Santa has a Case of Diaper Rash

We have a new family member. He is a great companion for the kids. He sits at the table with us and follows us from room to room while we play. If he happens to "forget" to join us, Faith or Cameron usually recognize his absence and go in search for him. Who is the sixth addition to the family...none other than "Ho Ho" (as Cam calls him) OR "Santa Caws" (as Faith calls him). Yep, MeMe and Poppy continued the tradition and bought their last batch of grands a dancing and singing Santa Clause.

At first, the kiddos were a bit unsure of the new addition. but they quickly warmed up to him. In fact, Santa can work a little bit of magic when it comes to behavior.  The kids now know that "Santa is always watching." I was surprised since I neglected to bring out "The Elf on the Shelf," claiming that they wouldn't "get it." Santa has been SO GREAT that Cameron has decided to take super special care of him. I had a blast watching this kid this afternoon while he pampered "Ho Ho.

 First, Cam decided that HoHo needed a snack.

Goldfish were on the menu.

 Then, Santa needed a new "hiney."

 Uh-oh....Santa must have diaper rash. No worries...Cameron knows what to do! :)

Now, we can't have Santa's hair and beard a mess while delivering all of those toys!

Ahhhh...I had SO much fun watching this. Isn't he the cutest little thing?....and thanks to him, Santa is looking pretty good, too! Ha! ;)



Grocery Store Adventures

So, I am trying the coupon thing. After having grocery bills run over the $200 mark week after week, I decided that it was time to do something...ANYTHING...even if it meant me eating easy mac every night. People are always talking about the great deals you get when you coupon, so I thought I would give it a go.

There are a few things that I have learned about couponing in my short time doing so:

1. You need a considerable amount of time on your hands to coupon...and be REALLY good at it, that is (GREAT...I have so much time to spare).

2. You need to be organized...in my opinion, VERY organized...with lists to various stores and coupons in an easily accessible binder (that's my method) that is clearly labeled (Once upon a time, this was right up my alley...but lately, I am having a bit of a hard time with my organizational skills).

AND....MOST IMPORTANTLY....

3. You may not want to take three children under the age of two when trying to focus and get the best deals.....they may just make you throw your hands up and yell, "I DON'T CARE WHAT IT COSTS....JUST GRAB SOMETHING AND GO!!!"

Let me clarify for #3.......

Ingles had some really good deals this week. With the coupons added, there was no way that I was gonna' miss out. Now, I had forgotten to give Cody the list so that he could go by after work, so we were forced to go Saturday before the sale ran out. The plan was to go to Ingles, pick a few things up, and then head to WalMart.  Yep...fun plan...and it just kept getting better. In order, here are the sequence of events:
1. We load up in the car to find that we have forgotten the Ingles card.
2. We unload the car (and anyone who has had to load and unload the three can appreciate the effort that it takes to do so) at Ingles to find that Mallory's seat will not hook to the buggy (so Cody has to go BACK out to the car to take Mallory out of the seat).
3.We get into Ingles to find that I have forgotten some of my coupons outside in the car....so OUT Cody goes again.
4. Faith and Cameron can not sit within the buggies of Ingles since they are so shallow (they usually sit in the back)...so they walk...WELL.....
4. Faith and Cameron decide the aisles of the grocery store are speed tracks...therefore, they are no longer walking.
5. I can't find a couple of the things that are on sale...and I really don't have the patience at this point to search.
6. When I turn around (and I really wish I had a picture of this), Faith has picked up a bottle of Corona from a six pack carrying it around the store...and...NO I was not in the beer and liquor section (although maybe I should have been). I was walking through there to get to the milk (because you know we go through at least three gallons a week, here!!!).
7. On the way to WalMart, I dropped Cody and the kids off at Pat and YaYa's. :)

To end on a good note, my son sure knows how to unload the groceries. I thought that this was super cute. Cameron put away Mallory's baby food for me. I love these kids.

On my next coupon extravaganza, I now know to be a bit more organized and to leave the kids at home! I may have the odds stacked against me with very little time and my mind being a bit loopy these days, but I am determined that I will CONQUER!!!

Mallory Joins The Madness.....

....of bath time, that is. Yes, bath time is madness...pure chaos. Well, maybe not the actual PLAY part of bath time...but the bathing and dressing part of bath time. It IS definitely nothing less than MADNESS. Water everywhere, screaming for all sorts of ridiculous reasons, diaper and pajama throwing between Cody and I...MADNESS.

