More Madi's Party

Thanks to Tom and Christy for the photos of the party. It was nice to have someone come to the rescue when our evil camera let us down once again. Alas, the days of that camera sabotaging our lovely photo opportunities are numbered. Our new camera arrived on the "present truck" (as Caleb calls the FedEx truck) today! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now if I can only get Matt to let us open it before Christmas :)

Madi's Birthday Party

Madi had a Fairy Tea Party to celebrate her second birthday. The kids decorated their own cupcakes, which was fantastic. They loved decorating the cupcakes, and I love how easy it was. All of the kids seemed to have a great time!

Fun with Friends

Caleb and Madi have fun playing at their friend Jocelyn's house.

Halloween

Caleb was a Transformer (Optimus Prime, he says) and Madi was a fairy. Madi was sick on Halloween, so she doesn't look quite like her mischevious self in this pictures. Nevertheless, both children thought that it was fantastic to knock on doors and be greeted with fistfulls of candy. It was their first time to really "trick or treat" through a neighborhood, so they had a slight learning curve. At the first house, the lady held out a huge selection of candy and told Caleb to "take what you want." He took her at her word and began to unload the majority of her stash of candy into his bag. Thus, he learned an important rule in Halloween etiquette...moderation.

Autumn at the Arboretum

I thought this was amusing. After all, how can we celebrate the birthday of our Lord without owning a Jesus Monster Truck?

Four wheel independent suspension - Powerful Climbing Action - Super 4 X 4 Friction Power - Authentic Details - Super-sized Tires - Full color Graphics. Absolutely NO batteries needed. Great present for boys of the age 3 and up.

Get your Jesus Monster Truck here .

Recommended Parenting Reads

Recommended by whom, you may ask? Recommended by me, of course! A friend just asked me for some recommendations, so I thought I'd post my list here as well...

the Sears library... The Birth Book, The Baby Book, The Discipline Book, Nighttime Parenting, Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, etc.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution and No-Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by LLLI

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goyer

Attachment Parenting by Katie Allison Granju

Adventures in Gentle Discipline and Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hillary Flower

Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen

How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk by Adele Faber

The Art of Natural Family Planning by John Kippley

Breastfeeding and Natural Child Spacing by Sheila Kippley

The Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvy Karp

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon

My Child Won't Eat by Carlos Gonzalez