My holiday helpers!

Such a sweet time today as we prepare for Thanksgiving.   It's been a busy week getting things ready to start the madness.  We can not forget even in our busy times to make room for our little favorite pumpkin friends to kick things off and make the season official.   I am so glad that both kids enjoy eating these things especially since the recipe makes over 3 dozen muffins.   Every year since Abigail was old enough to sit up straight I have enjoyed including her in the messy process of the holiday pumpkin muffins.  This year our only chance to do it amidst the busy schedules was to do it on a day we were watching the Bit's closest buddy in her 1st grade class James.   She met him in her kindergarten class last year and we just adore him.  He is small like her and with tons of personality and imagination.  The 2 kids share in their "adventures" on the bus ride to and from school and Abigail loves to tell me all about them. He is such a sweet pea,  as soon as he bounded off the bus he ran right into my arms for a hug just like he was my own kid.  I can eat him up.  Earlier this fall Abigail and I were having one of our many discussions about Heaven.  She told me as her arms flailed and eyes rolled once,  "Mommy,  do you know what James told me"?    ..."what dear",...."he told me that since he is older then me that he will get to go to heaven before me.  He said that he would watch out for me from up there until I made it to Heaven with him".   Seriously,  how sweet is that!?!?  You see why I approve so much of this little friendship!?
  We let them play a little while after school then  I found 3 aprons so all the kids had one and we got to work in the kitchen.   It was definitely our messiest attempt at family cooking.  James is a wee bit wild in the kitchen but his enthusiasm for it made up for the flour going everywhere.  We had a great time and I sent them all to the back yard once the oven was full and timer set.  It was a great afternoon, the house smelled like one big Yankee candle and the holidays could now officially begin!   Glad to have an extra set of hands and giggles for the memory and pictures of project muffins 2012. :)

Halloween time

Dorothy looked adorable

Grammie's office always goes all out for the holiday, she was so excited to show it to Chloe and to show Chloe off :)

Chloe loves this tiny demo staircase at Brian's office

A stop first at Mi-Mi and Pa-Pa's house while the sun was still up

Off we go....bbbrrrrrr

The kids didn't complain about the cold once.   Chloe thought it was awesome that she just had to say trick or treat and strangers gave her candy!

so cute,  the little one in blue is the same age as Abigail and in her 1st grade class.  I forget how much of a squirt the Bit is until she's side by side w/ her classmates! :)

It was a good spooky celebration this year.   Abigail especially loves this time of year and as soon as I pull out our few house decorations she just gets giddy with anticipation.    I'm not sure if it's the candy or just the start of themed parties and decorations for the holiday season that she enjoys so much.   None the less both girls plan for months what they are going to be for the year on Halloween and change their plans very frequently.    Chloe and I did our rounds trick or treating to Grammie and Daddy at their jobs then back to wait on the Bit to get home from school.   That night we braved the cold and actually walked our own neighborhood.  We haven't done that yet and it was fun to run into a few of Abigail's school friends along the way.   We came back home w/ runny noses and rosy cheeks, lit a fire in the fireplace and ate candy and popcorn w/ hot chocolate.  It was fun!

My baby is 3!!!!

 Brian held her up so she could see a real train buzzing by the museum , not unusual in our railroad town.  The kids loved it!!

 again...well done dad!!!!!!!!

 I took this then asked him to put down his smoothie,  but I posted this one cause if you know Cohen, he always has a smoothie in his hands :)

 our little Choo Choo princess!!

 I love home made cards from other kids at this age!  They are so precious!

Well I've said it before and I'll say it again,  you blink and these kids aren't babies anymore.  Our little Chloe turned 3 this weekend and we had such fun celebrating her.   If anyone sees this post please don't get your feelings hurt that we kept it so small.  On the heels of a major family vacation out of the country we needed to limit the crowd so we stuck to the 2 kids that Chloe has repeatedly thanked God for when she says her little prayers.  Actually we based the party on the 3 things in her life she repeatedly thanks God for (seriously I have video proof of this!)  she bows her head,  clasps her hands and says in the sweetest timid little voice  "Tank uu God por Cohen, and por wydia and por de choo choos".   So do make her happy we did a train theme day and party and invited just the people who would make her day perfect for her.  And I must say it was a success!
    We had a busy day of visiting w/ family in from Maine that morning.  A house full of snotty sick people hit the naps hard when we got home then Brian raced a crash course in finishing his train cake for our little lady.   We had saved taking her to the local train museum for a birthday outing and although we were rushed for time we couldn't skip it and I'm so glad we didn't.  She just giggled and screamed at being able to touch and see trains up close.  It was adorable.   Then we headed home to host a pizza and train party for her. 
  It was a great time, not even too loud with only 5 kids they played really well together.  The adults actually could hear each other and carry on good quality conversation which is not typical at kids birthday parties.
   It was such a special day for such a special girl in our lives.  Who knew what a gift she would be for our family 3 yrs ago.     She has ridden the fun well into this week still proudly wearing her new Thomas the Train pajamas and dragging her balloons all over the place.  Last night after I put her to bed she sang at the top of her lungs (which is pretty darn loud)  "Happy Dirthday to Cwo weeeeee,  Happy Dirthday to meeee!"
    Seriously, love this kid!!