What's That Smell...?

Sniff, sniff...

Do y'all smell that? 

That... icky, yucky smell...

NO? Hmmm...maybe it's nothing! Oh well... 

Happy Halloween everyone! What an exciting day we've had in the Cox household. It has been a fun family day...but this particular family day did have a little (or should I say BIG) twist...

You still don't smell it? Yes... the smell IS the twist...

Trust me... just stick around a little longer and you'll get a whiff...

Well, this morning started off with a few 'firsts...' First time for Caden to wear his new jean jacket circa 1982... joke, joke, 1988...no, no joke, joke again... 2009! They're back and for babies! 

AND the first time for Caden to use power tools... HA! JOKE, JOKE again!! No, the first time for Caden to ride in his BIG boy car seat... Thank you Louise Day and your incredible pricing via Craigslist! And thank you KK for picking it up for us!! (It is brand new!!!)

Caden got to take his first ride in his new seat all the way to Home Depot... and to HEB... and to the bank... he was traveling in style all the way there...until...

Sniff... SNIFF... do you smell it now??

On the road we caught a HUGE whiff of this...

Pew-weeeeeee... STANK-AYYYYY!!! We smelled a SKUNK!! We spotted him once, but then we lost him... but the smell lingered...

When we got home Caden had to get some zzzzz's, but when he got up we had a special Halloween activity to do courtesy of Nana. Nana and Paps sent Caden a very special card for his first Halloween. In it were 10, $1 bills for him to practice his counting (chewing). And the best part was that once he was finished counting (chewing) he got to take his dollars to the ice cream store and buy he and his mommy and daddy some ice cream... YUMMY!!

1-2-3-4-5...

6-7-8-9-10!! 10 dollars!! 

Uh-oh... It's back! How about now?? Now, can you smell it? 

That little stinker... how did he find us at home???

Afraid that we might get sprayed by our furry black and white friend, Caden and I stayed behind our new CADEN GATE (and all God's people said... AMEN!!) Caden wasn't scared though... he took the command post and kept watch!

Well, Daddy had no luck with the skunk this time either... sigh! And the smell... oh the smell! It was everywhere... so we decided it was time to hit the road again. We thought that if we could lead this skunk, who was obviously VERY intent on following us, to the car wash that it would get a MUCH deserved bath...

The car wash was LOUD... so very loud and the skunk... well he followed us alright. But he knew better than to follow us into the car wash tunnel... he stayed outside against the side of the building...

He's a crafty one that skunk!

BUT he wasn't going to ruin our Halloween Ice Cream Party...

We got our scoops and headed to the lawn across the street from the ice cream store and popped a squat! Caden LOVES ice cream... especially Amy's Mexican Vanilla... 

Mommy and Daddy enjoyed Amy's Ice Cream too... Thanks Nana!

After we finished our ice cream, we sang our FAVORITE song... I put my hands up, they're playing my song, the butterflies fly away... I'm nodding my head like yah... I'm moving my hips like yah... I put my hands up, they're playing my song, I know I'm going to be okay... yah, yah, yah... It's a Party in the U.S.A. Thank you Miley Cyrus for making this GREAT song to teach your kiddos so many fun things!! Hands Up, nodding your head, moving your hips... LOVE IT!!

After we finished our dance party we smelled it...

The skunk... HE'S HERE!! Let's go get 'em Daddy!!

I think he went this way...

There he is... GET HIM!!!

We ran, and we ran and we ran... Caden ran SO fast he took flight... way up into the trees, BUT he was gone... the little stinker got away AGAIN...

Back on the home front it was time for Caden's afternoon nap. While Caden was sleeping Justin and I came across this...

That's right... he's still here. Are we ever going to catch HIM???

Dinner time was especially fun today because we had a special bowl that our Aunt Terry sent to us. Once Caden finished his corn casserole he found a special Halloween message at the bottom...

Got Candy?? Not yet, but we're workin' on it! After dinner it was time for the MAIN event... TRICK OR TREAT! SMELL MY FEET!!! 

Caden had to get all dressed up for his very first Halloween. We headed outside to take some pics before we traveled the streets. While we were out there we smelled it...

Can you smell it?? It is REALLY strong now...

The skunk... we could tell he was close by...

We spotted him on the side of our house. Quietly we snuck up behind him...

We got 'em cornered now! He has NO where to run...

WAIT!! 

HOLD THE PHONE!!!

The skunk...

IS CADEN?!!!

SILLY CADEN!!! It's you we've been smelling ALL day??!!

