Trick or Treat

What fun this Halloween!

• Daddy was in town during the week so he could enjoy all the Halloween festivities with us!
• Our first time trick or treating as a family with some dear friends:  Olivia, Sam, Eva, Joaquin and Maya!  Such a blast!
• Big pre-party filled with bounce houses, car tracks, food, cookies and TONS of friends
• Super Grover and Little Pink Cupcake costumes
• Gorgeous fall weather
• One of my favorite memories of 2013!  In the books.

The little cupcake between her two favorite robots.

 Super Grover!!

 The Cuties!

 Cheese!

 SUUPPPEERR GRROOOOVEERRRRRR!

 SUUPPPEERR  CUUPPPCAAAAKE!

 Our Babes!

 Mama and Sissy

 Mama and her littlest loves!

 Orange hair coloring from school

 Weeeeee...

 Snack time

 Maya

 Charlotte and Caroline

 Carlos the pirate!  Argh

 I will squeeze into this car... if it's the last thing I do. 

 Mei

What a great Halloween!!

My Name is Super Grover...

Roonie,

Today we drove up to Austin to have lunch with your Godmother, Ally, who is a doctor currently working in Malawi Africa.  We had a great time at lunch with Ally and the Hilton's.  You had so much fun with Avery and Lines.

 Here is Mommy with her two dear friends - Annie and Ally. 

 

You really cracked me up today.  We ate lunch at this fun outdoor place called Freddie's in Austin.  There was a nice playground and stage area to run around.  You enjoyed playing with Avery and Lines the most but you definitely chatted with a number of people.  I love that you are introducing yourself and saying "Nice to meet you" while you grab their hand to shake it.  Very good manners...

 

This afternoon I heard this, " Hi I'm Super Grover and this is my sissy Caroline.  Don't touch my special drink - it is Dr. Pepper and it is mine.  Nice to meet you." 

 

 

 

Guess your Halloween costume was causing a bit of an identity crisis.  Just one of the many times you brighten my day (along with your sis)! 

 

 

Just when you think you have it all figured out...

Last night I decided that this week I was going to get on top of things... I would wake up early every day.  Get my bags packed for the gym - to work out everyday this week - before heading in to the Children's Museum for work.  The kids' lunches would be made early.  Breakfast would be made by 7:30 - with kids dressed out the door by 8:15 to be the first ones at school... and I would be off to a super organized-on-top-of it day!  Well, that was all working out fine today until...

I realized that as we were about to head out of the garage to walk to school wihtout their lunches.  I ran back inside and got their lunches together.  Shortly after, I hear an awful scream and Luke runs in and says Sissy fell out of the wagon.  Sure enough, Caroline was laying flat on the garage floor and screaming.  I immediately picked her up and she cried for 15 minutes.  Then she began to softly whimper and become unresponsive.  Conscious, but not responding to anything. She wouldn't walk, talk, look at me, nothing... She was getting worse by the minute.  Like a zombie. 

I ran Luke into school.  Poor baby - I was sprinting and he was sprinting with me.  Lina was in the car, unresponsive, waiting for me.  I couldn't look at anyone b/c I would lose my cool.  However, I did run into her classroom - the minute I saw her teacher I started to cry and just said Caroline is going to the hospital and won't be at school then rushed off...

By the time I got back to the car - which was less than 3 minutes - Lina was worse.  So, I jetted to the ER.  My dad met me there.  It had been close to 1 hour that she was unresponsive.  As we moved along the ER system, she was coming to.  She began to talk and walk.  It was looking good.

We were in a room very quickly.  After an initial analysis, the doctor decided to do a CT scan.  This was another challenge in itself.  Caroline was wrapped in a straight jacket type mechanism.  She was so upset and worked herself into hives and a drenching sweat.  After nearly passing out with anger, she was calm enough for a successful scan (after the 3rd try).  The CT scan showed a right skull fracture.  She had suffered a pretty decent concussion.  Poor poor baby. 

Thankfully she was recovering well. 

