A Buggy Halloween 2011

I started thinking about a possible theme for Halloween back in August. I knew I wanted to incorporate Carys' costume from last year and I wanted the girls to match. Looking online, Gymboree had many other coordinating costumes, and when given the choice, Carys chose Buzz Buzz. Buzz Buzz is the name of Daisy Duck's bee friend on Mickey Mouse. So it was decided, Carys would be a bumblebee, Ava would be a butterfly, Maya would be a ladybug and Macy would be a caterpillar. The only costume I would have to create was Macy's, which seems to be a new tradition of mine. Maya already had the ladybug costume from years ago and we went to Gymboree to buy Carys' costume when it was on sale. Here is our little buggy crew.

I finally took my sewing machine out of the box to create Macy's costume. I sewed two t-shirts together and put quilting backing in between the layers. I had to get on the learning curve, learning about tension and how to replace the needle. Yes, I broke the needle. I added some paint and cording to complete her ensemble. Every caterpillar needs antennae, I added chenile stems...and gold accents. Not bad, but unfortunately there was no contest to be entered. She would have won! Maya did better in her costume this year, not going into a comatose state like before.

The girls, Ava wearing her Strawberry Butterfly costume and Carys with her Buzz Buzz costume.

I french braided Carys' hair the night before and took it out right before we went out. It added a nice touch to her buzz buzz costume. She wore black tights and boots that are hand-me-downs from Charlotte.

And away we went, Ava was ready for business in her butterfly costume.

Daddy pulled the wagon from house to house.

Our neighbors were out early with the other little ones in the neighborhood. Our neighbor across the street was the first house we visited, they were shy at first.

But then Carys said, "Come on Ava, I will go with you," and took her hand at the next house. The excitement was overruling her shyness. Look at those wings!

Daddy having as much fun as the girls at the next house.

Trick or Treat!

After many houses, we came home for the girls to inspect their loot. Ava chose a sucker.

Carys unloaded hers, just to reload it quickly.

After bath time, Ava was angry we had taken away her sticky sucker, so she walked all around the living room and kitchen until she found her ladybug bag. She pulled it down and chose another sucker. Can we say smart and strong willed?

The girls had a great time and Carys has asked me if we can do Halloween again. I tell her, "Yes honey, in another year!" How fun to be a kid.

Houston Zoo Trip to see Elephants

When Grams Cathy comes to visit from Florida, a weekend of spoiling and family time is in the works. Carys had been talking about seeing elephants for weeks and with Ava being of the perfect age to interact more with the exhibits, we thought a family trip to the zoo would be great. It had been nearly a year since we went the last time. Auntie Kim would join us too.

Our first order of business, the elephant exhibit.

Carys really liked watching the little elephants play in the pool. The elephants have a great view of the Houston Medical Center.

Proud Grams Cathy had as much fun at the zoo as the girls.

Watching both girls and the stoller was a tag teaming adventure.

Auntie Kim likes the zoo too. She really liked that Ava was comfortable going to her.

After the elephants, we headed to the African Forest, a newer part of the zoo we had not visited. It was really neat with huts in the beginning. Auntie Kim with her neices playing hut.

Ava sitting criss-cross applesauce.

Drums! Carys and Ava were in heaven! Carys has a new interest in musical instruments.

The chimpanzee exhibit was amzing. Carys really liked this cheeky monkey.

White rhinos! How neat...Carys even posed for me...brings back lots of memories of me posing for my mom for pictures.

Another thing that was new, was that Carys could climb up the rope ladder to this slide all by herself and could go down the tube slide alone. She is getting big.

Ava's first carousel ride, she loved it! Carys was not a fan her first time, we sat in one of the bench seats the first time, Ava did not mind the giraffe.

Carys loves carousels now, always asking to go again.

The children's part of the zoo is neat with the otter exhibit. I love this picture because you can see the otter looking at Carys as well as her reaction to seeing him.

Of course, the otter slides but together for the first time.

The prarie dog holes, always a favorite.

We made a special trip to the small aquarium the zoo has towards the entrance. We had never gone, as the girls were too tired by the end, but we made sure to go while they still had some juice.

Carys loved the fish, touching the glass, saying "gotcha". Silly Willy Milly.

As always, we arrived when the zoo opened, packed a picnic lunch and the girls passed out on the car ride home. The Houston Zoo continues to be a great family outing.