and it started with Halloween...

has it been long enough or what?

is it too late to blog about halloween??

oh well.
i'm blogging, that's what counts, right?

ok, so for starters... we hit the pumpkin patch when Mark was out of town, these were about the only pictures i took as i was wearing a baby, holding a toddler, and chasing a small child... although i am always so amazed and so grateful to lots of friends who jump right in there and help! there were times that it was just me and shelby as the other 2 were being entertained somewhere :)
halloween was great - shelby was the only one who didn't complain about her costume... or complain about anything really... can't say that for the other two! we've really lucked out with such an easy sweet baby. she is just such a delight in every way. i love that when i change her diaper or clothes, she wraps both arms and both legs around my arm and hands like a little monkey. she is so so sweet.

rowan really enjoyed the candy-part of halloween this year! loved chasing the neighbors to all the houses and saying "trick or treat" - so glad he didn't notice when all his candy got thrown out the next day! mark and i couldn't stop eating it and we had to do something to get on track with all the holidays coming! so, we started training for a half marathon...
rowan and jake shared their birthday party again this year and i LOVE doing that. my lovely friend brittany is more than fabulous when it comes to throwing a party. that girl knows how to do it! and i always need help in that area... let's just say creativity is NOT a strong suit of mine... i have to work really really hard, and steal ideas because i rarely come up with them on my own.

the party was a hit because the kids dressed up in their costumes, they danced (brobee even made an appearance - aka bennett with moves you've never seen!), ate pizza, ran around the backyard like crazed animals, and endured the 80 degree heat, in which they all slept like babies afterward... i call that a success!

we hosted thanksgiving this year at our house with the Phillips' & the Sticht's and we couldn't have enjoyed it more! but i think i was more excited about my table setting than the food! remember those darling target commercials where the young newly-wed wifey hosts thanksgiving with her in-laws and gets everything at target? yeah, i was her... and i loved it!

i cooked my own turkey (yep, that was my first time)! couldn't have done it without Laura's help!! thank you for responding so quickly to all my 911 calls. it actually turned out really good! i was quite proud... the food was so yummy and even more exciting because Laura and I did our very own turkey trot (6 mile run) that morning and banked our 500 calories (which was probably one measly sprinkles cupcake... which i did have btw, in all their thanksgiving flavors, pumpkin, cranberry orange, dark chocolate, etc. etc...) but don't you think i burned that much cooking the turkey? i SO deserved BOTH those cupcakes. ;)

well, that's about all i can blog tonight...

so, stay tuned for my next post... CHRISTMAS.
then i'm not that far behind...