"Sugar Sugar" ~ The Archies

Friday night we carved our pumpkins. Each of us pick and carve a pumpkin each year. It's a bit of a competition, we each take it very seriously. CC took forever to pick his but finally decided to stick with The Nightmare Before Christmas theme. Bennett decided to do Mickey Mouse's silhouette. We found a great product for Emma that the Mr. Potato Head people put out only they are for pumpkins, and Emma made a Prince Pumpkin Head.
Coop with the help of Dad did the basic toothy smile. I decided to go a bit more unconventional and took CC's drill and a few different drill bits and just made a ton of holes all over my pumpkin. I loved it. It was my disco ball pumpkin and it casted little lights all over the place.
Of course afterward I roasted up the seeds and we have been munching on them ever since.

Saturday was the big night and the kids were excited.
First give me a minute to explain costumes.
Bennett - At first I decided he was simply too old. No more trick or treating for him. But at the last moment he convinced me that he had all the things on hand to create the Left 4 Dead Hunter zombie if only I would get him face paint. I caved. My son the zombie.

Emma decided long ago what she wanted to be - a cheerleader. My mom made her costume and for being half a country away she did a great job because it fit perfectly. We glittered up her hair and got some pompoms and she was in heaven.
GOOOOOO EMMA!!!

Now for my little man. Originally we found this great Mickey Mouse costume at the Disney store and considering CC's job we thought it would be perfect. It was. Only problem was we waited to long to buy it and when we went back it was gone and all they had were Pooh which I just wasn't feeling that for Coop. I don't know what got into my head or how but all the sudden I thought it would be HILARIOUS if Cooper dressed up as a lady bug. It just made me giggle. It still does. I found this adorable Lady Bug costume and considered it as sign. He loved it and I'm only hoping he will love it just as much when I give this to his HS prom date when he's older.

I stayed in and passed out candy while CC took the kiddos door to door. We went through almost 165 pieces of candy, we have a busy neighborhood. The kids got a full bucket each and the night ended all safe and sound at home enjoying a Ghost Hunter's Marathon.

"Orange Crush" ~ REM

I'm trying to do better I really am with the blog thing. I am sitting here with a half eaten package of saltines praying this time it works. Atleast it gave me the time to get some pictures and this blog going right? Be thankful for little things.
Saturday we went to Sweet Berry Farms. It was a perfect day. The weather couldn't have been better. We packed a picnic and made the drive out to the farm. This is our second year visiting this pumpkin patch so the kids knew what to expect and were excited for it.





Now everyone has a pumpkin we have all been discussing how to decorate them. It is a bit of a family competition to come up with the best/original/awe inspiring design. I'll keep you updated.

"Remember" ~ Jack Johnson

Okay I have a lot to catch up on and quite frankly I have little energy to do it justice. That stinks because there really is a lot to do. This will be the Campbell's Soup entry, nicely condensed. Let's see if I can remember it all.

Where to start?
The new issue of GameInformer with Christian's game featured is finally out. It looks great.

I went on my girls trip about a week and a half ago. It was so great to see the girls again. This year we went to the Gulf Coast. It was full of history and beautiful architecture and fun shopping. However, I must admit that I terribly miss the Pacific Northwest beaches. Galveston has an incredible cemetery right there in the middle of town. We spent and evening there wandering around and it was one of my favorite things. Here is a picture of one of the beautiful old headstones I took. I think I took more pictures of the cemetery and architecture than I did of each other this year.
We spent a day at Kemah Bay. Great shopping and food, a requirement and we all went to the aquarium and petted some sting rays.
I really wasn't sure I would be able to do the trip this year because I have been feeling so sick constantly. They are like sisters though, and when I was sick they took it as a time to nap and relax. Luckily I was only sick the first and last day I was there. Counting down the days until next year.

The weather is finally cooling down. The other night CC and I slept with the window's open and the ceiling fan on and almost needed a blanket. It was heavenly.

