Seasons are changing

Right after Halloween, two exciting things happened:

  1.) We finally got a nice snow. (Our lone snow fall so far).

2.) And Claire started potty-training.

We're so proud of our big girl!

Claire's new favorite achievement is to get "wa-toe" herself. 

We love when she does it like a monkey.

The first two days of potty training were spent mainly in the kitchen. 

Claire had two accidents the first day and only one on the second.

It was smooth sailing from there.

She has had two or three accidents here or there over the last couple weeks.

But on the whole she is one cute, potty-trained girl!

Hallie was so excited when she saw Daddy shoveling the drive. 

She wanted to be in on the action too!

Much to the girls' dissapointment, this snow was much too powdery for a snowman.

Love these cuties! 

And we need some snow pants.

Our poor flowers didn't know what hit them.

Neither did Mr. Pumpkin.

Claire had one fall that had her in tears.

But the heated indoors and hot chocolate made it all better.

Sign me up for this right now!

And I must admit, this California girl is soooo craving more snow!

Our Halloween Happenings 2011

For Halloween again this year, the girls could be anything in their dress-up trunk.  Hallie desperately wanted to be Rapunzel but her dress was a little long for her and we didn't want to snag it trick or treating.  And even though she said she wanted to be a "Super Reader," she ended up perfectly happy being a light pink princess one night, and a dark pink princess on another.

I am hooked on buying party goods at Dollar Tree.  They are just too cute and make the meal more festive.

During any given month of October, I'm known to make at least five spooky Halloween meals.  But, on the year that I am pregnant with this energy-sapping sweet boy we just had one.

We also opted for painting our pumpkin this year instead of carving it.  The girls were just as happy.

We had jack-o-lantern pizza on honey whole wheat crust . . .

and a pepperoni snake stromboli.

Claire chose Cinderella this year.  This is exactly what Hallie was on halloween at age 2.  And I am not in a purple pregnant people eater costume . . . that was just my crazy outfit for the day.

The girls were in love with trick-or-treating.  This was Claire's first time.  She kept saying "Can we do nudder one?"  And as soon as Hallie said "Thank you!" she was bolting to the next door.

We have such a cute neighborhood to trick or treat in and were so pleased but the amount of kids out on the streets.

So darn cute.  When people said "Happy Halloween!"  Hallie started replying "Ditto!" 

She cracks us up.

Here is our front door.  Chris and I went out with both girls for about one half hour.  Then Claire came home and gave candy out with me while Hallie and Daddy continued.  As long as Claire had a constantly open package of M&Ms, she was a happy, chocolatey camper.

Typical Mom move . . .

can't pick my favorite shot . . .

so I indulge you with all three.

Two days before Halloween, Grandma Judy took Hallie to her work Halloween fair.

I adore that Hallie looks big, but still so little in this picture.

Our Hallie girl is sad that Halloween is over.  She loves spooky ghosts and witches and the sort.

She says she wishes it was Halloween all year long. 

We'll wait and see if she still says that Christmas morning.

Take me out to the (foot)ball game

Of the many priviliges we have of living where we live, we get to live right next to the Air Force Academy.  That means lots of cadets, patriotism, and football games!  But, on this particular outing, we weren't Falcons fans.  Chris' cousin plays football for West Point.  We loved routing for Army.  We had great seats - right next to the band and close to the action.  The girls loved the cheering.  Chris and I loved the action of the game and the eagerness of the crowd.  All in all, our family had a ball (or a fit-ball) as my children call it.

Claire was a wiggly little toddler.  But, we were so proud that she told us when she needed to go potty.  And she was patient as we walked up all the stadium stairs and waited in long crowd lines to use a scary stall.  I told her if she went, she could get a treat.  She did not let me forget that promise.

Chris' cousin Scotty and Uncle Greg cheer on #20.

Hallie's binoculars make her look like WALL-E.

They are both so cute . . .  and look so much alike.

Daniel Hinkson, #20 for West Point

Hallie loved the cheering.  She couldn't help herself.  Even on our walk to the bathroom, she was cheering "Come on!" and "Go Army!"  So cute.

Cuba Gooding Jr. was there to promote a new film about the Tuskegee Air Men. It looks really good.  He is the one clapping for West Point.

Claire was plotting her next question for me.  She was relentless with "Mommy, I'm too hungry.  Can I have a snacky?"  We just ate.  "Mommy, I'm so sirsty (thirsty).  Cue (could you) get me drink?"  Your water bottle is right there, Clairey.  "Mommy, I need you.  Cue hold me?"  Sure.  "Mommy, I need to stand up." Sure. I secretly love her neediness.

He is way too good-looking.  And he makes darling babies.

That night, we met up with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Greg and their family - along with our second cousins Craig and Chris.  They treated us to BBQ at Famous Dave's and it was delightful.  We had so much fun talking. 

Three Hinkson men - Craig, Chris, and Greg

Alyce (Daniel's darling girlfriend), Emily, and Chelsea (our cousins)

Hal was totally into Scotty. It's your second cousin, sweetheart. Not yet distant enough.

 And now everytime we drive by the stadium, the girls point out we are close to "fit ball" and ask if we can go there again. Yes, indeed girls. Yes, indeed.

Trick or Treat? Boy or Girl?

Among life's blessings, we just so happen to be very blessed in the friend category.

On the day of our ultrasound, I had a whole slew of friends in different parts of the nation who were patiently (and some not so patiently) waiting to hear the gender results via phone calls and facebook updates.  As soon as we found out, Chris and I made our calls to our family and close friends.  Then, we surprised our girls with the blue balloons. 

But, this just didn't fully satiate me.  As my best friends here at home anxiously called to find out, I told them they couldn't know . . . yet.  I made them wait several hours and mold their plans so they could come to our home in person.  Then I rushed to make chocolate cupcakes and pipe frosting inside.

Our friends started arriving at 6:30.  I could hardly contain myself.  I told them the rules and made them take a bite.  Ann shows off the results (and pretends I didn't tell her already when we picked up our girls from her home two hours earlier).

Blue!!!

(Still elated typing this weeks later)

There were hugs and shouts of "I knew it!"  I just loved that those friends and my sweet husband indulged me so I could make a sweet event for us even sweeter.

Jared, Ann, and Claire's beloved friend "baby Kayla" (Mikayla)

Chris and I. 

When our friend Dave took the picture he said we already had crazy new parent eyes.

Hilarious . . . and kinda true!

My sweet friend, Adrianne, (and mom of three boys) had such a great reaction!

Bre and super baby, Gwyneth.

Camille, Carly, and Dave.  They have a brand-new baby boy, Camden, that gets me so excited every time I see him.

Halfway through the party, my brother Mark called and said "Hi Michelle, I just wanted to tell you your friends on facebook are starting to get ticked!"  In all the excitment, I had forgot to say anything online.  And people had been waiting, and checking, and waiting, and re-checking.  I was receiving comments like "you know, it's starting to get late here on the east coast!"  Oops!  I could totally relate to their frustrations because I do the same things when my friends find out genders or deliver babies - I am constantly checking for news or the first glance at a sweet new face!  So, I hopped online and finally let people know.

That night, Chris' best friend, Shane was in town.  He got to be around for the cupcake madness and hanging out too!  After our party died down, I let the boys hang out while I delivered cupcakes to my friend Melanie.  We ended up chatting for several blissful hours. 

I wished I could bake three dozen cupcakes and deliver them to all our local friends.  But alas, our home is small and I'm not that gifted of a baker anyway. :)

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