We decorated for Christmas today. Early? Nah, not here. I love having the decorations up as long as possible, and I can't handle having them up after Christmas. It was pretty much a zoo today, trying to handle very breakable nativities, lights, and other not-so-kid-friendly stuff. I was so grateful to my in-laws for giving us a bunch of Christmas play-skool toys last year. The kids loved them, and it ended up being one of those days when you realize that one year before so much was different. We were watching Abby play with the toys, and we realized that last year Cooper was her age, and she wasn't even here.

I was sorting through pictures and I came to this one. How fun it was to see both our kids in the back seat in their little Halloween costumes. I hope that I treasure these crazy times the way that I should. Each experience is different, and usually a challenge, but each is definitely worth it. This year has taught us that life is not without challenges, and no one person can truly understand the challenges of others, but we can all be compassionate and loving.

Happy Thanksgiving and onto Christmas!

I'm Thankful

For Cooper

For Abby

For Our Marriage

For Hippo, he solves many of my issues each day.

Thank You Randi!

A Week Of Wordless Wednesdays, but with words.

New Moon, midnight opening. (Way to go Paul Mitchell Spokane!)

Costco took just a little too long for Abs.

Too cute.

Legging Patrol

No more hotels for Cooper. Ever.

More hotels for Abby.

More car rides for Cooper.

No more hamburgers for Hippo.

Sorry Miss Banana.

This makes up for it.

The End

Belated Halloween

Totally late. I know.

This year we dressed our kids up as Calvin and Hobbes. Not my best decision. No one knew who Calvin and Hobbes were (what the?), and also because when the babies got separated it looked like we hadn't bothered to dress Coop up. I straightened Coopers hair to achieve the spiky Calvin look, but I learned all too late that Coopers hair doesn't straighten.

Also, it wasn't in my mother handbook to take a picture at the beginning of the evening, rather then the end.

I'm learning!

I made Trooper trick or treat with us this year. Oh yeah, and wear a witch hat. He loved it. See his wild eyed look?

We had a great time at our Grandparents houses. Spoiled are we.

In the comic strip, Calvin is typically the crazy one, but not in our car. Someone forgot to inform Hobbes that they were supposed to be the calm collected one.

We did a little treating at Paul Mitchell, the boy loved it. Who wouldn't? Cute girls coming at you with candy? Heaven.

Later we went and did some real life trick or treating. It was so fun.

(Notice how at this point Coop just looks like some lost costume-less lumberjack...)

What a great Halloween.

Troopster

I love this dog. And so does Tori.