Happy late Halloween

The Friday before Halloween, Tyler's work hosted a treat-or-treat party for the employee's families.  I didn't take any pictures that day.
That night Tyler and I hosted a Halloween party with his sister Candice and her boyfriend Kyle.  We had good food, a jello eating contest, donut eating contest, and a photo booth.
Saturday night we had our ward Halloween party.  I won 3rd place for best costume (I never win anything) and Danica had lots of fun playing with the million balloons.
Tyler was Matt Foley, an SNL character, I was Giselle from the movie Enchanted (by the way... that dress took FOREVER to make... Thursday night I was up until 6am finishing those ruffles), and Danica was a princess too.  She was too cute!

Here are the pics....

Kyle and Candice

It was really close between Kyle and Tyler

Kyle probably would have won, 

but he had a heckler and had a hard time swallowing after that

so Tyler won (again)

The girls taking their time during the contest

 At our Ward Halloween Party

Hermione, Giselle, Elastigirl
My Visiting Teaching buddies

Help please!

last Christmas

We're planning on taking an 11 hour trip soon and I'm so worried about how it will be with a 15 month old!
We took a 3 1/2 hour trip a little bit ago and she basically cried the whole time.  I had to sit in the back seat with her, but I get car sick when I do that.

Do you have any suggestions to make the trip easier.... anything ....
something you've heard of or done yourself??

update

No Halloween pictures yet... I'm waiting for those pictures still (from someone else's camera)

In the meantime, I thought I should update on Danica... I haven't done that in a while and she's 15 months now...I can't believe how time flies.


Before I get into the update, I've got to tell you about a great find I got at DI.  I wanted to get Danica some books and find some sort of stand for a project I'm working on (more on that later).
I came across this book...

pic found here

I was way excited to see that... especially for the $4 price tag!!!!

I definitely recommend this book

Anyway... updating...

I realize not everyone may be interested in reading about Danica's updates, so we'll do pictures first, cause those are more fun.

Wearing the wig I wore for Halloween

Eating pasta

 She definitely needed a bath after that!

She's been doing that with her tongue a lot lately

Just being her cute, happy self

 Well, Danica is 15 months old now and she's as happy as can be... now that she's not teething that is.

Her stats at her 15 month appointment were:

weight: 20.1 lbs - 11.53%

head: 17.5 cm - 13.64%

height: 31 3/6" - 74.49 %

Recently she's been:

•walking backwards •saying "mo, mo, mo, mo" -as more... when she wants more food •sleeping from 7pm to 8 or 9am and taking a 1-2 hour nap during the day •getting hurt a lot... I'd like to think that it's because she's had a growth spurt and her balance is all off and that's also why she keeps running into our counter •shaking her head yes or no in response •properly putting on her puppet and finger puppets •saying cheese and smiling when we take her picture •turning on and off the TV •saying "yeah."....She'll get all excited like she's thinking "finally!yes!I thought she'd never ask!" and she'll run over to go do that thing. •holding our hand... I LOVE it

Dani loves:

•singing and dancing... it's so fun to dance with her and we do it everyday... plus, she doesn't think mom's dance moves are strange...yet! •spinning... haha, I started spinning one day while dancing and she followed suit and wouldn't stop. she's a spinning monster now... she'll get so dizzy and falls down everytime •baths... well, playing in the bathtub... and she'll cry if you don't let her turn into a prune •getting scared •shoes (still) •peek-a-boo •sitting on the couch or in a chair next to mom or dad... I'm sure she feels so big! •going for walks... inside and outside the stroller •opening and closing doors •getting into my facewash drawer •...getting into anything, really, that is not a toy •playing the piano •taking her socks and shoes off •stuffed animals and her baby doll ---hugs and kisses all around •other kids •helping us take in the trash cans •unlocking our front door or car door with the key (she thinks she's actually doing it. I tell her "good job" and she gets a huge grin every time) •pulling the throw pillows off the couch •pointing at objects saying "da?"... I think she's saying "that?" and wants me to tell her what "that" is •telling me stories that are apparently funny because amidst her baby gibberish she'll giggle... so cute •pushing the carts at the Laundromat •getting into my purse and especially pulling everything out of my wallet •sitting on mom or dad's lap while they're trying to work on something •pulling things out of the fridge the millisecond it's open... especially the ranch, maple syrup, or hot sauce •dogs •giving hugs and kisses

She enhales:

•B, bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S •cheese puffs •cheese (from our cheese ball) and crackers

Danica hates:

•getting her diaper changed, mostly when she's tired... she'll cry and cry - sorry neighbors! •the mailman... I think it's his funny hat •teething.... who wouldn't though

She says:

•hi •dad •more •bottle •bath •yeah •cheese

... she used to say mom, but doesn't anymore... what's up with that?

-Animal sounds: •dog •snake •cow •cat •horse

-ASL: •food •more •please •milk

-other words I think she's said, but not quite sure: •cracker •diaper •yes •water

Danica gets lots of compliments on her:

•walking skills •beautiful eyes/eyelashes •sociability

I can't believe how much Danica has learned and how much she learns each day.  She understands just about anything... she'll retrieve things, point to what we ask, follow commands, and waves hi and bye