Happy Halloween!

Last year before I ever knew if Evie was going to be a boy or girl I had it set in my mind that the baby would be a lamb and Lyla would be Bo Peep.  The closer we got to Halloween this year the more Lyla talked about being some kind of fuzzy creature - and my dreams were dashed.  Then my hair stylist suggested I have Lyla be the lamb and Evie Bo Peep, which was brilliant, except apparently only babies are allowed to be lambs because I couldn't find a single costume over the size of 18 mos.

Anyways, I decided it was best to let Lyla have her way - it's all about picking your battles these days and Bo Peep just wasn't worth it.  But, I could not figure out what to have Evie be.  One day her hair was particularly whacked out and I jokingly said "she'd make a great Ace Ventura."  Light bulb.

I have to admit in the sea of baby lambs and princesses at the fire station Halloween party, Evie's costume fell a little flat.  I'm not sure if people were confused by the boy attire and pink blankie and pacifier, or if they just didn't get it.  I'd like to think it was just too smart of humor for them to comprehend, but Ace Ventura isn't really "smart" humor, soooo...

Anyways, here's some photos.  Our bunny wasn't feeling particularly photogenic tonight, and poor Evie has a bad cold so not exactly the best photos ever.  But there is a pretty awesome TMNT jack-o-lantern (that Ryan drew free hand and then carved.  Amazing.), so at least there's that.

Happy Halloween!

- K

 

Because she's just too darling to have an entire post of her looking like a boy :)

A Visit from Pop

Last weekend Pop came into town, and our girls loved having him for a visit.  Somehow when Pop is around he trumps all others - it doesn't matter who you are.  On their way back from Milwaukee,
Ryan sent a picture of his busted face.  I showed it to Lyla who said, "He has a boo boo!  I'll kiss it and make it better.  Where's a picture of Pop??"

Needless to say, we had a lot of fun having him here for a few days.  Can't wait to see all the grandmas and grandpas in Denver soon!!

- K

Spooktacular

Ryan had a rugby game in Milwaukee this weekend so Pop came into town on Thursday night so he could go along.  They took off Friday night, which left me on my own for the Spooktacular celebration at Lifetime that night.  Getting both of the girls dressed up and out the door was quite the feat.  Evie was cranky, L was mischievous as ever and Cheetos were the only thing that made everyone happy.  By the time we got there I think we were all covered in cheeto crumbs and I was most certainly sweating.  But all in all the night was a success with a little bit of dancing, a little bit of singing, a little bit of pumpkin painting and a whole lot of sugar.

The next morning I got a call from our nanny - she offered to come over and take the girls for a few hours so I could get out on my own.  As soon as I was able to pick my jaw up off the floor I cautiously said yes, still feeling like maybe I was being tricked.  Amazingly enough she really did show up to watch the girls, and I headed straight to the mall, naturally.  It was the best time, and I officially have the best nanny ever. 

- K

Anniversary Surprise

Saturday was our 6th anniversary, and my husband totally got me. It was one of those weeks where I literally didn't step foot out of my house - at all - and didn't even notice until I went out the front door Friday morning to check the mail and I realized it was the first time I'd seen our front yard all week. And I'm sure the mail man loves us because the mailbox was just about as jammed as it could get.

We couldn't find a sitter for a date that weekend, but I decided to make the best of it and get everyone dressed up for a fun family date to celebrate. That is until I realized that Ryan had a rugby game which would prevent us from doing anything and actually making it home by our babies' bedtimes. Which made me a little sour. And then when he came home Friday night and announced that he also had to go into work Saturday morning, the sourness cranked up to about level 12.

Saturday morning Ryan asked if I wanted him to make an anniversary breakfast and I think I snarled "I'm going to the gym since it'll be the only chance I get this week." I went to the gym, then he went to work. When he came back a little while later he had his sister in tow. He'd flown her all the way from Denver for the night!  He'd also made a reservation at the Grand Hotel for the night and our favorite steak place for dinner. #dreamy

It was the first time we've ever done anything like that, and it was so fun! We had the absolute best time and splurged on almost everything. We drank a little too much and talked about our past and our future. Our babies and having more babies - I think I've settled on 10 of them. I felt awful the next morning, the lightweight I am these days, but it was completely worth it.

I married a real gem of a man. Love you, Ryan Chapman!

Thanks, Alycia, for  making the trip!

- K

Sister Things

Our girls are pretty hilarious these days with this full-fledged sister rivalry they already have going on.  Lyla has perfected the sweet, innocent little hug that somehow ends up around Evie's neck and gets just a little (or sometimes a lot) too tight.  And at just 7 months, Evie has the drama queen card tucked sweetly in her back pocket - and uses it frequently.  Like, every time Lyla comes near.

Whenever I'm sitting with L, Evie crawls right up onto my lap and pats on me, like, "Mom! Here I am!", and if I'm holding Evie then L suddenly gets boo-boo after boo-boo, and just has to be held and kissed after each one.  There's the toy stealing, and the hair pulling, and the squeezing, hitting, and jumping on.  But then there's the moments that are genuinely sweet - a kiss here, and a hug there, and a "mama, can I hold her?" 

It can be frustrating, but mostly it makes me laugh to see them developing their sister relationship so early.  I know it'll only get worse as they get older with the tattling and fighting, but what's a sister if not a little bit of a pain in the ass at times? 

These photos perfectly capture their relationship right now, and I can't stop laughing when I see them.  Mostly because it used to be hard to get a photo that wasn't blurry - now with two, it's pretty much impossible.  Also, I somehow captured about 20 of these, every one just about the same.  Poor Evie sis is just crying her eyes out and apparently I just kept on snapping photos.   I mean, you can't always give in to a drama queen's demands.  ;)

- K

Pumpkin Patchin'

Last weekend Ryan and I took a couple days off for a long weekend while my dad, stepmom and sister came to visit.  It was a great weekend, and those two extra days were magical.  We even got to go on a date - sushi (yum) and Gone Girl (yikes).

On Saturday we went to a pumpkin patch / corn maze / fall festival.  Lyla still remembers our trip to the pumpkin patch from last year (I'm pretty sure her brain AND bladder are way stronger than my own) and couldn't wait to go again.  They had so much to do - an exotic (NOT erotic as Ryan had hoped) petting zoo, a corn pit, (which for whatever reason is a total hit with the kiddos - Lyla is still talking about it), pig races, a huge slide, food tents, jump pillows (what are those, exactly?!) and so much more.  Everyone had a complete blast, and as always, the people watching was phenom.  ;)

- K

 

 

 

This face right here means one thing - impending mischief.

 

That corn, I'm telling you, every kid was obsessed with it!

 

The jumping pillows.

 



 

Love these cuties.

 

I don't remember what this guy was, but I think he loved me.

Baby water buffaloes.

 



 

A zebra - donkey mix.  I think they call it a "Zedonkadonk".

 

 

 

These emus are not to be trusted.