Parade, Saints & Halloween!

The last few days leading up to Halloween were busy ones! The girls had plenty of fun at school and then of course a night of trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, Daddy missed the festivities but for good reason as he was in Chicago to attend his Grandfather's funeral. Great-Grandpa Mueller was a very loving and patient man who David respected and loved very much. Great-Grandpa Mueller knew what was most important in life - his faith and family - and always put them first. He leaves quite a legacy behind -- a wife of 57 years, 8 children, 21 great-grandchildren and 2 (soon-to-be 3) great-great grandchildren. What a life!

The girls and I stayed pretty busy earlier this week. On Tuesday, Adriana's school had their annual Halloween parade and classroom parties. 

Adriana's class parading around her school. It seriously was the cutest thing ever to see these 2 and 3 year olds walking around, singing and waving in costume. 

The children walked across the street to the "Big School" to parade in costume for the elementary students. I got this photo (sorry, it's a little blurry) of the girls spotting each other during the parade. Gabby is sitting on left wearing a headband and a white cardigan wrapped around her waist. It was so cute to see their reactions!

Afterward, her class had a party with pumpkin donuts, trail mix and juice boxes. What a morning!

The pumpkin Adriana submitted for her Pumpkin Decorating Contest at school. We did it together, but she mostly enjoyed eating the candy corn. I told her to name it and she said it was "Cindy the Whoo Owl." 

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On Halloween, instead of wearing traditional Halloween costumes, the Kindergartners at Gabby's school celebrated and honored the Saints with a Prayer Service since the day after Halloween (Nov. 1) is All Saints Day, which is a holy day for Catholics. Each child was to pick a Saint and memorize a few lines about them to share with those at the Prayer Service. Children were encouraged to choose a Saint that they were named after or held special meaning to them. We talked with Gabby and told her that her name is from Gabriel who was an Archangel. She was immediately interested and decided she wanted to be St. Gabriel the Archangel. She remembered the story about when the angel (St. Gabriel) tells Mary she will be the mother of God's son, Jesus. She got really excited so we created a few lines and put together a very angelic costume.

Before the prayer service.

During the processional. The pianist played "When the Saints Go Marching In." Later, the children sang the song for us and it was adorable. 

Going up to the microphone to share what she knew about St. Gabriel. She said her lines perfectly and was so poised and confident. (Sorry it's a blurry photo. I was trying to video tape and take photos at the same time.)

Love her!

St. Gabriel by the Tabernacle. 

After the prayer service, Adriana and I went to a Halloween party with a mom's group we are active in again this year. She took a break from the Strawberry costume and wore Rapunzel. I wore my Minnie ears. Love this photo of us!

Wednesday afternoon we went to Gabby's class's Halloween party. Gabby sharing her treats and lap with her sister. So cute!

Playing the mummy game with toilet paper. 

For dinner, I made Jack-O-Lantern quesadillas. This is the one time playing with their food would be okay. :)

For dessert, I surprised them with carmel apples. I wanted to be sure I loaded them with sugar before trick-or-treating. ;)

Sweet Strawberry smile.

What a pretty Alice. 

Ready to hit the neighborhood. 

At the end of the night checking out the goods. 

The girls kept some of their candy but left most out for the Great Pumpkin who in return left them some fun gifts Thursday morning. They got the movie Rio and a DVD with three Christmas specials (Madagascar, Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon) along with some fun stationary and pencils. 

Hope you all had a very happy and safe Halloween!

Mommy's Birthday & Pre-Halloween Fun!

Mommy turned 31 on Wednesday. Not a very exciting birthday, but a day well-spent with family. Gabriella and Adriana woke me up in the morning with lots of kisses, hugs and surprises!

Receiving birthday snuggles.

My two little princesses woke me up with birthday gifts! I was surprised with a pair of TOMS and a light for my Kindle. I was pretty excited! 

After I was taken out to a yummy dinner, I was serenaded "Happy Birthday!" and served yummy cake! 

Making my birthday wish!

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On Friday we started our 3-day Pre-Halloween celebrations. The girls' school had its annual Trunk or Treat and the girls loved it! For those who aren't familiar with the concept, it's when families decorate their trunks with some theme for Halloween and then distribute candy to the children. It was a chilly night - perfect for the occasion.  

Strawberry Shortcake and Alice in Wonderland! They were so cute! 

Gabby is the perfect Alice. Her skirt has LED lights which make the costume even more fun!

So pretty! Love her smile and spirit! 

We think she makes the best Strawberry - hands down! Seriously, the cutest and most adorable thing in that pink wig!

She loves the freckles and we do, too! Precious!

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On Saturday, Daddy and the girls carved and decorated pumpkins. They love doing this, especially cleaning the seeds.

Final projects - Ta Da!

After cleaning and baking the pumpkin seeds, we had a yummy snack.

The girls decorated our front porch. 

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Sunday was another fun day. After church and brunch, we spent the afternoon trick-or-treating in Brookside. It was a really beautiful fall afternoon. In the evening we went to the Aquarium's Hallowmarine. More pics of Alice and Strawberry!

Bouncing on the big pirate ship at the Aquarium. 

The mermaid and pirate in the giant fish tank. Really cool!
The girls really enjoy this special event. Gabby wanted her picture with them but Adriana passed on it.

The highlight of the visit was getting their picture with the giant pirate. Last year Adriana was scared of him but she has been promising us for months she was going to take a picture with him this year and she did! We are so proud of her! 

Stay tuned for more pictures of Halloween fun! The girls have plenty of things going on at school and of course on Halloween night!

Scarecrows and Frontier City!

I forgot to post photos from Scarecrow Day at Gabby's school from a few weeks ago. The kindergartners did a unit on Fall and two of the fun activities in the unit were Scarecrow Day and a visit to a Pumpkin Patch. Each child decorated their own vest as part of their scarecrow costume. The kindergarten teachers painted their faces and the kids brought a bandana and hat. So cute!

Filing out of the school to the fence to wave to everyone.

The sign facing the road that the children stood near. So many honking horns and people waving and cheering from the road. Really cute!

Our sweet Gabriella. 

Love her!

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Yesterday we spent the day in Oklahoma City at Frontier City. It was Employee Appreciation Day for UMB so we were treated to a fun day at the amusement park and lunch. The girls had a great time despite the warmer temperatures. It was sunny and in the 80s! Hot for late October!

Riding the teacups with Daddy. You can see their hair bows. David said they had a good time but had a few moments when they weren't too sure of it. 

That was fun!

Riding the Dragons. They look like such big girls. 

They both loved it. They rode this twice.

Up in the air now. Weee!!

Gabriella on the swings. Adriana wasn't quite tall enough for this one so she had to sit it out. She was only heartbroken for a minute and then she found something new to enjoy.

Cuties in the playhouse.

She loved playing in this structure. She kept going back to it. 

The park had really neat Halloween decorations everywhere. A little Harry Potter flavor to add to the mix. 

The girls and me on the merry-go-round. They love this ride no matter where we find it...a mall, a store, Disney's Magic Kingdom or Frontier City! :)

Gabby paddled a canoe in a stream. 

Shooting foam ball across the way. They played in this large play structure for a while. 

Gabby fetching balls and walking along a tree trunk beam to get to where she and Adriana were shooting them across the way. 

Concentrating before she aimed. 

The girls love this Charlie Brown special so it was only fitting we take their picture in front of it.