Incredible. Despicable. Butterfly

Harlie chose her own costume this year.  Browsing Old Navy's online store, Harlie immediately selected their pinkest disguise!

Mama looking on as her super hero runs to save the day!

The Incredibles invited Harlie to the Harvest Festival at their church. Balloons, bounce house and a hay ride? Yes please!

They also had a cake walk. Round and round you go until the music stops, then you must stand on a number and if that number is called, you win a cake of your choosing!

Harlie was a little shy when we first arrived so she wanted me to walk with her.

We walked around and around and around until she finally won!

Later that night was Project Jack-o-Latern.  We all worked together on one pumpkin this year. And it was a lot of fun.  I originally came up with the idea to carve a Minion from the Despicable Me movie, and later fashioned his goggles out of Austin's swim mask

Harlie was given the task to choose which Minion from the DVD cover we'd make, then she carefully picked seeds out of the top of the pumpkin and helped scraped the guts out.

Scott scooped the innards out of the rest of the big guy and drew the Minion face so Aust could carve it.

Austin also came up with the brilliant idea to use a few bristles from our broom for the Minions hair.

Ta Da!

We began our Halloween night trick-or-treating at The Creegs house, but unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera when we left the house that morning. Wah wah....

Once we returned to Mather, I made sure too grab my camera and take a few pics of around the neighborhood.

I love Mather's collective enthusiasm for Halloween.

The loot!

Down, Down, Across

The big news around here is that Harlie came home from daycare last week having written her first letter.  Can you guess which one?  Well, H for Harlie of course!  In the past few weeks, she has been identifying H's everywhere: in the bathtub, in books, you name it.  Always with the declaration, "H is for Harlie!"  Here is a photo of her very first letter H's.

My guess is that Harlie's H's are on the left. :-)

When the weekend came, Scott and I were playing with Harlie and her Magna Doodle in her room. I asked her to draw some H's for me and she thankfully complied. As she was writing she also chanted "Down, down, across!"  It was so cute.

Saturday morning arrived, and when Harlie woke up she was surprised with an early birthday present from Grandma and Papa.  They wanted her to be able to use it outside before the weather turned cold and rainy. They had presented it to her in the box, so she wasn't quite sure what it was exactly until Scott and I put it together for her. Since Mom and Dan couldn't be there to see her reaction after it was put together, I made sure to film it on my camera.




Later that afternoon, after we returned from the pumpkin patch, we broke out the paints and Harlie went to town.

And here's the final product, a Harlie Shavonne original. She signed it with an "H" then Mama dated it and finished the rest of her name.

Roemer's Pumpkin Patch

After stopping by Sidney's carwash in South Sac, we thought we'd check out the pumpkin patch on Hedge since we'd be in the area anyway. We had packed a lunch and luckily they had a big shaded area with picnic tables so we could fuel up before Harlie and all the pumpkin patch fun wore us out! The weather this weekend is so beautiful which made the afternoon that much more delightful! Scott wants to return again next year...he was so impressed with the huge pumpkin patch and liked the idea of getting a photo of Harlie next to the photo op growth chart every year. I admit that it's a pretty cute idea...gosh we must be sucker tourists. :-)

Cap'n Harlie has staked her claim!

All About Austin - 16th Birthday Edition

Showing off the medal he won at his XC meet on Friday

 

 

 

 

 

E:  What would you do with $100 dollars? A:  Depends on what's out there, but lets go with I'd probably save it,  unless there was a game I was desperate to buy? E:  If you could go anywhere in the world to visit, where would you go? A:  A Ferrari dealership in Italy or Florida to see my grandparents. E:  What is one new thing you would like to try this year? A:  Get a job. E:  What is one memory you have from this summer? A:  When I went to Sunsplash with Julie. E:  What is your favorite food? A:  Steakhouse Burger at Carl's Jr. E:  What is your favorite song? A:  Panama by Van Halen.  I remember the first time I heard it...when I got the game Gran Tursimo 4 and it played to the intro of the game. E:  What is your favorite color? A:  Can I put I don't know? Cause I don't really have a favorite color. E:  What is your favorite movie? A:  Hmmm, this is gonna be a tough one....the Star Wars Saga. E:  Who is your best friend? A:  Ah Crap.  I don't know if I can decide between Rubin and Truman. E:  What is your favorite thing to do? A:  Go to RPM. E:  What is the coolest thing you've done all year? A:  When I went to the Maserati dealership with my mom.

Tightening up the screws on the bike he bought with his birthday $$

Sixteen

Subject: Conversation with Harlie

Below is an email I received at work this afternoon from Jessica that totally brightened my day:

Harlie has been so talkative today! A few things that left me wondering....

 

On houses--

 

H: We are getting  a new house!

J: You are??

H: Yes, don't tell my daddy.

On school--

 

H: When I am three I am going to the nutcracker with Nana.

J: Wow! That will be fun.

H: I get to wear ballerina shoes.

J: That will look pretty.

H: I won't go to pre-school when I am three.

J: You won't??? We will miss you, if you leave.

H: When I am three I will not go to pre-school. I will go to the nutcracker. I will wear ballerina shoes. Then I will go to ballerina school.

 

Harlie was great at the zoo today. She loved running around and seeing the animals. She was listening to directions SO well (stay together! No jumping in puddles please!)!

  

** I keep trying to make it clear to Harlie that she's going to see the Nutcracker when she's five...but she's not listening. 

** No, we're not moving soon. Scott mentioned to her the other day that someday we'll have a new house.

Maxton

Snuggly. Sweet. Funny. Mischevious. Imaginative. Passionate. Lovable. Squeezable...and 3 years old today.

 

Love you Maxie. Oops, I mean Buzz.