Happy Halloween!

We were so excited this year...Dan wasn't going to be able to spend Halloween with us but lucky for us, his trip didn't go through so we got him! We carved our pumpkins on Tuesday and like always...well when we are all together which hasn't been very often...Dan helps the girls clean out the pumpkins and I help the girls carve. Madison doesn't really like to clean them out....
Bells participated by watching from her high chair while eating apples....she really had no interest in helping....I was grateful.
Hannah is up for pretty much anything and did a great job cleaning it out as best as she could.
Hannah and Bells' pumpkin.

Madison's....Madison and Hannah pretty much carved their pumpkin by themselves...they are getting so big.

I didn't get a picture of all the girls together in their costumes...I did get a friend to take a family picture....Dan and I were M&M's...Madison was Rainbow Brite....Hannah a kitty and Bells was a lady bug who didn't really like her costume. She kept trying to take it off for the first 30 minutes after we put her in it.
We first his the base Halloween...it was okay....okay...I was disappointed but the girls had fun.

We then decided to hit the church trunk or treat instead of trick or treating on base. So we ran and grabbed some candy...okay bought some candy from the store and headed over there. The girls had fun at their little carnival they had going on inside and then made a couple of rounds to the different cars for some tasty candy. Can you believe this kid's hair???!!! She just turned 14 months on the 28th...craziness. All my girls have had hair but she has the longest.

We have been overdosing on candy here. Madison and Hannah went to a friend's Halloween party on Thursday and they scored with the candy there. Dan is now taking them out around our neighborhood so more is coming. It's been fun...and we've loved having Dan here....sadly we'll be spending Halloween next year alone so he's been really into it. But really...Halloween is like Dan's favourite holiday besides Christmas so of course he's been into it.

My two bed bugs

Madison has been asking Hannah to sleep with her up in her bed for over a week. Last night they were goofing off and woke Bells up so Dan made Hannah go down to her bed. Hannah told Dan she couldn't leave Madison or she would have nightmares...Madison was crying. Dan wanted to give in but didn't but that didn't stop Hannah going right back up. I love how they are so close and get along pretty much all the time.

Grandma Shirley and Grandpa Gale

Saturday, we had my grandparents come into town. I pretty much picked them up from the train station...visited briefly and then left them with my three crazy kids so I could meet up with Dan for the Navy Ball. Yes, we had a picture taken...no you don't get to see. We have the one and only copy...lucky us. We looked so cute and I had a great time and Dan did a FABULOUS job organizing it.

Sunday we just kind of hung out at the house and visited...we had a lazy day but it was super nice for all of us I think. Monday we took my grandparents to the Burghley House and I let the girls skip school. Today they left to go down to one of my favorite places here in England. Turns out we will see them again....they have to return their rental car here so like the girls said, "I'm really not that sad to see them go...we will see them next week again!" They are also expecting Grandpa Gale to draw their pictures...it was pretty much one of the first things they requested when they first saw him. I think it's so great they find those pictures just as special as I do.

I can't believe it...my birthday next month, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and then Abigale will be here!!! It's going by fast...and I'm not only looking forward to our baby coming but Dan and my quick trip back to Cali to look for a house....I'm excited!

Happy Birthday Dan!

Wednesday was Dan's birthday...he's 32. It's not that old. So we had a hectic day...but we got everything we needed done and I was able to make the dinner Dan wanted....Chicken grape salad and his lemon cake. Our birthday theme...Superman. It was kind of funny how Dan came downstairs to his decorated table and he was wearing his Superman shirt.

Bells doesn't look too well...she was sick...I was sick....but we had a fun time celebrating Dan's day. I'm a pretty lucky girl to be married to a pretty awesome guy.

Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral

Dan, Bells and I went down to London Monday. We couldn't ask for any better weather...sunny, warm...it just made our day out even better. It was so nice and I was so distracted that we hardly took any pictures.

We didn't get to go up all the towers...Dan did a couple but we did see the crown jewels and I think the most interesting part of the trip was when I was waiting on a bench with Bells while Dan went up the Bloody Tower and I listened about how the men there become Yeomen. I had no idea these men needed all these credentials and that they actually live at the Tower of London with their families...what a SUPER cool place to live...well minus the fact I'm sure it's haunted.

