Halloween - Wonderland style

Happy Halloween from our little slice of Wonderland!

Mad Hatter Natty Katter

She's late! She's late for a very important date! No time to say 'hello!' good bye! She's late! She's late! SHE'S LATE!

Such a cuddly Keely Q Cheshire Cat

Alice and crew

Thanks Nana for helping put together all our adorable costumes

Spirit Day - day 3

Crazy hair day! Oh what fun!

On a non-related note, Ash had her first tardy day today (but it was excused). She was up coughing from asthma/allergies for most of the night, so when she actually got to fall asleep, I let her sleep. She was only about 10 minutes late, but the whole time Ash was concerned she was breaking the rules.

I'm happy to see my "it's rude and disrespectful to be late" mentality is rubbing off on her!

Now that's some crazy hair!

More bows and braids

Getting in the crazy mood

Love that precious smile

Caught her mid-yawn

Even with bows and braids and piggers galore, she's still as beautiful as ever

Even threw in a snowman hair clip for good measure - love our crisp and cool mornings!

Have a happy day, Midget!

3 cheers for dads!

On Father's Day this year we took advantage of the incredible weather to grill, hang out and spend time enjoying family.

I'm pretty blessed because I grew up with a great dad and now I get to sit back and watch as my daughters experience the joys of what a Wonder Dad is capable of. As I grow I realize more and more how imperative it is for children, especially girls, to have strong male influences in their lives. Daddy's show their daughters how men should treat a lady; chivalry is not dead. I'm learning if I want my daughters to walk a certain path, then I'd best lead by example. 

It all starts at home, from that very first day.

Thank you, Jake, for being the kind of man that I wouldn't mind our girls bringing home (in 25 or 30 years!). And thank you, Dad, for being the kind of man that showed me how women need to be treated.

3 cheers for dads! I love you all!

Keely Q's first Father's Day

Where else did you expect to find her?

Papa getting a few swings in while he can

Pint-sized cutie

Spunky's feeling the love

A tasty Father's Day treat...

...unless you don't hold onto your bowl and then it just becomes deck decor

 Lovely, lovely love my family!

Makes my heart sing

Getting in one last zoobert before bedtime

Cutie patootie

Happy Father's Day Papa

One thing about it, he sure has good looking girls

Ashley sure loves her Papa

Monkey Girl

Spirit Day #2

Today is mismatch day.

And if you know me, then you know how difficult this particular day is. Clothes should match. You should respect yourself, and your children, enough to wear matching clothes. 

It's simple, really.

But today I threw it all away and went as mismatched as possible. From the bows in her hair to the boots on her feet, there isn't one thing on her that looks 'correct'.

Embrace it, right?

Oh yeah, that's one mismatched Midget

I think she's enjoying this too much

Carving cuties

Tonight Jake, Ashley, Natalie and I had a first: pumpkin carving! Jake and I employed the divide and conquer approach: I took Natty and Jake took Ashley and I think the outcome is absolutely perfect.

Anytime the pastime involves giant knives with wild mini people and no one loses an appendage, then perfect is the *only* way to describe it.

Stunning

Creepy face. Giant knife. A good combo.

Scooping out the good stuff

Ash's turn to get gooey 

Doing work

Love this wild child

Having fun making memories with these 2

Letting Daddy do the dirty work

Natty wanted a scary jack-o-lantern

Proud masterpiece - the fangs are my personal fave

Our latest front porch decor 

Tilt-a-Whirl twirl

Back in June both of my favorite sister sets spent the afternoon at a carnival sponsored by Shriners (although looking back through pictures I don't have 1 of Sissie, but she was there!). The sun was shining, the rides were spinning and good times were in the making.

Well that may not be entirely true. Natty was pretty bummed when she realized she wasn't tall enough for a few of the rides, specifically the Scrambler (perhaps her all-time fave ride). She made it a point to tell the carnival employees that she'd be back next year and she WOULD be riding those rides.

Mm hm. You go Natty Kat.

Aunt Shawna getting dizzy with Ash

Nana must have felt guilty that Natty Kat couldn't go on the "big girls rides" because she willingly went on the fire truck ride despite her dislike for heights 

Keely Q!

Roller coaster time!

Ashley's turn on the fire truck

Someone pinched the baby

Swings are always a favorite when my minis are present

Natty Kat showing us she's big and brave by going it alone

Skeet Ball!

My brave little pilots 

Swing time

After much hounding and pestering, Ash finally got Aunt Shawna on the Tilt-a-Whirl

Precious

Love you, Spunk

A great end to a fun afternoon, a sisterly swing