Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone!
It was a bit chilly but "oh what a night"!
For those of you who don't know the story let me explain why Jim is dressed as a lady bug in these pictures!
Long before Halloween Helaina started talking about costumes etc. One day at lunch she declared that "daddy is going to be a ladybug". She kept that idea for days so I of course, WENT WITH IT ALL THE WAY! Jim was a VERY good sport about the whole thing. He wore his Spots with pride for his Helaina. I can hardly wait to see what his future costumes will be when there are two little girls doing the dictating. It is so funny for me to see him dressed as a lady bug since in previous years he was constantly trying to convince me that he needed to dress scary and scare the kids! Hehehehehehehe
My mom found that cool witch hat that I am wearing and I actually had everything else I needed to make it a costume. It is a good thing when you have a large box in the basement marked "costumes". I love Halloween and I love to dress up so the family pictures of all of us dressed up just make my day!
Breleigh made an adorable lamb to Helaina's Mary! She went the whole way with us in her stroller and never made a peep. Who knew that lambs liked pacifiers so much!
So, things I learned this Halloween

1. We have exceedingly generous neighbors
2. Trick or Treating with Friends is way more fun!
3. Having Nana and Papa here makes it even more special.
4. The Port Byron Fire Department puts on a great treat with games, videos and a HUGE amount of treats.
5. Practicing "Trick of Treat" and saying "Thank You" goes out the window when the candy appears and gets changed to "I need more Candy!"
6. Having a family and celebrating Halloween is so much better than anything I could have done in college.
7. Making the costumes makes them even more special
8. You can't carve a gourd even if it looks like a pumpkin (ok so we didn't actually try but it really looked challenging)
9. Kids don't care how chilly it is when candy is involved
10. I STILL love Halloween!

I played just a little with some pics I took of Helaina in her costume. Sorry- Breleigh was sleeping so she didn't get to come out! Stayed tuned for more!

Helaina has taken to wearing this petticoat all the time. I must have caught her on a good day because it is actually on correctly. More often than not it is inside out!
Helaina wanted Breleigh to watch a little morning TV with her! I had to capture the moment!
Helaina enjoyed her first taste of Rip's chicken. She must take after her mother because I love it too! We actually waited in line for this tasty dinner for about an hour!
Breleigh didn't get to eat any of the chicken but she did sit in a highchair for the first time and enjoyed it very much!

Yes, Breleigh is now six months old. Where does the time go? Here is a list of her recent accomplishments...

1. eating baby food. Successfully tried and liked both sweet potatoes and carrots!
2. can now eat a puff with very little gag faces
3. can sit up for short periods of time inside her boppy!
4. Loves to find and try to chew on any necklace that mommy is wearing
5. Reaches out and grabs at anything and everything- including Helaina's hair
6. loves to look at and feel your face
Just to name a few.
We love her!
We had some professional shots taken recently so if any turn out expect to see them on this blog!

Pumpkin Harvest Time

Helaina and her Daddy shopped for seeds, planted seeds, watered those seeds and watched them grow. (notice I didn't mention anything about weeding) They have been keeping a close eye on the lone pumpkin growing in the garden. While it is still more than a month until Halloween it was ready to be picked. So... off we went to document this momentous occasion. Next year perhaps Breleigh will do more than just "sit" in a stroller! These days I think my girls are growing as quickly as the pumpkin did!

Breleigh is Five Months

And then Helaina started calling her name...

I just cannot believe that Breleigh is five months old. I am sure this is a common thread in the previous posts of Breleigh's previous monthly pictures. Where on Earth does the time go though? I thought things went fast with Helaina but this is just crazy.
Breleigh is changing by leaps and bounds.

Breleigh's Top Ten
10. Rolled over from back to front at 4 months
9. Pulls off a "Mohawk" like no other 5 month old
8. I am sure that when she drools she is singing to herself "I feel spitty" (instead of I feel pretty)
7. Thinks Helaina can do no wrong
6. Has survived more than one tongue bath from Parker
5. Dislikes chaos but can sleep in her car seat at the food court in the mall of America
4. Has very dainty hands (for now)
3. Is learning how to sleep longer during nap time
2. Has been sleeping through the night since she was three weeks old
1. Is a true blessing to our home!

The first five months has be a joyous adventure and really looking forward to the next 5, 10, 15,... etc

I finally trimmed Breleigh's "bangs" the other day. She was starting to look like she had a serious comb over! I intend to get the top of her mohawk trimmed soon too. I refuse to count it as a first hair cut since she only has hair on top of her head. ;)

Sisters

I finally captured some shots of the two girls together. I was unable to get Breleigh to smile in these shots. Unfortunately her favorite thing to smile at was in the picture. She just loves Helaina and usually does her best laughing for her. I still think the shot turned out cute.
The sisterly love from Helaina's end is coming along. It is a slow process... but the more personality Breleigh seems to get the better their relationship seems to be.

First Dance Class

Helaina waiting for her turn to do some tumbling
Helaina and her dance pal Camryn!
Trying on the outfit at home!
Helaina with her teacher- Miss Jamie
So the big news is that Helaina is now taking dance and had her first class last night. All I can say is that Miss Jamie, her teacher, is a saint! She had about 9-10 2 and 3 year olds. It looked a little like she was trying to herd cats! I have been playing "dance class" with Helaina for a while now and I think something might have sunk in because she actually did a pretty good job. She even got a sticker for sitting so nice! YEAH! Now, keep your fingers crossed for next week! :)
Her little friend Camryn is taking dance class with her. It took Camryn a little while to warm to the idea but I am sure they will be tapping their way across the floor together in no time. Dance is a while new world for me. I never took dance as a child so this is a true test of my ability to try new things. So far so good I think. If nothing else... the girl can fill out a pair of tights!