We carved our pumpkins this weekend and I think they came out great. We haven't done it for the past few years! They are already starting to rot, I just hope they make it to Friday!

This weekend we went to a fall carnival at the YMCA. They had crafts, games, cupcake decorating and a "spooky house" It was great, not to crowded and geared toward the little ones...and definite for next year!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081023/ts_afp/britainscienceresearch;_ylt=ArGUO4eeLNeBgWRjuBh_xl2s0NUE

This is so exciting!!!!! Maybe I should ride the MS150 in England, looks like they are doing more with the research money!!!!!

The weather has been so great we have spent a lot of time outside playing!

Playing Playdoh our in Eliza's case eating playdoh

She was caught....blue handed :)

I think I will have some more !!!

Going down the slide head first!

Any guesses who Isabelle looks like????

MS 150 HERE I COME

So I finally took the plunge and signed up for the MS150 this year. For those who don't know what it is....its a really long bike ride! I am so excited for it! I just know the money I raise will be just what they need to find a cure for this stupid disease!

I took my first ride the other day on my brand new bike, 3 miles down.....a few more to go! I loved it................but my gosh I need a lot of practice. I am not very good at turning corners. Stop laughing I don't want to talk about it. And also what am I supposed to do about all the nats in the air. I think I ate half on them and the other half were in my eyes!!!! Daniel said I could wear his safety goggles from work and I might really take him up on it!

We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend. This is how picture taking went.......................

They were looking at everything but the camera...maybe we will try it again!

We did get to go on a fun hayride. Which Eliza loved, she waved at any and everything along the way! I think she is destined to be a parade baby!

Today when I was feeding the kids dinner Isabelle was chattering away and looks at me and says

"I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul" repeats and then goes about eating her dinner.

First I am thinking...amazing, she is wise beyond her years. Then as I am patting myself on the back for instilling such great morals in her so young...I begin to think that line sounds awfully familiar.

Oh yeah that's right its a song on the radio right now!!!!!!!!!!!! At least its not some rap song she is randomly repeating!!!!!

The girls had there first day of school...oh about 6 months ago now! Just kidding just, 1 month ago. This is Isabelles 3rd year of going to school...can you believe it! She loves it and talks about her friends all the time...and I LOVE her teachers so I am hoping this will be good year. I signed up to be her classes room mom...what was I thinking!

Sept. 2006

Sept 2007

Sept 2008

Eliza is also in school/mothers day out...one day a week. Whenever you drop Eliza off at school...she runs in and hugs all her teachers and finds a toy and starts playing. A little different than when I used to drop off Isabelle at this age. Eliza I am pretty sure will be a politicianof some sort. Whenever we go she is waving at people, smiling and trying to get their attention. If she is not contained in something she will run over to anyone and everyone and hug them. Like I said she knows how to work people over :) So needless to say...she is loving school.

Daniel and I have been married 5 years...can you believe it. The weekend before Ike hit we went on a stay-cation! We snuck off to The Houstonian Hotel here in Houston. I can't say how much I love that place. Everyone needs to go and stay once! We spent some time at the pool, the spa, and went to fun dinners!!!

Here we are at Brennan's. Good thing we went the weekend before they were destroyed in Ike!

We got to go to the pool and it was great weather. It was so fun to be at a pool and not have 20 toys for the kids, snacks, sunscreen, 4 towels...and swim diapers. It was so relaxing...imagine that!This was our first vacation with no kids...It was so great!!!! But considering our kids are little and a lot of work I don't see one in the future for quite a while. Thanks Almans for watching them.

