Trick or Treat!

Sergeant Sexy and I decided to make Trick Or Treating fun for everyone this year. So when we loaded the wagon, we made sure to pack glow sticks, a flashlight, cell phones, kids, AND a small cooler of adult Beverlies for us. The Beverlies were so refreshing on such a hot night. Whoo hoo!!

Before we really got started, Mary Grace showed up at the door looking for candy. Cassidy immediately took off with her and left the rest of us behind. Campbell really didn't understand the whole concept, so she spent most of her time in the wagon playing with the cooler.

Nana Jill and Poppie Bill walked with us, and we had a GREAT time. By 7:30PM, Campbell was over it, so we carried her home while Cassidy/Mary Grace/Daddy finished off the neighborhood.

Halloween 2009 was a smashing success!

Two pretty TinkerbellsCampbell guarded the Beverlies

Trick or Treat!

Spooky Gingerbread House

Nana Jill and Poppie Bill got the girlz a Spooky Gingerbread House kit, so we spent some time building it this afternoon. So fun and so yummy!!!

Thanks, Nana Jill and Poppie Bill!

Building the house
Almost done...
The Final Spooky Masterpiece!

Visiting Auntie

Auntie asked if I could bring Campbell to the Fall Festival at her old school. I said yes (of course!), and Campbell and I headed over there after Cassidy got on the bus this morning.

Auntie was so excited to see Campbell that she met us at the car. Campbell was so exicted to see Auntie, she smiled her huge grin and gave Auntie a BIG hug. SO SWEET!!

It's been a month since Campbell has been to her old school. You'd never know, though. She remembered exactly where everything was, and ran straight to her old class to see her friends. And just like old times, she gave Sean a HUGE hug as soon as she saw him. SO SWEET!!

Auntie gave Campbell the cutest little black yoga pants and a red hoodie. And just like old times, she let Campbell eat and drink whatever she wanted... including french toast sticks drowning in syrup. It's no surprise Campbell loves her Auntie so much... whenever Campbell is around, everything is all about Cam.

Once we were done visiting, we headed to school. Campbell fell asleep in the car, and we got there just in time for her to Trunk or Treat in the parking lot with her class. She had a GREAT day!

Auntie has excellent taste in clothes!!

Auntie decided Campbell needed this hat more than the witch it belonged to, but Campbell wasn't as excited about it.

Campbell LOOOOOOVES Auntie Shauna!!

The Many Faces of Baby Cam-Cam

The Squishy Face

The Cheesy Face

The Thinking Face

The I'm Going To Cry If You Don't Stop Taking Pictures Of Me Face

The Eating Face

And finally... the happy face!

Learning To Stick The Landing

Cassidy was "ice skating" across the kitchen floor in her tights last night and fell. I may be wrong, but I don't think she got quite enough rotation on her Triple Toe Loop... and then she just couldn't hold onto the landing. It happens to the best of us.

She hit the ceramic tile floor HARD. And which of her 2000 parts took the brunt of the fall? Her big pumpkin head, of course.

She cried and cried and cried and cried some more. She cried so hard that she made Campbell cry.

She did a good job using the Boo Boo Cat ice pack (thank you, Aunt Amy!), so it didn't look bad at all this morning. I didn't have the heart to take a picture of the goose egg last night, but I got one this morning and mocked it up for you.

Dramatic Reenactment Of Last Night's Injury

Actual picture from this morning

Not too bad at all, really - especially considering how it looked last night!

We Got Our NASCAR On

This past weekend, we made our annual trip to Martinsville Speedway to get our NASCAR on.

The weekend was FANTASTIC, and the People Watching was just as fascinating as ever.

There were pre-race track passes available this year, so we got to walk around on the track before the race started. The literature we were sent said we'd be able to sign the wall, so I bought us a fresh marker before we left home. Did I get us a sissy fine tip Crayola marker? Nooooooo, of course not! I got the fattest, blackest, chisel-point Sharpie I could find. Nuthin' but the best for Sergeant Sexy.

