We've decided to become an 80's rock band. . .

Ok, not really, just our Halloween costumes. And since we still have 2 kids in diapers we decided to be

 "POO KIDS ON THE BLOCK"

Carter and Mommy getting ready to trick or treat!

Carter got his fill of candy, in fact he refused much dinner and decided he would just have suckers all night. I tried to put my foot down but was afraid the band would break-up if I was a mean band manager.

Mohawk man Cam.

and Spidey man Jhett

Carter was a bit nervous at the 1st house. 

(I should've cropped this guys butt out of the picture to0 - sorry)

Believe it or not, the kids actually had a good time. You'd think by their faces that we were torturing them.

The boys posed for a publicity shoot in front of the punkin' patch.

Carter and Cam and their groupies.

 (Dane the Elephant, Bree the Fairy Princess, and Trelise the Poodle)

Notice: For some reason, both boys decided to take one shoe off at the same time.

 Must be a new fashion statement.

A second attempt at a group picture, including baby Nora dressed as a Peanut. 

Our first attempt at Halloween costumes. . .

Carter was originally going to be Elmo, and Camden was to be Cookie Monster. 

Whatever, they were NOT wearing them, it was like torture getting the costumes on them and they both threw fits once in them. They were hot and itchy and I don't blame them. But it sure would've been cute.

Both boys were happy to just play with their trucks and not worry about what to wear for Halloween. 

Cam was happy that Daddy killed Cookie Monster so he didn't have to wear him anymore. 

Our Pumpkin

The finished product.

Pumpkin Carving

Daddy helps carve out the top . . . .

 . . . shows Carter the mush inside and  . . . .

 . . . turns it over to Mommy to do the dirty work. . . .

Add a cute face

 . . . and a cheesy grin, WAAALAAAA! It's a happy pumpkin.

Things I learned this week. . . .

Monday - You can love a newborn instantly. (Ellie Jade is a much welcomed addition to the Shepherd family.)

Tuesday - Children keep you honest, like when Carter asks what I'm eating and I say, "nothing" to which he replies, "no, mommy, that's a treat! and I want some!" (He was right, it was a TootsieRoll.)

Wednesday -  I am taller than I think. When I put an iron on the top shelf in the laundry room, I shouldn't assume other people will be able to stop it as it careens toward their head.

(This applies to the sweet girl that cleans our house, and now has 5 stitches in her eyebrow from the stupid iron that fell from the shelf)

Thursday - Urgent Care is expensive. (See above)

Friday - Jobs are pointless if all you do all day is think about being with your kids. (That's why I don't have one anymore.)

Saturday - My boys are my life. (Nothing like minor surgery to get you thinking)

Surgery Day

Camden had his ear tube surgery today. We got up at 5:00am, headed to the hospital by 5:45 and checked in to the same day surgery unit. Cam was their youngest patient of the day so he got to go first. Although, the Dr. didn't come until 7:30, so we still waited about 1.5 hours in the surgery unit. 

Camden's nurse, Megan, was a true sweetheart and offered this wagon to tow Camden around in for entertainment. She padded it with a comfy pillow and blankets and offered a blue bear for comfort. He enjoyed the 70 laps we did in the surgery unit. And the patients enjoyed seeing his little head bob by every couple minutes. One guy was taking count how often we passed him. (That's how I know it was 70 laps)

So I was allowed to walk Camden to the operating room doors where a nurse told me she would take good care of him and pried him from my arms. It wasn't Camden hanging on either, it was me. He clung to his lovey and stared blankly as the doors shut on me.

 He went in at 7:32 am. 

By 7:43 the Dr. came out and said all went well. He was surprised by the fluid in his ears but now all is clear and Camden should be much happier.

By 7:45 the nurse got us and let me wake Camden up. He cried a bit but then ate and was happy, All in all, he was under the gas for less than 10 minutes. Thankfully, they never had to do an IV anesthesia. So we were out to the truck by 8:00am.

. . . . . then the truck wouldn't start.

Grandma and Carter came to get us, it was only the battery that died, and Jeff spent the rest of the morning replacing that.

Camden has had Tylenol today but has been remarkably happy. Jumping on his trampoline, slides and swings at the park, and playing at Grandpa and Grandma's. He took a good nap and went to bed without fuss tonight. Hopefully he will be feeling 100% tomorrow.

We made it.

Last Sunday's Pumpkin Patch visit

I would like to be able to say we went to some cute pumpkin patch out in the country somewhere on a farm, but not so. 

For those kids raised in Vegas, we settle for a make shift patch in the middle of a Casino parking lot. 

We just make it look authentic.

And the kids have fun no matter what.

Quite amused by the simplest of things . . . . like straw.

Baby Nora, the cutest lil' pumpkin we know.

Carter and Dane consumed in their conversations.

"Carter, I'm telling you, we can take the car an they'll never know" says Dane.

"I don't know dude, we will have to think this out" says Carter.

(See the prior post)

Car Thieves

"Ok Carter, don't start the engine yet, let's just roll it out of the driveway so our parents don't hear" - Dane

"This is serious business, Dane, I will drive, you watch for Mom and Dad" - Carter

"Nope, I don't see 'em. I think we made it free and clear." - Dane

"This car stealing is not as fun as I thought it would be" - Carter

"Yeah, guess not." - Dane

"and I guess it's not really stealing when you are on a track that goes round and round and your Dad is standing behind you the whole time" - Carter

"But it was fun to pretend anyway." - Dane

Carousel

We went to Green Valley Ranch District last Saturday. They have a very cute Carousel, but Carter kept says there was a tiger chasing him. I didn't know what he meant till I looked at this picture.

But he also told me "I not scared Mommy" You scared? It's ok"

We had spectators.

Grandma Karen, Grandpa Lyle, Camden sitting out the 2nd ride, and Daddy

The 1st ride, Carter sat on "his horesy"

Camden hung on for dear life.

Sunny Afternoon

Isn't she lovely . . . Isn't she wonderful . . .

I've had Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" playing in my head since 12:47pm.

It's due to a little girl named Ellie Jade. 

Tiny and perfect at 6lb 15 oz 19 inches long.

She is our niece.

Making sure the hat is on just right.

Beautiful, long lashes. Perfect skin. 

Doll like features.

Here, Bree is explaining to me what it means to be a big sister. I tried to tell her, I too am a big sister, she said, "NO, YOU ARE AN AUNT." Yep, that too, smarty pants.

The nurse who delivered Ellie, The Dr. just never made it.

The family.

Waiting. Under the same sign we waited under when Jhett was born, except Kevin was in the waiting room this time.

Yep guys, her head is still there. 

For those of you who were around when Bree was born, and overheard a loopy Shannon, this will be really funny.