The BEST holiday of the year...

Isn't Halloween great? Actually the entire month of October is awesome.... but it always seems to fly by.( I mean seriously, the Christmas stuff is ALREADY out at Target.) Well it was fun while it lasted- here are some highlights from our Halloween festivities- Enjoy!

The Pumpkin Farm- (We tried a new one this year and it was pretty amazing. Tons of animals (tiger, zebra, giraffe etc.) and lots to do and see. Sadly, due to poor crops and some flooding they didn't actually have that many pumpkins. Oh well. I think Bel found one she liked....

Giving daddy kisses!

Yummy- my little cookie monster :)

Bel was sad to leave...........

Home to carve our pumpkin

I love the feel of that goop inside... Bel not so much

She decided just to color a pumpkin picture and supervise the carving from her high chair

Ta Da!

Now.... for the costume. This is a sore subject. If you haven't already heard the story behind Bel's Halloween costume- Here is the shortened version. Being that I LOVE Halloween and dressing up, I have been thinking about Isabel's costume for several months. I wanted her to wear something super cute and I wanted her costume to reflect her personality- (you know... something she likes) So, I thought.... Elmo? Maybe? A puppy dog? Possibly? Minnie Mouse? How cute!

So, we made the mistake of taking her to the Halloween store when we went to buy it. She ignored the Elmo, bypassed the puppy, and threw the Minnie ears on the ground. Instead... she grabbed a package from the lowest shelf and clutched it to her heart. She loved it so much she carried it all around the store. She cried when we tried to put it back. So................. we bought it. Let's just say it wouldn't have been my first choice.

A turtle!

 (a realistic lizard/mutant turtle no less)

We had a lot of fun trick-or-treating this year. Isabel was old enough to understand the concept. She couldn't believe she got a "snack" at every door. And she loved her first chocolate bar.

People kept commenting on how cute our little GUY was... :)

Speaking of cute little guys... Lucky did not like his little turtle costume. (Actually HE probably would have preferred Minnie Mouse)

We capped off the day seeing the rest of our family and eating great food.

I love Halloween!

Meet my new niece!

We got the call at 3am this morning! Mandy's water broke and they were at the hospital. She was 4cm dilated and told us that we could go back to bed and they would call us once she progressed further. (Yeah right! There was no way I was going back to bed) Just 8 hours later ............ Payton Ann Kerruish was born. She was 7lbs 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long. She had a bit of trouble with her breathing at first so she needed to be monitored- (we had to wait outside patiently as she got her bearings) But once the nurses ruled her "good to go" we got to meet her. Mommy and Daddy looked great and we are so happy for them both. I got to hold that little pumkpin and she seemed so sweet, tiny and alert-  Let the adventure begin Kerruish Family!

Awww.... love you little Pay  Pay! xooxox Aunt Annie

A little of this... A little of that...

Here is our little artist... she sure loves to color.............

Yes.... let's take a look at her latest masterpiece. Her canvas (pictured below) was both sides of the hallway and our kitchen wall. (That will teach mom and dad not to pay attention to her for a few minutes)

I was looking through some old pictures on the computer tonight- and it struck me just how much Isabel has changed in the past 6 months. She has gone from this in April..........

To this in October! Not a baby anymore- A little toddler!

I love this little girl by the way. She is such a sweetie pie! Her personality is developing more and more and she has all kinds of little quirks. She is friendly and outgoing. She loves her friends at daycare (especially the boys) and loves to color and paint. She hates bubbles in her bath, getting her hands dirty and is obsessed with eating raisins. She is starting to put two word phrases together. As in "Hug Mama"! And "Move Yucky!" (Lucky) She loves music and of course everything ELMO! She refuses to sleep a wink at daycare all week but then makes up for it by taking two 2 hour naps a day when she is at home or at grandma's. Every night she asks for her Bible before bed and can name Adam, Eve, Noah, Jesus, and the turtle. (What.... you didn't know that the turtle was a biblical character?) She throws mini-tantrums when she doesn't get her way and has STRONG opinions about the clothes we pick out in the morning. We are always amazed by how much she changes and how cool it is to watch her grow and develop. Toddlers are tiring but I honestly love this stage. She is a real little person.

