Week in Pictures

We've been busy lately.  It's been good -- even if at times, in my sleep-deprived state, it's been a bit overwhelming.  I can usually tell how eventful it's been by how many pictures I download off my camera -- and with over 500 pictures in less than a week, you can imagine it's been a bit crazy.  (And yes, written out, acknowledging that I took over 500 pictures in 5 days, does make me feel a tiny bit nuts.)  :-)
We had a town Halloween Carnival, my baby brother's Mission Farewell, a fun trip to see and ride giant horses with Greg's family, plus a final trip to the zoo with Uncle Cody before he leaves for Uruguay for two years.

This is Isaac and I with 'Grandma' Edna -- the woman I grew up next door to my entire childhood.  She was the ideal surrogate Grandma -- we made cookies and worked in the yard and she had pictures of my sisters and I up right alongside her 'actual' grandchildren in her home.  She's proud to be Great Grandma Edna to my three kids.

I love the look Isaac's giving his Great Grandpa  :-)

Chillin' with Uncle Cody

The closest we got to a posed picture of Uncle Cody with all three kids before he left -- Ellie was less than cooperative.

But she was happy to dance while making ridiculous faces for the camera.

Isaac and Mommy -- my cold sore-ridden lips are improving rapidly, but MAN, they still hurt!

Two peas in a pod . . .

Cody looking like a used car salesman, with Star, who just looks cute.

Great Grandma Betty and Isaac

Sibling picture -- me, Star, Cody, Lacy and Talina

Several pictures of my (apparently far too affectionate) family trying to either kiss, or avoid being kissed by, other members of the family.

The girls dressed up for the town Halloween Carnival.

Isaac and Aunt Andrea petting the single LARGEST horse I'd ever seen in my life.

Here's Greg, Annie and Ellie riding on the 2100 lb. Belgian draft horse (bigger than your average Clydesdale, to put it in perspective).

The girls climbed in with Isaac into his crib.  Is it just me, or does Isaac look GINORMOUS!?

Annie and Isaac -- she now finds any excuse to go and pick him up onto her lap like this.  She hasn't tried carrying him anywhere yet.

My girls dolled up in their Halloween finery.

Cody's last Hogle Zoo trip for the next two years -- here's the requisite 'Do You Measure Up?' gorilla shot.

Isaac apparently measures up quite well with an infant gorilla.

My favorite picture from the zoo -- Ellie (making a crazy face), Cody, Annie and Talina (who took a 'long lunch' from her nearby work) on the bronze tigers.

Uncle Cody and Annie on the carousel