Halloween!

After our whirlwind trip down south, we came home to HALLOWEEN! I felt a little bad, because in our area, there are a ton of lead up activities and trick or treat opportunities. But our friends Lauren, Derek, Tyler and Sydney were hosting dinner and trick or treating at their house and after not seeing his friends for a week, Owen was super excited!!

We had a tiger:

And a skeleton!

All our friends trick or treating!

Nathan hitches a ride with Maddie the Dinosaur!And then with dad!Someone left a ball in their yard. It was not pretty prying that out of his hands!

All the little trick or treaters!

Owen, me & Jacob as Buzz Lightyear. Now....off to eat candy!

Disneyland

We can't go to So Cal anymore without a visit to the mouse! We debated leaving Nate with my mom and just spending the day with Owen. It was a tough decision. We weren't sure he'd like it. We didn't know how he'd do with crowds and lines and rides. We stressed about him napping or NOT napping and being cranky! In the end, we decided to take him, after all it was HIS birthday and we just didn't feel right leaving him behind.

It was the right decision. Both boys had a blast.

In line to go in. It was a little wet and rainy, but not bad. Nathan was psyched!

Here we go!! Owen giving a birthday hug! A RARE event that we are super happy to have caught on film! And a High-Five...I just may move to Disneyland!

Dancing in the streets!

We visit Minnie.

And Mickey.

Enjoying a churro on the Jungle Cruise! Look closely and you can see Nate's little hand and foot peeking out from the backpack. He was napping back there! More cruisin' in the jungle. A family photo.

Nathan saw Chip or Dale (does it really matter which) and hauled ass straight to him.

For a hug!

A big, snugly hug!

And he didn't want to let go.

Where was Owen you ask? Napping! Then off to more rides.

Ah......what a fun day!

Happy Birthday Nathan Henry!

One year! One glorious year. The kid is completely a blessing. He's just a fantastic addition to our little family. We celebrated his birthday a couple of times.

In late September Nana came by to celebrate, since we'd be out of town on Nathan's actual birthday.

Nate and Owen both loved the early celebration! Thanks Nana.

A little bit about Nathan at twelve months:

• Loves a ball. Spends most his day with a ball. He plays t-ball. Basketball. Soccer.
• Eats most anything and weighs 23lbs. (Note Owen weighs 27lbs)
• Gives kisses and lots of hugs.
• Total of four teeth! Those top two finally broke through this week.

My family has a ton of October birthdays, four the same week.

We had a huge party for the four of us: Cyndy, Nathan, me & Abbigal:

So of course, the party had a pinata!

Nathan was desperate to get down and get that bat! The Halloween themed birthday cake! Perfect for a one year old. No? Fun in the bounce house!

Nathan's trying to blow out his candle! Aim is a bit off.

Then down to business. Um...that's my cupcake you're eating, buddy.

Present time!OMG a BALL! How did you know Auntie Robin!?!? What are Hollis and Ross looking at you ask?Just an ENORMOUS tortoise!!! This is the Maciel's latest pet. Driving the off-road vehicle!

Cash takes Nate for drive. We all had a wonderful celebration! Our family is so generous and we are so thankful for all the love!

Nathan loves being one and wears it well!

Bad Mommy.

I hate having bad parenting moments. And they happen more than I'd like. Do you want to know what's even more humilating? Realizing that the way Owen treats Nathan when he's frustrated is how I treat Owen when I'm frustrated!

Bad mommy, bad.

The Whirlwind Effect

Nathan is an absolute whirlwind. The kid can destroy a room, hell an entire store in matter of seconds. The other day we went to Toys R Us to buy a birthday gift for a friend. In no more than 60 seconds Nathan had toppled an entire display of about 20 Scrabble games, ripped off and OPENED and package of Crayola Markers that were dropping out one at a time, was UNDER a rack of clothes, yanking them all down, breaking a hanger or two as he went and had one of these CRAZY-ASS sing dolls in his clutches.

This was all within the first 15 feet of entering the store! It's absolutely out of control. The kid must be strapped into a cart or a stroller or on your back or else there is major clean up to be done in his wake.

It is exhausting. I was stupid to ever think that Owen was active. Owen's a couch potato compared to this one.