Our Halloween

We all go through gaps in life where holidays aren't that fun. Sure holidays are always a little exciting because they're special but sometimes they don't hold that magic that they once did. I think that in my late teens and early twenties my enthusiasm about holidays took a but of a dive. I was no longer that kid whose parents were trying to create an amazing time for and I wasn't yet the parent who was trying to do that for my own child. So when Aubrey arrived and especially now that Aubs is getting older my "holiday magic" is back in full swing.

This Halloween was the best I've had since I was young. Aubs was excited about dressing up and had some sort of grasp that Halloween was a special and fun day. For me it was like going through all of that first time excitement that I must have felt at her age all over again. I can only see these times getting better as Aubrey gets a little older and I'm so happy that I get to experience it times two now that Finley is a part of our family.

Scenes from Turning Six

First off, Happy Halloween!
Secondly, can you believe I'm posting two days in a row?
I thought I would share some picture from my niece's sixth birthday a couple of weeks ago. I finally got around to editing the pictures so I thought I'd give everyone a break from all the Halloween posts going up today and give you a party in the park instead. It was "Monster High" themed so it's still a little bit festive, right?

Weekend Fun

I had meant to post these pictures during the week last week but if you have been following me on my various social media outlets, you know that I have been dealing with a very sick toddler. It all started on Wednesday night and hasn't let up since. Her fever has been going up and down from around 100 degrees all the way up to 104. She looks like crap. I feel so bad for her but we just have to let the nasty virus run it's course. Thankfully my husband and I have been able to steer clear of it so far. I'm just hoping that it isn't laying dormant in my body at this moment just waiting to show it's ugly face. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Okay so on with the show. What I really wanted to talk about in this post is how great I think cousins are. Aubrey has three cousins- Angelia, Nick and Nathan. While Aubs loves them all, she particularly adores Nathan and I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual. They are only 15 months apart so now that Aubs has reached full blown toddler stage they are very much on the same level. It's so awesome to see them play and interact together.

I think that having lots of cousins is kind of dying out. What I mean by that is in general people are having smaller families these days and smaller families means less aunts and uncles and then less cousins. Also people don't hang around were they grew up as much anymore so cousins many times grow up states away from each other. I think that it is kind of sad because I love that Aubs has cousins, just as I loved having cousins when I was little. I am also super sad that my new little one won't have any cousins around her age to play with. I'm pretty sure she will be the baby of the family. She will be just fine but Nick and Lia are so close and now Nate and Aubs that I wish baby girl had a little cousin playmate too.

***These photos were all taken last weekend- we couldn't take sicky out in public or around other littles this weekend***











And then Aubs decided to take a swim with her dress on.....


...at least it got all of the ice pop stains out.