Christmas...the Beginning.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was spent with the Posts.  Brandon and Mitzi even came up with their girls!  We really had fun.

I couldn't find my camera when we started taking pictures, so I started with my camera phone.  I hate that thing.  I soon went in search of my lost camera and took better pictures.

I caught Rustin at the perfect time.

Kenna.  The official dishwasher....;)

The cutting of the turkey.

Cooper.  I'm so sorry you are fuzzy.  You are the cutest thing.

Finally!  Good camera.

Here is our Thankful Tree that we created!  Thank you!!!!

Playin' Around

It's always fun when Daddy's home!

Homemade drums.  These things are awesome.  Serious.

Hair Dressers

Today I was downstairs doing the dishes when I realized that it was quiet in the house.

Quiet is never good.

At least when the children are awake.

I went upstairs and found this:

The 'hairdryer' is actually a bubble blower without the bubbles attached, but it really sounds like a hairdryer.  The scissors are to another doll of Maycee's that is just for looks.  They don't work.  Thank heaven.

After Cooper was done with Maycee's hair, Maycee said, "Okay Cooper, it's my turn now."

Then they switched.

I love that their 'phones' (Stephen and my old phones) are sitting next to them.  AND that they are 'reading' a book while getting their hair done.

My kids are hilarious.

Potty Training - Round 2

In reality it is round 647 because, to be completely honest, Maycee still isn't 100% there.

BUT we have started Cooper.

I don't know if I have a lot more patience this go around or if Cooper really is more 'in tune' with his body parts.  I think it is probably a little bit of both.  I started Maycee way before she was ready.  My bad.

Yesterday was day 1.  We missed the toilet by 30 seconds about 5 times.  Either Cooper would tell me he had to go pee and was already peeing or he would tell me he'd have to pee, sit on the toilet for 2 seconds and then pee on the floor 30 seconds later.  My favorite thing is when Cooper sits on the toilet and doesn't immediately pee, he says, "It doesn't work, Mom!"

Cooper's 'pee alarm' is the sound of an engine revving up.  Every time he hears it, his eyes get big and he says in a whisper, "Whytning."  Or in normal words, Lightning, as in, Lightning McQueen.  He is super obsessed with that car, or any other vehicle with an engine.

Today in day 2.  Things are already looking up!  Cooper told me he had to pee, sat on the toilet, and started to pee.  Just a little.  Every time he would look at his penis to check out his progress, his little stream would stop.  After a few dribbles, Cooper got really excited and hopped off the toilet.  He picked out his sticker to put on 'Cooper's Potty Paper', stuck it on the sheet, then finished peeing on the floor.

Thirty minutes later, Cooper told me he had to pee, and we ran to the toilet.  Cooper sat on the toilet just a little bit longer, as per my request, and he finished emptying his tank.  Another sticker is on the board.

About forty minutes later Cooper told me he had to pee.  He refused to get on the toilet.  He threw a fit, so after his tantrum, he was sent downstairs to the time out chair.  Right when he got there he peed all over the floor.  Cooper totally gets it.  I just hope he figures out that he wants to pee in the toilet.

Helping Dad rake leaves

Halloween

Halloween weekend was pretty crazy around our place.  With our Halloween party plans being turned to mush, we went on ahead and had fun anyway!

Here is Maycee's pumpkin face.  Isn't it SO cute!

Stephen working on his big fatty pumpkin.

Cooper is being very meticulous about his pumpkin face.  I couldn't even get him to look at me.

Cooper specifically wanted me to see his pumpkins 'mouth'.  The thing on the bottom left corner.  It really looks like a mouth!  Go Cooper!

Shane, Krystal, and Lexi came trick-or-treating with us in Middleton!!  We were so excited to have them.  Right as they were walking in the door, Cooper leaned over and threw up on the floor.  No warnings.

Honestly I thought it was just a random, 'I've have way too much to eat' puke.  So we still continued to get ready.

Here's Cooper getting ready for his costume.  I LOVE that hairspray color stuff!

We were in the middle of trying to leave for trick-or-treating while people were trick-or-treating at our house while we took these pictures.  No one was really paying attention.  Apparently.  Except for me.

Can you tell who we are?

I LOVE Phineas and Ferb.

Ollie is Phineas.
Cooper is Ferb.
Maycee is Candace.  She's been getting into costume for weeks.  "You are SO busted!!"
Stephen is Doofenshmirtz.
I am Perry.

We look good.

It was so much fun to watch the kids interact with the people in the different houses together.

The Skaar costumes turned out pretty awesome.

Grandma and Grandpa Call came trick-or-treating with us too!

Trick-or-treating in Middleton was awesome!  A lot of people sat outside in their driveways dressed up with firepits blazing and their buckets of candy just waiting for the kids.  Maycee had a full-on conversation with every person that opened the door to give her candy.  So funny.

"Hi, my name is Maycee.  This is Cooper.  My hair is orange!  I'm Candace.  Thank you for my candy!  Can you give some to Lexi Jo?"

One man sitting outside, saw Lexi and said, "I'm Mike Wazowski!" really loud.  Lexi wouldn't go near him.  It was so much fun to watch all of these things happen!

AAHHHHHH I LOVE HOLIDAYS!!!!!

Cooper and Lexi raiding our candy for trick-or-treaters.

Here is Stephen's finished product.  He's good at this stuff.

After trick-or-treating we ate great soup and dipped apples.  We had caramel and chocolate to dip into and then a TON of toppings: oreo pieces, heath pieces, peanuts, coconut, mini marshmallows, crushed up graham crackers, mini chocolate chips.  IT WAS YUMMY!!

Again, as Shane and Krystal were leaving this time, Cooper threw up.  The next morning we were planning on getting up and traveling to Washington to see Kelsey and Nathan's new little baby boy, Keegan, be blessed, but it apparently wasn't meant to be.  We stayed home and slept all weekend long.  Our bug seemed to travel.

Honestly, Halloween was fun this year!  (Other than the rounds of throw up)  Thanks everyone, for coming all the way to Middleton to hang out!!

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On another note, here are some cute pictures of Ollie while I was dying on the couch.  Thanks Cooper.

Man that kid is cute!