It is!! It REALLY is you!!

NO, no! We aren't mad at you...

BUT you ARE a little stinker!!

Well, at least we solved the mystery before we went door to door... we needed to be able to explain the stinky smell that followed our every move...

Caden wasn't so sure about his Halloween bucket (or old box that Mommy made into a bucket for him!! Hehe!)

Being a skunk is hard work... a guy's gotta get a breather!!

On our way around the neighborhood we made a pit stop by our friend Ava's, I mean... Pooh's house! 

We did a little Trick-or-Treating with Ava and her Mommy and Daddy and then it was time to come home. It was a long day of skunk hunting Halloween fun!

To top off our adventurous day, Caden and Daddy used their excellent "hunting" skills to help Baby find her pumpkin... (another sweet gift from our Aunt Terry!)

Do you smell that??!!

Yah, I know... me either!! It's gone!! No more SMELL!! PHEW!!!

Our little skunk is safe in bed. Our candy is gone (mainly because Justin was tired of getting up in the middle of the Texas game and was giving HUGE handfuls to each lucky trick-or-treater!!) and our memories of our first Halloween are SWEET... and a little bit sour!! :) That lil stinker!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Baylor Homecoming 2009: A Picture Poem

Bright and early, up before the sun

Caden and Paps were ready for some fun!

We got to the parade and it was a little chilly, 

but Caden was all bundled up smiling so silly!

Our first HC as a family, we were ready to celebrate

A sweet family photo at the parade was a great way to commemorate 

Our dear friends from Houston Scott and Meli P

Brought their little boy Carter, what a sweet pea

Daddy caught a little football, so mini and bright blue

Caden asked Paps, "I wished it was green and gold, don't you?"

Yay, here comes the band! Clap, cheer and shout!

Even with all the noise the Cade-man never did pout.

Sweet Nana got in on all the HC parade fun

But Paps turned his head before the camera was good and done.

Another family picture, could there every be too many?

Check out all the band members and their celebratory shimmy!

Oh, look it's the whole fam posing for pic

Oops, Nana closed her eyes when the camera went click.

Brown bear, brown bear, flying way up high

It was fun to be way down low when it went walking by.

Mommy holding Caden, she and Daddy kept taking turns

Their arms were feeling more than just one or two good burns. 

The Cade-man and his Mommy what an inseparable pair

They even look like they have the very same shade of blondie, blond hair.

Uncle Josh and Aunt Emmie were there, we promise they really were

But we wished we had a better pic of our fun with them that's for sure.

Midway through the parade Caden was getting a little sleepy

But he hung in there like a champ and didn't get too weepy.

Parking it on the blanket it was a great sight to see

Daddy and me, me and Daddy, just the way it should be.

My buddy, my friend, my coach and most importantly my provider

When I look at this pic I wonder if my heart could open any wider

Family pics are here to stay so get ready for hundreds more

We display them all over the house, one through every door

Another angle to capture the festivities, to capture the fun

The parade was almost over,  it was almost time to run

Aunt Cori and Caden with some big, goofy grins

They have so much fun together that everybody wins

The Cox girls and the Cade-man, which one can smile the biggest

I think Caden wins this prize because his grins are the bestest

The Agnews and the Caden-man what a trio they will be

When Caden goes to visit his Uncle Trent and Aunt Cori

The parade was over and it was time for the game

But a game without lunch first would be super lame

In the trunk we ate our lunch and Caden had mashed potatoes

Where he fits all the food he eats is a mystery no one knows

Baylor's colors are green and gold but for HC they were just gold

Their jerseys were spiffy and new, certainly not smelly and old

Caden and Mommy at the game watching the Bears loiter

So we weren't too sad when we left after the very first quarter

Overalls are good for more than making stylish debuts

Like making sure Caden is safe and not making any sneaky moves.

Hold on tight Daddy, don't clap your hands

Or else Caden will be face first in the stands

Later in the day we went back to campus to visit all the floats

We took a few pics, walked a few steps and that was all she wrote

A quick stop by Judge Baylor, a photo-op indeed

A padded pedestal was the only thing in need

And now we're home and unpacked, the house is nice and clean

Okay so I lied, don't judge me for blogging instead of giving things a sheen

You know you love the picture of our family weekend fun

The only thing that could have made it better was if Baylor would have won!

THANKS Nana and Paps for a GREAT weekend in Waco. We appreciate all the food, clothing and shelter you provided us! Can't wait until next year!! We love y'all!