Well, I am way behind but I refuse to give up! I will definitely post the Nov, Dec and Jan blog entries. I am developing carpal tunnel issues so with all the photography I do, I try to spend as little time at the computer as possible. Besides, my three main clients are keeping me pretty busy.

Instead of waiting, I have decided to post the Valentines that I made for the kiddos this year. I stayed up ALL night editing photos from the shoot and there were sooo many to choose from! Peter helped me with it which gets better smiles than when I try to go it alone. These little nuggets look good enough to eat! I kept Katy's blank so she can write her own name on each one for her little school friends. Her party is going to be tomorrow. Maybe I'll get a sitter and just drop by for some pictures. It's a disease, I know. She even came up with her own pose for the picture! I was trying to direct her this way and that, telling her to cross her legs like a lady... Next thing ya know she just tossed her legs up over the side of the rocking chair, crossed her ankles and perfection was achieved! This chair was kidnapped from Mom's house. It's one that my sisters and I grew up with, and Mom has glued it many times. Katy even supervised once so she cautioned me to be "berry, berry cawe-ful" with it.

I will try to catch up soon with my journaling.

The month of October brought another holiday first for Hannah: Halloween! Also, it's her first Autumn. So many potential photo shoots, so little time (and energy and hard drive space).

To kick off things, we got in the Halloween spirit by carving up our pumpkin. I generally design the thing with no fore-thought or technique, and then Peter skillfully brings it to life. I could put a lot of time into coming up with great ideas, but I'll let others have that glory. Also, our pumpkin was already half-rotted when we cut into it, so what's the point? For the first time ever, Peter did not cook and eat the seeds. Good times!

Katy sang her song about Halloween and saying "Boo" to everything. I just love her school and all the little ditties that she brings home. I remember her singing it last year, too. The yummy part is that Allen and Hannah will echo Katy's voice in song for years to come. Ah, tradition!

Another first for us this year was that Katy and Allen only had one costume each. Normally I can't decide what they should wear so I string together several choices from gum and toothpaste or whatever I can find. I couldn't let Hinty Baninty have just one costume so she was un-officially Daddy's little vampire and also a brown bear. I've never seen a cuter bear in my life. And that little vampire can bite me anytime. And I'm sure she will someday soon...she's teething.




The real and truly official costumes for the kiddos this year are from the movie "The Wizard of Oz" which Katy just happens to love. One might assume Katy would be Dorothy because she has the perfect hair for it, but I can't do anything normal.

Allen's lion suit came from the store, free with the purchase of Katy's dress. Mom and I decided that Mom should add more material for his mane. You can't have a wimpy lion's mane and still be the cowardly lion. C'mon. Katy's Good Witch Glenda crown was made by me and there was even some sewing in it. Same for Hannah's blue dress, but not her white shirt. Her Dorothy wig was made by stitching fancy, shiny yarn to Allen's Astros cap. Peter didn't appreciate how the cap was violated, but after Halloween it was returned to normal. The red glitter got on EVERYTHING so mostly I just tied the ruby slippers around a black stuffed dog's neck for effect.

Here we are just a couple days before Halloween at the presidential library for some practice trick-or-treating. Mom and I were the bad witches from the movie. I SO love her orange hair and green nose in this pic. She wore it almost the entire time, and Katy didn't like it on her Snugglebunny's face. After an hour and a half of waiting, we finally got into the library. It was a really long line but I'm too stubborn to know when I should quit. Did I mention that I didn't have a stroller with me? Peter joined us just as we entered the library after he got off work, allegedly. Me thinks that was convenient. Then we visited McDonald's for our supper at 9pm. The kids had fun so I guess that's all that matters. One funny thing that happened at the library: a local radio station had a sign up with their name on it (Candy 95) and Mom thought they were selling candy for 95 cents...at a trick or treating venue. HAHAHAHAHA! She was horrified!
On the actual day of Halloween, Katy went to school and partied with her friends in her full Glenda costume. They unfortunately assumed she was just another princess and she didn't correct them. Dang!

