October Festivities and Fun

Marathon Post. And....go.

We've been asked to do several desserts lately. I don't know why...it's not like Danny went to Culinary School or anything. And his eclairs aren't THAT amazing. Lies. Okay, so seriously--I thought I'd show a little of how it looks to make homemade eclairs. We {meaning Danny} did some for Halloween and they turned out great. Start at the bottom left to see the beginning. First you pipe the dough for the actual eclair shell onto pans. Let them cook, make the custard/pudding. Add food coloring, poke small holes in the eclairs for the pudding to be inserted. Insert the pudding with a piping bag, dip in chocolate and voila. We like to refrigerate them overnight. These are so good. {Of course, I NEVER eat any...I just like to watch}.

Cole and I attended our very first Play Group here in our new neighborhood. It was kind of intimidating because we only knew 1 person there and everyone was already good friends--but it was fun to watch Cole interact with kids he has never met and the other moms were really nice. He is the furthest thing from shy and I'm pretty sure he was freaking all the other kids out. This was also our first attempt at having him wear his costume to a Halloween event and it didn't go over very well. I had him in tears before we even left the house. We brought the costume just in case, but he didn't want anything to do with it. That's my boy. As stubborn as can be. I love how he walks into this play house through the door, and then exits the window as if the place is on fire.

Later that week we joined a Halloween Party from the apartment complex we just left. It was so much fun. Cole and I had a blast and once again--he wouldn't wear his costume. Even with all the peer pressure of all the other kids wearing theirs, he was so head strong. We were 0 for 2. Don't you love the group shots of kids where half the kids are staring in all different directions and the other half are crying? This is our life right now--so why should we fake otherwise? :)

Finally Halloween night arrived and I had pretty much given up hope on Cole wearing his adorable costume. But--lucky for us, Cole worships his cousin Nate who busted out in his Superman costume. Cole finally caved and made me proud. He wore the cutest homemade Buzz Light Year costume made by my friend Teresa's mom. What at talented woman!

We have a great little tradition on the White side of the family that every year on Halloween we gather over at the house and make homemade donuts. Oh my yum. There is nothing like a warm, homemade donut. I'm sure their neighbors LOVE them for it. After donuts and a quick dinner, Cole went to the Trunk or Treat with his cousins and Uncle Greg and then we went out Trick or Treating for a bit on Grandma White's street. I think it was more for us than anything. I love watching him run up to the door and shout "twick or tweet!" He finally "got" it this year and it was so cute to watch him get so excited over every single piece of candy he received.

Oh, and Danny let me play with his hair. That wasn't his costume--I swear.

These are just some random pictures of what Cole has been up to. My favorite one besides playing and sucking on a plastic baby bottle is the one where he's "playing" the Wii in just a diaper and a shirt and he thinks he is using both remotes. He sat there for about 20 minutes, impressed by his scoring.

Our sweet sister-in-law, Emily is pregnant and due in January. We are so excited for Cole to get a new little cousin! We had a great baby shower for her {if I do say so myself}. More homemade eclairs, a gorgeous quilt, some goofy games and lots of girl talk. Emily was a good sport and let people invade her bubble by taking a stab at her circumference {that doesn't' sound very good when you first read it, does it?} You wouldn't believe how small she is! :) We love you Em.

Since we were celebrating we thought we should add another event into the mix. Julia turned 5 this year and we were able to be there to be a part of it. She is such a good big sister and is so cute with Cole. I captured my very first "candle shot" that wasn't completely blurry. It's a miracle what a flat, sturdy surface can do when trying to get a clear night shot. Yay for me.

I know I missed photos of lots of birthdays this year--so hopefully no one in the fam feels bad for not having a post all to themselves...I just happen to be camera-happy that night!