Dreading this......

In some ways I have been dreading this post, mainly because it has been so long since I have posted anything. I am not even sure where to start or what to say, except that we have been busy. Basketball season is well under way and Chris took the job as the head JV coach this year, which is a super opportunity, but also a little more time consuming.

We also just got home from the Young Life Banquet----which is our biggest fundraiser of the year for Young Life. When we moved to Fort Myers and took the YOung Life job, I promised Chris that this would be my thing. The one way I could help out and hopefully take some things off of his plate as well as his boss's. Plus I used to plan events for a living, so I would be in my Glory. I had no idea what it would mean to do this with a 2 year old and a 7 month old. Needless to say, I am WIPED. The event was fun, and I know I will be so excited to do it again next year, I am just glad I have a good 365 days to rest up. I have virtually no voice and I think the girls have had it with Mommy being on the phone, emailing and running errands.

I joked with the folks that the day was a BREAK for me. My in-laws came to watch my kids all day---we left at 9am and did not come home until 7pm. To be totally honest, I actually missed them and was reminded how thankful I am to be able to be home with them at this stage in their lives! That being said the craziness of the day was definitely easier than most days at home----but I would not trade it for the world.

We also just got back last week from another quick trip to Wisconsin. I feel so spoiled that I have had the chance to see my family so much this fall. It is always great for the girls to get to spend some time with their cousins and I really enjoyed the weather.

Aside from that we have also had or will be having lots of visitors!! This past weekend we were able to see a good friend of mine, Katie Jablonka---Juehring now---who was down here visiting with her husband and 3 kids----wish we could have gotten more time with them, but with the banquet, it was just too crazy. Tomorrow, one of my old RA's Becky Short is coming to see us for the day----and then The Chien's as well as the whole Mustaine Family will be heading down on Wednesday for Thanksgiving!!! I also have a good friend from college, Jackie Whitley, coming right after Thanksgiving! I am definitely NOT lonely!!!

I have been pretty bad at taking pictures lately. Here are some from a pumpkin patch we went to in Sarasota---I have no more energy to write captions, I think they are self explanatory!! If not, tough luck

Happy Halloween

I just sat down to blog and the kids are getting up from their naps. I will try to post more later but I could not stop the import of the pictures.....so until I have more time to write enjoy my sweet princess and buzzing bee!!

Cannot get enough of these 2

Gutting pumpkins at the Wells

Cora found a seed

That feels funny

This is where Maggie was during most of the Fall Festival at church

OK---I put this on here b/c we have no idea who this guy is but apparently he really wanted to be in our picture

MC caught a FISH

Brett and MC----they were both OBSESSED with the puppet show

Our halloween jammies

I love making both of them laugh

Baby Dedication

Today was a very fun day for all the Mustaine's. MaryCate kept calling it her "special day"because she got a "special dress" to wear. At our church they do something twice a year called parental dedication. Instead of infant baptism they dedicate the parents to raising the child in a Christ following home. The hope would be that as they do this, the child makes a decision to follow Christ as well and then follows that decision with baptism at that point. We never did anything like this for MC when she was born because we were not able to take her out in public much. Since we wanted to do it for Maggie we decided to do it for both girls at the same time. It was a really nice morning and we enjoyed our church family praying for us and committing to helping us raise our girls.

Chris's parents and sister came down for the service and so did our good friends Andy and Jodi with their little girl Cora. They are MaryCate's Godparents. Maggie's Godparents both live in Wisconsin---my cousin Maggie is her Godmother and my brother Timmy is her Godfather. Although we missed them today we will see them both at Christmas time!!

Here are a few pictures from the day and from this past week.

MaryCate in her Halloween Jammies

There is something a little ironic about the second word on this onesie----I still LOVE it!

Hangin by the fireplace, waiting for it to get cold enough so we can build a fire

Every morning MC LOVES to help mommy empty the dishwasher. She hands me the silverware one piece at a time and tells me what it is and whose it is, "mommy's fork" or "Maggie's spoon"----tons of fun

She loves to help with EVERYTHING----which is usually great, except when she messes up my piles of "already folded" laundry

Taking it out to the washing machine

Here we are before the service---and after many attempts I am convinced we will not get a Christmas card picture this year where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera

LOVE making this sweet girl giggle

Fun with mommy

Another attempt at the church

Us up in front of the church with both girls in their "special dresses"

The whole Mustaine Clam

Take 2

MaryCate with her good friend Cora

Auntie Trista came on Saturday and spent the night which is ALWAYS a ton of fun

Mema giving lessons to the kids

Maggie chillin with Auntie Trista

MaryCate with her Godparents

Trip to the beach

This past weekend we did not have a lot on the schedule which was thrilling. I am SOAKING up the next 2 weeks because that is when basketball try-outs begin and my husband disappears for what feels like months!!

We decided to make a trip to the beach on Saturday night. We packed up dinner and headed out there. This is a little out of character for us. We are not HUGE beach fans. It always seems like a lot more work with the kids and even when we didn't have kids, we didn't LOVE the beach. Anyhow it ended up being a great idea. MaryCate LOVED running around in the sand. The night was gorgeous and the weather is beginning to cool down a bit----no worries we are still in the mid to upper 80's but at least we are not really in the 90's anymore!!

