Halloween #2

Harper had a fabulous Halloween this year.  We spent the day at home just hanging out.  Our friends, The Hunts, came over to say hi, and we spent the whole day in pj's.  Since she was Minnie Mouse for Halloween, I let her wear her new Minnie Mouse pj's that day so she could "get into character".  

We went with our neighbors, The Graham's, to the Highland Village Festival down the road.  It was fun to check it out but pretty small.  Harper had a great time though.  She loves hanging out with Taylor and Kipton from next door. And they always do a great job of holding her hand, showing her what to do, and always talking to her about what's going on.  She absolutely loved being outside, running around, and seeing all the different kids in their costumes.  We played a few games, took pictures, and saw the fire truck.

Taylor the Princess, Kipton the fireman, and Harper as Minnie Mouse

All holding hands, so cute!

Hanging with Dad

She loved carrying around her pumpkin

Trying to figure out what that man had put in her pumpkin

Baseball game for candy

Her first tattoo (a black cat)

Driving the fire truck

Right after this, the firemen got a call and the kids got to see them in action

After the festival, we went trick or treating around the neighborhood to some friends that we know.  Kipton and Taylor showed Harper how to hold out her hand and her pumpkin to get candy.  And by the end of the night, she was stealing candy from anyone she could.  Sadly, she didn't eat any of the candy, but she at least got some fruit snacks.  She had a great night and we loved every minute of it!

Halloween #1

The Saturday before Halloween we went to the Frisco Square Halloween Festival.  My friends Ana and Kelli (from high school) live in Frisco and we try to get together for playdates every now and then.  

Ana with sweet Ellie in her pumpkin shirt and tutu

Her very first piece of candy received from trick or treating.  

I'm pretty sure Cody ate all her candy that day.

She loves to run and we are always trying to tell her

to slow down because she usually ends up falling.

Harper really enjoyed holding her pumpkin and walking around outside.  On Monday, we went to Mom's Inc.  After I had gotten her dressed, I realized that she had found a matching necklace to go with her outfit.  I am in trouble if her fashion sense is already kicking in!

Family Dinners

We had two family dinners this week.  My sister is so good at taking pictures of the cousins, so I just stole all her pictures off her blog.  :)

We had dinner at Kristen's on Sunday night with my Mom and Mark.  I went over early to help around the house and Cody brought Harper after her nap.  She was sick so she didn't go to church, but Grayson was too, so swapping germs didn't see to matter.  I don't see Grayson as much since he goes to school, so I had a lot of fun hanging out with him.  He showed me how he shoots hoops and yells Kaboom!  He sang me his Bumblebee song and his made up song (Hey, You, don't you know, I forgot the words).  He says it and then waits until you laugh, and then he just dies laughing.  I, of course, laughed every time.  Cody was confused after the song, and I had to force him to laugh because Grayson was just standing there waiting.  We had dinner and did baths.  At the end of the night, Brian brought his deer head "Larry" home from his parent's house.  That kept Grayson and Harper entertained for awhile.

Cousin Couch Picture

She immediately went for some love

Poor Reese

I swear she loves me

Watching MMC on the ipad because the Cowboys were playing

Larry the deer

Tuesday night, we had dinner at our house for Carleigh's 15th birthday (a tad late!).  Harper and Grayson played all night, got chased around by Carleigh and Taylor, and had a blast.  He kept telling her not to touch "his toys".  Of course, she doesn't understand so she keeps bugging him and playing with everything he plays with.  I asked him what he was going to do for Halloween, and he said "Knock, knock.  Gimme candy."  Man, he's got it down!  Then, they took a bath and Grayson kept pouring water on his head and hers.  Harper wasn't super excited.  Afterwards, we sang happy birthday to Carleigh.  Grayson was so excited about the song until he realized it wasn't for him and he had to give the gift to Carleigh.  He put it pretty close to her but then helped her open it, of course.  Sadly, we got her some white skinnies, which looked similar to the ones she was already wearing!  We had dessert and Grayson got a marshmallow (it was 1 year OLD).  We all went to bed a little late, but it was a great night.

Reese 2 1/2 months

Grayson talking to his baby sister

Grayson pretending to tick or treat

Painting with Playgroup

We had another playgroup last Monday and it was a blast.  The kids all came and played while the moms sat and talked.  This time we knew they would be ok and might have spent more time talking than actually watching our kids.

We all brought pumpkins to paint for Halloween.  As a first time kids' craft with painting, I was definitely not prepared.  Lisa took over with the paint and I'm sure the kids had way more fun painting her way then mine.  The kids ended up without clothes but tons of paint, running around and having a ball.  They play so good together - it's awesome.  In the end, the kids ended up in the bathtub but the paint wasn't really coming off easily.  I guess I learned that there is a children's paint that is different from craft paint, and also washable.  

Within one minute she painted more of herself than the pumpkin, 

so we immediately stripped off clothes and had some fun

Our newbie, Phoebe, who HATES to get dirty

Katharine was very prepared

G's plate is already a mess while sweet A's is still neatly compartmentalized

Harper realizing that Lisa's group was more fun

Getting lessons in paint from Lisa

Finger painting on herself and A's pumpkin (she didn't mind)

Umm...I just laugh at this picture.  

Ok, this one is even better.  

Running around naked and crazy 

My child would not leave the paint

Where did those big, adult sized, handprints come from, Lisa?

Happy Halloween Playgroup

The Great Outdoors

The weekend of October 19th we went camping on Lake Lewisville with my parents.  We love camping and thought it would be easier to entertain Harper with the extra hands.  We camped at Hickory Creek Friday through Sunday.  We were surrounded by trees and the lake but it was only 10 minutes away so it was a great combination.  We had lots of good food and ate smores every night.  It was just a great weekend to get away and forget about dishes, laundry, and the day to day life.  

Harper slept ok in the camper.  She woke up the first night but slept really good the second night.  I always feel bad that Harper goes to sleep at 7:30 pm and everyone has to be quiet, but they were really good about it.  It was about 40 degrees when we woke up Saturday morning and Cody and I almost froze that night.  But it turned out to be a gorgeous day and we enjoyed every minute of being outside.  

Cody got the boat Saturday morning and took my dad fishing.  They caught some stripers and seemed to enjoy being out on the lake.  Taylor and Carleigh had their friends Maddy and Gentry camping with us, so they hung out, went for long walks, scared the other campers, and ate tons of junk food.  Kristi and I just hung out the whole weekend.  I bet we both could have taken a few more naps and done a little more of nothing.

Both mornings were absolutely beautiful.  Since Saturday morning was cold, we bundled up and walked to the common building (such memories!).  Both mornings, Harper enjoyed wandering around and seeing all the people and their dogs.  Then we would walk the dogs along the beach and watch the sunrise.  Harper loved watching Piper and Pumpkin chase sticks into the lake.  I will admit that Pumpkin "went" in the lake, but they added a lot of entertainment for Harper girl.  

Morning walk to the restrooms

Exploring the campgrounds all bundled up

Watching the sunrise

Throwing sticks to Piper and Pumpkin on the beach

Hanging out with the big girls

They made her an honorary Nature Girl

Riding bikes with Dad

I was totally against this, but it happened anyway and was fine

She fell asleep 5 minutes after we left, which stunk because we were 

home 5 minutes later and she was grumpy

It was a great weekend.  We enjoyed getting away and relaxing.  And Harper loved being outside the whole time.  We will have to do it again next year!