Monster Needs A Christmas Tree...and a Puppy!

If you follow me on instagram, you have already figured out that Cam had an early Christmas present just before we left for Florida.  You see, this little boy is in love with animals.  Especially dogs.  Everytime we see one he yells, "dooooooogggggssss," while simultaneously pointing and waving hello.  

We haven't had the best of luck with our sweet furry friends lately.  Since our last tragic pet experience in June, we have been isolated from the pet world (besides our current waning population of goldfish).  For almost two months, I have been reading, researching and trying to find the best dog for our family in hopes of finding one just in time for Christmas.  Well, our little fur ball came a little earlier than expected----try the week before Halloween.  But not to worry, we put up our Christmas tree just in the nick of time:)

After all that reading and research, everything pointed me toward a Golden Retriever to be the best family dog.  Only one problem...they shed like it's going out of business and the Mr. is allergic to dogs.  I was devastated to stay the least, but still had a gut feeling in one way or another, this was the breed for us.  I also favored the Golden because of their popularity in the therapy world (I would love to get certified in pet therapy).  There I go with my wild dreams and crazy ideas...

One thing that was brought to my memory from this experience?  Even in our smallest cares and concerns, the good Lord provides.  It turns out, as I was browsing Facebook with a friend. we found a litter of Golden Doodle puppies right in our area!  We had played around with the idea of a Golden Doodle, due to their Golden Retriever look without the shedding (and they're hypoallergenic).  I just had to convince the Mr. that the name wasn't so bad (he hated the doodle part).  Such a man!  Cam and I decided to visit these puppies two days before we were supposed to leave for Florida to pick her out and make a deposit.  In the end, in true Cassidy fashion, we couldn't leave without her...Meet Miss Honor Adams:)

All of this took place before Halloween, so the only logical thing to do in order to explain to Cam the early Christmas shenanigans was via book.  Monster Needs a Christmas Tree explained everything...I think:)  Maybe by Christmas this little girl will be potty trained?  The perfect gift for mommy!

Weekend Tales: Frozen in Flordia

This time change, though the more favorable of the two, is giving me a run for my money!  I feel like I should be in bed at 7pm every night...the early darkness has me very confused.  Especially after such a action packed week in Flordia.  Shouldn't they offer some kind of special day off from work for that?  Like a special holiday.  Anybody out there hearing me?

Anyway.  I can't believe our week with the Mr. has already come and gone.  I really let myself get spoiled to his corny jokes and giant bear hugs.  I can rest easy in knowing that we definitely soaked in every moment we got to spend with him this week.  And also in just 3 more weeks until we will be jet setting back to North Dakota to spend Thanksgiving with him.  I think we can make it until then...

If you missed it (and actually care) I already shared Halloween here.  Again, it was everything I had hoped it would be leaving me even more excited for how much Cam will love it by next year.  What to be next...what to be next...;)

Would you believe me if I told you that the outdoor wedding we got to be a part of this weekend in Flordia was basically a frozen tundra with bone chilling winds?  Well, don't stop believing because I have never been so cold in all of my life!  Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little...but it was cold, people!  

Rehearsal, Halloween 

Not to worry, the whole thing was beautiful, especially the bride and groom.  And really...how can you ruin an outdoor fall wedding?  Holiday weddings are my favorite.  As for Cam?  He would tell you that he especially loved the bright lights and boogie.  We literally had to drag him off the dance floor screaming.  Is this my kid?  

He wasn't exactly the best ring bearer.  He looked adorable, but had a major toddler melt down when it was our turn to walk down the isle.  Turns out...the swinging game isn't the best thing to do on the way to a wedding.  I know, who knew!?  When we sat him down to head down the isle, he remembered our earlier little game of swing, and casually reached up and grabbed our hands to walk down the isle (leaving me very excited as this is NOT characteristic of him) then to my terror and amusement, I heard him shout, "2, 2, WHEEEEEE...."  Pause.

Cam thought:  I have their hands, I counted, WAIT a minute, they're not swinging me!  I refuse! He then turns to me reaching up and screaming in rage and fury.  Ring bearer FAIL.  Sorry, Jacob and Savannah!  At least he was cute?

Aren't they adorable?:)

I'm pretty sure I have a million funny stories I could share about this week, but for the sake of my sleep, sanity, and the Hallmark Christmas Movie Marathon...I will start wrapping it up.  We laughed until we cried, scramble shopped for things we could never find (only to end up buying another stuffed animal), let Cam watch Double Double Toil and Trouble one too many times, and got to be a part of something very special.  I always feel good when I can look back at an experience and feel certain wonderful memories were made.  God is good, God is GREAT:)  Have a great week, everyone!

Happy Halloween! Let The Wild Rumpus Start.

Goodbye October, hello November!  It is a bittersweet time, as Halloween is over and we make our way toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. This Halloween was a little different from any other we have ever had before...because, we're kind of in Flordia.    

We are in Flordia for our friends/family wedding, taking place today!  From the texts, calls, and Facebook pictures back at home...it is clearly becoming a winter wonderland for the first time this season.  I am crossing my fingers that the snow doesn't go anywhere, so we can enjoy it when we get home late tomorrow night!;)

Meanwhile, it's pretty chilly here in Flordia too!  I was very concerned that Cam might have a heat stroke in his fuzzy wild thing costume (and the Mr. and I too in our sweatshirts!)  Speaking of our sweatshirts, can I just say how hard it was to come up with something to match Cam's costume this year?  Geez!  I have studied on this since I decided Cam would be Max, and it has just about drove me crazy!  A couple of weeks ago, I had this vision of sweatshirts with monster heads from the story. 

Yesterday, we were running frantic to wrap up all the last minute things we needed for the wedding.  During all of the madness, we ran into Michaels, grabbed some felt, yarn, scissors, a hot glue gun, and some furry felt for horns.  I ended up cutting out all of the pieces for the monster faces in the car on the way to the wedding rehearsal.  After  the rehearsal, we returned to the couples home for the rehearsal dinner and somewhere between dinner and the rehearsal I threw these costumes together (that would be why the uneven yarn hair is haunting me in the pictures).  But overall I must say, making your own Halloween costume is about the only way to go (especially when it is very simple, finally comes together, and you haven't spent your life savings for a costume!)

JUST FYI...Things I would do better next time?  I would definitely make sure the Mr's hoodie was big enough, the teeth and face are aligned, and that the red wild things hair was an equal length...

And trick or treating?  Much to my excitement, the bride and groom happened to live in an awesome neighborhood for trick or treating!  So after the rehearsal dinner, we headed out.  Cam was a pro by the second door.  Once he realized that people were walking out with a big bowl of things to eat, he would walk right up to the door (silent I might add) and stick his Max claws into their bowl for something else to add to drop in his pumpkin bucket.  Then turn around, reach up to be carried, and we would march the wild rumpus to the next door in the neighborhood:)  Wouldn't you know after our last trick or treat, he began to show off the perfect Max roar?  In true toddler fashion.  Good grief.  I could eat him up, I love him so!

After the costumes come off and Halloween is all said and done, I can't help but start dreaming of what we may be next year...  (Lord willing!)  So thankful to all be together.

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween with pumpkin buckets full of your favorite candy!

Now let's go get these two sweet things hitched:)