My favourite candy holiday

This year for Halloween (my favourite candy holiday) Audrey wanted to dress up as all kinds of different characters. First it was Ariel, then Wonder Woman, Belle, but we eventually settled on two:

  Merida from the Disney movie Brave

She's a Celtic Princess

and Dorothy as in the Wizard of Oz.

Our first Halloween get together of the year was Halloween Nights at the Dallas Zoo.

 For this Audrey went as Dorothy.

I found a vintage handmade Dorothy dress at an antique mall. 

And to go with the Wizard of Oz theme...

Hudson was the lion.

I was quite sad I missed the chance to dress up as Glinda or Elphaba but Hudson lost his mind when he crawled into the bathroom recently and found me in a green clay mask. So I didn't think he'd let me cart him around in a costume or make up this year.

But the kids looked cute and were warm in the cold front that showed up out of nowhere.

We had fun at the Dallas zoo. I hadn't been in many years so I was bummed that they had so much of it blocked off and most of the animals put away, but we were with friends so I was still glad we went.

 The girls rode the carousel.

(Gray cracks me up!)

 And yes, Barker cut half of her head off. More of his awesome photography skills coming up.

 Nolan ate.

Colin vomited so he and Lucas left, hence no pictures of them.

 Audrey met all kinds of characters.

She also got a ton of trick or treating candy. I don't allow her much and we charge a heavy candy tax in this house. I'm enjoying a Tootsie Roll Pop as I type. Thanks Dallas Zoo.

 the triplets rode a camel

 LOVED IT!

The next day we were turbo busy. Soccer games, baby showers, birthday parties galore. But we finally made it to the Halloween festival in Grapevine we attend yearly.

For this event the kids donned their Brave costumes.

Audrey as Merida the Celtic Princess and Hudson as a little Celtic Warrior.

 I couldn't find a costume for Huddie that would work so I had to make this one. Took about 2 minutes. You know how it goes with the 2nd kid. Sorry Hud Muffin.

But I will say, even though his costume was lame and mom-made he got all kinds of compliments from strangers that thought he was adorable in his little viking helmet. And best of all, it was functional. He was snug as a bug in a rug in the cold. No complaints.

 At the Grapevine Halloween festival the girls rode a train.

 And we took a 'hay ride' which was fun.

And I've had a few people mention that I'm never in pictures. I know. It's not that I loathe having my picture taken even though I'm in no way photogenic, but it makes me sad to think my kids will look back at pictures one day and think I was never around because I'm not in any pictures. So at the zoo Barker offered to take a shot of me and the kids. Yay! Now you can see why I'm never in pictures. It's because my husband cannot use a camera.

exhibit #1

 Barker snapping away before we were even seated.

exhibit #2

 Yep, cut my head totally out of the shot.

exhibit #3

 Only 1 of 3 subjects is looking any where near the camera or has their face visible.

exhibit #4

That will have to do. Sorry Hud.

Now I'll get back behind the camera where I belong. Barker is far more photogenic anyhow.

10 Months Old

Whoa! 
These time lines are so much easier with girls......

We started out well...

 he just wasn't looking at me.

Then he looked at me...

 but gave me the pirate face.

(Cute toes though!)

Then he noticed David was there...

and it became bear hug time.

sigh

At one point he waved at me...

 but no smile.

And finally, as it often does with boys, it turned into a wrestling match...

Hudson won. 

Mommy and the bear lost.
Blanket and shoes also casualties of this battle.

Happy 10 months Boudreaux!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Barker works non stop now and the end of the State Fair of Texas was quickly approaching so I decided to brave the fair with out him. It wasn't easy but we survived. We met my friend Erica and her family there which was nice. Erica's daughter Kylie has gone to school with Audrey since they turned two so it was super sweet to see these two friends hold hands and hop on rides together.

 First stop, Fletcher's of course!

Audrey, Hudson and myself shared one.

I also had deep friend chocolate tres leches cake. Heaven.

When we left I took Barker deep friend kraut balls to his office. He said they were as gross as they sound. I was like "Duh. Kraut is nasty. Why do you think it's not on the menu at every single restaurant like burgers?" He threw them away. State Fair fail. Kraut. Yuck.

