Toys R Us

Child's dream...mothers nightmare! Finally the Toys R Us has opened at Triangle Town Center..and it's very much too close to our house. Precautions will be in effect next time we are in that area. I let the girls explore the new store, and became quite overwhelmed with all the choices in toys and the racks that layered all the way to the roof full of...everything!!! Prices...haven't done much research, but they seemed higher than my trusty Walmart or Target. Did you know you can give you kid a scanning machine and they can walk around and scan what they want for Christmas?!?? I thought that was a fab idea, but realistically knew Kelsey would scan the entire store...so we didn't do it. Maybe when she's a bit older...and with a 10 present limit ;-) Eleven days until Black Friday! Time to raid the ads !

Tis the Season!!!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE when it's girls night!!! I have some of the bestest friends a girl could ask for ;-) this months challenge: the wreath!!!
After some magnificent chili, corn bread and snickers salad...and a lot of patience (mostly from my friends...me...I'm still learning what this word means)...we created these super cute wreaths! Can't wait to do it again!

Habitat for Humanity- Durham

We joined forces today with the DWM team and Habitat for Humanity to help build a home for this family. 

I have to be honest by admitting I was entirely petrified of working on a house.  Electric saws, heavy pieces of wood, nails, hammers, ladders, heights, etc.  All these things kind of scare me. But I was bound and determined to suck it up and go big...because I wasn't going home until I had helped this family. 

 

We had a fabulous and extremely hilarious project leader today; Jesus (yes, pronounced the Spanish way).  He immediately put us to work delegating jobs. First he asked for volunteers to head up to the roof (not me...I thought).  Then he asked for volunteers to work on the siding (ladders...not me...I thought).  Finally he asked for volunteers to cut wood for the porch we were about to build (Oh heck no...not me...I thought).  But unfortunately this sentence came flying out of my mouth, "That sounds like a man's job!"  And BAM...Jesus responds, "Oh no Candace...you will be cutting the wood today." 

 

Where was my anxiety medicine...because I needed it at that moment.  So, yes I conquered the fear of the power tools.  Then helped to build the front porch (nails...check...hammer...check...wood...check).  And TAAAADAAA...the front porch was built 3 hours later.  Who knew it was that easy??!?! 

 

Jon worked on the siding of the house and was the amazing, confident multi-talented guy he always is.  Love him tons and glad we got to do this together!

 

Here are some pics from the last hour we were there:

Silly Jon

My porch team

A quick snapshot before Jesus would catch us not working.

 

 

The lovely girls porta-potty

The final porch...none of it was there before we arrived ;)

My handyman!

The team!

Yee-Haw Bat Girl!!!

Last Wednesday night, Halloween, we pushed the pedal-to-the-medal and flew home to prepare for our night of anticipated trick-or-treating with Grandma Janice and Papa Keith.  Originally Kelsey was going to be Olivia and Ashlyn was going to be Francine...but with the shortage of pig accessories, I decided to keep them in the costumes I purchased last year.  Kelsey was Bat Girl and Ashlyn was a Cow Girl. 

 

Kelsey loved that her skirt lit up, that she had bracelets and headbands to match, and that her shoes had a small heal on them.  What a diva I tell ya ;-)  She went from house to house, knowing exactly what to do and say (she had rehearsed it many times on our car rides home.

"First I go the door.  Then I say trick-or-treat. Then I get a lot of candy. Then I say thank you." And she would repeat the scenario over-and-over until we arrived home.)  She cracks me up!

 

My favorite part of the night went as follows.  We had just left our first house...literally the first one Kelsey and Ashlyn were given candy from.  Kelsey points to the next house with their light on (which was right next door).  Initially I thought,"Man...these people were smart...sitting outside, waiting for the next round of trick-or-treaters."  Kelsey walks up to the two girls sitting in their chairs and says, "Trick-or-Treat!"  At this point the grass starts to move towards her.  Ashlyn stares and really doesn't see anything wrong with this.  But Kesley on the other hand BOLTS across the driveway and runs straight to us (in freak out mode).  I guy dressed like this (below) was on a mission to scare some kids...and...IT WORKED!

Ashlyn was the cutest little Cow Girl.  Her pink boots made her walk the walk...and even without much hair, she still pulled off the hat.  She quickly caught on that the goodies people were placing in her Halloween bag were future Yummy-Yummies. She held on for dear life to that bag (a serious death grip) and would start crying if anyone tried to peel her little fingers off of it.  Poor kid...held on to that heavy bag the entire time.  Not sure where her sweet tooth came from ;-)

 

Here are some pics from the night.  I've decided that I will not be using my I-Phone for camera shots at night because only 2-3 came out. 

Love, Love, Love this picture! Best costume Grandma and Papa!

Someone LOATHES the hat...until

 

She's bribed with candy ;)

Out with Papa Smurf

The much rehearsed event.

Passing out candy and checking out the costumes!

 

Happy Halloween!

The Reasons I Smile...