October

I LOVE this time of year! Hurricane season has passed (big sigh of relief!), the weather is cooler (by "cooler" I mean in the low eighties), and there are so many fun things to do (so much that I don't have time to blog about it). So, here's a review of the month:

* G'ma and G'pa Winters came down to visit for Aubree's birthday, for "Family Day" at the Space Center, and to see a shuttle launch. Unfortunately, both Family Day and the launch were scrubbed. Aubree's birthday was not cancelled, so they came anyway and we had a great time. We went to SeaWorld a couple times and enjoyed all our favorite activities there. Bryce really liked the Shamu show, "Believe." During their visit we also visited the KSC Visitor's Center, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the Police Hall of Fame. Of course, Aubree loved having her grandparents at her beck and call. She convinced Grandpa to follow her typical weekend morning routine with Dad ( i.e. "cereal with no milk, watch a movie, and paint"). That allowed me to sleep in a little bit with Bryce, so no complaints from me!
* After the grandparents left we kept busy with a myriad of fun activities. We had our weekly Cub Scout meetings (I am a Den Leader) and one week we made Bat-o-Lanterns. Aubree helped me paint all the mini-pumpkins and make the example. She and the scouts had a lot of fun creating their own bats.

* We invited Aubree's friends Ella and Cheyenne over to make princess garland crowns. It turned out to be more of a momma-craft, but the girls got to choose the crown and ribbon colors and loved the final products. Aubree wore hers all around town the next day and enjoyed all the comments and compliments she received.
* Last Saturday was the Library Halloween party. Anyone want to guess (without looking at the picture) what Aubree wanted to be for Halloween? You're right - a princess. Don't worry, out of the 50 other girls at the party, only about 40 were also princesses. I told Aubree that next year she can choose something (anything!) other than princess. Regardless, she looked adorable and had a fun time listening to the story tellers and playing with her friends. As for Bryce, hmmmm, I still haven't figured out a costume for him (I still have a few days, right?). He didn't seem to mind not being dressed up.
* Before we left for the Library party I asked Aubree to pick up her My Little Ponies. She did not comply and we were running late so I insisted, "Aubree, you need to pick up your ponies before we go to the party." She scowled and sternly replied, "I don't want you to be the stepmother!" Thanks Cinderella.
* Saturday evening we went the the second annual Halloween party at our friends the Dokos' home. The kids all went in costume (although upon arrival Aubree promptly took off her dress and spent the evening wearing Cheyenne's dress-up clothes - she changed outfits no fewer than 5 times), and we had crafts, a mini haunted house, a Halloween themed dinner, and cookie decorating. The Dokos' went all-out; it was a fabulous party!
* During dinner at the Dokos' party we ended up eating on the porch with just our family and Megan Miller (age 7). We joked with Megan that since she was eating dinner with us that meant we were adopting her and she would come live with us. Megan played along with the joke and made plans to share a room with Aubree and so on. All in good fun, right? Well, when the party was over and Megan went home with her own parents Aubree was inconsolable. She cried and cried, "But I *sob* ever wanted *hiccup* a big sister *wail*." I guess that will teach us to joke with a three-year-old. Sorry Aubree!
* For Family Home Evening today we went to a local pumpkin patch. Really it's just a bunch of pumpkins thrown on crates, but it's the best we've got and Aubree liked it well enough. It took her about 22 seconds to choose a pumpkin then we dragged her around taking her picture.
More assorted stories/info:
* The other week the kids and I went over to visit our neighbor, Mary Jo, as is typical. Mary Jo commented that she had just polished her coffee table. Aubree likes to rearrange the doilies and other knick-knacks Mary Jo keeps on this coffee table, so we told Aubree that table was cleaned and ready for her to decorate. Then I got busy helping Mary Jo make some phone calls. In the midst of this Aubree came looking for stickers, which we gave her (again, totally normal). A few minutes later when I finished helping Mary Jo, I found Aubree in the living room "decorating" the table with stickers. Thankfully Mary Jo is very easy-going and the stickers came off fairly easily. I couldn't even be upset with Aubree because it was really my fault. She did a great job decorating, I just need to be more careful with my word selection!
* Bryce is getting better at moving himself around. He still can't crawl, but he can scoot backwards (which frustrates him!) and in circles. He's learned how to fake-cough and to grunt and he thinks those are really fun sounds to make. He also really likes to pinch and he's really strong. He especially likes to pinch soft skin like my neck, lips, or boobs - Ouch!!