I made a new friend in line for the Port-A-Potty after the race. She slurred to me told me she'd come to the race with her brother. Her brother had way too much to drink and couldn't quite work the Port-A-Potty latch. She tried to help, but the pesky ground wouldn't stay still and she had a hard time keeping herself upright. I thought they were going to have to take the potty apart to get him out.

Don't fret! He figured out that tricky latch, and the siblings stumbled happily into the sunset. I could tell she took her job as Designated Driver very seriously. Safety first, you know.

NASCAR Time!!!

Sergeant Sexy writing our names on the exterior wall of the front stretch!

After Matt finished writing our names all over the wall (in multiple places) and on the start/finish line, I decided to make a special inscription in honor of my friend AmyA's birthday. AmyA has a soft spot for bathroom humor.

Sergeant Sexy and his Smokin' Hot Wife!

I Love Martinsville Speedway

Let's Not Do This Again Anytime Soon. Seriously.

I've avoided this day for a full year, but was finally forced into doing the unthinkable. I've been in non-stop meetings for the last two days and Sergeant Sexy has been working very late all week. I've had no time to get to the grocery store, and we've completely run out of milk. I did something today that I haven't done since Campbell was confined to the infant carrier... I took The Chatterbox and The Ticking Timebomb to the grocery store ALL.BY.MYSELF.

They did great, and it helped that we were able to snag one of the uber cool space ship shopping carts. It also helped that I was focused on locating only those items on my very short and specific list. Luckily, the store wasn't too terribly crowded and I didn't have to run over any old people or push anyone out of the way. We were in and out within 15 minutes without drama.

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Whew... I'm glad that's over. Hopefully we can avoid that ugliness for another year!

They look angelic, don't they?

A Rainy Visit To The Farm

We took a road trip to visit family today. It was rainy and gray, but we still had a great time. We think it's important for the girls to keep connections to our roots. Plus, it's fun to ride through the country and see what we can see!

Cassidy and Campbell looking for pictures of Jesus in Pop's old church

Campbell and Aunt Carolyn

An outside view of Pop's old church

Pop!

My Baby Can Talk!

15 Month Well Baby Check-Up

Campbell had her 15 month well baby check-up this morning. She's actually 16 months old, but I spaced and forgot about the 15 month well baby check-up. For some reason, I thought the next one was at 18 months.

Once again, no Mommy Of The Year for me. It's a lost cause.

Anyway, they checked out Little C and gave her 3 shots. The doctor said she's perfect (I knew this 16 months ago, thanks)... but there is a small concern about her eye. We're going to have to take her to children's hospital to have it checked out. Bummer.

Princess Stats @ Months Old:
Your child is 23 pounds, and that is at the 42th percentile for weight.
Your child is 31 inches, and that is at the 49th percentile for height.

Thanks, Christopher Columbus!

Thanks to Christopher Columbus, The Evil Empire is closed today. Although I'm certain some in The Nerdery are working today, I am exercising my option to rest. I appreciate you, Mr. Columbus. I really do.

Campbell's school and Sergeant Sexy's work are open, but Cassidy's Big Girl School is closed. That means it's time for another Mommy and Cassidy Day!

Our goal today was to have as much fun as possible. We started the day by visiting Mama and Papa after we dropped off Campbell. I had a doctor's appointment, and after that we went to a local inflatable play area. The logo is "Censored Name Bounce House - Inflatable Kids Playground". I don't know about anybody else, but I'd like to know where I can trade-in my crazy kids for the inflatable kids. Wouldn't an on/off switch be convenient? I could just turn them off and deflate them when they start having tantrums or get too hyper. I didn't see any inflatable kids there today, but I'd sure like to know where I can get me one.

Once Cassidy was all played out, we went to lunch at Old MacDonald's. I chose one with an indoor play area, but it was closed for cleaning. Cassidy insisted on sitting next to the play area window so we could watch the guys clean. How sad.

After lunch we went to the ice cream shop. She got cherry ice cream and I got cotton candy ice cream. Yum!

On the way home, we stopped by Wal-Greens to take advantage of this week's Huggies deal. Hooray for great sales combined with my coupon obsession!

Having fun at the inflatable kids playground

Cassidy LOVED this inflatable baseball game!

