That time of year again

The annual picture with the cousins... it really does get a little easier every year and 64 pictures later we did get a couple good ones...

And finally, my favourite....

The countdown is on...

So many things to do and less then one week to do them.... We leave for Punta Cana next week and as much as I can not wait to see the sun again I'm feeling a little stressed with all that needs to get done here before that. We are leaving at a crucial Christmas decorating/get my cards mailed out/start my baking time... Originally I had decided that I would just put it all off a week and get to all that stuff post vacation but the thought of coming back to all that doesn't really appeal to me and I'm afraid I'll be thinking about it while on vacation so I'm going to try to get it all done this week. That on top of packing and my normal day to day stuff is going to be tough to pull off but fortunately I see a sunny finish line to this crazy week so I'm fully motivated to get things done.

Since Halloween, the kids have jumped right into Christmas mode - their lists have been made and seem to continue to get longer everyday. I'm not sure where they got this idea but the 3 of them have it in their heads that since Santa is always watching them he can also hear their wishes...so during Saturday morning cartoons when the commercials are playing we will very frequently hear them yell out "Santa Please can I have that for Christmas!" It is the cutest thing, I really need to get that on video.

Otherwise it has been more of the same... busy days, busy nights, busy weekends but I'm enjoying it and the kids smile more often then not so I'm happy.

Now for more pictures of the fun places Troy has slept this month...

Waiting for dinner to be served

At Ty's hockey practice

At Town Shoes while I was shopping

Ty is such a great big brother to Troy.

Vanessa got her hair cut... she's looking so grown up to me. :(

Halloween Weekend

The kids have been waiting for this weekend for months... We had to make a rule in our house that the topic of Halloween was not to be discussed until at least October 1st. My kids are Halloween nuts! The pleasure they get out of decorating the house, looking at the flyers of costumes and deciding what they want to dress up as is something I will never comprehend but I have to say I LOVE their enthusiam. Halloween is a big deal at our house now and the funny thing is - the one thing that I do love about Halloween - the abundance of chocolate that it brings into our house - is actually of very little interest to my kids. It was a great night though - cold as it may have been the kids didn't even notice and had a blast running from house to house critiquing the spooky decor, the costumes of others around them and yelling trick or treat.

On the Saturday we spent the night in Toronto after a fantastic wedding. Iain's friend from high school Rusty got married to Angela in very cozy ceremony and reception. The food was fantastic, the dancing was so much fun and catching up with everyone was wonderful. It was a great night out followed by a quiet brunch alone the next day... always nice to have those moments together when we can get them.

The Halloween decor has been taken down, the candy will be gone by Saturday and I'm actually ready to move on to some Christmas shopping. But first... time to start tanning. We leave for Punta Cana in 26 days!! Can not wait. :)