We * heart * Costco... last Sunday we headed in to get our membership... found a Christmas dress for Ainsley only $18!! As we went around the corner we were surprised that it was taste testing day... who hoo... the kids were really excited to find the next station.  Later when we got home Ainsley said, "That was fun at Costco can we go back next Sunday and do tasting things again?"

Today we had a few things at the Grocery store and opted for Costco... to check out the prices that we buy a lot of milk... eggs... etc. Well today was taste testing day again... so for all you Costco Veterans... do they do samples each day?? We snacked on potato soup, mini cream puffs, Martha Stewart mushroom spread, cheese, bean dip and chips, croutons, oriental Chicken salad and Italian meatballs... all yummy!! Needless to say we aren't hungry for dinner. Think we'll snack on the Mango salsa and Wheat Thins that we picked up though!!

Today and every day since Halloween this has been an everyday occurrence... Walker hanging out in his Batman costume. Today Batman is checking out Jeep parts in a Jeep magazine.

Halloween highlights...

Ainsley and Raquelle both as Hannah Montana at the Zoo Boo.

Carving Pumpkins...

Downtown Trick or Treating... no idea who the pirate was...

Home to sort and organize the candy haul...

One more of each of the kiddos... showing their character pose...

It was a Happy Halloween yesterday...

We finally have enough leaves to make a leaf pile... kids were giggly and screaming at the thought of jumping in. Here's a series of photos... only wish sound came with them.

Ready... Set...

Jump...

Giggle and Laugh...

Throw leaves around and chase Mommy...

This kid needs some power tools.

For about a week now Walker has been planning on making "a machine" in the backyard on Wednesday... today! He made a drawing last week and a supply list which he thought about and wrote all by himself.

He begged and pleaded for parts at Lowes... the 47 times we went there over the weekend.

Today when I picked him up from school he talked all the way home about "the machine" going over each item. Safety googles... check. Work Gloves... Mommy I need to use my gardening gloves... k?...check.

We got home... he gathered up his tools and tool box headed outside with some scraps of wood I found for him and pulled out his saw... he sawed as hard and fast as he could... and then promptly pounded on the door. "Mommy my tools don't work... I sawed and sawed and the wood just stays the same!"

He pouted for a bit when I told him he had to just use his imagination... pretending to build something... explaining that Daddy's saw and tools are just too dangerous for kids to use. He had even a more furrowed brow when I told him safety scissors and a glue stick were all that he could use along with his pretend tools.

Watch out world... this kiddo is going to be an engineer... builder... an inventor... I'm sure of it.

Ainsley had a Halloween Party to attend this weekend... she had a fun time making crafts, playing games and hanging out with friends. When she got home she opened her little "goodie bag" she received... it had all kinds of candy... little games... stickers and this eyeball...

It was sticky... squishy... and just all around gross! Ainsley being the girly girl said, "Eww... an eyeball... it feels yucky" and pushed it to the side. Walker being the boy that he is quickly scooped it up and proceeded to beg and plead to his sister for it. She easily handed it over... Walker let out quite the enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by a giggle of glee.

He was happy as can be playing with the eyeball... and doing his favorite thing... freaking out Ainsley with it.

At the end of yesterday... the eyeball had to go... it had been loved on too much... it now was a shade of black... had hair and little bits of who knows what stuck to it. It was a sad moment last night when I made Walker throw it away... he cried, "But I love my eyeball!"

Kitchen is progressing right along... here's the shot of it yesterday morning...

This is how Ainsley comes out of school every day... big smiles!

First grade has been a wonderful experience so far for her... so happy that she is really enjoying it! Last week or so she came home telling us that they were going to vote at school for the next president. She went on to tell us who each of the candidates were... was really impressed that she was interested and knew the names of each. She's planning on voting for McCain because as she puts it, "He looks nicer" in all fairness he did have a better headshot in the magazine than Obama.

Kids are enjoying swimming lessons again... it's nice that they are in the evening now so that Stewart can come and watch with me. Kids love playing the games the best... simon says and red light... little do they know that they are learning.

Lastly found the biggest leaf ever in the yard...

Yeah soccer season is over!! I think we all feel this way... we start out so excited for the season but by the last game everyone is pretty much sick of practices... and games eating up most of the weekend. Here are a couple action shots from the weekend.

And because Stewart and I have this crazy obsession for house projects... we started a new one!!

The Kitchen... it was in need of a make over and we finally decided what we could live with for a "mini remodel"... something that will sustain us for a few years until we can rip out soffits... and reconfigure the layout... crazy we are... we know!

So the kitchen/laundry room project will be in stages... about 5. We just finished Stage 1 (The Upper Cabinets)...our cabinets were in good shape so we decided to just sand and paint the cabinets and then inlay beadboard in the cabinet door faces to change the look, new hardware, new hinges and new shelves... it's time consuming but we are happy with the end product... not to mention the savings over buying new cabinets.

We did the same thing in the half bath on the main floor as well.

Stage 2 happens this weekend... new counter tops and tiled back splash.

Here are a couple before and after pictures of Stage 1. The first picture is of the kitchen before we bought the house. The second is just before we started this project.

And because we seem to love living in chaos the kiddos start swimming lessons tonight!

Ainsley and Walker were off to school this morning with big smiles... happy that their Daddy was home. Stewart had been on a business trip to Las Vegas the past couple of days.

I left the airport on Sunday with two crying kids... sobbing, "But Daddy's never been gone that long before!" and, "I (sob... sob) Miss (sob... sob) Daddy (sob...)". It was a rough ride home but as we pulled into the airport yesterday they both said, "That wasn't too long of a trip!" We surprised Stewart too by pulling into Texas Roadhouse for dinner... yummy!

So things are back to normal... I'm sleeping with both eyes closed and not hearing nearly as many noises and the kiddos are back to their usual smiley selves.

When I picked up Walker at school today he had both his winter hat on and his baseball hat. When I asked him why he replied, "Mommy I look cool!"