The "Good Clean Fun" crew was cleaning the Old MacDonalds play area... boooo......

Ice Cream!!

Sunday, Funday

After church, we came home and ate a quick lunch. Campbell fell asleep on the way home and Matt wanted to watch football and Nascar, so I took Cassidy for a bike ride.

We went by Mary Grace's house, but they weren't out. Cassidy decided we'd walk down to the rose garden and then to the park. She looked for the little girl statue, and she was still safe in her spot. We were having a great time.

It's all fun and games until you get scratched by a thorny rose.

Cassidy got too close to one of the rose bushes while trying to get back on her bike. There were no marks or blood, but 3 minutes of frantic screaming and 10 crocodile tears later, she was ready to head home.

Evil roses

Luckily, I got this picture BEFORE the rose bush incident!

Late this afternoon, we happened to find an inflatable slide and bounce house set-up in the mall's parking lot. It was totally random, and they charged us $5 to play on their inflatables. $5 well spent... Cassidy had a ball!!

I Look Like A Mommy

After all the Saturday morning chauffeuring was done, I took Cassidy to the grocery store. They have the cutest little grocery carts with flags that say "Customer in Training".

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Cassidy was so excited to walk around the store with her own cart. She even said, "Mommy, Look! I look like a Mommy!"

Time For The Big Test

Campbell has a molar coming through on the top left corner of her mouth. She has been somewhat fussy this week and had a hard time sleeping Tuesday night. We assumed the fussing was the effect of a new school, new germs, new teachers, new friends, and a new routine. If I were Cam, I'd be fussy.

She was being especially clingy this morning, and Sergeant Sexy suggested I feel around her mouth. Sure enough, there's a tooth breaking through. Sergeant Sexy pried opened her mouth so I could see it. It's not just any old tooth - it's a big ass molar. Poor Little C.

I gave her some Advil this morning to take the edge off, and sent her to school. I also dutifully advised her teacher of the situation.

So now comes the moment of truth.

Will I get a call today instructing me to pick up my "sick" child? Will this obvious case of teething mysteriously turn into Parvo, Ebola, Encephalitis, Small Pox, or Rubella sometime today?

Somehow, I just don't think so.

I took these at the bus stop this morning. She's smiling because she's medicated.

First Day of School... Again

Didn't we just do this? Oh that's right, we did.

But we're doing it again.

Over the last few months, it's become clear we needed to find a new school for Campbell. We finally broke down and made the switch, and today was her first day. We were so very sad to leave our friends behind, but it was a change that needed to happen. Auntie got Campbell a new outfit for her first day at the new school. Doesn't she look adorable?!?

Checking out her new classroom

When I left, she fussed a little bit. I stood outside the door, and the fussing was long forgotten less than a minute after I left.

There are 8 girls and 2 boys in her new class. Campbell was the only girl her age in her old classroom, so we're hopeful she'll end up with a life-long friend or two when this is all over.

It Takes Effort To Be This Classy

Sergeant Sexy went to help his friend Sergeant C move some household items this afternoon, so Cassidy I decorated our pumpkins while Campbell was taking a nap.

Our neighbors have manicured lawns, meticulously pruned shubbery, and beautiful fall yard motifs. Their yards look so pretty.

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You pass by their houses and think "Wow... that's really pretty". And then you pull up to the Censored-Last-Name house and are greeted with a high class display like this...

... and you think "Wow... that's really... wow".

Playing Hooky

We played hooky from church today and took the girls to the park instead.

Sergeant Sexy and I have been teaching the 2 & 3 Year-Old Sunday School class at our church for about 6 years, maybe more. Because of changes in church leadership during the last 18 months, many families have moved to other churches. We've had only one student in our class for months, and she just aged out. When she moved up, we knew it was time to submit our resignation.

We decided to take today off and give ourselves a break from the routine. It was so refreshing to have the freedom to choose what we were going to do today. We haven't had that luxury in forever!!

I'm still trying to figure out my new zoom lens. Today was the first day I really got to try it out, and some of the images came out darker than I would have liked. It's a manual lens and I'm clearly out of practice. What a great excuse to get outside and take more pictures!!