Halloween Fun

With Dad back home it was time for FUN!!!

The Halloween spirit was evident everywhere you looked- from home decorations, to festive music, and of course Mom's holiday outfits! Even the Phoenix Zoo got jazzed up for Halloween!

Dad was ready for some family fun, so with the whole family in tow we drove down to Phoenix (20 minutes away) and went to BOO at the ZOO! Mom didn't want us to wear our costumes yet, so she let us wear the princess dress of our choice. Since Macie is still rather indifferent I chose for her to be Snow White. Macie was excited to be wearing a pretty dress and the whole way to the Zoo she kept saying "pi-ty" (pretty) while laughing as she shook her body back and forth.


I chose to be Belle, and got to wear a big yellow dress that went "all the way down to the floor" (my new dress length obsession.) Mom even did my hair in a half up half down just like Belle!!!



At the Zoo we got to hang out with all sorts of kids in costumes, and even got to go through a hay bale maze...

Macie had more fun listening to her shoes squeak as she walked than anything else.

When we tired from the festive food and games we checked out some animals, and I got to ride my pal the camel again!

The whole family had a fun trip to the Zoo, and Mom really enjoyed spending time with Dad and her beautiful little princesses.

On the way back home Macie, I mean Snow White, fell asleep as soon as the car left the parking lot.

I was still too wound up from all the fun and talked Mom and Dad's ears off the whole way home!

The following week began, as did Mom's countdown to Halloween. With less than a week left before the holiday fun was over Mom insisted that everywhere we went the two of us girls were dressed in our Halloween best.

I begged Mom to let me take some pictures next to my skull friends,

and Macie followed suit by leaning in for some hugs.

There were many more holiday outfits that circulated throughout the remainder of the week, but on one of the days Miss Diane, a friend of our families, came to town and took us to lunch so Mom let us wear our "normal" clothing to lunch. On the way to the car Macie and I stopped to dance to some of the Halloween music playing in our courtyard,

and, once again, I couldn't turn down the opportunity to strike a pose before entering the car.

By Thursday it was time for our first Halloween party of the season, and boy was I excited. Mom had been working on our costumes for a couple weeks, and I had been anticipating the day I finally got to put it all on for what felt like forever. Mom wanted to capture every moment for Dad (since he was working hard), so she took pictures as we were both getting ready...

Here I am with my leotard, antenna, and new tights, showing off my new red nail polish...

And here is the final product: A beautiful Ladybug (I insisted on dressing up as one).

Macie was just as eager to put on her costume (I insisted that she dress as a bee)...

Mom made her a sparkly shirt, and Macie couldn't stop looking at herself!

Macie was the cutest little bee, and kept walking around saying "buzzzzz!"

At the Halloween party we danced, ate, and played all sorts of games with my gymnastic friends.

I even flew through the sky on a zip line...

The following day Mom and Dad surprised Macie and I by putting up our new trampoline in the backyard. It was a gift for Macie since I am a little rough and have been caught trying to push her off our old one...


It is super fun now because we don't have to take turns, and can play all sorts of fun games together without Mom stressing that someone is going to get hurt!


On Saturday Dad was home from work so the family set up pumpkin carving stations in the garage and went to work on our masterpieces...

As you can see, we all had a great time and made some awesome pumpkins!

Later that night we got to get dressed up and went to the Spooktacular at one of Dad's gym!!! There were games, toys, bounce houses- I concluded that Dad sure knows how to throw a great party!!!

Once I was pooped out from all the playing I sat down to enjoy the great food...

Macie was too excited to sit still, but is never too anything to pass up a good snack...

The two of us got great responses to our costumes, and had a fun time meeting new friends.

The next day was Halloween and we spent most of it together as a family since Dad would be leaving the following day. That night we attempted to trick or treat as a family, but only made it two houses over before Macie lost interest in the wagon and started to squirm. Mom took Macie back to the house where they passed out candy and Dad and I went around the WHOLE neighborhood meeting kids and getting candy.

When we were both tired we headed back to the house and I got to pass out candy while Macie got ready for bed. I actually think I had more fun giving candy at the door rather than taking it (although eating it was SUPER yummy!)

Both Mom and I are sad that we have to wait another whole year before we can celebrate this awesome holiday, but Thanksgiving is coming up so I am looking forward to more holiday fun to come...

All settled in Arizona

After spending our first night in the hotel, we decided to move into our new house early so that we could be there when our furniture arrived the following morning. We spent the night in our new house, it was empty except for 2 pack-n-play's and an air mattress, but we enjoyed our first family "camp-out."

First thing the following morning the moving truck arrived with all of our belongings. It took a couple days for Mom to get everything unpacked and placed, so Macie and I made the most of our time and played in the boxes. Mom pulled out a couple of the princess dresses to keep us occupied, and Macie was thrilled that she was finally big enough to fit one.


Though playing in the boxes was fun, we rather enjoyed picking on the dog (he would get really frustrated when we stuck packing tape on him and he couldn't get it off).



Our second day in the new house was very eventful. Mom got most of our belongings unpacked, and I was super excited that my new princess room (it has pink and white walls) was coming together. We got our first taste of bizarre Arizona weather and it was nothing like we had imagined. The weather went from 95 degrees and too sunny one day, to hail and rain storms the next.

