Halloween

Happy Halloween!!

It started with carving the pumpkins during hurricane Sandy...










Yum!!!!





The finished product...


An early morning Halloween party at daycare!


Off to Nana and Grandma's house!














Then off to trick or treat with friends...


Busy, great day... I think I am more exhausted than the kids!!

It is Picture time!!!

 I was very lucky to receive a great gift from my Mother-In-Law....the gift of pictures!  I think it was a mutual gift as I know she loves seeing these girls smile and I love the idea of a professional taking on the battle of getting two smiles at once!!!

 Individually, they both have adorable smiles....

Riley loved showing her balancing act!

 Look at this innocent smile!!!!

 I LOVE this one...it was bring your pet for pictures week and receive 25% off your total...so I thought to myself...Maggie? Perkins? No WAY!  Beaker & Bunsen (aka the turtles from school)...possibly, the quieter option....then as if on key, one of our monarch butterflies emerged that morning, it was PERFECT!  This picture captures the awe and the reason why I go out every night for milkweed...

 Maddie was all to willing to take this picture...the tough part was the timing of it!  Meghanne, our fabulous photographer, set up the blocks, I ran to the back with Maddie, put her down and had to run out of the shot!  Too cute!  She loved those blocks!

 

Riley was much more willing to pose for her name!

 This one was the best, in my opinion, of the two girls together.  Both smiling, both together, it was luck!

Ah, sisterly love...Riley is currently in the stage where she enjoys hearing the squeal of her little sister...others in the family it is like nails on a chaulkboard...This picture catches it ever so slightly...Riley's devious smile, knowing full well that she is preparing for the squeal, Maddie's nervous/cautious/squealing smile...

Overall, it was a great experience.  The girls did a great job, including waiting patiently (while eating raisins and Cheerios or play with the blocks, or watching the people walk by) while we went through editing and choosing the final pictures.  Thanks Mary for the very generous gift card, it gave me the motivation and the opportunity to get such great shots!!!

Another special visit!!!

With a great surprise birthday party for Jason's Aunt, we were pleasantly surprised at seeing Jason's Dad as well!! There was rumor that he might be able to make it, but we were not completely sure until we saw the whites of his eyes!



WIth that- we packed the weekend to spend some great quality time with Grandpa Charron...he even went down a slide!!!





I don't know who is smiling more, Riley or Grandpa Charron!!!








Maddie was even lucky enough to get in on the Grandpa Charron time too!



Some how I pulled the short straw for this one-- if you know me, you know my love for rollercoasters isn't that great-- jumping out of planes, no problem...roller coasters...I'll pass. But none of the other 'thick' hipped people could fit...so guess what...it is Mom and Riley!


Even ready to go with arms up!!!


One last trip down the slide with Dad....





And the perfect end shot with the entire group-- it was a great day! Thanks Grandpa Charron!

A special visit

There is nothing like having great friends-- I am lucky to have some very special friends, even some from elementary school!!!

We had a great visit from the Bishop family (minus one) over our April vacation...





We shared a desk...


Our kitchen and birthday cake...


And of course went to our favorite park!!!


It was hilarious-- the animals were so well fed this week that they were not interested in our carrots!





A favorite shot!! Thanks Kimmy for being such a great friend...even after days, months, or even years, of not catching up, it is always like we can always pick up right where we left off...thank you.


Clearly this little one couldn't hang....


A favorite!!! Thanks Bishops!!!

Bath time fun with Miss Maddie Moo

Bath time is a great time!!! I LOVE the curls!!!