Little Red and her Big Bad Brothers

My mom has this cookie jar:  

And while we were down in LA this summer, one look at this cookie jar replica of my daughter and I knew what Emilee should be for Halloween.  One episode of Max and Ruby featuring this story and the deal was sealed!  Here is our sweet little riding hood in her costume, enjoying herself thoroughly!!!

 Watch out for the big bad wolf!

 You've never seen a child so happy to prance around the neighborhood in character.  So sweet!

We also had Captain Hook back again this year, I'm always glad for a costume repeat!

 And R2D2 and a knight, who was kind of in a costume.  They had a great time!  We told Ethan he had to retire R2 next year and find a new suit.  3 years in a row and it's starting to look a little bit raggity!  (not to mention he's a foot taller and the effect is not quite the same!)

 Happy Halloween Everyone!  I hope you ate yourself silly on candy like we did!

Grammy!

Grammy came to town this week to celebrate Halloween with us!  One of the first things she did with the little ones is take them to McDonalds for happy meals!  The kids spent an hour decorating their new buckets with her and putting on the stickers.  It was lots of fun!

 Thanks Grammy!

My little Max

Did you know. . .

That Emilee calls me Ruby?

That she calls her Daddy "Mr. Huffington."  To the point of "Oh!  Mr. Huffington home from work!" every evening, and "Milky bottle please, Mr. Huffington!"  This might be because although he rolled his eyes the first time she cast him as Mr. H, he has encouraged it unceasingly ever since!

That she calls Ethan Rodger?

And Aidan Louise, much to his protests?

And Chandler Morris?

Did you know she is going to be "Little Red RUBY Hood" for Halloween, instead of "Little Red Riding Hood?"

And that if I even TRY to call her Emilee or Emmi, she says, "No!  Me MAX!"

Oh Max. . .

At least Max and Ruby love each other, because this one seems to be sticking!

peeking

I don't think I'll ever get tired of this nightly routine.

Stitched!

Last Friday night Aidan had a minor run in with a trash can at the park.  The result was a lot of blood, a deep cut,.and four stitches on his cheek.  He was a trooper and agreed to let me take them out so we wouldn't have to drive all the way back to Hillsboro where they were put in.  It was a lot easier than I thought it would be!

Hurray for doctors who know how to sew!

Spontaneous Happiness

thrills my soul!

Nothing is better than when my kids come up with an activity on their own, that involves ALL FOUR, and then manage to see it through without argument.  Bliss!

Afternoon

Livin' it up on the Cul-de-sac, and loving the warm weather. . .

Harry Potter in the tree. . .

 can you spot them?

Did you know I'm totally a "soccer mom?"

Well, I am!  Because I have a super star soccer player.  His name is Aidan and I don't think anyone has ever enjoyed playing on a team more than he does.

 Aidan is a natural athlete, and I am so happy when I watch him playing soccer!

 We missed team pictures today due to some misguided directions, but did our own anyway, and I made up these little sheets for the other kids that also missed, as well as Aidan.  I think they turned out every bit as good as the ones that would have cost me 20 bucks.  I think we'll make this a tradition. . .