Although I would rather take a beating than attend "bath night," the calm part of it (well...I wouldn't say CALM...but you know what I mean) makes it bearable....and always makes me smile.

So, Mallory usually takes a bath in her own tub, but she has taken a REAL interest in the big bath. She gets excited to see big brother and big sis getting all clean, so we thought, "Why not?" She LOVES it. I must say that I have a THIRD water duck. She could care less about getting water in her face. That's a good thing since Faith insists on terrorizing her. Mallory thinks that it is all fun and games and laughs and plays away.

Having SO MUCH FUN!

The Three Stooges

Ah...and here is Faith in action...just about to dump a cup of water on Mallory's head. Mallory does not mind a bit.

...and then she dumps a cup on herself. Why? Well, mature mommy did that to her trying to teach her a lesson....I know...not the best parenting tactic (but I try a little bit of everything with this girl). You can tell that it really did a whole heck of good. So much so that she did it to herself before I could. Now, what am I supposed to do with this girl?!

Prayer Request

To all readers, I have a very important request to make!

Please, please pray for a precious little girl named, Michaela. She is two years old and was diagnosed with a malignant tumor yesterday. He mother is a former teacher at my school.  Please pray that the cancer is localized and that she be completely healed. Pray for strength, courage, and faith for her dear family.

Prayers ARE being heard and answered for the sweet family that I wrote of last week. The little girl, who still remains in ICU, IS making some improvements. She has actually opened her eyes and moved her fingers. Please continue to pray for this precious life and her family.

Go, Mallory Go!

Mallory is REALLY growing up! It seems that she has taken off in the last couple of weeks. She is a speed demon, getting anywhere she wants VERY quickly. She can dance and she even pulled up!  Today, she repeatedly said, "Da, Da."  She thought it was very funny and would laugh proudly.  Loving me some Mallory! I am so proud of my girl...now if she would get some teeth!!!

Do You See Something Wrong with this Picture?

Take a LONG look. Do you see it?......if you look carefully, you can see ornaments placed within the tree that should NOT be there. Well, actually, they are not ornaments at all....they are balls from the kids' ball pit. Yep, the kiddos call the ornaments on the tree "balls," so why wouldn't the balls from the ball pit go there, too?! Ha...I thought it was too cute so I did not bother to get them out! :)

Oh, and they also like to place goldfish on the limbs, as well. Maybe they are hiding them for later snacks??? These kids crack me up!

Keeping Things in Perspective

Christmas can be a stressful time of the year, no doubt. With so much to do and too little time, it can cause much worry, frustration, and exhaustion! I often ponder (for a long time) over what to get each person....will they like it?  Having children has brought more added stress....will I find the "hot" items and what on Earth will I do if I don't? Crazily, I worry, "Did I buy them enough?" Yes, Christmas can be stressful....BUT...I have really had some occurrences that have put things in perspective for me....

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a child within my classroom wearing less than suitable shoes. He showed me the sole, which was practically worn, bare, and cracked open. I examined them, noticing that  they were too small. Having my attention, he began to complain. "Mrs. Patrick, my feet hurt. Mrs. Patrick, I wish I had some new shoes." Yep, it definitely put things in perspective for me. Here, this child, did not have a suitable pair of shoes and will likely get no or very little Christmas....and I am worried if I got my children ENOUGH. 

There is also a family in Eatonton that needs your prayers urgently. Over Thanksgiving, the family was in a car accident. Unfortunately, the three-year-old was critically injured. It is my understanding that the little girl is now on life support and is paralyzed from the neck down. The mother is  left with a very difficult decision. She lost her husband in years past.  The ethics committee met today. Again, it REALLY put things in perspective.

At this time, I ask for prayers for the little boy and especially the little girl and her family. I can not begin to imagine the pain and heartache. Hug your little ones a little tighter and count your ever many blessings.

Christmas Card Chaos

If I thought getting the kids to sit still for a Christmas card was hard LAST year, well, I didn't know what I was in store for THIS year....

I KNEW that it would not be easy, but I didn't think that it would be THAT hard. However, I must have had a lapse in memory and did not recall that Mallory likes to roll and crawl this way and that. Faith and Cameron are little comedians that do not want to cooperate. Faith just does what Faith wants to do. Put those three together...and...well...you might as well throw your hands up and forget the Christmas cards.

We tried for two nights...and this is what we got....be amused....

So, I started with the chairs covered with this throw. While we were getting Faith and Mallory dressed in their pjs, Cameron went ahead and struck a pose. I was super excited that he was eager to have his picture made...good sign, right? YEAH...WHATEVER!

