Halloween Fun

Aren't these the cutest polka-dotted creatures you've ever seen? Enzo=cow. Gianna=ladybug. Muah!


This shot just cracks me up. Don't squish the bug on the ground!



This was Enzo's first trick or treat house. We have been practicing for weeks. "Trruick a trreeat, puhlease. Haaappy Halloweine. Candy puhlease. Thanckyuuu."

Best trick or treating house EVER! They had a spotlight pointed toward their porch and they gave out candy AND balloons. They were the couple from UP!, the movie. Even had the themesong playing. Love!! (Um, yeah. That's Jeff with the hands-free headlamp. Two words: Chilean miner.)

Jeff did this one with the dremel. He was quite proud. Meow!

This one paid homage to Gianna during a bad tummy day. Crying, spewing, gaping. Makes for a sad day, but an awesome jack-o-lantern.

Out of aaaalll the pumpkins, it took Enzo 23 seconds to choose this one.

It looks like this shark is about to swallow my boys!!

Please. What other set of parents send their 2 year old into a petting zoo dressed like a cow??

"Yammie!!!"

This bovine child was VERY popular among the occupants of this travelling petting zoo.

Trunk or treating was AWESOME!! This skeleton hand reached into the trunk and pulled out CANDY!!!!

"I love Halloweeeeen!!"

Befores. Afters.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

Let me explain. For as long as I've known Jeff, he hasn't been able to breathe out of both nostrils. He can't smell so great and his taste was beginning to become affected. Since he can't breathe, he doesn't sleep very well, and the docs say he can't pay attention and has trouble focusing because his brain lacks oxygen. I just thought he had selective hearing. After a number of sleep studies, scans, and exams, he chose to have sinus and throat surgery. And, ouch.

Since he is going to be off work for a week, we thought, heck, let's get some stuff done around the house. So, we (and by "we" I mean "the men we hired") demo'd the kitchen in preparation for new counter tops. We leveled off what used to be the bar to create one elevation. Now you can see the messy kitchen from the family room, which is supposed to be an incentive to keep it clean. We'll see.

Both are works in progress.

Jeff is healing slowly, but doing better day by day. I keep ice on his face and head and change his (bloody, gooey, sticky) dressings several times per day. He's been a champ. Really. I can't imagine having the worst sinus headache of your life for 10 days straight. And not being able to eat or drink much because the back of your throat is covered in stitches. But taking care of Enzo, Gianna, AND Jeff -- without the help of a supportive husband -- is killing me.

And, the kitchen. We hope to have fabulous, durable, antimicrobial, heat resistant, scratch resistant, made-from-recycled-glass counter tops in 10 working days. And then we have to agree on a backsplash.

I'll report back when both improvement projects are complete. And hopefully have better pics to share.

Time with family

...celebrating Mimi's birthday.

...funny face contents with Grandbob - and chicken nuggets and carrots. (Notice the "dipit" variety cups).

...kiss from Grumpy,

Nana,

Auntie Teri,

and Great-Nana.

Grumpy helping me with my shoes so we can go outside and play.

Checking out the ad papers, and the sale at Macy's.

Lunch break.

Hanging out with Auntie Josie.

If you are family not seen in this post, come over for a visit! OR, say the word and we're over. OR, remind me to pull out the camera when we are together so you, too, can make the blog! Have babies. Will travel!

New foods

Mexican food experiment a la double decker taco.

This monster took serious dexterity!

Today, we introduced veggies to Baby G. Sweet potatoes, it was.

Finger-lickin good.

Gianna's .5 year birthday

Party on! Yeah!

My little six month old is such a big girl. This is her "I'm feeling my first two bottom teeth poking through" face.

Brother and sister are inseparable. I absolutely love it. Adorbs.

Looks like Enzo is scheming something up. Gianna will surely be his accomplice.


Being vertical is amazing!!!


I mean, don't you just want to knead these legs?? Who wears short shorts??

Enzo hands his Baby Einstein activity table down to sissy. Here is her orientation.

Gianna also likes Cousin Kayden's activity center. This one bounces!!

Here are more 6 month old stats:

*Gianna grabs hold of everything. Hair. Necklaces. Eyelids. Keeping her fingernails manicured has been key.

*She has begun to transfer objects from one hand to another.

*She still isn't a great roller-overer, however she can sit up sorta with her hands as her tripod. Side to side stability isn't so great yet.

*Still not a fan of rice cereal or oatmeal. It's a struggle to get 3 tablespoons twice a day in this little one's mouth. Still being nursed when I'm home with her, and breastmilk in a bottle when I'm not.

*Gianna is an excellent bicycle rider; that is, she furiously and independently rotates her legs in circles like she's riding a bike. Fast. So, what used to be a mermaid thump has turned into a bike ride.

*The mermaid thump comes out still frequently during bouts of stomach cramping. We can't seem to get this under control. My little girl is in pain - a lot - and there is nothing I can do to relieve it.

*Gianna wakes 1-2 times per night with gas, bloating, and pain. The only remedy is a nursing session. Yawn.

*She is officially wearing 6 month sized clothes.

*She smiles at strangers and has begun to heartily laugh - especially at herself in the mirror. Or when I make obscenely twisted and contorted faces.

Happy half year birthday, baby girl!