Happy Halloween

 
Ghouls
 
Just Want To
 
Have Fun

Happy Halloween 2009! I thought that I would share a couple of pictures of the girls in their Halloween costumes. We have had a fun week celebrating. Lydia had a small Halloween party at her Children's Day Out program on Tuesday, and we got to sing all sorts of fun Halloween-themed songs at our Kindermusik class on Thursday morning. Then, we all dressed up (Brian and I included) to go to a costume party last night. And tonight, we rounded out the celebrating with a little bit of "trick or treating." It was pretty funny to listen to Lydia go up to each door and proudly announce "Twick or Tweat." I mean really - how can you ever turn down candy to a beautiful little Cinderella princess? Hannah got the most enjoyment from seeing if she could literally eat the candy and the wrapper all at the same time! She was not too pleased that we made her wait until we got back to the house to enjoy a few pieces of candy before bed.

I can't believe that tomorrow will be November already. This fall seems to be going by so fast - perhaps because it hasn't really felt like fall here! Maybe it won't really feel like winter either - well, I can always hope! Also, you might notice the guards that Lydia has on her thumbs in the first picture. Those are actually Thumb Guards that are designed to help her stop sucking her thumb. She has to wear them 24/7 for four weeks. We put them on for the first time on Monday afternoon and so far, so good. Let's hope her habit is officially broken by Thanksgiving. We will certainly be giving thanks that day if that is the case!

Pumpkin Fever

Since yesterday was such a beautiful day (but very windy), we decided to take advantage of the nice weather before it is gone again. After church, we went to grab donuts and then headed to the pumpkin patch for our annual search for the perfect pumpkin. We have gone to different pumpkin patches each of the last three years. Brian and I were actually commenting this year that neither of us had gone to pumpkin patches when we were kids - do you think this is a new trend?

Anyway, we tried out a pumpkin patch near Lawrence called Schaake's Pumpkin Patch . The best part is that admission was free and the hayride out to the pumpkin patches was free as well. So, we hitched a ride on the first hayride that we found and went to find our perfect pumpkins. We have learned from past years that having to carry around huge pumpkins for the rest of the time at the pumpkin patch is not our idea of a great time so we told each of the girls that they could pick out a pumpkin that they could carry - that theory actually worked out pretty well!

As you can tell from the pictures, I think we actually had more fun playing with the pumpkins in the pumpkin patch than we did actually picking the ones we brought home. Lydia also got to try out the pumpkin slingshot, we all attempted the hay bale maze, and the girls ended our trip with getting candy corn painted on their faces. All in all a great fall day!

 

Do you think I can carry this one? At least it has a handle!

 

Hannah - do you think this one is still alive? I don't hear a heartbeat!

 

This one is just my size!

 

A photo with Daddy with three of the four pumpkins that we came home with!

Dad - Stop That

Not sure what I love more, the picture above or the story below.

Teachable moments for dad.
Balancing playing ignorant vs. making Lydia cry!
I was shaving this morning and Lydia came in and said "Stop that, I need to ask you a question."
So I dutifully did and came to the computer where she looked on the screen and said...."Dad there is an Ark, but no dinosaurs in the Ark. That is pretty funny, but WHY is that?

So did I tell her those things don't exist anymore and crush a 3 year-old or just play ignorant? I chose the latter. But I loved the picture that I received through e-mail so much that I posted it as my wallpaper on my computer...hence how she saw the picture.

As a side note, all credit to the artist Regan for capturing this great perspective.

Concentration

I apologize for the posts this week since they don't have any pictures. But I love sharing stories about the girls too!

I told Brian a few days ago that Hannah has developed a new future career possibility. I think that she would be a great labor and delivery nurse. She has this new habit of pursing her lips together and breathing like they teach you to during childbirth classes. It is quite hilarious!

And it really only happens when she is doing a task that requires concentration. When she is focusing on something or trying really hard to finish something, she will purse her lips together and start deep breathing. It is really funny!

And Brian got to see it in action last night at dinner. She was trying to use her silverware to eat her food, and she started breathing like that. He looked at her like she was crazy! Lydia immediately started laughing hysterically which soon led all of us to be laughing together! It was quite a sight!

So, if you ever see Hannah breathing like she is in the middle of intense labor, don't worry. She is just concentrating! :)

And She Lives Happily Ever After

Well - today marked the end of another era for Lydia. This morning, Brian had gotten up about 5:30 a.m. when Lydia said that she needed to go to the bathroom. He took her to the bathroom and then put her back in bed. I am not convinced that she ever went back to sleep.

When I went in to her room to get her about 7:30 a.m., the first thing Lydia said to me was, "Mommy - I don't want to be Goldilocks anymore." I questioned her a little about this, and she proceeded to tell me that she didn't want me to be Mama Bear, or Daddy to be Papa Bear, or Hannah to be Baby Bear either. She said that she was done "playing the Three Bears" (her words - not mine).

I have to admit I was surprised and a little doubtful about her honesty. But she then asked to go into our room to talk to Daddy. I heard her go into our bathroom and apologize to him for calling him Papa Bear instead of Daddy. When I asked Lydia what Brian had said when she apologized, she said, "Daddy said there was no reason to be sorry." How cute!

But I was surprised when Lydia continued to insist all day today that she is done being Goldilocks. I really do think that she is serious. She corrected Brian once when he called her Goldilocks saying "My name isn't Goldilocks anymore - it is Lydia." Actually, Brian is sad about the whole situation. I think it just goes to show how quickly she is growing up. And he told me that he didn't want Lydia to lose her playfulness and imaginative spirit.

Not to worry Daddy. For those of you that are around Lydia, you should know that she thinks she has a sister AND a brother. She has (on more than one occasion) over the past three weeks told other people that she has a sister named Hannah and a brother named Chase. When I have tried to correct her and tell her that she has a cousin named Chase, she immediately says "There are two Chase's - my brother AND my cousin!" And no - there is no announcement forthcoming. She just really thinks that she has a brother! :)

And she also has two make believe cousins. Brian thinks that their names are Buby and Ruby, but I have to admit that their names change frequently. Their names always end in -by, but they can be Ruby and Ruby, Duby and Ruby, Buby and Buby, etc. And she references them frequently. She says that she loves playing with them and going to their house. She also says that their mom makes the BEST food - I guess she doesn't care for my cooking. And in case you were curious, they ARE twins!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that the Goldilocks phase of Lydia's life has apparently ended and now I can't wait to see what the next adventure is that we embark on with her. May Goldilocks live happily ever after (at least until Hannah picks her fairy tale of choice)! :)