The cardboard box...elevated

You know the old saying "the cardboard box makes the best toy." Well, I suppose after you have kids, you realize that this is too true. Then, you realize that because you are married to an architect it takes on a whole new meaning...

I ordered a console table for our dining room and it arrived on Saturday in a pretty big, but pretty flat box. It doesn't take much to get Lillie's little mind going, probably because she KNOWS Dad will take on the challenge. "Dad, let's make a house out of the box." Now I'm thinking "that's gonna be a tough one, the box is pretty flat." Ha! What do I know? Apparently nothing when it comes to constructing houses out of boxes (and it's packing content). Below you will see the house that has been established in our living room. I really don't see how I'm going to get rid of this. I guess (maybe) when we give the girls their new inflatable playhouse for Christmas. Oh well, what can you do. At least the girls "play nice" most of the time together in it.

You will notice the portable DVD player inside. This was Pat's addition to the home on Sunday. Yes, Sunday. I'll let you figure out why he might have put that in there.

One more thing. Yes, you do see a pink Christmas tree in the house. Lillie purchased this tree at Target with a gift card she got for her birthday (Thanks, Becky!). I never realized what joy a pink, lighted tree could bring to a 4 year old little girl. (BTW, Lillie insisted that Charlotte HAD to have a purple one just like it. That one is upstairs in the hallway.) Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are thy pink branches!

A very creepy...no...croupy Halloween

We have had our share of colds these last few weeks... tis the season! I'm pretty sure if I could I would detach my head and hose it out.

I took Charlotte to the doctor last Friday when it sounded as if she had turned into a seal. Cough, cough, bark, bark. Turns out my little girl had croup. A quick steroid shot to reduce the inflammation in her throat and that's it. Saturday she was miserable. Nothing could make her happy which is quite odd for Charlotte. And she wasn't eating too much... bad sign. She would not even entertain the notion of putting on a costume. She hung out with me to pass out candy while Lillie, Pat, and our neighbors (Carter, Declan, Dad, Uncle, and Aunt) went trick-or-treating. I felt Pat and Lillie were in safe hands as you will see in the photos below.

Lillie and Carter had a blast from what I hear. Taking turns knocking on doors, screaming "TRICK OR TREAT!!" as loud as they could. It is amazing how things change in a year. Last Halloween Lillie was too scared to go up to any one's door, much less whisper "trick or treat".

Here are some pictures of Lillie and Carter and my little candy thief (sick or not, she knows the good stuff!)