Happy Halloween!!

So we had LOTS of fun dressing up the kids this year.  Bob also had fun taking Danielle out in the rain this year!  These pictures are actually from last night -- our church had a great Harvest Party -- just think slightly controlled chaos with a bouncy house, lots of candy, a popcorn machine, cotton candy machine, tons of cookies, juice and umteen million kids!!!

So here's our little family rendition of VeggieTales:

This is actually after the party -- when I found the camera!

Aren't they adorable? (and yes, I think my Mom would be proud of me for figuring out how to make the costumes!)

Just out of the shot is the cotton candy stick....

....and here's a happy little girl with cotton candy all over her face and hands!

So the story from tonight is that is started sprinkling this afternoon -- but was about 70 degrees out.  So about 5:30 we got Danielle all ready again, Bob took a big golf umbrella, and we gave Danielle her own little umbrella (just a little travel size one).  Ashley and I stayed home to hand out candy.  So for the first few houses it just sprinkled.  Then the heavens opened and it POURED.  In the middle of the downpour, Danielle's umbrella turned inside out.  So Bob is holding the broken umbrella that's turned inside out, the candy bucket, his umbrella, and crouching down to cover Danielle.....apparently it was basically impossible to see where they were going.  It stopped pouring, but they were pretty soaked so they started to head home.  Needless to say, once both arrived, a full change of clothes was needed for each.  The good news is that they both had TONS of fun and Danielle still got lots of candy!

Bad Mommy!!

So, yeah, it's been just over a MONTH since I've posted anything and I'm pretty sure that makes me a bad Mommy.  Sorry.  So here's the scoop:

We've been busy.

Really busy.

Like so busy I haven't had a chance to post anything!

Ashley is crawling.  All over.  Must keep an eye on her at all times.  She likes to try to follow you into whatever room you're going, which is a problem because she's learning about her boundary at the entrace to the kitchen.  She doesn't like it, but she's learning.  She also loves to climb on you as though you're a jungle gym. 

Danielle is three.  Need I say more?  She is currently learning all about being potty trained.  It's a LONG road.....but we will all get through it and hopefully nothing will sidetrack us again (like the last three tries.....).  She has also developed a taste for fruit.  She loves it.  Especially apples.  Especially the apples that she got to go pick from the trees with Grandma and Grandpa.

So without further ado, here's the cuties!

Super Baby!!!

Concentrating on my book....

I'm gonna getcha!!!

See, Mommy?  I stopped before the seeds!! (yes, this is a BIG deal)

CHEESE!!!! (and yes, she got a haircut two nights ago!)

More catching up....

Several of you probably heard about the spider bite that Danielle got.  Here she is showing that her eye ISN'T swollen shut anymore!  (sorry for the messy hair shot, Danielle!)

....the little tiny red mark above her right eye is the bite....

Aubrey organized a play date at the park last week -- the girls had so much fun!  What you can't see in this picture is that Ashton (4 1/2 months old) is also on his tummy and the two of them are laughing at each other.

Danielle insisted on going on the carousel at the park, and then promptly decided she was too scared to ride a horsey....so we rode on the bench seat instead....

And Ashley has learned how to sit up!  She's discovering just how much fun it is to be able to get to any toy that she has dropped (and Mommy is loving it, too!).....I can't believe how big she's getting!!!

.....and she's learning how to crawl!!!  Waaaaa!!!!  How is my little tiny able to do this already?!?!  I'm not ready for her to be mobile!!!!

Just Hanging Out!

It's been a pretty busy month and I've fallen behind on my postings, so here's an attempt at chatching you all up with our little corner of the world....Ashley has graduated to the high chair! She loves squash and peas.....actually she loves it all, but carrots and green beans seem to give her a little rash if she has them too many times in a row....we'll see if she outgrows it! Danielle is learning how to share. It's not easy -- everything used to be only hers and now we ask her to share ALL her toys with everybody.....even Mommy and Daddy. Did I mention that she is also learning how to nicely ask for help? This is her asking Mommy to please help make Laura the Carrot from VeggieTales..... ....and every once in a while we get to hang out together!!! Ashley LOVES her Daddy -- he can always get a smile and laugh from her.....

....and did I mention that she's usually pretty chill? Especially if it involves just hangin' with Dad!

Someone stole the camera.....

So here's my apology and excuse for not posting anything recently -- for some reason, Bob has stolen the camera! It couldn't possibly be that he's working like crazy.....he bought a new building last Friday, started work on that one, is coordinating the build-back on the fire-damaged building, had tenants move out unexpectedly from our property in Albany, and is trying to document everything everywhere. Yeah, he's REALLY busy.....and working really hard.....

In other news, the girls are adorable. Danielle has now decided that "The Iron Giant" is her favorite movie, but it's really a toss-up with Veggie Tales. Ashley has decided that she no longer wants to stay in one place and is working REALLY hard to learn how to crawl. So far, she pushes up onto all fours and then lunges towards whatever she wants -- very soon she'll be my mobile little girl! Hopefully I'll get the camera back soon and you'll get to see new pictures.....

Playtime fun!

Grandma Sweetie found an adorable play-doh kit for Danielle's birthday....Bob, Larry, Junior, and Laura have been a great fun!!!

She loves to make all the characters.....
....notice that Laura has a tennis racket and Larry is riding a skateboard.....

In other news, Ashley has decided that the exersaucer is THE place to be!

.....she's figuring out how to reach for things (and get what she's trying to)....

.....and is generally just all smiles! What a cutie-pie!!!

My two cuties!!

Danielle loves to help Mommy and LOVES to hold Ashley. I actually caught a picture of it the other day....

....not quite comfy at first......
...but then BOTH of them smiled!! Moments like these make being a Mommy the best job in the world!!!!