Halloween 2011

When asked what she wanted to be for Halloween, Clara choose a giraffe. Boy how things change in one year. Last year, she cried when we put her bear costume on. This year, she didn't want to take her giraffe costume off.

She was probably the youngest out there trick or treating. Everyone commented on what a cute giraffe she was. I recycled mine and Bear's costumes (lion again for me and tiger for Bear) and we were the African safari. However, Bear did not go trick or treating with us like she did last year. It was way to difficult to walk a toddler and a deaf dog at the same time last year. Plus, this year, it was rainy (and kind of chilly) on Halloween. Guess you can't get perfect weather every year.

So some photos from the night:

The African safari crew. And who is that black, faceless man about to take away my daughter?....Oh, it is Daddy. Yep, Daddy once again wore all black and sat outside with the candy and scared many kids throughout the night. I don't know how he does it. He doesn't move an inch and the kids get scared every year. And they wonder if he is real or not (many times their conclusion is he is not real).


Clara enjoying a piece of candy from her stash before she goes to bed.

p.s. besides the fact that Mike sits out there in all black, he also uses a black light, we put up black curtains, and he plays scary music/noises in the CD player. Plus he puts his friend next to him (which I do not have a photo of). The house does take on a whole different look when all set up.

State Fair 2011

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit in October. We went to a high school football game, a marching band competition, and the state fair. They also brought us some bushes and a tree to plant in our backyard. Hence, we were busy while they were here. But we also got our patio extended!


Photos from the state fair:

Clara rode a pony again! She loved it!

Mike and Clara in the rabbit house/building.


Clara meets Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Our backyard

Fall 2011

I'm pretty proud of the flower garden we put in our backyard (in September 2010).

Puppy's visit to the O'Brien Hospital

One afternoon in October (October 7 to be exact), I'm in the bathroom and I hear an "uh, oh" come out of Clara's mouth. Mike says, "uh Katie?" So I come out to find Clara holding Puppy's head in one hand and puppy's "body" in the other. She wasn't too happy and wanted his head put back on. And...I don't know how to sew :( . So I said (very calmly as to not upset Clara more), okay well maybe we can see if Ms. De can fix Puppy. If not, then we might have to wait till Gamma can fix him (Gamma and Papa were traveling).

I ran over to the O'Briens and luckily they were home. Ms. De took Puppy right away and got ready for his "surgery." She said she'd work on him right away. (Mr. Ray joked that she should sew his head on backwards. Seriously Mr. Ray, let's not give our child anymore nightmares :) ).

A few hours later, Puppy was all recovered and came home all together! Thank goodness for our neighbors!

Why, oh why did Clara have to choose to love the most the one "lovey" we cannot replace?...