Storybook Forest

After my mini-birthday party celebration, we headed to a local park for some Halloween fun. It is aimed for the younger crowd as a non-scary alternative, and I have to admit, the price tag was quite reasonable as well. There were so many fun pictures that I wanted to share, so definitely click on the album if you want to see more!

Here is our cute little bumblebee ("bunglebee" according to Evelynn). She had this smile pasted to her face most of the trail. I think the idea of getting candy from "friends" and dressing up seemed like the best time ever to a two year old.

Though she was a little too shy to say Trick or Treat to the fairytale characters along the trail, she definitely looked them in the eye and said "thank you" to each and every one of them.

We told Evelynn that she needed to try to get the sword out of the stone...picture opportunity!

Here she is talking with Red Riding Hood about the wolf in her bed. She told her "dat not gwanma." Ha! The girl knows her stories!

All in all, it was good time. I am not sure we will be back next year, as we are also interested in trying some other places too. Evelynn loved the trail and getting candy from all of the characters, but the games they had available to play weren't very much fun for the long wait. She enjoyed her hayride, but probably liked the tractor even more than the actual ride itself. She also got to listen to some stories, but she was so distracted by all of the other kids that I don't think she even knew that the lady was reading from a book. She probably would have loved roasting her own hot dog and marshmallows, but since we had already had my birthday celebration...we really weren't hungry. Anyway, a great time, but we will probably explore different options next year!

My 26th Birthday!

My sweet little family threw me a little birthday party last night! After we ate my generous neighbor's meal that she had prepared for my birthday, we opened a present Brad and Evelynn had bought together and the cake they had prepared together the night before.

All of my children getting in on the action of opening the present!

Jammies! Evelynn picked out the pink pair and my sweet husband gave me the polka dot pair.

Showing off my new duds!

The best part: the cake they made me! Brad said that Evelynn helped with the decorating, and was very picky about the placement of the candles and frosting flowers. I can't tell you how blessed I am to be part of this family!

A few pictures from the weekend

We spent a whirlwind of a weekend with friends and family, and we really had a great time! However, like most "vacations," we came home exhausted. Brad hasn't downloaded the pictures onto the computer from his jump drive yet, but I will show you a few that my mom-in-law took while we were having a family lunch on Sunday.

Evelynn and Uncle B, being silly.

Trying to take a family picture, even though Evelynn was EXHAUSTED!

Uncle B, Auntie A, Daddy, Evelynn, and Preggy Mommy

For those of you who have been bugging me for a belly bump picture, I hope this satisfies you a little.

Grandma and Papa trying to make tired Evelynn cooperate. I must admit, I was so thankful that she wasn't too cranky. Though she was extremely tired, she didn't really whine too much or start falling apart while we were there. As soon as we got in the car, she was asleep within minutes...I mean literally, maybe one minute.

Too Funny

I just thought this was too funny not to share...

Rain Rain Go Away!

We have been dealing with quite a bit of rainy weather lately, which to say the least, has been hard on my outside-loving kiddo! I decided to take some pictures of Evelynn and Finley on one of the days we were able to play outside, and I couldn't decide which ones to share! There are also a couple of landscape photos hidden in the collage for those of you who are interested in how my flowers are starting to fill in from the big Spring planting we had.

Tower Building

Evelynn has been enjoying building towers lately. I love how she always feels a need to cap the top with a Disney character - hence Arial's perch in the above picture. Also in this picture, you see one of the very last days Evelynn was in the toddler bed. We have moved her into the guest bedroom/Lyla's future bedroom while Brad does some trim work in her room. So, Evleynn is officially in her full size bed now and loving it!

Of course, architect Daddy could no longer just stand by and watch, but needed to get in on the action!

After knocking down one of the first attempts, Sammy learned to keep his distance!

The look on her face in this picture is priceless. Not that this is a look that is unfamiliar to those who really know Evelynn, but it captures one of her many dramatic facial expressions.

Having Fun

While putting away the summer swim stuff, Evelynn found some goggles I used when I taught swim lessons...

They provided hours of entertainment!

Below is an absolute classic picture of Evelynn.

If you will look closely, she is watching Finley with his mommy right outside the window. I know I have mentioned Evelynn's love for Fin before, but this is just more proof of her growing affection for her dear friend. As soon as she sees him playing outside, she announces his presence to everyone: "Mommy, Finley, play with Finley! Shoes! Outside! Palease!" If we can't go outside for some reason, she usually hollers at Finley through the window until he notices. Our poor neighbors, they have no privacy!

And lastly, but certainly not least, Uncle B came for a visit a couple weekends ago. Evelynn LOVES her Uncle B, and she begged him to play with her in every free second that he had. Unfortunately, we kept him pretty busy during his stay. He and Brad stripped the paint off of the trim in the girls' rooms, so we can complete that project before Lyla makes her arrival. This past weekend Brad was able to make some new trim, prime the old and new trim, and even install some of the casing around Evelynn's closet. We are really looking forward to having completed the back part of the house very soon (minus the floors being refinished - we decided that's a project that needs to be saved for a little while longer). There is still quite a bit of work to be done, but it seems manageable, given that Lyla doesn't come too early and throw off the schedule! We are hoping that Evelynn can move from her toddler bed to a full size bed within the next couple of weeks! I'll try to post pictures of the rooms as they come to a more completed state.