Pumpkin Carving and Costume Sewing

I decided to carve pumpkins solo. Halloween just isn't the same without a pumpkin! The twins took turns sticking their hands into the slimy inside of the pumpkin and then jumped back with a horrified look on their faces. In turn they hurried back to get one more handful of goop and were quite intrigued with the finished product!

I am NOT a seamstress

Making children's costumes seems like such a motherly thing to do. Last year I was too overwhelmed with keeping up with feedings and diaper changes to put any thought into what the babies would wear for Halloween. This year however, I was determined to make their costumes. Perhaps the first sign this was a quickly floundering fantasy was the fact that the only patterns that I could find were for cowboy/cowgirl outfits. I had envisioned Raggedy Ann and Andy but, apparently patterns are not as abundant as costumes. I proudly purchased the materials and pattern feeling extremely thrifty and very maternal. At home my smile faded as I looked at the 74 (yes 74!!!!!!!!!!!!!) steps to make a silly looking cowboy outfit!

Currently the pieces of these costumes are scattered all over the bedroom, I have spent HOURS of precious no baby time devoted to this project, and I have absolutely no desire to finish it. I think my short lived foray into sewing is officially over! Tomorrow I may break down and try to purchase already assembled costumes!!!

I'm cute too!

Shoes, coats, and hats!

Lately Patrick has expanded his fascination with shoes to include coats and hats. Anytime anyone who is at our house puts their coat on, he immediately grabs his and tries to have the closest person put it on. I have taken to hiding my shoes because otherwise I can't find them. Patrick has figured out how to put them on, walk in them, and then deposit them wherever his attention span wanders. As if it wasn't already hard enough to get out of the house!!!! Any hat he can get his hands on, he wants to wear. Watch out if you enter my house and happen to be wearing a hat...........it will soon be taken!

Neat Vs. Messy

Patrick and Cassidy have two very different styles of food consumption. Patrick loves to mash, squish, throw, put food in and take food out of his mouth, and of course eventually eat it. Cassidy prefers to meticulously clean her tray until it is clean. It's no surprise who it's harder to clean up after!

Goodbye Keegan:(

Keegan and Courtney have been spending a lot of time with us lately. We all have so much fun together but, unfortunately for us, they are moving to Illinois at the end of the month. Keegan and Cassidy look more like twins than Patrick! The three of them love to run around and play and Cassidy even hugs Keegan. We can't wait until Christmas when they will come and visit!!!!!

Pa Pa

Today Mima and Papa came over to watch the babies while I went to volunteer at Payton's school. Cassidy was so excited to see her grandpa she actually said Pa Pa!!!! That is the first name she has said besides Mama and Dada!

Fun in Fairbanks...

We had our first adventure to Fairbanks this weekend for Payton's hockey team. His team was taking a bus and Steve and I decided to spare the kids and parents the wrath of the twins on the six hour drive.

The first sign of trouble was the high wind warning through the pass we were supposed to drive through. The second was when our power went out as we tried to rush the family out the door. As we pulled onto the Parks Highway Steve jokingly reminded me of the family who was stranded a few years back in a snowstorm..............then the snow began to pelt the windshield. We drove in white out conditions, the defrost on high, peering out the windshield trying to determine where exactly the road was. Who ever would have thought the first weekend in October would bring a snowstorm!!! Eight and a half hours later we thankfully pulled into Fairbanks.

Payton's team did really well in all their games. They had five games in three days and won all but one! I was so busy chasing the twins around that the only pictures I took were of the kids playing the hotel room:(

Discipline.....

We've started time-outs. So far Cassidy is the only one who has needed them. She's had two and seems to be learning what behavior is acceptable and what is not. She does not approve of these time-outs and resents my attempts to reign her in. As you can see she looks pretty pitiful, I tell her it's not torture but she begs to disagree.

Both of the twins have started sharing though! Positive re-enforcement seems to be working and I clap my hands and give them lots of attention when I catch them in the act. They have even starting hugging each other!

Jibber Jabber

The twins vocabulary has exploded this month. They are talking up a storm! It seems like every day there is a new word or phrase they discover. I decided to try and think of everything they can now say.....

Cassidy:

You do it!

Give it back!

What's that?

Mama

Dada

Patrick:

Peekaboo

Ball

Dog

Mama

Dada

Up

Please

As you can see Cassidy is the bossier of the two. I have to be careful what I say...........she is turning into a little parrot!

You do it!

The twins received the book From Head to Toe by Eric Carle from the Altman gang for their birthday. This quickly became Cassidy's favorite book and she brings it to me constantly throughout the day to read.

Yesterday, after work, Steve walked in the door and was greeted by the kids. Still standing, he asked Cassidy to get something for him. Craning her head, she pointed her tiny finger at him and said, "You do it!" Shocked, Steve looked at me and asked what I'd been teaching the kids.
I must admit, I was perplexed. Where had my daughter come up with this new catch phrase?

Today it dawned on me. While reading, From Head to Toe, I turned my head like a penguin for the millionth time and then read the next line, "Can you do it?" She smiled, "You do it, you do it!" she said waiving her little pointer finger at me.

Uggggg....I suppose I should find a book on please and thank you.