryan just couldn't help himself from playing with it a little! And I just couldn't help myself from posting this video, even though I am totally going to get it when the Dr. finds out,

BUT:
"that's why I'm so cool! Yeah!"

PS:  Mom and Dad, there are 2 more videos I want to post, but they will not upload.  I tried all day yesterday. So tonight when the Dr. is home, I am going to have him figure it out!! Thanks for making Christopher Robin's birthday all the more special.  We love you guys XOXO!

And thank you to everyone else who called or sent cards or packages.  We really appreciate you thinking of Jace on his special day.

Birthday week - Part II

Here is Christopher Robin, age 5.

  Favorite color: lighter blue

  Favorite letter: O

  He is forty-five inches tall and 39.5 lbs, and puts his pajamas on backwards!

On Wednesday night, the night before his birthday, I stayed up late and decorated the dining room. 

The next morning he woke up and opened his presents.

He got a crane truck, a silver big rig, and

a box of his favorite drink-hot chocolate with colored marshmallows.

Gracie got a pretty pony. She has never opened a present before, so this was her first!

The crane truck was pretty busy all morning

catching birthday balloons.

 Grammy and Poppy called and sang Happy Birthday, such a treat.

Then we went to........

Planet X!

My boys loved it! And so did my girl! There was so much to do. They drove race cars and

played Bowlingo. It is a smaller version of bowling and quite fun.

After a little coaching from Dad, Jace was on a roll.

He did pretty well.

  I think he takes after his

Mother!

And so does

Gracie! 

They had a lot of fun shooting Robots.

They took it very seriously as you

can see.

I cannot say  enough about the bumper cars.  They were a blast. Ryan and I want to put some in our basement someday!

I thought they were a little tricky to maneuver, but Christopher Robin was like a fish in water driving these things.  He LOVED IT!!!  I would have to say they were his favorite part.

The final touch to the evening was when Christopher Robin won the JACKPOT on the ball drop game!!  OH, yes he did!  The lights flashed and the bell rang and more than 150 tickets came streaming out!! It was so great!  A wonderful end to a birthday boy's day.  So we fed him some pizza and cashed in those tickets.

Then drove our worn out birthday boy home!

Happy Birthday Christopher Robin XOXO!!