Aubree turns 6!

Our beautiful Aubree Olivia who was born on November 14, 2003 has now fulfilled her personal goal of reaching the age of 6, which apparently is the official "I'm not a little kid, I'm 6" age.

Any question as to why our blog is called Lizards & Vacuums is now answered.
(at least the lizard part)

Aubree asked for a "real live" lizard for her birthday. The "real live" part is because she has about 17 non-real lizards and a clarification needed to be made.

For those squeemish about things such as reptiles, maybe scroll quickly through the next 2 pictures.

We'd like to welcome Ally to the family.

Speaking of lizards, well sort of lizards, Aubree wanted a Dinosaur cake for her birthday.

Not as common a cake choice as one may think.

We did find one after several disappointing visits to other bakeries.

The girl taking our order asked Aubree if she wanted the cake to be more "girly", Aubree just stared at her with a vacant look while Karson consumed all 5 pieces of the tester cake in about 45 seconds.

Aubree also had a big surprise when her Grammy flew down from Utah on Friday!

Aubree chose to take her friend Bella to the Artful Potter to paint pottery for her birthday.

Then she had 2 other friends come over to the house to have cake and ice cream.

She got tons of gifts, and especially loved the Wall-e from Grandma Mary and the Cupcake Baker from Grammy Coral.

Thanks to all those that contributed to the growing mound of toys in Aubree's room!

Thanks to Grammy for coming down to spend Aubree's and my birthday with us!

Halloween

We began the festivities with the annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

It is sad to say though that I have looked at some of my other friend's blogs and the Pumpkin Patches that they visit are actual farms with pumpkins growing, thus "Pumpkin Patch".

Ours is set up in the K-Mart parking lot.

And lucky us, we drive by it EVERY time we go to and from home and EVERY time the kids say to Ryan and I "Look it's open, when are we going?"

This is certainly not why we waited until 3 pm on Halloween Day to take them though. (ha ha)

Lucky for me, the kids are big enough to go on every ride by themselves!

It did look fun though if you like going around in little circles while going around in a bigger circle.


Nothing says Autumn like a big palm tree.

The kids got to pick their own pumpkins to carve.

We then got home and put on the costumes.

Aubree had pronounced her chose of costume about 2 months ago.

A "red dragon with wings and horns and a tail"

God Bless Ebay.

Karson on the other hand said he didn't want to dress up this year, that he "wasn't really into kid stuff". Yeah, we know. So I found something super easy, a Pumpkin. But I told him this is his last year as something cute and edible. (you may remember last year he was a candy corn) He said this is his last year trick or treating and he will be staying home to "be in charge of handing out candy." You really couldn't find a better person for the job.

I never dress up, but this year I was a dead mom.

I know, clever. You can use it next year.

Ryan really went out of his comfort zone of his usual baseball player, and was a hockey player. This crazy guy, always trying new things.

Aubree's pumpkin that she did no work on herself whatsoever, but she's proud anyway.

Karson did draw on his face and I carved it.

More props to model with....

Our Group of Friends off to trick or treat!