Some of the hail stones were bigger than Mom's big toe and we had to take pictures of it to prove my statements authenticity...

By the end of the week we were all settled into our home thanks to Mom's relentless work.

We are loving our new house, and have all the space that Macie and I could ever want!!! Macie started wearing her new Wee Squeaks this week and our new favorite game is to sit and stomp. Mom is excited because it keeps us occupied for hours...


Macie has become so obsessed with them that she asks for her "shoooes" first thing when she wakes from sleep (both nap time and over night).


Grandma Judy surprised us by coming to visit us for the weekend. I guess it is a quick drive (5 hours) from San Deigo, so Grandma assures me that she will be here often.

With Grandma here I decided it was time to try out my new pool- I got my kick board ready and tested the water.


It was a little chillier than I am comfortable with, but the family was so excited to finally have a pool in the backyard that I put on my game face and sucked it up for the crowd.

Macie enjoyed sitting on the edge and splashing her feet around in the water.

When I finally worked up enough courage, Grandma Judy and I tested out my new water slide.

I was shocked when we hit the water,

and a little nervous holding my breath in the deep end, but popped up out of the water and starting laughing out loud.

I was so proud of myself for being such a brave girl.

The weather outside was so nice that we didn't have to wrap up in a towel to dry, instead we played around the pool area with some of my new toys. I love playing with my Grandma Judy because she likes to have fun just like a kid!!!


Dad had to leave town for business at the beginning of the week, so Grandma Judy decided to stay a while longer and help us around the house.

In the mornings Macie and I wake up and insist upon putting on specific article of clothing (I want princess dresses and Macie always wants squeak shoes.) To keep us both happy, she lets us dress up in whatever we want for breakfast as long as we agree to let her dress us when we need to leave the house. My favorite thing (this week) to do is wear matching snow white dresses.

While we watch an episode of Little Einsteins while Mom cooks breakfast and Macie loves to pat and sing along with me.

Macie tends to lose focus after the introduction, but my attention never leaves the screen.

One morning Mom was so focused on making breakfast that she wasn't watching Macie walk around with a chocolate milk. Grandma found her covered from head to toe in milk... apparently she had spilled it all over herself and couldn't stand or get up. Good thing Grandma was here to help...


By the end of the week Grandma had gone back to San Diego and Mom decided it was time to get settled in our new life. We went around town checking out Gymnastic studious until we found the perfect one. Right when we went in the door I knew that I had found my new home! I was signed up the following day for my first class.

On Saturday I took a ballet class, and was super pumped to put on my dance gear.

Of course I couldn't turn down the opportunity to pose for the camera!

We had a very successful day at dance, and that night were rewarded with a princess bubble bath. Macie has started to really enjoy bath time and it appears that she has lost her fear of water because she laugh and plays with all our bath toys the whole time.

Her favorite toy is the pig, and she picks him up and yells "pig-e"

With Dad being gone, Mom, Macie, and I grew bored and decided to take a trip to the Phoenix Zoo.

The Zoo was pretty neat; they had lots of African outdoor animals, which are among my favorite (I keep telling Mom and Dad that I want to go to Africa).

Macie enjoyed seeing all the new animals, although she didn't like being out in the hot sun much (Mom doesn't know what we are going to do with Macie in the summer since she melts in the sun.)

There was a really neat play place at the Zoo and Macie and I loved to be able to run around in the shade.

We even got to ride a tractor,

and practice milking a cow...

Like the Zoo in Ohio they had a petting Zoo and Ashlyn (my doll) and I were kind and gentle while brushing the goats.

Macie wasn't too gentle, but her hugs were definitely filled with kindness and love...

Back home we played in the yard and were thrilled when the sprinklers turned on! Though Mom wasn't to excited about us playing in the water and getting dirty, she was glad it kept us occupied while she finished up some indoor chores.

I don't know why, but there is something really cool about playing around in the mud...

Later on that week we packed the car up and drove to San Diego to see Mom's family. It was a pleasant drive (considering I slept the whole 5 hours), but poor Mom was exhausted. The following day we slothed around her house, took a stroll on the beach, and helped carve pumpkins.

Macie wasn't too interested in carving, but she was fascinated by all the pumpkin guts inside (so was Jax considering the pirate ate most of them).


After carving pumpkins Grandma made some pumpkin cookies and I shared one with my good buddy Danny.


Once Macie was finished with her cookie she played with Grandma's giraffe and mom couldn't help but recall the days when that was my favorite thing to do at Pa's house.


After a long nap we visited with Pa, Aunt Connie, Grandma Jean, and Uncle Brandon. They were all very impressed by all the growth, both mentally and physically, that Macie and I have experienced in the last 3 months.

The following day we were rested and rejuvenated so we went to Sea World to see some animals!

Macie LOVED seeing the BIG polar bear,

but she really enjoyed helping Mom push around the stroller (again, more flash backs of when I was little.)

When we needed a break from all the excitement we had a picnic in the garden.

A full tummy made Macie sleepy, so she dosed off in the stroller while I made some new friends.

I had a fun day of animals, rides, attractions, and fun, and was wiped out when we drove back to Arizona that night. Mom was on a mission to get the house cleaned up and ready for Dad (whom we got to pick up from the airport the following day) and wanted to finish preparing our Halloween costumes, which I promise are going to be a hit. Check back real soon to see...