So.... we bought this little pink potty last week because Bel seemed kind of interested in it. (She follows us into the bathroom all the time and watches us go- no privacy in our house) Anyway, a friend of mine said let her get one and just practice sitting on it. So.... we did that. She actually does kind of like it. The problem is that it plays music (motion sensor) and so she has figured out a way to stick her finger in the bowl and turn the music on- yuk. She isn't real interested in using her potty for much more than a music-playing place to sit. That's okay- no rush.

Well... we are still waiting for little cousin Payton to arrive. We have been telling Isabel all about her and we are looking forward to meeting her. I hope she comes before Halloween! Isabel LOVES baby dolls now (even though she is a little rough with them) she wraps them in blankets, feeds them, and takes the for a walk outside in her stroller.

Aww... wearing mommy's shoes! (Her feet are already a size 7 so she can almost fit in them :)

We're officially on baby watch...

Even though Mandy's due date is not until Nov. 1st, I believe that little Payton is going to be arriving soon! Mandy is measuring a little ahead of schedule, 2cm dilated/ 50% effaced and super uncomfortable. Her doc. thinks baby will come early and I can't wait to meet her so I hope she makes her arrival soon (for Bean's sake too. Since she is a hairstylist she is struggling on her feet for 10 hours a day) Payton Kerruish- If you can hear me...... Aunt Annie already loves you and can't wait to meet you. Hurry up and be born! Halloween is coming soon and I know you will LOVE it. You must arrive before the 31st. xoxoxo

Belly......trying to color the belly!

10-10-10

Happy Birthday to me! I couldn't have asked for a better weekend for my 31st birthday- sunny and high 70's- time with my fave people- and an extra day off school?!
Here are some highlights.
I woke up Sat. morning and went to the gym for a kickboxing class (it has been a loooong time since I worked out like that and I am still paying the price- but I knew I would be eating 12 million calories this weekend) Then, a surprise gift from my sweet sister and brother-in-law. I'm guessing Zack didn't pick it out though:)

Next we headed over to our friend's Karen and Mike's to meet their newest addition (and third child)- Katie. Bel loved playing with Maggie and Patrick - the older kids-  but she couldn't really say their names individually so she blended them into "Magdoo" kind of like Brangelina, I guess. In fact, now she keeps shouting Magdoo so I'm guessing she wants another play date with them soon.

The girls having fun together- Maggie and Bel

 Sweet sleepy baby

Bel was interested but wasn't sure about sharing her daddy with a baby

After the Shell's, it was off to dinner at my FAVORITE Mexican restaurant El Molinos. I am obsessed with their food and I have been eating their since I was a little kid. We drive back to Carpentersville at least twice a year for the BEST nachos, chimichangas, margaritas and fried ice cream. I'm not kidding. I actually eat until I feel sick when we go there. This time Bel was old enough to eat the food too and of course- she loved it. She loves tacos and at one point during the meal we had to stop her from scooping the green salsa out of the dish with her hands and drinking it. (See... it's that good.)

After this huge dinner we headed home for a movie night and went to bed early.On Sunday, we woke up and headed to church. It was an especially good service because we had a guest speaker (Brian Head Welch from the band Korn) and he shared his testimonial about how Jesus saved him and rescued him from a life of drugs, alcohol and depression. He was so honest and real about his struggles and it was really inspiring. I wished I had invited a guest or two to come with us because his story was not one you want to miss.

The rest of the day was spent enjoying the Bears game at my parent's house (they won) and eating a fabulous chicken dinner and ice cream cake (Apparently, I will need 10 more kickboxing classes to work the food from this weekend off)

Bel (never smiling for pictures!)

 Overall, another WONDERFUL birthday. I am blessed with a loving family and great friends. Life is good! (and that makes 31 not too bad :)