Happy Halloween!

We have had a full week of Halloween!

Here is the finale, trick or treating in the carriage with a wand glow stick she got for her birthday! Marianne was all finished by this point...

At the neighborhood potluck before trick or treating...

A family photo at the potluck - a princess, a fairy princess, a kitty cat and Steve from Blues Clues.

I love this picture of my girls...Marianne did not like to keep her ears on, though.

The three girls...



We continued our pumpkin carving tradition - 13 times since our first date! This year, Brian carved Maleficent (Evelyn likes not liking this character - she talked about how much she did not like her and then chose her for Brian's pumpkin). I carved the coach in keeping with our cardboard coach.

Evelyn used a Cinderella stencil to paint a Cinderella pumpkin.



Marianne watched the carving and painting from the coach!

Here is Marianne at the CarniFall on Pepperdine's campus - it was a fun evening!



Granny and Grandpa went with us to CarniFall.



Here the girls are ready to trick or treat at Brian's classes. We visited all 3 of his classes and both of my labs to hand out candy.

Evelyn is Three!

Evelyn had a full day of celebration! She brought cupcakes for her group, the sea stars, at her preschool to share at snack time. They gave her a crown! She wore a new outfit from Titi Esti and Uncle Scott (we opened those on Sunday - thank you Titi Esti!)

Here she is as we sing Happy Birthday with Granny, Great Granny, Grandpa, Daddy, and of course Marianne...

How old are you?


Here she is enjoying some of her presents. Marianne gave her a wand for her fairy princess costume, a tiny princess flash light, and some chapstick (a huge hit - good choice Marianne!)




Great Granny gave Evelyn some accessories for Baby Betty - including this doll carrier. Evelyn was thrilled - she loves the tiny pack n play and little high chair. She has already played with them for hours! Thank you Great Granny!


Granny and Grandpa gave Evelyn some new clothes for Betty and Sissy - she is excited about that!


Watching the dancing babies on Grandpa's iphone...


And, we made Evelyn help make her own birthday cupcakes. She did a great job!

We so enjoyed having my cousin Melissa with us. Evelyn had so much fun with her - Melissa - we think of you when we read Fancy Nancy (every night...)

Marianne loved having company all week - this is her new cute face! She makes this face often and likes the giggle reaction it is sure to get!

Evelyn's Birthday Party

We celebrated Evelyn's 3rd birthday at the park in our neighborhood with neighbors and friends from church on Saturday. The weather was beautiful and she had a great time! There was a "Royal" theme (again)..complete with a royal coach and a royal castle cake!

She chose to wear this hat, crocheted by a friend here at church, to her party. She enjoyed her ice cream cone!


My cousin Melissa, my parents, and my Granny Stonestreet arrived the day before the party. Cousin Melissa and Brian created Evelyn's "cake," a tower of ice cream cones coated in white almond bark and sprinkles. It was yummy!





The kids played at the park - sliding, swinging, and digging in the sand.
Miss Stephanie transformed Evelyn's wagon into an elegant coach, fit for a 3 year old princess. It was a huge hit at her party and will be fun for the fall carnival on campus and for trick or treating. Thank you Miss Stephanie!


Evelyn and her friend, Clare, enjoyed a carriage ride.


Miss Becca and Bailey enjoying some ice cream!

Captain Evelyn!

Evelyn also got to play Duck, duck goose...one of her favorite games with all of her friends.


Marianne enjoyed the festivities and went along with everything with a smile.

Here we are watching the game of duck, duck goose.

I'll post more pictures later of our fun visit with family and Evelyn's actual birthday...(I know I am a few days behind on this)...we are taking a lot of pictures!

The Green Dresses

More from Nana and Papa's visit!

At the Pumpkin festival, Nana bought the girls these matching green dresses. Evelyn loves this dress, she declared that she was a special princess, and "Daddy, would you please get out your guitar and play a princess song for me to dance?"

Evelyn was also thrilled that she and Marianne matched. Here are the pictures....




With Nana and Papa before church on Sunday...



She tried helping Marianne smile...


And more from the pumpkin festival...Evelyn loved the grilled corn!


Trying on hats at the festival.