Today is my Big Juicy Boy’s 18 month birthday! To celebrate his big day, I’m posting his Calvin Klein jean ad layout. Calvin doesn’t know about his future male model, but we’re just getting ahead of the game. Isn’t he gorgeous? I didn’t even ask him to pose – he was just hamming it up for the camera. He is all boy! One thing I love that he started doing a while ago is snuggling up to a soft blanket, rubbing it against his face when he’s tired. It’s so sweet!

Amy and Calvin came to town for long enough to take us to dinner a while back. I never feel like I see my sisters enough, so I’m probably going to drive my kids absolutely crazy with demands for visitation privileges – at least once a week. Especially once the grandkids come into the picture.

Lately Katy and Allen have had lots of playdates with me trading out babysitting. One day we had three kids over, two of which are Katy’s best friends and one closer to Allen’s age. It was crazy but fun! We still had the tent up in the backyard from when Katy and I camped out to “test” it one cold night. The kids and I played all morning and then we had a McPicnic in the tent, and then bounced on the air mattress. I’m still glad to have most of my sitting done by our three grandparents who live in town! We also chopped up the Toy’s R Us catalog and put together some Christmas wish lists – fun! Katy wants Biscuit the Dog ($160+) and a talking dinosaur ($170+). Go figure.

We’re trying to teach Katy to go to sleep by herself (nap and bedtime) so this past week Sage came over for a slumber party as a reward. Next weekend we’re using a real camping trip as her reward. So far, so good but she still climbs into our bed around 3am every night. This is Katy helping Peter get the new tent out of the box. It was his Father’s Day present even though camping isn’t his favorite activity. Ha!

Here is a random Katy shot from church a couple Sundays ago. She looks like such a career woman.

Here is Allen after he climbed up into my van’s driver seat and tried to drive away. His feet are far enough from the pedals that I’m not too worried yet, but he is already curious about driving and I’m not sure that’s good. Next year I might see my van lodged in the front window of the house across the street. All I can say is that I called it first. And I’ll be sure to blog the pics when it happens.

Peter and I went to see an OPAS production a few days before October ended. We saw Sweeney Todd, which wouldn’t have been my ideal pick but it was still pretty good. I didn’t know much about it but I was surprised to see a five-year old girl sitting two rows ahead of us. Sure enough, she stayed the entire time and probably had some questions for her mom when it was over. The main character murders people and his lady love turns them into meat pies. The girl was wearing a princess tiara. I don’t think she was ready for Sweeney Todd. It was a nice night out for Peter and me, though. A rushed dinner at Arby’s and then the show ran late, but our sitters were in two shifts: Juan & Kourtney, then Karli, so we weren’t worried. In fact, Kourtney even texted Karli so that she knew to bring more milk. Peter and I didn’t even have to make a last minute run to the store that night. YAY!!

And finally, here was our Halloween day. This is Katy walking in the door at school on the day of her Halloween party. She doesn’t look pleased but that’s because I forced her to take a photo when she just wanted to run off and play. The kids were so cute! Peter’s sister Karen was in town for that week and I didn’t even get a picture with her. Bummer! Peter had to work late that night for his annual inventory, which was an even bigger bummer! So the kids and I picked up Mookie (it’s a tradition) for her to join us at the Trunk or Treat, and then Warren, Marjean and Karen joined us there. We walked around with Sage’s family for most of the time and had tons of fun. There was a haunted house that the kids could run through, and everything! After that we dropped Mom off at home and then headed out to Jerry & Kathy’s house to party until 9pm. Karli was there in her costume and I couldn’t stop laughing enough to take a decent picture.

This is an “out-take” photo from our costume shoot. Peter captured the equivalent of a roll of film with these two unlikely friends rolling all over each other. Yao Ming versus Pippy Longstocking.

Last weekend we went over to Jerry & Kathy's while Karen was still in town. I had a photo shoot and Peter was doing church stuff so the kids just hung out there for a while, playing with the possum, the baby squirrel and Rico. Then Katy joined Kathy and Karli in feeding the horses. Fun, fun, fun!

And finally, this past Friday Mom took Katy to see the Madagascar 2 movie at the “movie-ater”. They had a blast but I know that Mom watches Katy more than she watches the movie. Allen and I joined Peter for lunch while they were out and I think Big Juice had fun with his “one on one” time with Daddy. He is also a huge flirt with all the folks at other tables!

I think I’m caught up for now. Nothing much going on. I’m enjoying the cooler, wet weather when I know that I don’t need to leave the house. Tomorrow Allen has his 18 month doctor appointment so we’ll have to leave the house, then. Oh, well. Right now the kids are actually getting along and I love listening to them laugh and play! Juicy just brought me the van keys so maybe he’s getting cabin fever, after all. I’ll just finish up with some Katy-isms:

* brachiosaurus = broccoli-saurus

* “I want to be a spicy worm for Halloween!”

* promise? = promist?

* possum = pwossum

* camera = cwamwra

* “You’re fancy, little cat” when talking to Orange Kitty, our neighbor’s cat

* “Squitos are eating me all around! We don’t eat people!” when talking to mosquitos outside