Halloween Costumes

The kids had a great time celebrating Halloween today. Amelia was a darling little witch and Colin was a scary dinosaur. They put their costumes on this afternoon and loved running around in them. Colin ran around in a low crouch with his hands out and talking in his strangely high pitched dinosaur voice! We went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and the kids loved it. They got lots of candy and had a great time walking around in the dark with a flashlight (they love flashlights). We didn't get a single trick-or-treater at our door, and now I have tons of candy to dispose of somehow, although I think I'll put the Mounds to good use- they're my favorite.

Pumpkin Time

Today we carved pumpkins with the kids and had an awesome time. Colin absolutely loved digging his hands into the "pumpkin goo." He was tenacious! Amelia got to help dig the seeds out of the little pumpkin that she got on the farm on the preschool field trip, and then she designed the face for me to carve out. It was really fun!

More Photos

Here are some photos that I've been playing around with on my computer. Colin was taking a nap, so he missed out on the photo shoot.

Colin's New Galoshes

He wants them on all the time, even immediately out of the shower!

Bedtime

More Park Time

Today, while Amelia was at school, Colin, Jack, Mike, and I went to the park to play. Mike and Jack hung out on a park bench so Mike could study and Jack could nap. It was pretty crisp out there, around 50 degrees, and just beautiful!

Here's Colin running through a zillion leaves. It's tough to tell from the photo, but leaves were raining down on us from the nearby trees.

Jack was trying hard not to nap, as you can see by his eyes, which are nearly bugging out of his head!
Colin LOVES to swing!
King of the stump!
Mike studying- he actually got a lot done! It was a little more peaceful out there than it usually is at our house.

Jack NOT Laughing

Mike had Jack laughing tonight, for real, for the first time. He has done cute little sounds before, and a couple of almost laughs that sounded like hiccups, but today it was the real deal. Kind of a har har har! Unfortunately, as soon as I turned on the camera he wouldn't do it. So here's some video of Jack not laughing!

Mushrooms!?

Out of nowhere, this big mushoom patch popped up at the side of our house! It is so strange! I didn't go over there for one day, and by the next day when I saw it, there were probably 50 fully grown mushrooms and and bunch that were already starting to die! Totally amazing. I really hope they're not poisonous.

Colin wanted to "drive Lightning" over them (Mike said "no"). Lightning McQueen is his favorite racecar. He loves it and has it with him at all times.

Bonnet

While Mom was visiting, she bought Amelia this cute dress-up bonnet. Amelia loves hats of any kind, and I think she looks great!

The Batman

Colin decided to finally reveal his secret identity. I knew he was working out a lot...

When his arms are up, that means he's "flying." (No, he hasn't actually ever seen a Batman movie.)

Preschool Farm Trip

Today Amelia and I took a field trip to a little farm with her class. It was so cool! There were all sorts of animal that the kids could pet and feed, and the kids got to go on a little hayride and bring home a pumpkin. Here are the photos from our really fun little trip!

Amelia holding this mammoth bunny in a pen.

There were lots of little pens of bunnies that the kids could feed. This bunny was adorable- he was really fluffy and he looked kind of like a tiny dog!
These bunnies lost their children! They look like they've got a couple of cigars!
Here's Amelia giving hay to a long haired goat.
Amelia really liked riding this pony, named Cinnamon.
Amelia saw this rake and got straight to work raking up hay for these little goats.
Here she is sparring with these other boys! She totally took them out!

Here is one of the more exotic animals on the farm. Very exciting!

Here are all the kids racing to find a pumpkin after our hayride. Amelia was practically dragging poor little Elizabeth in the red shirt!She found two pumpkins, but we only got to keep one.

Happy and Sad

Jack has become a very happy and smiley baby. Whenever he catches your eye he's likely to flash a huge smile. This makes our middle-of-the-night-feedings a little more pleasant! This picture is a little blurry, but I'm posting it anyway because it seems like we don't get a lot of chances to hold him for a photo.


This is one of my favorite faces of Jack's! When he's unhappy, he really works that lower lip and it cracks me up. I think I must have a mean streak or something. This frown was unprovoked, I promise.

Silly Kids

The kids are always trapping themselves in between these two doors in their bedroom and laughing their heads off.

Winter Clothes

During her visit, Mom bought the kids new scarves, hats, and mittens. They had a little fashion show with them and with their new coats that we bought this week. It's hard to believe that we'll need all these accessories because it's nearly 80 degrees outside today!

Grandma and the Babies

Mom and Sarah came to visit this weekend. We've had many fun filled days of shopping! Here she is holding Jack and Evie, Sarah's new baby. They are only about one month apart.

At the Creek

Here is a photo of Mike and the kids at a creek near our house. They're wearing a crazy assortment of jammies and crocs!

Philadelphia Zoo

Today we went to the Philadelphia zoo with my friend Lori and her two girls. It sure beats the pants off the Phoenix zoo! There were tons of amazing exotic animals, and a cute little petting zoo. The kids had a blast and were totally exhausted by the end.

The kids had a lot of fun at a little play area inside the zoo. Of course, it's just like the free one in the mall.

Amelia and Lori pretending to be flowers.

Colin pretending to be a fish pretending to be a flower.

Amelia and Lucy enjoying some goat brushing.

"Mom, is that poop!?"

Colin enjoyed goat brushing too.

Colin took a break from the goat to chase this rooster, which was frowned upon by the zoo staff. Also, Colin climbing into the sheep's barn and going under the fence after the zebras was frowned upon.
Overall, a great day!

Park Time

Today we met some friends at a nearby park. It was chilly enough for sweatshirts, which was kind of nice.

This is Colin's girlfriend, Lucy. He ADORES her!

The kids liked to go in "the cage" and pretend to be sad.