So, here we go...Faith is entertaining from the beginning. You can see that Cameron finds her HILARIOUS (which only makes matters worse). The funny thing is that Faith decided to pose in picture after picture with her hands up on her cheeks, making the "I'm so surprised face."

...here it is again...

...and again...

...AND AGAIN! AHHHH!

Then, the rolling on the floor began.

...and the "We're not sitting in our chairs!!!"

Needless to say, I went to plan b for the Christmas cards...simply use other pictures. Do they really have to be in Christmas gear, anyway??? I'm just glad that I didn't pay someone to take their Christmas pics.....and trust me...I DON'T think we will be heading to see Santa this year ;)

On another note, I did get some really sweet ones....

As much as they put me through, boy, do I love them!





Carhartts, Ponies, Binoculars, and the Ball Pit

....Not a creative title, I know....haha.

I must be honest in saying that I have NOT been taking many (or any) pictures during my Thanksgiving break. There isn't much time to snap any and with potty training, colds, and other tummy issues it seems that this week has consisted of mopping urine off of the floor, wiping snotty noses, consoling sick little ones, and changing diaper after diaper...WHEW!

So, I have chosen some pics to share that have been taken over the course of the last couple of weeks...

Cody went shopping a couple of weekends ago. He decided that Faith and Cameron were in much need of Carhartt overalls. Me? Well, I think that they were an expense that we could have been spared, but, OH MY GOODENSS...THEY ARE SO CUTE! We could never get them to be still, so I had to take them in action with them on. 

Another favorite pastime of the kiddos lately is looking out the window for deer. I could care less about hunting and wildlife, but the kids get a kick out of seeing deer out of our back window...and I guess that it IS pretty cool. Cody keeps binoculars on our kitchen table at all times just in case.  Anyway, Cameron found this double Mega Block and put it to use....He said, "Deer, deer."

Faith and Cameron do not play with many of their toys in the conventional way....check them out on their ponies.

Mallory is becoming quite the adventurer. She can speed across the house after Faith and Cameron (which they find amusing) and has even taken a dive into the ball pit. Yep, she can get in there all by herself!

My children...busy little bees. Mommy and Daddy....forever tired!

Locked Out

My first day off with the kiddos has been quite a busy day. I was off with Cameron to the doctor early in the a.m. Thankfully, everything turned out great with our visit to the urologist. Cameron was such a big boy and I am very proud!

Last weekend, I also began to potty train Mr. Cameron. I am sure many of you would ask, "Why on Earth are your training your BOY first. Everyone knows that girls are easier to train!" Well, obviously, you have not met my Faith. The girl that has a mind of her very own. Cameron has taken an interest in the potty, and, it is clear that he should be the one trained FIRST. I thought about training them at the same time, but, Faith's attitude towards the potty was a clear indicator that I should give her some more time. She will defiantly pull her pants up and shout, "No!" if introduced to the potty. Anyway, trying to potty train an almost two year old while keeping watch over another almost two year old AND an eight month old (is that a run-on sentence or what?) does NOT make for a restful Thanksgiving break. I am proud of the job Cameron is doing, but he is yet to be able to tell you BEFORE he uses it in his pants. However, he will say in a rather pitiful tone AFTER he has used it, "Potty." So, atleast he gets the idea....we will keep working. Faith can not seem to understand that Cameron gets treats when he potties...she gets all upset. She has, however, decided that she might just try the potty thing out to get a treat. It's quite amusing. She goes in the bathroom, perches herself of the potty for two seconds, and expects a treat. That girl, THAT GIRL!!!

We did get to play outside today since the weather is so warm. The kids loved that and it passed the time away in the afternoon. Being in the house all day can make the day VERY LONG. I am very thankful for the weather this week....but I hope that it will not mean storms!

I am SO loving staying at home. I am getting to see many things that I am missing at work. For example, Faith actually spouted off two words in her "Opposites" book while she was "reading." Cameron sneaks into our room each morning around 7am. Mallory is pulling up to her knees on low objects. It has been great to see them doing new things each day.

Of course, it wouldn't be a typical day without some sort of trick or catastrophe....yep...today, those little boogers locked me out of the laundry room. How did they do this since there is no lock??? Well, they shut the door, pulled open a drawer, and the door was wedged. Cameron got a kick out of it...I can imagine him laughing while my arm is frantically reaching inside the door.  Luckily, I was able to squeeze my way through.

