To my teacher-friends

One of my faaaaaaaavorite teaching websites is doing a giveaway and I have to share it with you all to increase my chances. http://teachingheartmom.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveway-of-thanks.html

Halloween Pic

It was really hot on Friday, so Kensley couldn't wear her fleece costume, so she wore her orange and black instead. She doesn't look like a baby anymore!

Halloween

We had such an awesome Halloween! On Friday night, we went to Mike's office for the children's activities. There were lots of kids there and lots of really fun activities.

On Saturday, boy were we busy!!! We had our town "festibal" complete with bouncy castles, candy, games, and lots of ...er, costumes. (Some folks should seriously look in a mirror before they leave the house!) As we were coming home from the festival, the younger neighborhood kids were starting their trick-or-treating journey. We chose to stay home until dark and to trick-or-treat.

After the festival, Kensley and Mike carved the pumpkin. It was sweet to hear Kensley tell him that the eyes needed to be "um, triangle." She went on to tell Mike that the nose could be a "square." She loves her shapes and colors!

Just after the carving, our friend (we knew from Germany) came over and started the Halloween fun. We got gussied up and headed out the door with our favorite penguin. Kensley would tentatively walk up to the door and barely whisper "Trick-or-treat" and would more audibly say, "Thank you very much" when she left the doorstep. It proved to be quite the candy-having weekend!
 

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Lou Ellen Marlatt

Happy Birthday TWO You, Part TWO

Kensley turned two! Since we were fortunate enough to celebrate her birthday with the grandparents at the beginning of the month, we became less and less obligated to have another party and finally opted to only celebrate as a family.

Kensley ended the day with a bang! Initially, she saw all of her presents from us on the table and wanted to open them. Since Mike had already left for work, I told her we would wait and open them with Daddy. Kensley didn't protest at all and didn't even mention them again. We headed to Wal-Mart to buy cake decorations where Kensley chose all of the decorations for her cupcakes.

...Cupcakes. What an experience with a two-year-old! Kensley loved watching them bake and couldn't wait to put the icing on them! That's where it became hilarious. I set up the video camera to document what Kensley's first decorating experience would be like...it lasted maybe 2 minutes. Actually, it lasted just long enough for me to realize that "don't touch anything" doesn't apply on your birthday if there are tons of cupcakes staring you in the face. As I was looking for the spreading knife, Kensley had taken "mmmmm! yummy!" bites into TWO cupcakes. How fitting! I promptly sat her in her chair at the table, put a little icing on the cupcake she'd mostly devoured and finished frosting the cupcakes. Kensley told me which sprinkles she wanted as well as the colors. It turns out that they looked a little like a flower garden!

After Mike got off of work, we met him at a bouncy house. It was tons of fun, and since it was during the day in the work/school week, we had the place to ourselves! The nice lady even let us bring our cupcakes in (usually they don't let outside food and beverages inside)!

As we closed down the bouncy house, Mike wanted to take Kensley to eat at her favorite joint, "Chick-a-lay" (Chick-fil-a). She devoured her chicken fingers and then played on the playground.

When we got home, Kensley opened her presents from us. She became quite good at getting the wrapping paper off, which was an improvement from just three weeks before. She really is growing up quickly and catching on to mostly anything.

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Lou Ellen Marlatt

Pumpkin Patch 2009

We had an awesome time this year at the Pumpkin Patch! Kensley loved examining all of the pumpkins, large and small. The smaller ones were her favorite, as she would announce that each tiny one was for Libby. Kensley got to hug a goat, touch a bunny, quack with the ducks, and watch the chickens up close. For whatever reason, she has decided to forego the bouncy castles as of late, but enjoys herself people-watching. (Click on the picture to enlarge all of the photos)