Happy Halloween

Someone was happy to see her Daddy! One yon Mom was ready to have her Husband's helping hands. Yup I'm not ashamed, I was more than ready to have a bit of a reprieve.

Those two sure missed each other! Once I told Addie that we were going Home to see Daddy and Ellie Dog she would just say Addie's home and grin! What can I say she is a Daddy's girl!

CHEESE! What can I say those two are still excited about being reunited!

Thank goodness for the Beddes's. We left the airport grabbed some Dinner and met them at the Farmstead (corn maze and festive activities). We were not quiet prepared for the cold, thank goodness Torrie had a trunk full of layers of warmth.

Addie and her buddy Isaiah hanging out with the goats. He is so cute with her, even though he is 8 he plays with her and lets her tag along, it really is cute.

Wooo hoo bring on the candy, I'm ready.

Lets go trick or treating!

If you can't tell we are a family of witches.

We like to call ourselves the Next Generation of Potters. Notice our Harry, I bet you didn't know that Harry Potter lived in Idaho.

We are off to scout out some good loot!

One little witch just couldn't make it, all that being cute wore her out!

Not much later our other witch needed some assistance, she just couldn't walk anymore. Not that I was complaining, she insisted on wearing her squeaker boots and Dad was the lucky one to carry her home, from the far side of the neighborhood.

Ahhhhhh it feels good to be in our warm house, with our Dad and enjoy our loot.

What a weekend! We started in Arkansas, made it safely to home just in time to hang out with friends and get lost in a forever long corn maze in the freezing coldness of Idaho, and then go home unpack and get ready for a deluxe night of Halloween goodness. Too bad I am completely out of treats, picked completely clean! Ahhh good thing next week is going to be boring, I could use a little boring.

Lots to learn in Arkansas

In our family we value all that family has to offer. We truly value our family and enjoy spending lots of time with them, so we try to make the most of our visits to Arkansas. With Arkansas being so far, we don't seem to make it as much as we like, but when we are there we always make lots of memories. This trip it seemed to be a big learning adventure for Addie, She kept surprising me with new phrases and abilities. It is amazing how fast children learn, the learn things even when you don't think they are even watching!

Inotda thoroughly enjoyed teaching Avery how to properly lounge. She had Avery with the soft blanket, what can I say I'm raising a sucker for plushy goodness.

Here we have Pops teaching Addie how be a WWF fighter. Those two played forever. Throwing pillows, wrestling, tickling, laughing and genuinely having a great time.

Meli taught Addie how to make her own necklaces. Next time I think will give Addie bigger beads to work with!

Addie decided that she would share this wealth of new knowledge with her Strawberry Shortcake friends. So here she is in her house reading to her friends and teaching them about all her new found skills.

Cinderella must have a Cinderella pumpkin for Halloween. She insisted on a Cinderella pumpkin, but wanting nothing to do with the creating of said Cinderella pumpkin! Stinkin' kid leaving Mom to do all the dirty work.

Avery learned all about laundry, too bad she is still to young to be my little laundry elf!

Ooooooh Laaaa La. For Inotda's birthday (39th of course) we treated her to her first pedicure ever. We also taught Addie how to appreciate the finer things in life, like a nice relaxing pedi!

Yes sandals at the end of October. I'm not lying it was really sandal weather. Even more amazing Addie sat still long enough to get blue with white bokadots.

Addie might not want anything to do with being photographed but he learned all about being a photographer's assistant. She did not want to leave Kimmie's side, not even to get in a picture.

It is true Mom and Lewy still haven't learned to appreciate the indigenous plants of the area. They still prefer the tropical variety. So Addie learned the art of preserving the plants on the eve of the 1st freeze. Building a sheet yurt over the massive Oleander and digging up the Bird of Paradise, and the transformation of house to green house. It is only fair to pawn this tradition off onto the next generation.

Inotda also taught Addie the lost art of icing store purchased cookies and pretending that they are homemade!

Most importantly we learned how to travel. I feel so blessed to have been able to travel across the country with my 2 girls and survive to tell the tale. We actually made it rather smoothly to Arkansas and survived the 4 hour lay over. It was on the way home that we encountered the small hiccup. Sweet Avery had a massive blowout, and I forgot to pack and extra outfit. Yes, I was that Mom traveling with the mostly naked baby! Oh well, we made it and would still be willing to do it again!

Yup, I can make a mess, but at least I'm cute and didn't cry much!

