The Holiday Season Has Begun.

I came back from running errands one morning to find this little pink fairy walking towards our house.  Our neighbors had a garage sale and Ryan had bought two bags full of dress up clothes.  Addison was in heaven for the rest of the day.  She had so much fun trying on one costume after the other.  This little pink fairy one is her favorite.  And I was really impressed with how well Ryan had done her hair too.  I remember when my Mom had foot surgery my Dad and to drive us kids down to our friends house every morning so our friends Mom could do our hair for school.  I'm glad to have an in house stylist!  And if you think about it, it's pretty amazing that he can wrap those tiny rubber bands around her hair with those big 'ol fingers!

A hot day isn't complete without a Popsicle!

This week we started gearing up for Halloween with monster mice for lunch.  Addison ate the head first.

I was Skyping with Summer one afternoon when Addison woke up from her nap and came downstairs like this.  She told me she looked "fancy."  I had to agree, she certainly was some kind of fancy.

Addison also went through one of the most awesome rites of childhood this week.  Learning to lick the cake bowl.  It didn't take her very long to master.

We got Addison's mermaid princess costume in the mail from my Mom this week.  After a few additions it was ready for debut at our neighbors costume birthday party on Saturday.  Everyone raved it was the best mermaid costume they had seen.  They kept asking me if I made it, I wish I had those kind of skills like my Mom.  She's amazing!

We put on bronzer and watermelon lipstick and even crimped her hair to look like a mermaid.  She was in heaven!  Although, in this picture she looks out of it since it was right after she woke up from nap.

 And this little guy was quite the hit too!  People we didn't even know were taking his picture.

 And here's a close up so you can see his facial hair.  It's amazing what a mature 3month old he is!  Most 3month olds can't grow goatees that thick!

 Waiting for a turn at the pinata.

Little girls are so funny.  They were suppose to go to the back of the line to wait for another turn at the pinata.  Instead, they ran in circles screaming and whipping around their pinata strings.  The lady in the background, I know you all noticed her, came dressed as a gorilla.  Not an ideal costume with a bunch of little girls running around who don't quite have a grasp on reality and pretend.  But I think it was scarier when she took off the costume.  While taking pictures on my knees she walked in front of me and her booty was hanging out of her shorts.  Ahhh!  Much scarier!

 Watch this dance party Addison and Aurora have, while Aurora plays music on her hand clapper.

So the holiday season is upon us!  Happy Halloween.

It's Fall!

Or at least that is what people keep telling us.  It's hard to believe when it's still in the high 80's and sunny here.  This week Addison's playgroup had a field trip to the pumpkin patch.  This is her friend Aurora that we meet at Fort Shafter pool.  They both had mermaids and became fast friends.

Where else do you see banana trees on your hay ride?

Addison did a great job picking her pumpkin and a little one for Easton too.

She had to have her hand in her pocket for this shot.  She asked me to wait until she was posed just right.  Where does this kid get this stuff from? 

After the pumpkin patch we headed over to the North Shore.  And while I was using my navigation on my phone it just quit.  I couldn't even turn it on.  Luckily I had written down the town we were headed to and we got to Matusumoto's famous Shave Ice market.

Where we met up with my babysitter. Yup, you read that right, MY babysitter.  Laura use to watch my sister and I in the summers.  She was visiting with one of her friends, and will be back again in May, and I was so glad we were able to catch up.  On a side note, I look like a man in this picture.  In my defense it was 89 degrees, I had one kid strapped to my front, trying to balance on kid on my lap and tourists milling about unaware of what was going on around them.  But I do still look like a man.

This cute little guy melts my heart.  He lights up and is all smiles and coos when I talk to him.  Love him!

I had to help him grip the teether but he was able to get it in his mouth.  He has started sucking on his fingers and is super drooly.  The other day I couldn't figure out where the water drop came from on my foot and then I realized it was drool from Easton.

Friends

One last photo for tonight.  Addison has been making quite a few friends in the neighborhood.  She's had about four play invites this weekend alone.  All of which we had to turn down due to potty training.  I allowed these three in today to play for about a half hour before I loaded Addison up with juice and got back to the potty business.  She's the littlest, but she sure tells those big girls exactly how to play and they listen!  It is so fun seeing these friendships form. 

I did get a preview of a couple years from now.  They screamed, shrieked, and laughed playing hide n seek.  Oh, man what am I in for?  And Easton, slept the whole time in his swing, screams and all!  What a good baby.

Keeping Up

Well, dang it, this photo is suppose to be at the bottom.  In fact all these photos are in reverse order.  But here we go anyway.  I finally have one room in the house complete, the kids' bathroom.  Addison went to town creating our wall canvases which gives the room a nice pop of color.

On Friday I took the kids to the pool and we left with Addison carrying a full load in her swim diaper!  That was my final breaking point.  We came home and started intensive potty training.  We have spent the last two day outside from wakeing up to bed time working on putting pee in the potty.  If I were rich I would hire someone to do this for me.  No one told me potty training was this much work and stressful for the mom!  For each success Addison gets a potty prize, M&M's or cookies, and gets to do a project.  Those who know her best know this kids loves her some projects.  These have probably been the best motivator for her.  But let me tell ya, it's exhausting me being "on" for 12+ hours a day.  Thank goodness Daddy was home yesterday for the day.  His help was much welcomed and appreciated.  He helped keep Addison busy between pottty breaks by making creative activities which included a treasure dig, (Thanks Grandma Jodi for the sandbox!).

It's so fun to see how much these two like eachother.  Addison always looks at E and says, "He's so cute!" in a super high pitched voice.  Amd she always asks to "pet" him.  Easton in return loves to watch Addison flit around all day.

What am I suppose to say when this little chocolate covered face asks, "You get me one more cookie please?"  Of course I gave her another and then Ryan informed me she had already had 1 1/2 while I was out walking.  She royally scored that night.

In the afternoon we go enjoy the weather.  Perfect weather to take a nap in.

Another potty activity, playing super hero!

Here's a close up of some of the wall "art" I did for the kid's bathroom.  It's going to have wording that says, "Don't forget to..." and then each picture will say clean your ears, wash your hands, etc.  Ryan thinks I should take down the buns one, but what else do I put up there?  Besides, it's not a guest bathroom only family will see it.

So back to the potty training.  We are making progress but it's no fun.  How come none of you all told me about this part?  And how the heck am I going to teach Easton to "aim?"  I don't have a hose of my own.