My parents' neighbor, John, wanted me to make cakeballs for his banker at work. It was a "just because" gift without an occasion, so I had to get creative with the design. John and I thought since they were for his banker, than dollar signs would be fun!
My day morning, afternoon, and evening were spent in the kitchen. Thankfully my sister wanted to come over one day this week to play with the boys, so I told her Thursday would be a great day! She could entertain the boys, while I made cake balls.
The 17 dozen cake balls are for a wedding in Austin this Saturday. The wedding is not Christmas theme, but they are having a favor table filled with sweets for when the guests leave. I think they are putting a sign on the table that says “And to all a good night….” Isn’t that cute?!
Aaron is currently on call with the railroad, which means it is impossible to plan anything. Sometimes he may be home for 3 days without being called, and sometimes he is only home for the 8 hours of rest the railroad requires and he is called back out. We just never know….Welcome to our Life!
Anyways, back to Halloween. With Aaron on call, I knew chances were he would be called out Halloween night, which he was. I am a wimp and don’t like answering our front door if I am not expecting anyone when I am home alone, so what makes you think things would change on Halloween night. So…the boys and I loaded up and spent Halloween at my parent’s house.
Jackson went as Handy Manny this year. He was so excited about this costume. This was the first year Aaron and I had no say in his costume. He wanted to be Handy Manny and he wasn’t changing his mind for anyone!
Garrett was a giraffe. When I tried the costume on him for the first time at The Children’s Place he LOVED it and danced around in front of the mirror in the dressing room. When we got home, I put the costume back on him so that Aaron could see it, but Garrett wanted nothing to do with the giraffe. He threw a HUGE fit. The next week, I tried again…..same thing. Huge fit!
I was a little worried about how he would react to it on Halloween night, but my parents did great in helping distract him while I put it on him. You never would had known that at one time he hated that costume. He was happy as could be, as well as pretty darn cute!
Have you ever noticed that many years ago people would take pictures in front of their cars in their driveway, but today we take pictures in front of the fireplace. Aaron and I always laugh at that when we look at old family pictures of our parents and grandparents.
Garrett got bored taking pictures and decided to have a seat…..
Here are my scary brownie balls I made to take down to my parents friend’s house who were having a little Halloween gathering. Aaron actually helped me with these. We had fun making them!
On our way down to Glenda and Larry’s house in Pawpaw’s wagon -
They love each other….90% of the time!
This picture is blurry, but Jackson cracks me up. He was doing some kind of dance on Glenda and Larry’s porch.
Glenda’s homemade spider. So creative!
Somehow Garrett had his cup in lots of these pictures. ????
Glenda the cheerleader and Handy Manny Jackson -
Garrett enjoyed putting candy in his own bucket from the big bucket.
Yea for Jackson! You know we are all annoyed by the “too old to be trick or treating” teenagers who come to your door with a plastic sack or pillowcase? In this picture, Jackson is asking “Why does she just have a bag and not a pumpkin like me?” :)
Look at the little mouse Jackson is holding. It is a little dessert that Glenda made that were yummy and creepy!
Garrett was getting sleepy and wanted his blankie, but I didn’t bring it down to Glenda and Larry’s. Glenda was sweet and tried to give him one of hers, but this is the face he made. Lucky for him, Pawpaw was sweet enough to walk back home to get his blanket and pajamas for him.
Since Jackson was wide awake and having fun……
and it was Halloween….and we gained an extra hour the next day, I let Jackson stay up past his bedtime and have fun, while his little sleepy brother went to sleep in Mommy’s arms!
But before going to sleep, he had to stare at the moon for awhile. He is currently obsessed with the “mooooooooooon!” Really, he LOVES it!
We had a great time, but wow…..Sunday was a long day! I used to enjoy gaining an extra hour. Now with a three year old and one year old, gaining an hour the day after Halloween is rather exhausting.
My sister has been asking Jackson to color a birthday picture for her. He keeps telling her “No, I am going to color one for Bam Bam because it is her birthday too!” (which it isn’t) Finally, he decided to draw a picture of Aunt M for her birthday! I scanned the drawing and I’m posting both of them “as is" and then posting the drawing labeled with some of his out loud thinking. 
Referring to picture above:
Happy Birthday, Aunt M!
I hope everyone has a fabulous 4th of July!
We are starting our afternoon with a lemonade stand off of my parent's boat dock. My dad installed a water sprayer/fountain thingy off of his dock a few years ago. (Can you picture it based off of my detailed description?!)You would be surprised at how many boaters drive by the dock just to cool off under the sprayer.
We have always said when Jackson is a little older it would be the perfect spot for a lemonade stand. I think July 4th at the age of 2.5 is the perfect time! I am sure Garrett will do a wonderful job putting ice into the cups. (really, I do!) If you are going to be out on Cedar Creek Lake, swing on by!
Aaron, Jackson, Garrett, Aaron's brother Michael, and I are going over to Gilbert (Melvin's brother) and Josephine's lake house for their big firework show! Since the passing of Melvin, I worry the most about Aaron for this first round/year of holidays. I spent Mother's Day worrying about Father's Day. I spent my birthday (May 26th) worrying about Memorial Day. Now July 4th - we always saw Melvin on July 4th. He would come to my parent's house or we would go to Gilbert's, but we always saw him. Then I dread Aaron's birthday in February (which will be the big 30) because Melvin passed away a few days after Aaron's birthday. Our anniversary was our first day that I didn't worry about Aaron . It was our day.
So - my point....holidays worry me because I worry about Aaron, but Aaron has been great about expressing how he would like to spend these days. He said July 4th would not be any different than the past. He will either be working or on the lake with us and his brother.
Darrin, Gilbert's son, always puts on a huge firework show. This year Gilbert decided to make the show bigger by a couple of fireworks since we would be missing a couple of people (Melvin & Bud).
Let me break it down by flavors for you -
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
We had Shelly's baby shower Saturday afternoon. I cannot believe little Brooks will be here in about 2 months. I can't wait to meet the little guy. Finally, Jackson and Garrett will have their first BOY cousin!
I spent the whole day Thursday making cake balls for the shower favors.....LOTS and LOTS of cake balls.....150 cake balls to be exact.
