Happy Halloween

This year Kaelin was Belle and Hailey was Minnie Mouse. Hailey's costume was borrowed from a friend - and it was Amazing! Kaelin ended up with three Belle dresses (through a hand me down, and a purchase made by me when oops we already had one at home!) AGH!

Anyhow they loved trick or treating even though they were tired of walking after about halfway through our neighborhood. Hailey actually was quite happy most the evening - but I didn't catch much of that on camera.

I ended up staying home to hand out candy - knowing I wasn't going to be able to carry the girls when I got tired, so Justin went with them. Not to many pictures this year - but here are a few.

Hailey with Aunt Amy - she has been missing Aunt Amy since I have been home for surgery and not working as much. Aunt Amy usually watches them while I work. I think she is ready to start seeing Aunti regularly again this week!

The trick-or-treating crowd:

Kaelin and her best friend Abby. They are VERY good at including Hailey!

Marc & Shannon's Wedding

Marc and Shannon were married yesterday (extended family). Their wedding was beautiful. Amy and Brad were Matron of Honor and Best Man, and Dominic (our nephew) was a ring bearer. The wedding was in the afternoon at 2, with the reception at 7. During the break in between the wedding and the reception, we were able to Trunk or Treat at Kaelin's school and go home for naps! Here are some pictures of the girls and Dominic:

(You will see these dresses again - as they are this year's Christmas dresses! They were bought by Grandma Donna and came with matching dresses for their babies. Yes - the babies also made it to the wedding and reception :) )

The girls and Dominic were Hysterical on the dance floor~ They had a blast!!!

Update

A friend reminded me today that I haven't posted a post-surgery update. So here you go.

Yesterday was my 3 &1/2 week check up. I am now allowed to drive! Also I can pick up items that are 20lbs. I still can't pick up the girls but I am allowed to hold them if someone hands them too me. I also am allowed to vacuum - small amounts at a time (aka I cannot do the whole house in an hour like I usually do) - this is a big deal for me, as we have Bandit (our husky) who sheds ALL THE TIME! I go for another my final checkup in 6 weeks.

I am VERY thankful for Justin and for our family friend/future sister-in-law, Jessica (Jecca). She has been here every day to help out with the girls and driving needs. Justin has really pitched in with the girls, around the house and making his work appointments around any of our needs.

I had a very small infection in the actual surgical site. The doctor yesterday removed part of the infected stitch and put me on a bit of antibiotics just to finish clearing it up. The surgery definitely served it's purpose. I have not had a migraine or arm pain/numbness since the surgery - it was very effective.

Fall Leaf Fun

Last night we had a family dinner at Papa Tom's and Grandma Barb's. Before dinner, Uncle Jasey picked up a rake (I know, we were ALL shocked ) :), and raked a big pile of leaves for the kids to play in. They all had a blast!

Here are some pictures Justin got for me :

Halloween Sugar Cookies

Today Coralee, Jecca's mom, sent us a big bag of sugar cookie dough and 4 different colors of frosting, so that we could make cookies with the girls today. She even provided Halloween cookie cutters - a bat, witch head, ghost, moon and small and large pumpkins.

The girls had A LOT of fun and it was a wonderful change to our mundane lives these past few weeks. Here are some pictures:

We baked the cookies in the morning before bath time, lunch and naps. Here is Kaelin helping Jecca cut out the cookies.

Though she may have had more fun just flinging around flour. :)

Hailey started playing with small bits of dough. First she was rolling them into balls (which she usually does with playdough), then she was making pies (copying her sister).

I loved Hailey's face in this picture - and the fact she is covered in flour - face, nightgown and arms.

We started frosting after nap-time. Thankfully we had this fun project waiting, because Hailey woke up CRABBY!

Kaelin worked very hard on her first few cookies. We have never seen her try to make them look realistic. It only lasted for a few -but here is her first pumpkin.

