Happy Halloween 2009!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!! Halloween was always fun, but now with Gwen...it is soooo much fun!!!! Here are some of our highlights from Halloween Eve and today :-)

"Bunny!" Gwen was a bunny again this year--the costume fit even better than last year! She has been so adorable about dressing up and playing the part. She has been saying "trick or treat!" and refusing to take off the bunny costume!

Again, refusing to take off the bunny costume, but having a blast with Gammy!

Gwen participated in her first pumpkin carving! Only Gwen's was an orange in which she named "Apple"

Carving pumpkins :-)

The finished product! From the left, Mommy's, Daddy's, and Gammy's

"It says 'trick or treat'!" Gwennie showing off her Halloween outfit

Our bunny!

Pumpkins=shape sorters...or at least Mommy's

Some extra tidbits:

-Gwen's potty training is going very well. She knows when she is wet and is doing well trying to go "pee pee" every time she is put on the potty. Her ability to telling us she has to go before the event is still to come. We will keep you posted.

-Brad and I are now the proud owners of 9 acres of woods in Chrisney, Indiana. We closed on the property on Tuesday and are very excited about the investment. We are planning to build someday and this will be our plot. It is about 10 minutes away from Steve and Carolyn's house and is a minute from the house we rented which is now home to Ben and Valerie. So much to look forward to!

See you tomorrow!!!!!

Patoka this year was October 16-18th and it was a ton of fun! Pictures will follow as soon as I can get them from Carolyn:-) The one above is just a preview of what is to come...Brad won the pumpkin carving contest! He was also going for another win in the costume contest, but it never ended up being judged.

Last weekend Gwen welcomed some guests to our house...Grandpa, Gammy, and Erin came to visit! Gwen has decided that Grandpa will now be called "Bubba" and was playing and talking like crazy! While playing around with her wagon, Gwen turned to all of us and say "See you tomorrow!" It was clear as day and so cute! We all just looked at each other in amazement! The fun kept going and going all weekend! Here is just some of what went on:

Fun outside with all her buddies

Gwen's baby train was on the go

Gwen modeled her new coat for everyone! Thank you Grandma Dolores!

Gwen was having a blast with everyone watching her on the slide

Bubba was so nice to push Gwen on the swing...Weeeee! Check out Baby Mac!

Gwen was hiding from Bubba. "I can't see you, so you can't see me!"

Gwen has grown out of her baby towels, so new towels were on the shopping list. This is our latest fashion statement! Say hello to Princess Gwen!

All rise...Princess Gwen is leaving her room!

Peek-a-boo!

While Gwen is taking the longest nap ever (normally for Gwen an hour nap is great, but today...she has been asleep for almost 3 hours!!!!!!!), I am taking the time to do some much needed updating :-)

Gwen has been helping with yard work, hosting a brand new cooking show, and entertaining our guests. She also managed to climb into her crib today!!!!! Neither Brad nor I saw it happen, but she was out running around one minute and in there the next getting her Lovey!!!! We haven't had her climb out yet, but it won't be too long. Life couldn't be more fun!!!! And, we have thrown out the diapers! Not literally, they are in hiding and come out for naps and bedtime, but we are starting to use only training underwear starting today!!! It is a brave move, but we think she is ready. We have had a couple accidents today, but not too bad. We are hoping to have her fully potty trained by Christmas...wish us luck!!!!!

Now, on to the good stuff!!!!

Gwen has thoroughly enjoyed moving our furniture around the house. This particular day, the dining room chairs made it into the family room and became a perfect Peek-a-boo stage. Oh, and at the end, she was fine...I just was sparing you from the screaming.

Gwen loves her jewelry! She can say "pretty", but I can't catch it on camera.

Gwen's cooking show returns with a new kitchen! She has been promoted to the actual kitchen!

"I see you!!!!"

"Watch out! Grass is great for tickling!"

"Hello! Hello! Is anybody out there?"

Mommy's little helper--I had the great idea of taking out 2 of the sections to make it a mini!

Preview of Gwen's latest photo-shoot with Gram:

Go Go Go Gwen!

As we all know Gwen is always on the move, however, every once in a while things slow down and she takes a moment to look out the window with Nimbus and watch everything else move.
While Pooka was having a beauty day at the groomer, Nimbus enjoyed some one on one attention from Gwen. I think she enjoyed it too!

"Nimbus! Come here and let me give you some love!"

Gammy and Grandpa visit!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Gammy visited Holiday World for the first time and Gwen showed off in the wave pool! Just ask them how she loves the water...