We opted to walk down to St Paul's Cathedral instead of the tube. Dan hates the tube and it was so nice outside...perfect day to walk along the Thames River. We could have taken a super cute picture looking at the London Bridge...but we didn't. We enjoyed pushing Bells and walking holding hands. Dan got to see the Millennium Bridge...it's the bridge in Harry Potter the Half Blood Prince, that gets all torn up. I had seen the cathedral...but Dan enjoyed that as well. It's so beautiful. We just strolled along the inside and the gardens and of course through the crypt. A perfect day with two out of four of my favorite people.

First

Madison showed me her first "real" love note today after school. It was sweet. It went something like this:

To Madison,

I love you. I think you're hot.

Love,
Oliver

It made me smile...not that I want my kids to have boyfriends and think they are in love at the age of 7...more of that she was so eager to share it with me. She wrote a note back to him...I saw what it said before she gave it to him:

Dear Oliver,

I love you too. Maybe some day you can come over to my house.

Love,
Madison

I want my kids to be able to tell me things...I like it. I've also noticed Madison has been so much more helpful and less argumentative since I've been showing her more more attention with hugs. She's independent, not really cuddly, strong willed....ok...she's just like me. I drew the conclusion that when Dan hugs me and holds my hand whenever he can, or when my kids just come up and give me a hug for no reason...I'm a lot more "sweet." It's funny how I never thought to try something that works on me on my little personality twin. We've been getting along just great...and I really like that.

Girls

Lacking pictures

I haven't really taken any pictures lately of the girls....well I did take some of Hannah's hives but I'll skip showing those. It's been crazy here....Hannah has hives like crazy all over and I just love the Air Force hospitals (I'm so saying that in a sarcastic tone)...I seriously have issues with them over here. We have been to the ER 4 times this past week and have had 2 doctor visits. I still don't know what Hannah has and why she has it, why she reacted so badly to Zyrtec and why Benedryl is no longer working on her. So she's been super itchy, drowsy and has missed school the past week. Saturday I called the ER and asked if I should even bring her in since every time I have been in there they do absolutely nothing for her (I'm so frustrated I actually said that)...I got the response that they don't give medical advice (at the Naval hospitals they always did) and so I responded with a thanks...you're such a great help...as always. I struggle to get through to our clinic and I'm just at my wits end about this whole thing. Tomorrow I'm taking her in and it should be interesting...I'm tired, hormonal and I want them to tell me what she has since every doctor has a different opinion and nobody is helping. I'm a little concerned about having a baby there. I had such a good experience at NAS Lemoore...my doctor...AMAZING...nurses were so wonderful and helpful and my anesthesiologist...SUPERB (I didn't even feel anything really.)! I'm starting to wonder if they will even know where to put the epidural...and if they will tie my tubes correctly....

Bells has been a grump. She's teething and Dan and I don't like the teething Isabella. Dan took Madison and her on a walk into town yesterday and Bells laughed and was so happy on the stroll there. We then went to a friend's house for dinner and a little football and she was not clingy and it was so fabulous. Last night she did not sleep at all and so Dan and I took turns getting up with her.

Madison is doing great and is the healthy, cheerful one around the house. She's been a big help...she helped me with lunch this afternoon. She's now become an expert at jump roping. She's off the hula hoop now and on to this. She tends to practice in the house...Dan and I really don't like that. Bells walked right into her skipping...Bells didn't really like that either.

I had my 20 week ultra sound but I'm really 22 weeks I think. It was the LONGEST ultrasound I've ever had. Abigale tends to move like crazy and it doesn't take much to her her to move. Every time the tech was trying to get measurements...she'd move. Good times lying there. She's measuring all right though and this little 1 lb baby kicks away. Dan can feel it. Great...another feisty one.

I truly am grateful for my little...well it's getting kind of big...family. I know this post seems like I'm kind of complaining but it's all worth it....the hard, sleepless nights and all. Hearing the girls all laugh in the other room makes my day. I also love how Bells will just walk up to me and give me a leg hug and then take off again. Dan and I were watching TV and we could see our reflection on the TV...it was kind of funny how we both thought of how when we take family pictures now...Dan is going to be surrounded by 5 girls. I think the funnier part of the whole thing is how Dan never thought he'd have this many girls....or even kids. Now we can't even imagine what life would be like without our 3...well almost 4 girls!