Happy Halloween!!

My family was dispersed everywhere tonight... Morgan went with a friend to trick or treat in her neighborhood, Grant went with his dad because Halloween is their big "decorate your yard to scare off little kids" tradition. So, Sophie~Bug and I went to our best friends' house to trick or treat with them. It was so much fun!

Sophie has been watching Halloween Dora this week and slowly figuring out that this could be fun.

Hello Mister Pumpkin, I just love your inner glow!


Didn't I do a great job cheering on the Cats tonight??


Yeah, I think this Halloween thing could be fun...


And, you get candy too? Tell me this is a dream!


Let's go Owen, there are front porches to conquer!


The trick or treat gang ready to go!


After the first house, Sophie caught on quickly that each time she said trick or treat (or just batted her cute eyelashes), people would give her candy!


And one of the cutest costumes of the night... a little baby lobster (aka Andrew)!!


Hope everybody had a spooktacular Halloween!!!

Started Your Holiday Shopping Yet??

Have any of you started your Holiday shopping yet? I am just starting, but found out an awesome way to support Mayan Families while I shop. It is through a site called iGive and you need do nothing more than sign in and then shop at any of the online stores you already know... here is a link to all the merchants that you probably already shop with. Mayan Families will receive a percentage of your total purchase and you don't have to do a thing! You even get a tax deductible donation write off since Mayan Families is now a 501 (c) (3) charity, if you so choose.

I cannot believe my mission trip is less than two weeks away!! I began packing all the collected donations last night and am thrilled that I have already filled two large suitcases! I plan to take an additional suitcase as well but it will cost an additional $100 to fly on Delta to get there... I hate that... all these donations and the airlines gets to charge for the extra suitcase... think how far $100 would go in Guatemala buying more supplies? Oh well, I am so excited about the things I am taking. Many, many thanks to my blogger friend, Lori who sent items to take with me along with my local friends, Judy, Holly and Anita who also gave me items to take with me. Whatever I cannot take with me on this trip, I guarantee you that they will get down to Guatemala on another trip soon.

Speaking of my trip, I have created a blog for friends to follow along. There are six of us going down together and we will all be blogging along the way and posting pictures of our experience. Follow along here and I will add a link in the sidebar.

Happy Shopping!!

Favorite Fotos Friday #11

Why is it that you can forget so easily how wonderful your child is? I have been having a very sentimental week about my son, Grant. He has been the most amazing big brother to Sophie. When I first started discussed adopting a child with my older kids, Grant immediately said he wanted to have a baby sister because not only would he remain my only sweet mama's boy, but he would also be there to protect her forever. He has been true to his word... he is the BEST big brother to Sophie~Bug. He goes to every toddler party and Guat get together with us and all the kids love him. His heart is so incredibly big!

In going through my pictures to find my favorite of the two of them together, I came across so many that truly chronicles what an awesome kid my son is. So, with some tears of mushiness tonight, here are some favorites of Grant being an awesome big brother. Sorry so many, I could not choose just one.

Grant meeting his baby sister for the first time when she was 10 weeks old:


Promising to protect her for always (visit trip - 10 weeks old):


Soothing his sister to sleep in the Guatemala Marriott Champions restaurant while mommy ate:


Showing off his baby sister home forever (5 months old):


Sophie adores her big brother and would always reach out to touch his face:


He is the first to volunteer to play with her when I need help:








He took her on her first amusement park ride:


He is THE man in her life:






He may very well be the person she has her first dance with as a bride (besides the groom of course):


Protecting her from people dressed up in scary bunny costumes:


Always there to celebrate all her special milestones:


Just enjoying a warm afternoon:


Teaching her to color with crayons:



And if there is any doubt about how Sophie feels about my big tough guy:


Grant is the BEST big brother a girl could ask for... this picture says it all:


Please keep Wendy's little angel, Perri Brynn (PBJ) in your prayers... this little girl really needs to come home ASAP to be assessed and taken care of at home. Please keep their son, Ahren in your prayers as well, that he is able to come home soon.


Links to our Favorite Friday Foto friends:

First... a shout out to Amanda and her beautiful Bella - together forever finally!!

And, my first Secret Blog Pal, Shannon and her adorable baby Analise are OUT of PGN!! Come on PINK!!!

And, shout out to Sharon & Olivia as they are OUT of PGN and awaiting PINK!

Amy & Jonathan
Lisa, Katelyn, Frankie & Sophia
Laurie & Joe
Becky & Amaya
Many Blessings and her four gorgeous girls
Christina & Aiden
Andrea and K
Robyn & Gabriella
Marlene & Rylee
Holly
Steve, Amy & Mia
Becca & Ella
Sabra & Sofia
Alleen & Gabriella
Kerri & Ruby
Kelly & Kemry
Krystal, Gerson and his buddy Lucas
Candy & Kya Blu
Heather, Kyle, Brandon, Jacob & Allie
Katie, Brayden & Arianna
Kim & Alex
Stephanie & Maya
Amy & Benjamin
N&D, Danny & Victoria
Beth, Sam & Lucy

Pumpkin Patch Time!!

This was an amazing weekend outside, so the girls and I ventured to the pumpkin patch not once, but twice. Every year, we go to the same pumpkin farm and ride the wagons out to the field and pick our pumpkins out of the daily restocked fields, gingerly stepping over the obligatory rotting ones. It was exciting to go this year since Sophie is so much more aware of everything. When you watch the excitement in her eyes, it brings it all back...

Of course, they picked out the perfect one (we love pumpkins with bumps and warts)!


Day Two, we went back as Sophie insisted that we go to the petting zoo, even though she had no idea what that meant. When we were questioning her what animals are in the petting zoo... we kept asking, are there goats... she would say "no goats", are there horses... " no horses", are there ducks... "no ducks"... you get the picture. When we asked her what animals she wanted to see at the petting zoo, she replied "elephants"!! Needless to say, no elephants when we ventured back today and she was not so keen on seeing all the goats, horses, cows, donkeys, ducks, etc. but eventually warmed up to them. Sissy (as she calls Morgan) had a great time feeding them all corn.






Then we found the corn maze... Sophie LOVED it and she and Sissy found some ears of corn and came out to pull the kernels off...





Nana came with us this year and helped Sophie with her corn. I think Nana had as much fun as the kids!





I just love this picture of her enjoying the warm breeze.



Sophie was really into Morgan and tried to copy everything she did... it was so cute!




Going to the farm is not complete without riding a pig, right??




The day came to an end with a ride on a spring pony... I just love this picture of her...


Hi-oh Silver!!


The day was near perfect... fresh apple cider, warm pumpkin bread and apple spice donuts and a band playing under the tent. Hamburgers grilling, clear blue skies and the laughter of children in the air. I just love this time of year...