Hanging in Arkansas

Yes we are in Arkansas again, well me and the girls! Paul is living it up in Idaho until he heads out on the high seas and sets sail to the Bahamas! While Dad's away the girls will play! And play and play until we can't play anymore!

Family outing to Fast Lanes! Cinderella turned out to be a better bowler than her Mother! Yes it is true I was schooled by a 3 year old!

Stutte Family outing, I know we actually all went out and had a great time, even Avery enjoyed the outing. The Hogs won, and we didn't have to watch a terrible movie at Dad's! Woo Hooo, who cares that it rained, and rained and pored down rain some more.

Thanks Inotda, baby in the buggy, while the spunky sometimes wild Addie is in the vacinity. Sounds like a recipe for disaster!

Charlie came to play! Not quite like Ellie dog but he sure knows how to wear a girl out! I think they both had fun, I know Addie did!

Auntie Meli has also been helping Addie become an avid angler, we haven't made it out of the backyard. This way I don't actually have to worry about touching a fish or cleaning a fish and heaven forbid cooking a fish!

Av a matic just hanging out!

It wouldn't be a trip to Inotda's house if we didn't put Addie's house up. She has taken over all the old Barbies and Meli's pink pony, after she rode the pony around and gave everyone a ride, she decided that the Pony needed to sleep with her!

Little Miss Cinderella has taken over Addison! For days she has had to wear her Cinderella dress. Now if we could get her to act ladylike while dressed like a Princess, instead of the wild alligator, angler, wild child and avid bowler!

Did I mention that it has been 80 degrees here! I almost packed swimsuits but I thought, No way its the end of October it will definitely be to cold to swim. Not for our Addie Pie. She even went all the way in, me and Avery had to jump in to help our over ambitious fish of a child!

Avery is just observing all the craziness that her sister can come up with! It is a good thing I have one mellow child! Well mostly mellow.

Good thing Innotda has a Nemo towel, not that I can get my kid to take a bath. But I'm sure it is nice after a quick skinny dip! almost a bath, right...

Weekend of Cousins

We had a short but eventful weekend in Utah. Paul celebrated his 29th birthday, we blessed Avery, Damon had his mission farewell, and Grandma ended up in the hospital. To say the least the trip had its ups and downs and we are truly grateful that everything ended up okay.

Sydney wanted to be able to inspect all of Uncle Paul's presents, making sure that they weren't pink and girly.

Auntie Mo Mo saved the day. She had an extra set of arms when I desperately needed them and most importantly after a REALLY long and stressful Sunday, she had money when my wallet was nowhere to be found! Thanks Mo Mo!

The Quisties. Addie always loves playing with her cousins. Sorry boys you are just way out numbered with girl cousins.

We are certainly going to miss Damon, but we know that the people of Villahermosa Mexico will enjoy the blessings of his service. In the mean time Addie will have to find a new dance partner.

Grandma hanging out with Avers.

We just can't resist breaking out the Scentsy! The kids even like it!

Those two really love each other.

What a proud Poppa. I am truly a better person with those two in my life, Addie too!

After an exhausting weekend we needed to unwind. Good thing Paul got the new PS3 Move. Avery even played.

One of those Weeks

This week has been pretty mellow, nothing all that exciting, but to Avery everyday is still full of excitement.

I finally got around to cleaning the closet. I don't know why but I hate cleaning the closet. It took me an entire hour to get all our clothes put away, shoes organized and accessories put away. Once it was done I kindly gave Paul the tally of clothes that I hung up for him ;) I also packed up my maternity clothes and said see ya in a few years, I hope you will still be fashionable!

I finally got around to reupholstering the padded box that lives at the foot of our bed. It is amazing what a little glue and a staple gun can accomplish. I am at least one step closer to grown up bedroom, instead of the college dorm room look.

Seriously this kid is amazing. Addie had been dying to go on a walk, so I bundled up Avery and off we went! She slept the entire time and never even grumbled. Addie on the other had grew extremely weak and coudn't bare to walk one more step, and insisted that I carry her most of the way home! I give you one guess as to what is on my Christmas list!

Addie is a toad some days but at least she is cute! I was trying to get a picture of her and some of the Halloween decorations, and she tried to lock me out!

I started decorating for Halloween 2 weeks ago, but never finished. Finally this week I finsihed all that I am going to do this year. Addie loves the cob webs and pointing out all the spiders and witches that are around the house! It is actually really cute to see her reactions to all the festive decorations. Avery on the other hand...