Halloween Extravaganza

I love the fall and everything about it (that's probably only because it doesn't get too cold here. Otherwise I might not have such kind words to say about it.) Although I do LOVE hot chocolate, and something about hot chocolate and summers don't mix, so it's nice for a little cool down to hit up my favorite 7-11 hot chocolate bar. Now don't go judging the 7-11 hot chocolate bar until you've tried it...it's soooo good! Anyhow, I especially love halloween because it's the kickoff to a long holiday season. I even think one of these years Matt and I will join in the fun and dress up. We, or maybe I should say I, always have good intentions to, but seem to spend too much time worrying about getting the kids the right costumes and time runs out. My sister-in-law Keri was in town last week (which we always love) and we had some pre-halloween festivities last week with the cousins. I must say Carson and Brynlee made up the cutest peter pan and tinkerbell duo that I have ever seen. Matt was little nervous of a son in tights and was hoping I would take his suggestion to dress them as a tougher duo- Jack Bauer and Chloe, but I think once he saw how cute they looked he had a change of heart. Plus peter pan has manned up a bit and lost the tights. Grandma Karen had a fun cousins halloween party on Thursday and on Saturday we went to our parents ward trunk-or-treat. I'm such a fan of trick or treating amongst friends and not having to inspect every piece of candy. We got a few shots of the kids, but luckily we still have tomorrow to attempt one more where they're both smiling:)

Sky and Brynlee
Carson and Spence showing off their work

All the cousins at Trunk-or-Treat

Fall Festivities

On Tuesday we went to Orange county with Matt in an attempt to escape the smoke down in San Diego. Both Carson and I were so stir crazy being locked up indoors for so long and really wanted to get out and do something. We met up with Matt's sister and her kids for lunch and then went to a fun pumkin patch. That night all Matt's family got together for dinner at BJ's- a great break from all the fire craziness!
Grandpa and the kiddies.

Crazy Days

Well it's been kind of a surreal and crazy week with all the fires going on...at one point I thought these fires were the end of southern california:) There has been such an eerie feeling the last few days with smoke filled skies and a red sun, but luckily the worst has passed and we're finally seeing blue. We were so much more fortunate than others as we were evacuated in the middle of the night (about 2:30 am) monday morning, but able to come back to our house by Monday night. We ended up staying at my parents until Wednesday morning until we felt pretty confident that we wouldn't go back home only to be re-evacuated. Our hearts truly go out to all those who have suffered any sort of loss. I have to say I have been soooo impressed with how San Diego has handled this crisis. It is amazing and touching how a community comes together in times of need.

Here's a couple pics of how cool the sun has looked and one of the smoke above our house. (the 2nd pic is the sun in the middle of the day)

Baby Got Back

Good thing Brynlee's not any older...she might not appreciate this post. I couldn't resist sharing the best legs you've ever seen!!!!!!

Wiggle Worm

Carson was the most mellow of mellow babies, so I was expecting a little payback with my second cause everyone says you don't have two easy ones in a row right? I wouldn't completely call it payback with Brynlee cause she's the happiest little thing around and getting to be soooo much fun. She'll smile anytime and make our hearts melt a thousand times a day. But, that being said, that girl can move. She gets into anything and everything within reach, and unfortunately more and more is getting within reach the bigger she gets! She's constantly on the move keeps us on our toes. She's definitely much wigglier than carson ever was. I had to laugh when I got her out of bed this morning looking like this:


Zipper and button fully in tact...explain that one!

So Long, Farewell...

So the last couple months, Carson has been in a big boy bed, and things haven't gone as smoothly as we had hoped. (a slight understatement) More fitting would be to say i've had many a days where I've wanted to throw the bed out the window-if only it wasn't so big. (okay that might be a slight overstatement-it is quite a cozy bed after all) Here is why i don't like the bed: Carson's sleeping schedule pre-big boy bed: - 1 nap a day about 2-3 hours. Nightime sleep- in bed between 7:30 and 8:30 and sleeping until 8 the next morning. Carson's sleeping schedule post big boy bed: In bed by 7:30, and sometimes not falling asleep until 10:00. Naps on occasion when he is on the brink of exhaustion. We've even resorted to putting a baby gate on his room so he can't come out, but unfortunately that doesn't get him to sleep. Somehow he finds something entertaining enough to keep him up, even though he has NO toys or books in there. The clothes in his laundry basket were fill-ins for tractors the other day. Now I appreciate the creativity, but seriously, why won't he fall asleep? All i know is it drives me crazy! He could just be to the age where he doesn't need a nap anymore, but the thought of not having that 2 hrs. a day to myself where both kids are down is so sad that i'm not quite willing to accept that possibility yet.

So today Matt and I decided was the big day to send off Carson's beloved binky to the trashman. How this will help him sleep I don't know...but here's to hoping. We both just got to the point where we think he's old enough to not need it, and it was easy to explain that to him. He has never gotten to have the binky during the day since he was one, it's just been a night time companion- but a good one. We never saw reason to take it away because he has ALWAYS gone to bed soooo easily with it and been such a champion sleeper, so why mess with a good thing. Clearly it's not helping lately (probably not hurting, but definitely not helping.) So we gave him one last suck this morning, took it out to the big trash, and watched the trashman take it away. We also went to target and let him pick out one special prize for being such a big boy (this is seriously a momentous occasion in our home) and hopefully we can use that prize to remind him he doesn't need his bink. Well of coarse in true Carson fashion he picked a little semi-truck with a tractor in tow, that he has been glued to since we got home. Note the picture up top. He couldn't be more proud!

Well here we are the afternoon of his first nap without a binky, and he's been in his room crying on and off for almost 2 hrs. because he didn't want to stop playing with his new toy. Looks like another napless day! ahhhhhh!
Even though the outcome of a binkyless sleeping carson is yet to be determined we had some fun taking pics of the goodbye!


One last suck

A big muscle flex for a big guy

Nothing put in this nasty diaper infested trash is ever coming out!!



goodbye binky!!!!