Christian had a big company BBQ on Saturday. I didn't do too well with the multiple smells of meet cooking but the coleslaw was Divine (see me trying to find the silver lining?) They had bounce houses, games, face painting and some incredible gelato brought in. The kids LOVED the bounce houses. Emma didn't want to leave them. Did I say the kids loved the bounce houses? So did CC by these pictures.




Saturday was also our local Fall Festival. I have to admit that we really didn't get to spend that much time there because I felt sick Fri night and Saturday we had CC's BBQ. However, I really really wanted to enter the bake off again. Friday I came up with a cookie idea and went out and bought the ingredients and Saturday morning I made them for the first time ever. I really didn't think I'd win this year. (I won first last year) but to my surprise I got a call that I won second place. Not bad for a recipe I came up with in my head and only tried out that morning. They were a take on Turtles, chocolate, caramel and pecans with a secret ingredient thrown in for fun. Now on above my kitchen sink I have a trophy and a medal to prove that sometimes I really can cook. I'd post a picture CC took of me but DANG I look bad and since I have posting rights I opt not to share. Trust me I'm not looking great these days.

Yesterday I went to pick up Emma from school and on the way there I just knew I was about to be sick. I hurried into the office and asked to use the bathroom, an adult one please. The poor secretary looked at me like I was victim of the plague or something until I explained to her that I was pregnant and this was one of those moments. I scurried to the bathroom (btw NICE job on the adult bathrooms at JP!) and when I was done I went on to look for Emma. Her VI saw me and said, 'what is wrong with you?! Your face is all red are you okay?' I just laughed as I explained my last few moments. I'm sixteen weeks this week. Shouldn't I be done with this by now?

My boys have been so good to me while I've been sick. I really am lucky. Christian has been cleaning the toilets for me. He offered and when I asked him why he said, "that way when you're sick it won't be as bad." How sweet is that?!
The afternoon and evening are usually my worst times. Sometimes Bennett will come home from school and just can tell I'm not doing well. He is such a good boy. He will say to me, "Mom, I'm home now so if you want to go lay down for awhile Ill watch everyone and take care of things for you." MELT MY HEART!!! I really couldn't ask for more. They take care of me and I am so grateful for their loving and giving ways.

Wicked Game ~ Chris Isaak

It's official!!! (Yes I know that was my opener last post... sue me)
The game Christian has been working on was announced today via GameInformer.
Here is a LINK to the article and the full issue will come out next week.

"Baby Baby" ~ Amy Grant

It's official. The unofficial statement we've waited to make official (although unofficially has already been made) can now officialy be announced. We ARE pregnant!

Doctor says everything looks good at this point. Little one should make his/her grand apperance in April.

"Conjunction Junction" ~ Schoolhouse Rocks

Sweet day! The kids are back in school. I have to admit the day I was so looking forward to made me a little sad when it finally came. I found myself missing the summer together. That lasted until about noon. I recover quickly.
Emma has been counting down back to school day for weeks. She came home the first day and asked if she could go back the next day. Nothing is better than a kid who loves school.
Bennett was my big worry. This is his 3rd school in as many years and the poor kid has had enough of it. Just when he warms up to a school he either moves, moves to a new school because of his grade, or redistricting. Luckily he came home from school with a big smile on his face and a kick in his step. He literally kicked up his heels when he got home.

"Soak Up the Sun" ~ Sherryl Crow

While I wait patiently, okay maybe not that patiently, for the weather to cool off the one bright spot is our pool. It's the only outdoor fun we can endure in this heat.
Bennett loves to dive down to the bottom or practice his hand stands. He also likes to help Em and Coop float out to the deeper ends.
Emma on the other hand loves to bounce and 'pirouette' along the side of the big pool. When she is done with that she likes to go sit in the little pool right next to the jet. I think we should look into getting a hot tub. (hint hint CC)
Coop is fearless. He jumps into the pool and doggy paddles around, with or without me by his side. He doesn't care if it's the deep end or the shallow end just so long as he can jump. I still don't feel comfortable enough to not stay very close by but he's a little water baby. Look out Michael Phelps!