Soon she was charming the staff in her usual fashion with her headbands, sunglasses, purse and big smiley hi. 

Before release, I was told no major activity for 1 week and definitely NO head bumping.  Well, that is the biggest challenge of all since toddlers are notorious for bumping into things about every 10 minutes.  So, I am a "helicopter" parent for the next week. 

What a scare!  I have only been that scared 3 other times in my life (childbirth and Luke's NICU experience.) 

My littlest one is okay and she will hopefully be her normal little bumpy self in no time. 

Perfect weekend at the ranch

This weekend was the most perfect, dreamy fall weather weekend... and we were lucky enough to spend it in the hill country.

It was quite chilly after our morning buggy ride so we indulged in a 10 am hot cocoa snack!

 It was a first for both kids...

 

 

With all the rain, there was a lot of debris on the trails.  Perfect excuse for daddy to get out Oliver and clear the way... We followed along in the truck.

 We were dog sitting Dakota - he always enjoys weekends at the ranch.

 

After a busy Saturday, we enjoyed lunch and pumpkin picking and Wildseed Farm on Sunday.  Such a fun weekend enjoying the outdoors.

Gotta love fall festivals!

Luke and Caroline attend the sweetest little nursery school - St. David's.  It is basically next door to our house.  It takes longer to get in the car than to just walk there.  It is the type of school where the head master calls when they find out your child is really sick.  Or I get an email from a teacher that a prayer was said specifically for your child during chapel.  It is such a personal and special school.  So happy to be a part of it.  The kids love it.  They have made wonderful friends there! Many more to come I am sure.

They have a fall festival - this year was the Rodeo Roundup.

First up - Wiggle Waggle Train.  Lines started out across from Roonie but quickly edged her way between Roons and the other little dude. 

 

Next up - hair modifications.

 

Luke got a Mohawk with orange color.

 

 Lines got pink all over then some pig tails.

 She was pleased with the outcome.

 Luke's fantastic teacher - Ms. Erin

 Lines LOVED the macaroni and cheese covered with shredded beef. Who knew?!?

 They quickly found their friends.  Luke's BF Crayton was enjoying his time at the round up.

 One last Wiggle Waggle ride.

 Such a great time!!

 

Lately...

We have had a busy busy week of celebrating my most important little guy.  Little Roonie turned 3 last week and we celebrated in BIG robot fashion.

I will have a very large post about this once I get all of the pictures.  I cannot wait to prepare that blog.  The year of 3 celebration took over most of my nightly free time so my blogging was affected.  However, here are a few things as of late.

• Last week, Ben and I were talking in the kitchen and Luke stomps over with his hands on his hips and says, "Do you understand me?"  Followed by a firmly self stated response "Yes Ma'am."  This was repeated over and over.  I guess it is good to know that he is listening to me.  It is more of an issue of whether he decides to show me he is listening... i.e. do what I ask.
• Luke is always calling for Sissy.  Everywhere we go (and Lines is not by his side), he will yell "Siiiiiiiiiiiissssssyyyy".  She will come toddling around the corner with a huge smile on her face and they will proceed with whatever activity Luke has in store.  Well, last week, I heard "YYYYUUUUUUKKKKEEEEE".  It was so cute.  Now she is frequently talking about YUKE. (It is a combo of Y/L.) 
• For the past week, Luke has announced that he will be a robot for Halloween.  No - a dinosaur.  Today, he told his pediatrician - a princess.  But, the consistent. go-to choice is pumpkin pie.  Hmmm... interesting.  Not quite sure where he keeps getting pumpkin pie costume ideas from.  Caroline is going to be a cupcake so actually pumpkin pie would be great in keeping with a dessert theme.  We will see what wins out.
• Caroline is very much into singing.  Whether it is Baa Baa Black Sheep, ABCs, Twinkle, Twinkle or her own made up tune.  She loves to sing alone or sing along with Luke's lead.  They are quite the little duo.
• Playing, playing and more playing.