Birthday Celebration

While Mema was visiting we decided to celebrate birthday's.  The birthday was everything Toy Story.

 Although I had a whole plan for an 

extravagant cake I made this one in 5 minutes.

We went super super easy this year.  

 Nolan got bullseye

 And decided he should ride him

 a plush woody

I was wanting one he could sleep with

 Mema found the perfect items

 even big boy under wear with Monsters Inc and Toy Story

 A big talking Jessie and Undies for Gracie

 I found this adorable suite case for $3 at a garage 

sale and I just happened to have $3 in change in 

the car.  It was meant to be.  Here Nolan is naming

all the characters on the suite case.

I was smart enough to have put a few things 

away that that I found at garage sales this summer.

Love Our Mema

Yes we love our Mema and when she comes to visit we eat up every minute we have with her.  Gracie is old enough she truly gets so sad knowing she won't see certain people for a long time and that they live far a way.  So the night before Mema was to arrive I told her who we were going to see the next day and was elated.  We made a big welcome sign for Mema when we picked her up.

On one of our days the kids got to make sugar cookies and they were loving helping with every part.  If Gracie did something Nolan wanted too!

 making

 decorating...

 eating

loving there mema

Boo Bash

This year for Halloween we very early picked out our costumes.  Gracie as Dorothy and Nolan as a tiger.  Gracie's little dress was a gift from a friend and we just added a touch of red.  We also found shoes at Goodwill that were perfect but wrong color.  I am sure I can fix that right??:)

Not often do we get any grandparents for these type of events but we got lucky that our town through a Boo Bash with games, hayrides, trick-or-treating, and the haunted house.  The guy at the haunted house tried to convince us a number of times the kids would be fine no big deal the will love it.  No way!  I sent Troy through and as the guy continued to convince us to just go and as Sheila walked away so did I.  We walked over for a game and Troy said no way for the kids or for me.  Funny that I was included in the who can handle it thought.  People are crazy.  Anyway enjoy the fun pics below.  Nolan is hilarious.

Before Pic

Just so you know I loved Wizard of Oz growing up and I remember watching it every year on tv around thanksgiving.  My Grandma gave me this piece when she passed and it's pretty special to me.  I thought that Gracie would love it as well and thankfully she has loved the movie.

 so funny and so cute.

I just added red ribbon and tulle 

under the skirt for something fun.

The shoes spray painted red and then glitter added.

 Nolan actually left the head on the whole time.

I was shocked!

Nolan was in shock the whole time of what was 

happening but very happy when we got to the car to have a sucker.

the little things

Often I think about the things I love about my kids and grab my camera and try to capture a simple moment.  Even though the lighting is terrible I know that if don't I forget later to capture those small things that just make my heart melt.  This was just part of our morning.

Art Time

With our little home schooling project happening we are always adding something in including Gracie's favorite, art time.

that's my boy

My son for some reason loves his camo pants and his Chiefs jacket and would wear them all the time if I would let him.

as Troy would say, "that's my boy"!

Time Away

Right now Nolan is obsessed with being with Gracie at all times.  For the most part Gracie loves it too but sometimes she is ready for his nap or asks if she can have quiet time.  Quiet times most often means she cozies up in our bed with her ipod but on this day she found a new place to relax...