Two months ago, while I was looking at Halloween costumes on-line, Annabelle spied a very nice looking plush white puppy costume. Since I refused to believe that she really wanted to be a puppy, I neglected to order said costume. One month ago, while still looking for costumes on-line, Annabelle spied that same white puppy costume and again, requested to be a puppy. Maybe it was her half-hearted plea, or general lack of enthusiasm, but for some reason I ignored her request, all the while believing that there was a much greater costume out there meant for Annabelle. What it was, I had no idea.
Flash forward to four days before Halloween: Still no costume. Annabelle still insists on being a puppy. I finally believe that she really wants to be a puppy... Now, to find a costume. I check back in on original white puppy: They can ship today... great! It can be here in 24 hours... even better! They only have it available in size 6-9 months... not so good. Crap.
Ready to pay a premium for overnight delivery, I search everywhere on the World Wide Web only to find that there are no puppy costumes available in her size... Anywhere. Who knew that there would be such a rush on puppy costumes this year? On-line shopping is no longer an option at this point. Time to brave the (gasp) malls...
Ten stores and two days later we come up empty and I am beginning to wonder if I should nominate myself for "Worst Mother of the Year". Is there not one puppy costume in sizes 2T-4T left in this world? What to do? I remember seeing plenty of adorable little puppy costumes in size 12-24 months, maybe I can squeeze her into one of those? So I actually drag my tired and hungry children back to the mall and then literally try to squeeze my almost 3 year old into a costume sized for an infant. Attention: Worst Mother of the Year awards committee, I'm over here!
Time for a new approach. I decide that I need to convince Annabelle that she does NOT want to be a puppy. I remember the black cat costume which Annabelle had showed a brief interest in (for about 2 seconds) while we were at one of the many Halloween stores... It was the last one left in the store, and it was in her size. Hopefully it would still be there.
With a bit of strategic convincing, which involved a lot of bribery and slanderous remarks about puppies, and a lucky break that the costume was still there a day later, Annabelle agreed to go as a black cat.
And what an adorable little black cat she was!
Jack HATED being in his costume.
He cried...
And cried...
AND CRIED!!!
Until he was allowed to take it off.
Even after we removed his costume Jack was still very upset, possibly traumatized? He never made it off of the circle. He was taken in the house to hang with Nana and missed out on all of the 'trick or treating'. Poor boy. Next year I'll let him choose his own costume rather than giving him his sister's hand me down. And I'll make sure I get him whatever he wants... well in advance! Annabelle ended up going 'trick-or-treating' with all of her little neighbor friends.
She had a blast and got tons of candy (for Mommy & Daddy).
Annabelle was labelled "Cat Burglar" as she kept running into people's houses and coming out with extra loot! Luckily our neighbors' knew mostly everyone at every house we went to.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!
Annabelle patiently waits to open presents
Jack patiently waits for Daddy to let him play with the trains
Carefully inspecting a gift from Auntie
Jack tries to have a go on the keyboard BUT
quickly realizes it's a lost cause and moves on to the car track
Still going, and has now added karaoke
Unable to take the noise, I mean singing, any longer, Jack retreats to the kitchen
The single will be available soon! 
OH BOY! You brought presents for meeeeeee!!
I had originally purchased this piano with xylophone for Jack as one of his Christmas presents, then decided to return it because he is also getting a super sonic keyboard which makes this toy seem really lame. As I was leaving the house on the way to return it I got side tracked and left the toy (in it's box) in the bag on the dining room table. Guess who found it and claimed it was her new favorite toy?
Time out has had no affect on him whatsoever. If anything it's had a reverse affect and has unleashed his inner monster. He has since become fond of the temper tantrum, complete with ground dropping, head banging, kicking, screaming (my personal favorite) and tears... It's like he's decided to get back at me for having the nerve to give him a time out.
The funny thing was that Annabelle, who was watching this whole thing, started to imitate me by making Teddy touch the tree, but rather than having a friendly little chat with Teddy like I did, she immediately whisked him off to have a "time out" on the step. Like little sponges, they are...
ALL DONE *sniff sniff* ALL DONE!!!!!
Last night as Annabelle was getting into bed she told me that she was not going to cry this year when she sat on Santa's lap, even though sometimes she gets a little scared. And even though she does look a little scared, she was very brave and didn't cry once. She even told Santa that Jack wants a red car for Christmas and that she wants a red car too!
I've been meaning to write this down, it cracked me up...
so I loaded him up with some Desitin (rash cream). When I did this he started clapping loudly and shouting "YAAAY!"...
Little sickly was up all night vomiting in her bed... There is nothing grosser than having to clean up after a sick child. Wait, I take that back, there is something grosser... Having sick child throw up all over you in the middle of a store.
This year, Thanksgiving was spent over at my parent's house, where we had a lovely dinner of the traditional variety, and enough dessert to feed a small country. Annabelle and Jack had a lot of fun playing with their cousins, who did a great job at keeping them occupied so that Mommy and Daddy could relax and enjoy a few drinks! Ahhhhh. 
By far, I think the most amusing quote of the day came from Annabelle... When we were in the car on the way to my parent's house Jack started to get a little grumpy and Annabelle tried to smooth things out by saying: "Listen Jack, we're just putting some gas in the car and then we'll be on our way. There's no need to get upset. Don't worry Jack, we'll be at Nana and Papa's soon." Amusing mostly because I'm still amazed that she can even speak let alone attempt to console her brother!
Jack is becoming more particular these days and has suddenly decided he is way too cool for a pink sippy cup... It's like he woke up this morning and thought: Nah, I'm not using that, pink is for girls. I wonder how he'll react to a purple sippy cup?
Poor Annabelle. She was so good the whole time we were in Toys R' Us getting birthday presents for my nephew and two of her little friends... But once we got home and she realized that she would not be allowed to play with ANY of the toys we had just bought, she had a melt down. 
Jack's super big coat makes him look like Russian Maffia when it's buttoned... All he needs now is a big wooly hat!
I'm not sure if that is something to be proud of or if I am just getting old!! Either way, it is what it is and I can now add knitting to my vast list of talents...