Sorry, no pictures today. It's been rather hectic...I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Doesn't Get Much Sweeter Than This

When Fath and Cameron were little bitty babies, we began a bedtime routine. It consisted of a bottle and a Bible story. As they got older, a sippy cup replaced the bottle, and, unfortunately, Dora replaced the Bible story. They DO love books, but, only when they WANT to read, AND it does not help that they are not allowed to touch their Bible.

Anyway, we have been talking about trying the Bible stories again. Although we have NOT, we DID begin prayers at bedtime. Surprisingly, the kiddos took right to it. They LOVE to say their prayers. In fact, this was a picture that Cody shot as he came into the living room. Faith is already on her knees ready to pray. I LOVE it. They will say, "Pray, Pray, Pray," and, although it may not be a convenient time, who is to tell them NOT to pray???  These kids teach me something each and every day.

Christmas Comes EARLY

Okay, Okay. Just the other day, I was complaining about people putting out Christmas decorations too early. I've always been the one to put out decorations NO EARLIER than the day after Thanksgiving.....BUT...oh, how I got it in my brain to put up the Christmas tree TODAY, November 19th. I thought of every reason to do it..."The kids will love it." "We are not doing anything else today." I am going to be way too tired any other time." I was determined, and, despite protests from Cody, I won...yay me.

While the babies were asleep, we assembled the tree. When they woke up, they helped decorate! I am super proud of them. They were very helpful and sweet. They really enjoyed it. Faith had a specific spot on the tree that she liked to hang her ornaments....it doesn't get any cuter than this!

Mallory wasn't able to help, but she sure was a sweetheart!....she had mommy's brush!

Sleepy Time=Sneaky Time

Faith doesn't do naps...well...sometimes she does. Let's just put it this way: Faith does naps when she wants to do naps. Some days, she talks to herself for the duration of nap time, never falling to sleep. On other days, she screams and cries until you come and get her...HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES. Then, there are those days that she falls asleep like a good little girl.  Well, on this particular day, she wasn't doing ANY of the above....

MISCHIEF...that is what Faith was up to on this particular day. I was at work and Granny B had routinely put the kiddos to bed for their naps. After some time, there was noise coming from Faith's room. The kind of noise that let's you know that someone is trying to do something sneaky from inside.  Granny B was shocked at what she found when she opened the door (although, at this point, I am not sure why she would be surprised by anything).

Let me explain. These are words hanging on Faith's wall.  At one point, there were cute little butterflies surrounding these words. You can see the tacks in which the butterflies were hanging. To get to one of these words, Faith had to stand on her bed. Okay, not a BIG shock. To get to the other word, however, Faith had to climb the changing table and stand on the top shelf....and this is exactly where Granny B found Faith....standing on the top shelf of the changing table.  Butterflies were scattered all over the room. Diapers and lotions were everywhere!

Needless to say, we've had to threaten to put Faith back in a crib if she does something like this again. The look on her face after she was told this was priceless....she hasn't tried this trick again. PROOF that these almost two-year-olds know EXACTLY what you say and EXACTLY what you mean.

Road Rage and Monster Truck/Car

I am so happy that Faith and Cameron are finally getting some use out of their little cars, but they are everywhere with these things. When they really get fired up, they are little speed demons, swerving and crashing into walls and everything else. Cameron gets very tickled by driving as fast as he can and stopping just inches away from the entertainment center...he knows that it drives me nuts. Every time, I yell, "Don't crash into the furniture!!!" He cracks up laughing....my children are just like their daddy...haha.

Just a few days ago, they decided to take a dive into the ball pit...with the cars.  For whatever reason, this was quality entertainment...until the BOTH of them could not fit.  Faith became rather upset...well...infuriated.  Cameron just sat there looking like, "Please momma, make her stop."  The next day, Cameron decided to make the car into a monster truck...who said a princess car can't climb???  Poor Mallory's toy was the selected ramp. He did this repeatedly that day...I am hoping that he has forgotten about it!

A Week in Review

It's been a rather quiet week at the Patrick house...well...come to think of it, I don't think that I should EVER describe my house as quiet....lol!  Not too many funny stories, but I do have some cute pictures!

For whatever reason, Faith and Cameron have not realized that they can crawl under the beds...not until this week, at least!  They have climbed up, over, and under anything and everything else in the house, but the beds were not of interest.  As I was cleaning dishes a couple of nights ago, Cody called for me to "find" the Faith and Cameron.  The two were quiet as little mice....BUT I could see their little heads sticking out from under Cameron's bed.  They soon found it very funny and burst into giggles.

