Trick-or-Treat brings us to Halloween Phase 4

It was a gorgeous day and perfect trick-or-treating weather! Ava was confused at first but quickly caught on after seeing the first couple houses deposit chocolate in her bag. Her favorite word is "more", well it sounds more like "Maaaa" or we say she is speaking Spanish and saying "Mas". So as we were headed out the door and I handed her the bag and said do you want "maaaa" she was ready to go! The first few houses she just stood and stared at them while clutching the bag and grinning at them. I think she thought we were supposed to go in and visit. After the first hour went by she started flirting and giggling as they would answer the door. We met up with our neighbors and continued our trick-or-treating with them. The two little ones together in the wagon and the older girls running from house to house.
Ava and Jenna are both sick but still had a blast. So Friday we made it to the rounds with family and went to the Edwardsville Parade. So much fun and the kids had a blast!

Halloween Phase 3

Pumpkin Patch and carving of the pumpkins!
We went to the patch on Sunday, kind of windy but sunny and beautiful. Of course the ponies were there, the play area with small petting zoo too and equipement for play. Both girls had fun, although Jenna was really in her element with all the animals. We picked out two big pumpkins and two small and headed home. Monday we did the carving and toasting of the seeds!

And now for picture overload...I am trying to get better pumpkin pictures, my camera is not behaving. The one alone is the one Jenna drew and we cut it out exactly. It has hearts on the cheeks because she loves her family...I just want to squeeze her sometimes!!

Halloween Phase 2

Holiday Shores Neighborhood Halloween party!
We met friends and family at the Clubhouse in our neighborhood for the Annual Halloween party. Complete with games, entertainment, haunted house and more candy. Last year was our first living here and our neighbor took Jenna and her daughter through the haunted house. Both girls were terrified after and Jenna talked for an hour straight and days later about how she would NEVER do that again...until this year. The first thing she said on the way to the Clubhouse was..."Can I do the haunted house? I'm not scared, do you see these muscles?" I tried to deter that thought but at the end of the night as they are closing down she says with tears in her eyes "I didn't get to do the haunted house!" So off we go as my step-sister takes Ava, I take my older niece and Jenna to the haunted house along with our neighbors. Jenna emerged from the house again vowing to NEVER do that again. I lost Ava's ladybug hat in the midst of picking her up while still holding Kiley's hand (who did great) and listening to our neighbor scream while her mom held her. Definitely an eventful end to the night. Haley stood with us for a few minutes until they turned on the lights and got the hat for us the entire time Jenna was giving us an earful. She told us how she froze and forgot to show those people her muscles and she did not like those people with masks! One even came out mask in tow and we pointed out how he was just a Daddy like hers and it was just a costume. He held it up to show her it wasn't real and she abruptly told him she did NOT like it! Haley carried Jenna to the car with me where Jenna went on to tell us how next year she will tell her Daddy not go to work and he will show his muscles and freak everyone out in that haunted house!
Now on to Phase 3 today of pumpkin patch, pony rides and pumpkin carving. Stay tuned!

Pictures Pre-Haunted House...

Halloween Phase 1

Halloween fun begins with the Wood River Parade with my Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Ladybug

A Day For Play

We had a blast playing in the leaves Wednesday! The girls had fun, when Ava wasn't trying to escape me!

Meet Alexandra

So Eric is such a push over when it comes to his girls. Jenna's heart is broken over the two kittens so he brings another home, great just what I needed! I told him to give it a few days but he couldn't resist, he brought a kitten home last Tuesday. He walked in so proud and Jenna was so excited! Jenna wanted to name him Gilbert, until at second glance the kitten Eric was told was a boy was confirmed to be a girl. So yet again Eric is the only boy in the house, alone with a wife, two daughters, a female dog and two female cats. I told him it served him right for bringing another home, as if I have time to clean up after it too?! She has proved to be pretty easy so far. Ava was terrified of her at first but has now grown to love carrying her around the house and showering her with kisses. Lily on the other hand, has still not jumped on the welcoming committee. We hope they will be enjoying each other soon because the late night fights are no fun to hear!

Had to Share...

Got this from a friend today and I loved it!

Concentrate on this sentence...

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'


When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'


Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear.

Tough Days

Well, we have had some rough days here in the Walker home. Jenna quickly fell in love with the new kittens and her heart was broken this weekend when we found Gilbert, passed away. Then two days later, today, we found Spotie. This evening when we returned home from my Grandma's and Jenna's first stop was to check on the kitten. She came running for me to come look because she was laying how Gilbert was when we found him, and little Spotie had passed away too. Poor Jenna is coping and doing well for the most part, we have been talking about it a lot. We are not sure what happened, they seemed as though they were growing and were healthy. They were up walking around but the Vet's office said with having two stillborn out of the 4 it sounds like it wasn't a very healthy pregnancy and they were probably sick. Momma cat is acting sad too and has just stayed in the closet where Spotie was the rest of the evening and refuses to move...even when Ava shows up. Jenna has been so sweet and I know she is listening as I talk to her, I hear her repeat things to Lily and it makes my heart break for her even more.

Jenna as she is petting Lily: "It's OK Lily, you were a great Mommy! I am so sorry you lost your babies. Just know they are always with you in your heart and they will miss you too but they are smiling down on you."

Peek-a-Boo

I never realized how loud and obnoxious I say peek-a-boo when playing with Ava until...

Beautiful Day!

Jenna with her current favorite babies....Gilbert (all gray). Eric finally has another boy in the house...so obviously we are keeping him and "Spotie" who we have found a wonderful home with two little girls so she will be able to continue to live a life full of torture, torment and squeezy love just as she would receive in the Walker home:)

The girls and I have been making it a habit to take walks everyday, we all enjoy it and my little Jenna can sure keep up with me! We always try to take a different route or go in a different direction in the neighborhood each day. Saturday we found some houses getting decorations galore set up for Halloween so Jenna has already set her sights on which houses she wants to make sure we hit for Trick-or-Treating. We also walked to the Clubhouse and playground and the girls had a blast. Ava met a new boy to flirt with and love on and I am now officially taking inventory of all the little boys in our neighborhood Eric will be scaring! This little guy was about 2 and he and Jenna were little monkeys climbing and sliding and every time he would get to the top of the slide Ava would cheer and clap and once at the bottom she would run to him for a hug....oh boy, we are in trouble!