 Kylie and Audrey playing games

 They each won a light up wand. Score!

 Then Kylie spotted Dumbo and just had to ride!

 She quickly changed her mind. 

She cried and Audrey had this funny "Should I be scared too?" look on her face. Like the awesome parents we are we helplessly laughed hysterically.

 Then they found these whales in water to ride.

There were bubbles involved. Bubbles make everything better. That's parenting for dummies rule #1.

 All smiles this time

 train ride

We also ran into some other friends, the Hayes family.

Audrey, Hudson and Olivia. 
Huddie's pal Baby Zach was there too but some how opted out of the picture. 

Also all smiles, my little meat pie. He was such a trooper all day! He just ate and did some people watching. Such a blessing. After I put him in his car seat I went to Audrey's side to buckle her up. I looked over and Hud was already asleep. When we got home I put him down for his late afternoon power nap. It usually lasts just 30-45 minutes. Huddie slept from 5pm until 7:30 the next morning! Whoa! State Fair must have worn him out. I know it did me. I got up at 4:20 that morning for boot camp and it was a tabata day. (I hate you burpees.) Then I thought it would be a good idea to push both kids around for 5 hours in strong winds. Ouch. My poor back was regretting that decision the next morning. But the rest of me was so happy I decided to attempt it even with out Barker. We all had so much fun and it was much easier than I had anticipated. Good times with good friends!

Sketti?

Hudson is all smiles here but don't let it fool you, he was not a fan of spaghetti.

Fine by me. I've never been a fan of cleaning up spaghetti mess. 

Houseparty

We recently celebrated Cam Cam and Grayden's half way birthday. It was a housewarming party. For their half birthday the girls got a play house. But not just any place house. A house nicer than most married couples first homes. We're talking way nicer than my first dorm or apartment. That's why it made the blog. I don't typically blog about what my friends are giving their kids but come on, this thing is awesome. I deserves it's own blog, not just a post. I had to share. Check it out...

 the only kids I could beg to sit still for a picture:

Katie, Megan, Gray and Audrey in the play house.

Yes, those are fancy floors and a magnet board/craft table murphy bed style!

While there Audrey rode a bike for the first time. She asked me to take the stabilizers off. Yeah right.

Anyway- back to the house... It has a fenced in yard that is likely bigger than ours. The flower beds are way better, that's for sure. 

 And check out their view. They have a pond, ducks, fish, a turtle, you name it.

Feel bad about those socks you gave your kid for their birthday? Yeah, me too. 

Johanna and Adam: making other parents look bad since 2008.

Oh and Huddie got to catch up with his bestie Zach

Hard to believe these two are already 9 months old!

And quit judging my frizzy hair and no make up. This took place on a Wednesday. I get up at 4:20 and I'm on my own with my hooligans from before sun up to after sun down because Barker coaches, so this is the best you get.  

My Precious Pumpkins '12

This year I had two precious pumpkins to take to the pumpkin patch.

Unfortunately neither one wanted anything to do with taking pictures. 

It was a big old mess.

After taking, oh 300 or so, this is the best I could get.

I also included some so so shots. I did not include the 290+ of them looking in opposite directions, eating hay, attempting to run away, giving me the evil eye, etc.

Enjoy.

Even though it was an exhausting attempt at pictures of them together in a pumpkin patch I would still do it all over again due to this sweet 'pick me up mommy' face...

Prosper Homecoming 2012

Barker was coaching a bunch of 10 year old girls today at TFC so the kids and I crashed the Baton Rouge section of the Prosper homecoming parade. The weather was perfect and we all had a blast.

 Sweet Face

During the parade Hudson was loving the trucks, tractors, fire trucks, cars, horses, etc. 

Audrey's favorite part was all the candy that was thrown from the floats.

 We later busted meat pie stealing some of Audrey's candy out of her bucket in the bottom of his stroller.

I love love love this face and how he already raises those eye brows at me.

 I didn't think he'd know what candy was as Audrey hadn't eaten any... but I was wrong. He tried to eat it, wrapper and all. Mean mom that I am I stood my ground and promised him he could have a small piece when he's 3.

We've made it every year but this is the first time Audrey's been old enough to run around and play with the other kids and catch candy. She used to be all about seeing the horses but this year it was the beads.