I dressed Allen and Hannah up in the costume of their choice. Allen was Cookie Monster (of course) and Hannah was a little brown monkey, Allen's costume from last year. We then visited Peter at work because I'm a fabulous wife. Turns out I should have called in advance because he was in a meeting but eventually he was able to come out and see us. Allen scored some candy there, so he was all smiles.

Later that night we went to the church for a Trunk-Or-Treat and a carnival in the gym. Hannah rode around in her bumbo seat in the wagon and she happily sucked on her Dorothy hair until someone gave her a sucker. Her first sucker! She loved it! Katy and Allen played games and ran through the haunted house and jumped in the bounce house. Cupcakes were devoured and they played with a dancing "skelton." Then on to the parking lot for candy, candy, candy. I can see that Halloween is going to be one of their favorite holidays.

To finish off the big day, we headed over to Jerry and Kathy's house, another tradition. We weren't the only ones, either. Jake and Hillary were there with more of their family and friends. Sean loaned Allen his 70's glam wig. Lovely color for him. Katy had lots of fun handing out candy to the many, many, many visitors that night. The door bell didn't stop ringing until late. Her policy was something like "one for me, one for you, three chocolates for me." We must be related. :o)
Our host and hostess were Dog the Bounty Hunter for their Halloween party from an earlier evening. What BIG HAIR they have! It's mullet-licious! Mullet-tastic! So much mullet-tude! Makes me want to bail jump just to have them give chase.

All in all, October was a fabulously fun month to live through, but a beast to blog about. Even as I type things up, I am reminded how blessed we are. I still say I need to hire a personal assistant to take care of my blogging. Well, it's 2am so I'm off to bed. More in November as the year 2009 slowly winds down.

Since Hannah is seven months old today (Oct 12th for posting purposes but really Dec 8th) then I am posting TONS of Hanny pics! She is simply gorgeous and everyone comments on how much she looks like Allen. I am sure they will both take offense as the years go by. We couldn't have a cuter, sassier and happier baby. She just glows!

Katy was at school for these photo shoots but Allen had fun helping out with his Hanny. He never calls her anything else, just Hanny. It's too adorable. He would walk over hot coals for her. He would turn down chocolate for her. He would almost say no to a ride in a fire truck for her. We all have our limits, ya know.


I complain about laundry quite a bit. Here is an illustration of the all-consuming, life-sucking force that tries to take over my life.And I'm not talking about Jaxson the cat perched on our purple Kathy Gore blankey. She's going to be ticked when she sees him on it, though. Laundry is the bane of my existence. Even after it's all sorted, checked, washed, dried and folded, someone needs to put it away. Makes me almost want to have octuplets just so someone else will come in once a week and do my laundry.

Allen played on the computer one day. This is the not-so-helpful result. Scary, huh? I had to actually flip the monitor upside down for a while to work.

One very full and busy day we tackled a visit to Mom's house with bike riding, a trip to the park for Play Group and pumpkin carving, more fun at Mom's and then a trip to the Bounce. Maggie came along for some of our good times, and we LOVE having her. Katy never disagrees with Maggie, which is something I can't say for anyone else she knows. Mom came to the park and kept our Hannah Banana safe from harm. I had my hands full just keeping Allen from breaking something, either on himself or on the park.

I guess this speaks for itself. Oh, how Allen loves his monster costume. Since it's blue and has googly eyes he insists it's Cookie Monster. Tis the season for dress-up.

Also, tis apparently the season for black skulls with smoke coming out the eyes. Allen loved it! We were shopping at Half Priced Books and he wouldn't come away from the "skelton." He would say, "Wanna touch it." What a brave boy! Again, Katy was at school.

Allen hasn't met a motorcycle that he doesn't like.