Here are a couple pics from the night.

Daddy with the girls

Dinner was some delicious chicken and a broccoli salad

MaryCate dancing FREE

I am outta here

If they would only smile......

I just think she is GORGEOUS......and a little chunky :)

LOVE HER...she on the other hand is OVER taking the pictures

Just another day in paradise

Eskimo kisses at sunset

LOVE my sweet MC

So I caught MaryCate doing this today---I asked her what she was doing, to which she replied "cleaning the floor like you mommy" She is gonna have some mad skills when she leaves me some day

So I have been dying for MaryCate to wear this cute little sweater (I have no idea where it came from, had to be a hand me down from someone since I do not buy the girls a thing between friends and family giving us clothes). It is WAY more stylish than I will ever be. She LOVED it!!! All day she kept telling people about her flower. After I got her dressed this morning, and told her how stunning and stylish she looked, she said to me "I see in the mirror"---the fact that she knows the word "mirror" concerns me enough---but hopefully I am just instilling some good confidence!!

Bad luck streak

It seems like we have been on a streak of misfortunes when it comes to our home. I forgot to mention this but about a month or so ago I noticed a few bees back in the kids play area. I didn't think much of it at 1st and simply killed them and went on with my day. A few days later I saw another, at which point I told Chris. He seemed to think that FL did not have bees and I was exaggerating and too worried. The fact that it was right where the kids played really worried me.

Later that day I saw 2 more, and since we have a pest service I decided to ask them to come check it out. Sure enough, we had a problem........so 1st off FL does have bees!!! Second I think there was a convention of them being held in our WALL. Long story short we had to get a bee removal service to come out, take down part of the outside wall, get the hive, kill the bees and then put in insulation where they were building their home. The amount of bees was astounding. The guy had a big black garbage bag FULL of dead bees, it was unreal.

Later that night I was doing dishes after the kids were in bed. Chris was at Young LIfe. All of a sudden I felt warm water on my feet and realized the faucet was leaking. Luckily it was not a plumbing issue, just a faulty faucet and we had to get a new one installed.

Lastly, since I could not do dishes I went to watch a little TV. For about a year now we have been biting time with the projection lamp on our TV----The tv tells us it is going every time we turn it on----well wouldn't luck have it that tonight was the night it blew. So we need a new lamp in order to get TV. The bees and faucet were obviously a priority to fix so we have decided to go without TV for a while. Not to mention the fact that Chris has been driving around in the Civic with NO air conditioning since June. (it was a warm summer for him) . No TV has made the house eerily quiet, and although we really do not miss it all that much-----why did it have to happen during football season----Sat. and Sundays are just not the same.

All that to say, we are hoping the misfortunes STOP here.

This is how the girls watch video's now---on the computer. They actually only watch them about 2-3 times a week, but your realize how much you miss the TV when they want to or you need them to for a half hour.

Maggie Clearly doesn't mind the new set-up. No worries I was sititng in the chair right behind her the whole time, I did not leave her in the bumbo on the table unattended---well except to snap the pic i guess :)!

Blogging Hiatus

That is what I am calling the last month. You see Chris got me a computer at home, which is great since he likes to take his to work with him as much as he can. Problem is, all our pictures are on his computer. By the time he gets home and we eat, get the kids ready and into bed, the last thing I want to do is BLOG. Therefore the posts will probably be a bit more spread out now unless I have something fun to report.

The last few weeks have also been quite crazy. Maggie has flown twice!! I made a very quick trip up to Delaware to be with a good friend for her father's funeral. It was an amazing celebration of his life and we were thankful to be able to be there. We just went one day and MC stayed home with Daddy. Then last weekend I took both girls by myself up to Wisconsin. I made sure it was a direct flight, but let me tell you, after going through security with the 2 of them on my own, I feel like I am so much more of a mother. They both flew great and it was a great time away. We enjoyed the fall weather, played in the leaves, celebrated my nephew Brady's 5th birthday and spent lots of time with my family. I was glad to get up there this time of year. It is my favorite time and although it was a really quick trip, we packed in a lot of fun. My sister-in-law took pics and when I get them from her I will post them.

Maggie has moved onto eating more solids and she is LOVING it. Unlike MC, she eats non-stop, and I think if I did not cut her off, she would eat all day. I am anxious to see how much she weighs at her 6 month well visit. She spends most days on her belly and is close to scooting----before you know it she will take off. MC continues to talk up a storm. The things that come out of her mouth crack us up more and more every day. She is as sharp as a whip and needless to say I think I will have my work cut out for me. Sorry there is not much more to post, but I gotta get to bed----I thought feeding Maggie more would mean she would sleep more----seems she only wants to eat MORE the more I feed her!!! I know the sleepless nights will end some day and I do enjoy the quiet with her!!

They look nothing alike right??? Hahahaha

MC hanging in Maggie's BUMBO

MC stopped asking to hold Maggie for a while but has just now started asking daily

Enjoying some yummy apples

"Mommy---please help, Daddy did my hair today and he does not know how to do pigtails like you!"

Today MC asked to hold Mags and as soon as she got her she looked at me and said "take my picture"---Maggie constantly just going with the flow