Halloween!!

Since Grandma Zook was visiting and could watch Nat, Mommy and Daddy actually got a chance to go out to a costume party!!!

Instead of buying new costumes, we had a "green" halloween (that's where you RECYCLE old costumes from the attic baby!). This resulted in the pairing of a very good Bad Witch with a very cheesey B-Movie Kung Fu Master.

Meanwhile, Grandma gave Natalie some kitchen knives and let her carve the pumpkin. Seriously, y'all know I'm kidding right?

It was Momma who did the carving, but Natalie did manage to run off with handfuls of pumpkin guts (a new favorite toy).

Natalie helped Daddy hand out candy. She'll get to do her own trick-or-treating next year when she's a little bigger (and it's not quite as obvious that Mommy and Daddy are just using her to get candy for ourselves).

Lady Bug Princess at the JCP Pumpkin Parade

Every year at JC Penney's, the employees march their costumed munchkins through the headquarters in a Pumpkin Parade. All the employees are unchained from their cubes for an hour to watch and/or take part (munchkin required). This time (Oct 30th) was Nat's first year! Grandma Zook was in town to help out, so we loaded up the wagon (thanks Aunt Maggie!), the costume, and the kid and headed out to JCP for the big event!



Did Nat enjoy the event? Oh yes! Did Nat enjoy her costume? Well, at first, Natalie tugged at the ruffles and scolded them harshly for daring to be on her garment. Fortunately, they made peace just in time for Natalie to declare war on:
A. Her wings
B. Her shoes
C. Her antennae
D. All of the above
Did you guess "D"? Nat's rule was that the entire costume could not be on her body at the same time. See below:

The only known photo of Nat in full costume may be the one to follow, but since we can neither confirm nor deny the presence of shoes, it could be a hoax (may as well file it with all your photos of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster).

The Natty Bug then took a quick "flight" with Daddy before changing back into civilian attire (got to guard the secret identity, ya know).

The Raymond's farewell party

On Oct 27th, our friends from Garden Ridge Church of Christ had a going away party for Joby, Shae and little Dakota Raymond (they are moving to Abilene because of work). Natalie was not happy about them leaving!

All the parents decided to cluster the toddlers on the sofa to get a few last group pics with Dakota Raymond (little blonde dude in the brown shirt). I wish I knew what kind of sedatives the pros use to get good group shots of kids! Anyway, here's the results:

(Of course it's my kid that thinks all the adults want to take pictures of her belly.)

(Kickin' it old school with the homies?)

(Trying to get all eight kids in one shot......)

(...but Natalie makes a run for it first).

2009 Pumpkin Patch

Here are the final pictures from our mini-session at the Pumpkin Patch.

Crazy Hair Day

Grandma Cadden's visit

Bath Time Bubbles

2009 School Pictures

I LOVE Chocolate!!

Pumpkin Patch

Natalie and I went to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch this morning and the weather was perfect (but a bit chilly for us Texas folk) for Fall pictures. We had a mini-session with a photographer and as soon as i get the final pictures, I will post them on the blog. For now, here are some pics I took. Unfortunately, none of these shots turned out so good.... I hope the professional can do better!

Natalie LOVES her new red coat!!

My Cute Girls