If you recall, Gwen taught herself that pinching her nose makes her sound funny. Grandpa knew this trick too!

Awww! They are such goofs!

Gammy and Gwen getting ready for a dinner party at Bill and Angie's house

"Auntie Erin, I love my new outfit! I was just twirling in it a minute ago!"

A trip to Bill and Angie's is not complete until you have a tour of their hog barns. Gammy and Grandpa were able to meet some 10 day old piglets!

Gwen giving some "Ahhhs" (or some love). She wanted to love on them all!

So, Grandpa which is better...puppy breath or piglet breath?

Try as we might, Gwen just couldn't take her eyes off Handy Manny! We love you Gammy and Grandpa and thank you so much for visiting!

Ring Around the Rosie is one of Gwen's favorite activities now. We have modified the words a bit at the end...for more giggles we made it "Ashley, Ashley, we all fall down." I just wanted to hear her say it more :-)

If I say "stop"...Gwen says "Go!"

Dawn and I are now in charge of the Dale Fall Fest Little Mr. and Miss contest (ages 3-6)! This year the theme was "Rock and Roll is here to stay!" and we had a blast! The kiddos looked fabulous and everyone had a lot of fun!

Excuse the nakedness, but this has been all too funny and we just had to share. Gwen discovered shaving cream the other night and has wanted to play with it every bath since!

We love Auntie Kelley!!!!!!!!!

Recently Auntie Kelley had a big modeling job on television! She modeled back to school clothes for JC Penny, which is awesome! However, it was on the Spanish channel so we can understand very little. She looks great though! Here is a video link to see she doing her thing on UTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qN435NiJJY

Kelley is the third one out (the first of the girls), wearing a silver top/dress, leggings, and a jean jacket.

Gwen loves to watch it every chance she gets! She even points to the T.V. when Kelley comes on and say "Kayie!" "Kayie!". We are sooooo proud of you Kelley!

The final days of summer

This week I went back to work, so before doing so we all decided to have a little fun. Gram, Gwen, and myself joined Grandma Rosie, Dawn, and Gracie to see the animals at the zoo in Evansville. The girls loved seeing all the animals! Both pointed out all the ducks (or anything with wings), Gracie mooed at all the larger animals, and Gwen pointed at everything! We had a great morning checking it all out and getting in a good walk. That place is really hilly!

"Look Gracie, a giraffe and a zebra!"

On August 12th Brad and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary, and spent the weekend primitive camping in Spring Mill. I had no idea what primitive camping would involve (besides the lack of bathrooms-just a outhouse, lack of running water, and no electricity), so I was nervous to say the least! Well, I survived! It wasn't that bad at all! The actual bathrooms were within a minute walk of our camp site (thank goodness!!!) The ground is very hard to sleep on (Brad said I had to experience it all so no air mattress), but the tent was much easier to put up and cooking over the fire was almost easier than in the kitchen. We had a lot of fun hanging out together and hiking through the park.

Our little camp site

After camping Brad and I came back to play with our little princess! Here are some recent picture and videos.

"Check me out!"

"Nimbus, what do you see?"

Gwen at the zoo looking for the ostrich

Gwen getting mail from Gammie and Grandpa Larry (She loved the pictures of Buzz and Auntie Erin)

Gwen showing off how strong and smart she is

What happens when Gwen gets a sandbox and some sand!

Gwen is living it up as summer continues! She loves getting into everything, getting dirty, and playing dress up. We mainly have been hanging out at home during the last few weeks of my summer until I start back to work full time. I have started some trainings and I will be getting my rooms set up this coming week (if I haven't said it recently...I am now placed at David Turnham Elementary, Chrisney Elementary, Dale Head Start, and Jasper High School), but I still will have lots of time with Miss Gwen. It will definitely be a big change for both of us! However, I am now so much closer to home that it will make things so much better! Enough talking...here are her latest pictures and videos!!!!!!

"It can't just be for pushing around...I can make it a ride-on too!"

"Today I had my first pedicure...which necklace will make my look perfect?"

At a wedding over the weekend for Brad's cousin, Gwen discovered rock candy....

At the same wedding Gwen and her BFF, Gracie, got to run around and play together

"Say Cheese!"

"Now to send a text...."

Gwen recently got a sandbox and we finally set it up. She loves it! She won't pay attention to much besides the sand though....

Gwen in the sand again! She just couldn't get enough!

The slide is also a favorite pass time of Gwen's! She is so independent when she plays!