Did you think I would ever blog again...I was begining to wonder myself. Things have been so hectic and now I feel like I am behind with the blog I will never catch up...so bear with me for the next few days while I try!
So we/our house made it through Ike. We were very lucky that we didn't have a tree in the house when we got home...just some large dangling limbs! Our neighboorhood still looks pretty rough and we just finished bagging all our limbs and leaves this weekend. God was very good to us...so were the Vanlohs who had to look after our house during the hurricane since we decided to go on vacation :)
We took off Thurs afternoon when we found out the storm was headed for us. We made a stop in Tyler for some fun Mimi and Papa time. Then we found out the storm was also going to pay them a visit and I was determined to make it to Dallas for my 10 year reunion (can you believe it!) So we left Fri night and drove into Plano and stayed at a hotel there.
Sat was my reunion which exceeded all my expectations...I have been waiting 9.5 years for this and it was worth the wait....SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun. So fun in fact I forgot to take any picuters...just this one of Carolyn and I after the reuinon!!!




Then woke up early Sunday and headed to Colorado. We were trying to make it in one day but at 10pm with two screaming kids we had to stay the night in Colorado Springs just 2 hours from Breck!!! It was so much fun but would have been much more fun if I hadn't been so stressed about everyone back home! I will put up all our Co pics tomorrow!!!

Eliza is so much fun lately. She just has a happy go lucky personality (unless Isabelle takes something from her.) She makes friends with everyone...she spends all her time when we are out trying to get people to notice her so she can show off to them! Today we were rushing around to get out the door and she comes prancing in (that is the best description I have for her walk) and hands me her soaking wet blanket??? Never a good thing. You know the only water she can get to is toilet water. Sure enough I got in the guest bath and opened the toilet, gave her blanket a bath and closed the lid again (and got water all over the floor too!). Isn't she cute. So I had to do emergency laundry and find a back up blanket!

Here are some of our pics of our fun time with Hudson. He got tons of hugs from both the girls. Isabelle and Hudson had to sit right next to each other to watch cartoons! The other picture is when they were quiet for a min and I went in Hudson room for the day and they were reading his bedtime books....I snuck in and took their picture...Hudson knew he was caught...Isabelle was to into Thomas to notice!!! I just love Hudsons look!

Isabelle has been loving our weather lately. She got to go to ToysRus and pick out whatever she wanted with her birthday money...well being Daniels child she picked an umbrella. Anytime it rains she wants out side or better yet go run errand with her umbrella!

Chloe is here!!!!

Right I know...read any other blog and you knew that already! We are so excited to have her here healthy and happy of course! Isabelle is really excited about her and talks about her all the time. On Sunday she spent a good part of lunch petting Chloes hair (she was really blessed with beautiful hair!) and staring at her. Not sue if Eliza has noticed her yet! Chole is going to be a great addition to the family. Congrats VanLohs!

***ok so I keep trying to upload her pictures and it won't let me...so some Chloe pictures to come!

Surprise!!!

We (Cara's friends from way back...and they included me!) threw Cara and Miss Chloe and small baby shower this weekend. I think we got her because she even cried. If you know Cara you know it has been a full time job for me to keep her distracted and not on to us! But in the end it was worth it, it was a beautiful shower and a lot of fun!

Now there is nothing holding her back...so maybe she will make an appearance early...right Cara?!?!

Surprising Cara!

The Party Crew!

Some of the fun gifts for Chloe...(Kim...did you notice I modeled my blog after your burp cloth!!!!!)

Cara, Cake, and Chloe!

The Hostess!

My little Bug is now 3!






Wow time flies!!! I can't believe she is three. There is such a big changes from 2 to 3. Its a very fun time...not that any isn't I am learning!






We kept it low key on her actual birthday just some present and family over for cake. Then that weekend she had a big party at the Children's Museum which she loved!!!! The family came over for cake and lunch afterwards to help open gifts....which by that point she was getting very good at. She even have Mimi and Papa in town so it was a fantastic birthday...plus it was so fun to see how excited she got over every little thing!







Helping Decorate her cake!







Blowing out the candles!
Eliza sharing her cake (yes I made it egg free...I have learned my lesson!)
Hudson the reluctant pirate!
Isabelle the serious princess!

Some of our party guests...I mean pirates and princesses....please note the very colorful party room...WOW