I'm so nervous they are going to get stuck!

The twins are also very much into skyping. They love to see themselves on the computer along with Pat, YaYa, or Aunt Rachel. Just look at their faces!



Mallory, is becoming QUITE the adventurer....and she is QUICK. I caught her trying to pull up on the hearth (not on her knees but REALLY reaching). She is even beginning to try to play with Faith and Cameron...all three were inside the tunnel this week, and, boy, did they have fun!!!

Issues

I have a BIG issue....well...it's not life-threatening or anything and I doubt anyone would find it the least bit concerning....BUT...it is an issue to ME, nonetheless.  This problem may even sound petty or unimportant, but, trust me, I count my blessings each and every day. However, I always fall back to the same old pity party.

Have you guessed what my BIG issue is, yet? Well, I am having the most difficult time leaving the kids at home and heading off to work each day. It is something that has always been hard for me, but it has become increasingly hard. Sometimes I think that I am on the brink of an emotional breakdown.  It's not that I dislike my job (although it can be VERY trying), it's just that I am leaving the cutest kids behind at home.

Okay, okay I know that I am completely fortunate. YES. unlike many jobs, I get the holidays and summers off with the kids. YES, I have a job while millions of Americans do not. My job is what helps us provide things for my family that some families are struggling to provide in these difficult times. So, YES, I know that I am fortunate.

I simply feel frustrated and saddened by the whole situation. There are so many reasons why I would like to stay at home. It seems like my children are growing up and I haven't the time or the energy to notice.  I treat 52 children each day with the utmost patience, respect, and love that I can possibly give. Many of these kids need those three things because they lack it at home. However, at the end of the day, I find it extremely difficult to provide the same patience and energy.  I must admit, I am irritable at home....very. much. so.  I have a short time with the kids each afternoon before cooking (although, trust me, it's not a four course meal) and preparing for the next day begins. This leaves Cody to play with the kids for quite some time. I have very little quality time with them. No wonder they often prefer their daddy over their momma....who is the one that they spend more time with (and for Cody's help I am truly thankful)??? 

We are also struggling with some behavior issues with the twins.  I feel like two different methods of discipline and expectations are a HUGE contributing factor to these issues(speaking of us and the sitter). Yes, I know Faith and Cameron are only 2 (almost), but to my parents' recollection I NEVER had the terrible twos, and, personally, I really don't believe in that.  If anything, the twos are terrible because it is an age where they are into everything and highly self-centered....NOT blatantly disobedient.  So, staying at home, I KNOW, would alleviate some of these issues....end of story.

I am really at my breaking point with all of this, although there is really nothing that I can do about it. I have a meltdown AT LEAST once or twice a week, whether it be in my car on the way to work or Sunday night.  I have also developed a bit of insomnia. I may fall asleep fine, but wake up at all parts of the nights stressing about something that I need to do or forgot to do....which then leads me to the thought that I have a bit too much on my plate....staying at home would fix that, right? The sleeplessness makes everything that much worse.

OKAY, I know that this is a HUGE pity party!  I don't even know why I am typing it all except that it feels nice to let it all out :)  I give each thanks each day for a job and the wonderful sitter that we have at home. I am also in prayer that I can come to peace with this and I may have the strength to overcome all of the negativity that I have.  Lord knows that I need it!

I do apologize for being such a downer!  Bear with me, I promise to post a funny kid story next time!

Picture Perfect, Perfect Pictures

So, here are a few promised pictures from the photo session that we had last week. I am SO. VERY. PROUD of them. I never tire of looking at them....I truly wish I can hang every single one of them in my house.

If you would like to see the entire photo shoot (and I PROMISE it is worth your time!), simply go to http://handmphotography.com/ , click on order online, then our photo session. You can use your own personal email address but use the password patrick1030. These photos will be up until November 11th. 

Ahhhh....now, how am I gonna' choose which ones I like best???!!!

Milestone after Milestone

Oh, how my Mallory is growing up! Many parents are sad to see the infant days disappear, but I LOVE the age that Mallory is at! Each day, I look forward to the something new that she is doing!

For a couple of weeks, Mallory has tried very hard to scoot across the floor. She has been fairly successful with the"army crawl," but, today, she took off! She is yet to get on her hands and knees, but she army crawled from the living room into the kitchen. She is becoming a rather fast crawler, too!

