Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

This was so much fun! We celebrated Halloween Saturday night with two different Halloween parties dressed-up like this! It was a late night and we were all exhausted (This was all after eve's b-day party and two soccer games earlier that day) but we had a great time. I loved making these costumes (and to think the idea sprang from Eve wanting to be a witch for Halloween!) I have always wanted to do a Wizard of Oz theme (it's probably my all-time favorite movie.) Everyone in the family was such a willing participant...I am so grateful for my fun family!

Glinda, the Good Witch of the North

The Wicked Witch of the West

The Tin-man

The Scarecrow

Dorthy Gayle, from Kansas

On the drive home...

Still wide awake!

Eve's Birthday

We celebrated Eve's special day yesterday. Upon her request she had a polka-dot party. Attendees were encourage to wear polka-dots, and we tried to incorporate the little dots everywhere we could: polka-dot cake, napkins, favors (consisting of gumballs, rubber balls, dot candy, m&ms, etc.) We even had a "polka-dot" popping game (each kid was given a balloon to pop containing a piece of paper with instructions to do something: sing a song, do a trick, send a secret from one person to the next, etc...thanks for the idea Callen!) Some of the gifts even followed the polka-dot theme. Lots of fun was had by all!

Polka-dot Girls!

Make a wish!

Grace prepared Eve's gift months ago and it has been sitting in a secret spot in her room. She picked out some of her special sea shells from her collection and put them in a little basket for Eve with a hand-written note expressing her love...it was very sweet!

Eve's new "Sing-a-ma-jig" harmonizing with the sing-a-ma-jig Daphne got for her birthday (Eve loved it so much that she wanted one of her own! They are the funniest little toys...there are like 4 or 5 different ones with different singing tones and they actually harmonize with each other!

Aaron putting on a Sing-a-ma-jig concert
(He and I are honestly enjoying these toys as much as the kids!)

Getting some wiggles out!

Little Getaway

Last week we had the opportunity to escape from our regular daily activities for a couple of days. Aaron's family had a beach house in Carmel for the week and invited us to come enjoy it with them for part of it. We only stayed for one night and the majority of two days, but it was fantastic. Aaron, the girls, and I piled into our perfectly-sized car and had an enjoyable drive out to the coast. On our way we stopped at the Mission San Juan Bautista and toured the museum and grounds. It was very educational and peaceful. When we arrived in Carmel we went on a little family walk to a restaurant in the quaint little city by the sea. It was clear that the restaurant (and the town as a whole) was unaccustomed to families with small children. We were a little out of place, but people offered smiles or just pretended we weren't there! It was enjoyable, and the girls got a lesson on using their "fancy manners!" The next day we spent mostly at the beach and relaxing in the cute cottage where we stayed. We played games, and the girls got a lesson in tree climbing from Grandma! It was a beautiful setting...and we had a wonderful time!

One

We celebrated Daphne's first year of life this past weekend. We had Aaron's family and a close friend come over to share in the baby-party excitement. First birthdays truly are my favorite to celebrate...There was the thrill of learning that for this one occasion it is OK to rip paper, the giddy feeling of everyone in the room's undivided attention, and of course the pinnacle moment of indulging in her very own cake. I know its cliche to say, but I really do have a hard time believing that my baby is already one-year-old! She is such a delight and has been my joy...she truly deserved that chocolate cake!The Monkey cakes I made. The small one was exclusively for Daphne to rip apart.

It looks like she's not sure what to think of her new baby doll.

Getting the hang of ripping open presents.

I love this picture...the happiness on both of their faces is so genuine (it melts my heart.)

Mmm Mmm Mmm...it's all MINE!

I'm just getting started...

Happy Birthday to me!

Where's she going?

It hit me today just how grown-up Daphne is getting. It was the first successful day of shoe-wearing for her...and seeing her in those brown Mary-Janes looking so full-fledged, almost brought tears to my eyes. Where has my baby gone? For some reason the fact that she has been walking like a pro for over two months didn't do it to me; she still looked so babyish in her little bare feet. I had tried to get her to wear shoes a few times, but she would have no part of it. She'd curl up her toes in resistance and with the warm-weather I didn't mind the cute exposed toesies. She would even walk beside me in the aisles of the grocery store unshod and happy; but she always appeared to me nothing more than an infant ahead of her time. Today was different. When we got home from soccer practice this evening, I lifted her out of her carseat and placed her on her little feet. As I watched her follow her two older sisters into the house, my eyes fixated on the hem of her baggy sweatpants covering all but the toe of her little shoe. I couldn't help but think, "Alas, there goes my baby." She's going, going, and almost gone.

Happy Birthday Aaron

I am so grateful for this man! He works hard for our family, and when he comes home he is the center of our world. Daphne is his most recent fan and follows him around the house saying, "Da." He knows how to make everyone at our house smile and laugh, and we are lucky to have him! Happy Birthday Sweetheart...I love you, love you, love you!