Happy Halloween!

This year I did not drop the ball on the Halloween costume like I did last year. Given, last year I had a 3 week old, and that was a pretty good excuse for not following through on the plan to sew up a burrito costume, but still. This year, I planned ahead. I picked up a costume at Costco back 2 months ago when they started putting out the Halloween gear. I was super excited about said costume, where as Nate did not think it was quite up to snuff.

That all changed when Kendall got dressed today...

That is a cute cow. And she is mooing in this picture - thus no smile.

After getting all dressed up and mooing for mom and dad, we decided to do some stealth trick-or-treating and surprise the grandparents.

First up were Grandma and Grandpa Greaney. They were super surprised to see us, and Kendall's cow costume went over swimmingly. She moo'd on command some more, pet the doggie, and then we hit up our next stop on the trick-or-treat surprise tour.

Next we hit Grandma and Grandpa Gorman's - and we surprised them too! We were the first trick-or-treaters at both stops (kids get started late these days!) - and Grandpa Gorman thoroughly shocked that it was us and not a group of kids. After a lot of pictures and some milk for the cow, we were back on the road. All those surprises tired this little cow out.

Luckily, by the time we got home, the cow had her second wind, and graced us with a video in which you can hear the mooing, and really take in this costume. We especially liked the padding in the behind - she should really wear this everyday with all the falling down Kendall does these days!

Happy Halloween!!

Photo Session

We've been MIA on the blog for a couple of weeks, mostly due to so much going on that I don't know what to write about. These has been a lot of running around, teething (up to 8 teeth, with a new one on it's way in), and lots of toys under foot. Kendall spends most of her days pulling everything she can out of drawers and baskets and scattering her things (and everyone else's) all over the floor. Good times, good times.

Kendall is a whirling dervish, but I was able to get her in to have some 1st Birthday shots right before her birthday. If I don't say so myself, they came out fantastic (thanks to the Picture People at Old Orchard). We had a lot of fun - Kendall really lit up for the photographer and showed all that personality. She smiled, she laughed, and she pointed a lot. The pictures really reflect who Kendall is.

As I reorganize my thoughts and get back to my blogging, take a gander at the results of the photo session. I promise to be back with more Kendall stories - she never ceases to come up with something new for me to talk about!

Exploring

In honor of Columbus Day, Nate, Kendall, and I took the day off and spent some quality family time. We all slept in and got some good napping in, which was needed after the big birthday yesterday.

We all felt the need to get out of the house and do something, so we headed out to the pumpkin patch at Dieder Farms. What we forgot was that it was Columbus Day. We were not the only people off work with the idea to go to the pumpkin patch. And we hate crowds. So we turned around and changed our plan.

To honor Columbus, we explored a new land. Although we only live a mile away, we had never been to Lake Arlington. We headed over and had a great time. Took a 3 + mile walk around the lake, and hit the playground.

Kendall explored the playground, but she liked the slide the most. After sliding down, she would try to crawl back up the slide to go down again. The leaves falling from the trees also provided a lot of entertainment. She would point and watch them fall, and then walk over to pick them up. Leaves falling from trees? Crazy!

It was a beautiful fall day - even though it was 80 degrees out. Looking forward to the cooler weather and getting out to enjoy it.

A Year Ago Today....

We love you Kendall. Happy First Birthday!

Can't believe it's already been a year since you came into our lives. Looking forward to all the years to come!

Kendall and the Balloon

In prep for the birthday, I have been searching high and low for a giant rubber ducky balloon. Apparently they do not exist, although I swear I have seen one before. During my search, I took Kendall with me to the Party Store near our house.

You know how party stores are. Hundreds of balloons blown up on the ceiling, waiting for an owner. Balloons all over the walls so you can pick the perfect one - except no duckies. Well, Kendall loved the balloons. She pointed and ooohhed and ahhhed and giggled. I must have spent an extra 30 min in there pointing at balloons. I think that was the highlight of her day.

As I continued my search for the duckie balloon, I hit the Jewel. No, they don't carry them either, but they had some Bears balloons in the produce section (and inexplicably Packers balloons - seriously? Boo.) So as I bought apples and peaches, lettuce and onions, I remembered how Kendall liked those balloons, so I picked one up to see how Kendall would react when it invades her space. Go Bears.

That balloon, or as Kendall calls it the 'gaboon', is now her constant companion. Always following her around floating over her head. If it is not next to her, she will point to it, or if you ask where it is, she will go track it down and bring it to you. Or, my favorite, she will bring you both the balloon and her copy of Goodnight Moon - because in the great room, there is a red balloon.

At least she is never hard to find these days - just follow that balloon.

Early wake up call

Kendall and Daddy on their way to work, early in the morning - before the sun is even up.

Kendall is a tough cookie

Kendall is a walking chatterbox these days, and the thing she loves most are books. She will pick one up, walk over, hand it to you, then climb onto your lap and demand that you read it to her 15 times. Same book. I have taken to hiding some books because I just can't read them again for a while.

As a result of her love of reading, Kendall developed her first black eye. You may ask, how does reading give you a black eye? Well, when you are not so steady on your feet and pick up books a lot, eventually you fall on one.

A few weeks ago, Kendall was bringing Grandma Gorman a book, and tripped, falling onto the book she was carrying. It hit her right beneath the eye, giving her a nice shiner for a week.


This is after a few days healing on that black eye.

Kendall did not cry. She was a bit surprised, but just picked herself right up and brought that book over to Grandma Gorman to read it to her. This tends to be a theme for Kendall. She falls, a lot, but most of the time it doesn't faze her - and we try really hard not to react. When she falls, Nate has taken to saying 'kabooms', and now when she falls, it almost sounds like she is saying it too.

If she keeps this up, she is going to be one tough cookie. I think I see a Lacrosse player in our future - maybe even another goalie!