Katy's dance class encouraged her to bring a friend one day. Maggie came along and they had a fabulous time. Kalan is already in regular attendance and Sage lives too far away, so we just had Maggie. The actual dancing was so fun to watch but after class let out, the ladies were brave enough to return to the class room and try out their moves. Allen even join in and peeked over at some older ladies who were strutting their stuff. They may have been eight years old, but he was undaunted. When you're the complete package like that little man, what's to fear?

After a tiring work-out, Wendy's sounds pretty good!

I am not creative to come up with this on my own, but one of my favorite blogs to stalk shared this idea for a movie night treat. Blue jello with one eye ball in it to represent "Bob" from Monsters Versus Aliens. How cool is that? I'm good, right? Wrong. Apparently it tasted disgusting and Mom, Peter, Katy and even Allen wouldn't eat it. What a waste. They loved the movie, though. Katy's favorite character was Ginormica and Allen loved the roach...of course.

Our Wal-mart is remodeling into a super. Woe unto me. Until then, Allen loves watching the diggers and cranes at work. And Hanny loves watching me...or Mom, who is more often pushing Hanny's cart.

Guess that's it till Halloween!

Welcome October! This is a month of fun, festivities, fotos and CANDY!

October 6th marks my 3rd year of blogging, although the amount of blogging I do these days has dropped off since then. I used to do it almost every day. I never knew when I started that I would still be doing it by now. It's so much fun to look back and see the kids looking so young.

I haven't been posting much but I have been changing up the header a bit. It's been fun logging on and seeing the kids with their smiling little faces.

For a flash-back moment, here is a shot of Katy and Allen early in the month of March. Amy was in town setting up our wii and she put Hannah on as one of the characters. I remember being so happy because it was a sign of her faith that Hannah was really joining our family. Later, once we started playing, Allen kept insisting that it wasn't Hannah's character, that it was Gramma Grape. HAHAHAHA!

Sometimes we need to break out of routine and just hang out with friends. Some time in the first part of October we loaded up and headed down to York & Stacy's house to have a play date. Kate Z. joined us, too with her son Brady. Stacy's Brock was at school that day, which was sad because he sounds like the perfect match for our Katybird.

The highlight of our time was when Stacy let Katy drive the three wheeler. Stevie Wonder would have done a better job. She ran into the pool fence, the patio furniture, the baby trees and the bushes. She clothes-lined herself on the trampoline, and instead of saving her, I took pictures while Stacy held Hannah and saved them. Allen hung on for dear life but he wasn't scared. He loved every minute of it! At one time Katy almost ran over Brady!

I treated myself to more fun with friends when I joined Delma and Angela for our second annual Girls Weekend Getaway. What happens in Seguin, stays in Seguin. It was TONS of fun and Delma had the best possible surprise for us - she is PREGGERS! Since she is 27 and holding, she may never be too old to have a baby. hahaha! Keep 'em comin'!

Here are some random shots of the kids. Katy made her hat for rainbow day. Allen dressed himself and was quite proud. Hanny was just looking cute, like always. Allen dressing his "man" for church with a tie. Katy ready for school. Gotta love Octobers in Texas!

Amy's puppies came to visit for a few days and we took them for a walk to the park. We had a picnic and the pups loved it! Of course, Katy and Allen loved it more.

Here is a picture of Hannah drinking her bottle. It was quite a trick to take it while I was feeding her, I'm sure. It's been so long ago I barely remember. I do, however, remember why I took it. Hanny has a little dent in her forehead when she's looking up at you like this. Katy has a dent in her nose. Allen always has some kind of dent in his knuckle head from one adventure or another. I love my dented little kiddos!

And finally, we had a spa night and Hannah had her nails painted for the first time. What a little diva! Katy earned another quarter by feeding Miss Hanny her bottle. Katy always has her toe nails painted and Allen usually asks for the same. He points out that Aunt Amy does it for him, but I keep trying to convince him that boys don't get painted, and Aunt Amy is a "lunaticket" which is a Katy-ism for lunatic. Instead we let him use the ducky towel and pretend to be a duck. Yes, that's much more masculine.

Well, that sums up the first part of the month. More later.