Happy Owl-oween!!

I thought that this would be my last year of dressing Troy up as something "cute" for Halloween before he demands some action-figure superhero (not so cute) costume.  It appears that I was wrong (again).  Troy was very "owly" about wearing the adorable owl costume I had bought.  He even wore his Monster costume from last year (which was very snug) to a Halloween playdate party...ugh!  So, on the eve of Halloween I was not sure how things were going to go.  However I never expected him to get sick!!  After waking up from his afternoon nap I could tell that he wasn't himself (very mellow and not running, loudly, amuck) so I thought that trick-or-treating would be off the agenda.  However, as kids starting coming to the door...he perked up and decided he wanted to go trick or treating...immediately!!!  I managed to wrangle the owl hat on him (over his hoodie) and hoped that the owl treat bag would make up for the lack of the rest of his costume...and off we went.  Troy was a pro...he would walk up to every door and knock (while Mommy rang the doorbell) and proudly hold out his owl treat bag.  After circling the entire block I had to convince Troy that we should go in (besides, he could barely carry his full candy loot).  He agreed, after going to a few more houses, and then it was time to check out his score.  He found that Smarties were a favorite because not only were they yummy treats but you can use the boxes as building blocks.  However...those smarties came back (literally) to haunt us when he was ready for bed...as they all came back up...all over the bedsheets!!  Since then, Troy has been recovering from a nasty cold - but getting less owl-y by the day :)

Ready for action!

Here is how the REST of the costume looks

Can we get going already Mommy?

More pictures??  Let's get candy!

C'mon...this way!!

Lil' Hootie and his lootie

Look at all this candy!

"smart" building

Gearing up for Halloween

The pumpkins are carved, the decorations are hung and the candy has been bought (and carefully hidden to be saved from consumption) so the Bakkers are ready for Halloween!!  Okay...so Troy is not loving his costume as much as he did last year - but there is hope that he will concede on Halloween eve (fingers crossed!!)

Jude and Auntie C joined us to carve pumpkins

Cleaning out the pumpkins

Troy was happy to just watch (and eat marshmallows)

Time to "test out" the pumpkins in the dark

The monsters are back in the windows!

Spooky fun

Ready for trick-or-treaters!!

Trekking in Taber

It was a warm (and pleasantly NOT windy) day in Taber - so it was perfect for a trek through the park in the river bottom.

Are you sure you know where you're going Gramma??

I think it's this way, Papa.

My rattlesnake stick

Let's go to the playground Papa!

Hmmm...where is it??

Digging in the sandbox

What a great "tree fort"

In Training

How is potty training going you ask?  Welllll....we have the potty, we have the special "potty-time only" books, we have the Thomas the Train pull-up diapers, we have the cute undies...but we have yet to have success.  However, we continue to have hope :)

Reading in the buff

Choosing undies

I think I like the big potty better

Hey, I think something might be happening?!

Nope...false alarm

Take me Outside

Troy loves to be outside - especially with Daddy.

Hey Daddy...the leaves are turning yellow!

Hey, the sun is bright!

Daddy's giving me a lift

Hangin' with Daddy

I'm the king of the castle (you're the dirty rascal)!!

Off-roading

Wheeeeee

Yes...I still refuse to wear shoes and socks on my walks :)

Head Start

Troy was "using his head" at the playground...literally...to break a fall from the climbing wall.  The gravel proved to be less than soft for a landing - but it hasn't stopped him from continuing to play on the equipment (even in his own alternative ways!).

The scene of the "crime"

Ready, set, GO.....

Yes...this IS how Troy plays on it

Gravel-ly forehead

Smiley and Scratchy

Snow Day in September

Yes...it snowed...in September.  And while all other Calgarians were cursing the unseasonal weather...Troy was EXCITED!  He couldn't wait to go play in the snow.  Thankfully his 'muddy buddy' still fit (sort of) and it was warm enough for him to wear his rain boots.  If nothing else, it served as a good reminder that we need to get shopping for some winter gear :)

Let's GO Mommy!!!

Making footprints in the snow (along everyone's lawn on the way to the playground!)

This snowman needs some work

Look...the snow slid down the slide!

Mommy, why aren't you helping me with the snowman?

The finishing touches

Time for a swing

Snow ROCKS!