She is also beginning to play pat-a-cake! Usually, I clap my hands and she copies. However, today I asked her to play pat-a-cake, and she immediately began to do it! I snapped some pictures....I am SO PROUD!!!

 Playing pat-a-cake

Making her way into the kitchen..she is so proud...like me!



Destined for Greatness and First Name Basis

Ahhh...I don't know exactly WHY I am surprised by ANYTHING that my children do...but I am....Faith and Cameron particularly. Although I am SURE that Mallory will be up to mischief (as you will see in a later post), she isn't quite up to the level of mischievousness that "the twins" (as they have come to be known) are at.  If I could rate their level 1-10, it would definitely be a 10+.

ANYWAY, funny story for the day...

As I was playing with Mallory on the floor. I turn to see Cameron looking like this....

Yep, that's what WE call the "booger sucker!!!" I am super pumped that Cameron (Faith and Mallory, too) LOVE the booger sucker. Most kids kick and scream by the sight of the thing, but my kids think that it is hilarious (although you wouldn't be able to tell it by this picture)! I am positive that my "Little Booger Sucker named Cameron is destined for greatness BECAUSE....



...not only is he interested in sucking his own boogers, he is interested in sucking the boogers of others!!! He came after me AND Faith. Obviously the child is interested in the medical field. I am convinced that we have a doctor on our hands! HaHa!

Now, we have one child destined for greatness while Faith's new thing is being on a first name basis with her daddy...meaning...she calls her daddy Cody. At first, it was rather cute and she would only do it on occasion. When she consistently referred to her daddy as Cody tonight at dinner...well...that was enough. Of course, Cody claims that it is all my fault since I call his name constantly to do this and that...and...I must admit that when Faith says Cody's name it often sounds like, "Co-deeeee!" I am guilty of calling of him in the hustle and bustle of dinner, preparation for the next day, and bedtime routine. If anyone has advice as how to stop Faith's new "thing," please let me know!

Busy Sunday...Halloween Round 1

If I thought LAST weekend was busy, well, I did not know what I had in store THIS weekend. The only perk is that I have fall break. Therefore, I have an extended weekend! YAY me! Anyway, let's jump right in with the happenings for the day...

Today was Mallory's six month photo session. Mallory is actually seven months, but I wanted to make sure that she could sit up very well for her pictures. So, we scheduled for seven months. Of course, I wanted to get a few pictures of Faith and Cameron, specifically with Mallory, so they came along as well. We were to meet Heather (the photographer) on the UGA campus at 10am this morning. That seems like a good time, right? Well, that's what I thought....BUT...I often forget what it's like getting all three of these kids ready and out of here. It's kinda like childbirth...or so I've heard...since I really didn't "give birth."  You forget how terrible it is....if you didn't, you would never have any more children, or, in this case, EVER go anywhere! Ha!

So, 10am...yeah...we could do this...AND we DID this! However, we didn't do it without my having to get up at the crack of dawn, having every drawer in the house pulled out, socks and clothes thrown all about the house, sippy cups and remnants of breakfast and every other meal laying on the floor, and the list of chaos could go on. My goal was to leave the house at 9am. At 8:10am, I was yelling to Cody, "OKAY, one baby bathed, TWO to go!!!" We DID get all three bathed including ourselves, and we managed to exit the house at 9:10am although my hair had only been brushed with my fingers and I had not a speck of makeup on. Maybe Cody and I will join the pictures NEXT time. :)

Anyway, the pictures went GREAT. It WAS a bit chilly outside, but the kids did not mind. Mallory was a pro and smiled the entire time. I THINK that we achieved some pretty great pics of the twins with Mallory, as well. When I get these photos, I will be sure to post some....and there should be some funny stories to go along with them. Faith and Cameron were quite the entertainers and did the most hilarious things!!!

NOW...on to the afternoon. First, we took a nap...IMMEDIATELY after we got home. ALL OF US!!! We then decided that we would split trick-or-treating into two days. That would make it much easier for everyone. I was truly surprised by how into trick-or-treating Faith and Cameron got. They held their candy buckets and really played the part!

 Aww...how sweet!

 Having fun with their cousins Nathan and Autumn...they really got cranked up...and, no, they had not had ANY candy (you see that we had chagned into something more comfortable).

 Mallory got a Halloween Hello Kitty instead of candy!

 Pebbles, Bam Bam, and my little Candy Corn!

 He knows how to get some candy!!!

We are ready for round two tomorrow...well...kinda!