Yep Hailey is licking her knife (side note - it is a kids' plastic IKEA knife =harmless). Her idea of frosting cookies.

Now that she has eaten all the frosting for the cookie - time to eat the actual cookie.

Attempt number 2 - it went about the same :)

Hailey is telling me she is all done here, but it looks like she is saying, "What Mess?".

Close Up of the Messy Face

Kaelin had SO Much fun - she was actually a little upset when the cookies were gone

(though I will admit that Jecca and I were ready to be done).

These are the 5 cookies that Hailey started to frost/decorate, and instead licked clean or ate.

Here are the 2 that actually made it through Hailey's process.

I frosted them and she was the decorator.

Here are Kaelin's finished masterpieces. The first few were simple and realistic. Each one after that became more mounded with frosting and sprinkles. Only the brave will eat these cookies. :)

Here are the cookies Jecca and I plowed through. There were a few creative in the beginning. But then it became frost and sprinkle.

All in all it was a fun activity. We were very thankful to Coralee for providing the supplies :)! To finish the day, they took an evening field trip with Jecca to visit her Mom, Grandma and Aunt. They took a plate of cookies with them (of course), and came home with candy corn and apples.

Jecca is even staying the night tonight as Justin is on his first business trip since my surgery (he will be home tomorrow). The girls are excited that Jecca is sleeping over and will be here when they wake up!

We are so blessed by Jecca in all her help during my surgery and these weeks of recovery - and thankful to her family and Uncle Chris for sharing her with us.

Pumpkin Carving and a day visiting in Grove City

Saturday was a busy but fun day for our family. It started with a Pumpkin Carving party at the McCreadie home in Grove City. We had so much fun!

Hailey wanted nothing to do with the pumpkin carving - but loved to 'mow' and eat MANY pieces of watermelon.

Kaelin dug right in, helping Daddy to clean out the pumpkins.

She wanted a heart for her pumpkin nose and Daddy did exactly what she wanted.

I loved this picture of Hailey, Daddy and the pumpkin he carved for her.

She then had to point out features of the pumpkin for me - eyes, nose and mouth.

Matt Donnelly brought an electric saw to carve his pumpkins! I thought it was Awesome!

He managed to make a Mike Wasowski (sp?) from Monsters Inc. with the saw.

I was impressed.

Mandie and Justin's nephew's pumpkin - very funny!

After the pumpkin party we had a brief visit with Papa Tom and Grandma Barb and then headed to Great Grandma and Grandpa Trezona's for the evening. It has been a long time since we have gotten to just visit with Grandma and Grandpa. It was a very enjoyable evening. The girls had a blast playing with all the toys, while Justin and Grandpa visited and watched some game :). Grandma and I got to visit as well - which I loved.

Grandma gave the girls each a Gogurt. Kaelin has had them before and likes them, but this was Hailey's first time. You can tell from the next two pictures she LOVED it and LOVED that Grandma was helping her!

All in all it was a very fun day for the whole family!

GCC Homecoming 2010

We made it to Grove City College Homecoming 2010!

The girls LOVED getting candy at the parade - though Hailey needs to be a bit quicker :). They both got painted (hands/faces), and got to play in a bounce around. We mostly spent the day with the McCreadie Family - and had a blast!

Funny thing - Mandie has a picture of Kaelin and JJ the year before walking in front of us holding hands. AWWW

After we were done at the college we walked over to the Pee Wee football game where a friend's daughter and a cousin of Justin's girls were cheering. Today happened to be daddy day. So - Uncle Brian and Paul got to cheer WITH their daughters at half-time. Yes - it was hysterical and adorable! Yes- I have a video. I have it posted on Facebook but not here :).

Hailey was attached to Uncle Brian this afternoon, which was cute - but odd, as she is usually slightly afraid of him.

The girls definitely let us know when the day was over. No naps = a lot of whining! But all in all it was a great day. Time for me to rest now!