Happy Halloween with the Big Cats

Another Halloween has come and gone.  This year was the first year Charlotte figured out what it was all about so we had a lot of fun.  First, we carved our pumpkin.

Charlotte's Jack-O-Lattern face.

Scooping out the guts.

It looks just like the one she colored at school!

Charlotte said she wanted to be a leopard and Netta and Bailey were going to be a cheetah and a lion.  They came over to trick or treat Thursday night.  It took FOREVER to get them to line up for this picture.  It was like herding cats.  Literally.  I don't know why Toonces looks like a ghost in this picture?

Too cute.

Happy is a skunk.

The girls were cute, but Poncho stole the show while we out trick or treating.

We only went to a few houses.  The girls were still navigating this whole asking strangers for candy thing.  At the last house, Charlotte and Netta went up to the door by themselves.  Our neighbor said, "what do you say?"  And they just stood there in silence.  

They all chose Skittles as their first treat.  Charlotte spotted a Milky Way and said, "I want to eat that chocolate brown too."  After she went to bed, I had to inspect her loot for anything that was not appropriate for a 3 year old.  You know, like Kit Kats.

Missing My Peeps

Saying bye bye

I'm in Seattle for a work trip and I miss Mike and Char Bear.  Mike has been texting me updates of what they are up to.  Looks like they are having fun.

Classic snail trail

Waking up on the right side of the bed

Enjoying a snack

Dinner

Cleaning up after dinner

Don't forget the pets

Good morning!

Happy Halloween

Charlotte and Poncho have matching costumes.  Awe.

Check out how awesome Poncho's costume is.  And don't forget how awesome Poncho is.  He is VERY tolerant of dog costumes.

Charlotte is actually a centaur
 half skeleton, half baby whose diaper leaked all over her pants at the babysitter's today.

Up at the Lake

We just had a long weekend at the cottage.  It was our first trip with Charlotte and Charlotte's first trip to the cottage.  It was a relief to discover that she is a good traveler.  She didn't complain in the car and even slept for a little bit.  My sister's family was already at the cottage so all the cousins got to hang out. Well, hang out as much as 9 month olds do.  Actually, we had three pack n plays in the bedroom.  We called it the cottage nursery.  I should have taken a picture.  Each night we'd put the babies down and they would all cry sometimes waking each other up.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds.  They did eventually go to sleep.  

Splashes

It was wicked hot while we were there.  We had to spend a lot of time in the lake to stay cool.  Just like her friend Poncho, Charlotte loves the water.  She spent all her time in her floaty thing.  Netta and Bailey grew tired of their floaty things and had to be put in baby jail.

Baby jail

Happy Poncho 

Cooling off with popsicles

Our friends, Joanna and Greg, came to the lake with their daughters for a day. Joanna and I love s'mores.  We always make s'mores together.  It's one of our special cottage things.  I have been saving a box of Peeps since Easter for our s'mores time.  I thought the sugary outer coating would get all crispy like a creme brulee and make for a gourmet s'more.  Joanna brought fancy chocolate so we were good to go!  After a bit of roasting, the Peeps made a sort of chemical smell.  Probably the sugary coating and fake colors.  Also, the eyes melted off!  Maybe that's how you know when it's done?  The Peeps s'more was delicious, but not better than regular marshmallow s'mores.

Roasting Peeps!

Monday it was so hot that we opted to drive to Neenah and visit Joanna and Greg in their air conditioned house.  Charlotte had her first hairstyling experience courtesy of Pippa.  It was a good trip.  Can't wait to do it again!

Charlotte and Poncho