Random November Pictures

The Carousel- our favorite activity at the mall!

Evie's first bike ride

DuPage Children's Museum with good buddy (next-door neighbor) Cooper

Madeline experiencing the wind tunnel

Madeline's 3rd Birthday

Madeline's third birthday started out with a cupcake for breakfast. (This was such a treat that she still talks about it!)

Happy Birthday Big Sister!

The afternoon of her birthday we had a big celebration with our families and playgroup friends. Big parties are a little much for Madeline, but it was a great opportunity for us to introduce our families to our friends!

My cousin Graceann was in town for a wedding, so she and her boyfriend Andrew got to stop by and celebrate too!

The basement was packed, but we had a great time!

... and Princess Madeline enjoyed her new gifts.

After a successful party we were looking over our pictures on the camera. Madeline wanted to take a few pictures of her own. Not bad for her first attempt...

Evelyn's Baptism

November 7, 2010 Evelyn was baptized at Saint Raphael Catholic Church. Here is our day in pictures.

Dan's sister Marie and my brother Mark were chosen to be her Godparents.

Madeline made friends with the other babies' siblings.

Afterward we had a reception back at our house for our families.

Evelyn opened a few baptism gifts...

... and we celebrated Madeline's birthday a week early.

It was a very blessed day!

Halloween

It's interesting that Halloween is not just a one-day event for young children. It is a week long affair with plenty of opportunities to celebrate and wear their costumes! Our Halloween week included a special outdoor storytime at the library, which we attended in costume with our good buddies! (Evie and I are sitting next to Alison, Ella, and Avery.)

Maureen, Erin, and Nora

Farah, Avery, and 4 week old baby Micah underneath the jacket!

This year Madeline chose to be Angelina Ballerina, one of her favorite characters from books and tv. I made the mouse ears, and we pieced together some ballerina dresses. She loved the opportunity to dance around in costume!

We hosted the playgroup party on Wednesday. Kids came in costume, we played some games, did some crafts, and had a yummy potluck lunch.

Ella and Alison

Almost the whole crowd. Organizing a picture is like herding cats.

We made our rounds and trick-or-treated to grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Here Madeline gives Great-Grandma Luzinski a hug.

Evie enjoys some treats!

... and enjoys some time in the Big Bird chair. :)

Then we trick-or-treated at Grandma & Grandpa Hay's house.

Dad and Madeline carved our pumpkin back at home

And we went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with our great next-door neighbors. Madeline and Cooper...

...and Evelyn and Macy.