Better late than never...(and a little bit more!)

Ready for a night of Trick r' Treating!

Don't you just love her poncho! She wears it all the time as it is truly her favorite!

Having some fun outside while I tried to get some photo shots for our Christmas card! (Annabelle love LOVE love the swing set and sliding board!)

(getting a little help from Dad...she is going to be our dare-devil!)

Just running around, having some fun!

Last night, we finally took the girls out Trick r' Treating and let me tell you, they had a blast! Francesca was Jasmine and Annabelle was a Halloween Cat (found the costume on a major sale this past week). They loved it and since everyone was already tapped out of Halloween goodies, both girl mostly they got money.

Yesterday, we did some photos of the girls outside and in the house for our annual Christmas card. I am thinking about including a family photo as well, but between the two kids, Keith's schedule, and our camera shy 4-legged boy, Honey Bear...we might just have to stick with the kiddos and Honey. We are going to try again next weekend for some family photos...so we'll just have to wait and see.

We are finally getting on a little bit of a better schedule for our sleeping. It has not been easy and took almost a full week to get back to sleeping through the night and staying up during the day. Francesca was due to go back to school today, but I am keeping her home until the end of the week. Keith heads back to D.C. today for work and I am interested in seeing how I weather with two kids under the age of four. (Plus I am so loving having my two girls home! And as a extra bonus, they play so well together!)

Having Keith home for all this time was WONDERFUL! I can't begin to tell you all the "stuff" that I needed to get done around the house (before Annabelle came home) that I did and I am completely 100% finished with my Christmas shopping! (I even started wrapping this past week because Grandpa & Grandma C are coming up this following weekend and I want to be ready for when they arrive). And as you all know (from my previous post) 98% of our Christmas decorations are out (all we left is the tree and the outdoor lights). I so love our house at Christmas time! Every room is decorated and it all looks so very festive. I did make a new purchase this year to celebrate the holidays with my girls (or should I say...get them involved). It is a Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Musical Advent Calendar with Ornaments. *it marks the days leading up to Christmas with this beautiful advent calendar. Starting on December 1st, remove one ornament a day from its unique hiding place and hang it on the tree above until all of the ornaments are displayed. Wind the key and the tree revolves to the tune of, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".*

(It is this little house with tons of windows and doors all over it that you open up on the marked day, find the ornament hidden inside and place it on the tree.)

It is absolutely beautiful and the girls can't wait for Dec 1st to come to start the countdown.

I must say...life can not get any better than what it has been! Our Annabelle is truly a joy (and has bonded beautifully) and Francesca is such a blessing (and such a big sister)! How did someone like me end up with two extraordinary daughters....