Halloween

October 31st was a very good day here! Pumpkin carving, a birthday party for Makayla, naps for most, a wonderful turkey dinner, and lots of trick or treating for all! It is very fun as they all get older doing things for the holidays.

PJ was not into pumpkin carving. He frequently said "No Thank You" to getting out the "pumpkin guts".

Makayla was Silvermist from the new Tinkerbell movie.

Could there be a cuter monkey? We were fortunate to have a friend with this costume! How adoreable!!!

PJ would only hold still for a very quick cheese.

Maggie stops for a quick picture.

Off in the wagon for the babes for trick or treating!

PJ did not last long in the wagon, he had to keep up with the girls.

I am afraid tomorrow night when PJ sees someones front light on he will insist on going up to the door for treats! He was obsessed with having to ring the doorbells, even if the people were on the front step he still had to ring the doorbell!

It got alittle chilly towards the end so Brie and I headed home, wrapped her in a blanket and waited for everyone to get home.




A good time was had by all! Even better the day was finished and all were in bed by 8:30, not bad mom and dad!

Sundays

We got up Sunday with the intention to go to church and then to the zoo for Trick or Treat at the zoo. After church we headed for the zoo and the parking/traffic was absolutley crazy, as bad as college world series parking! Needless to say we tried to park, mind you it was 11:10 and this started at 10. The parking guy said yea and we are out of candy already, bigger crowd than expected. The entrance was filled with lines to get in, a good 20 minute wait there. I said to Pete there is no way I am fighting all these people, so I told the kiddos we were not going to the zoo, and then the tears started. PJ even had tears though he had no idea why, he just knew his sisters were sad so he was sad also. To try to mend the wounds I promised any bag of candy they choose from the store and a picnic. I drove them to through Burger King and we went to discover the trains that the kids have only seen from the road. The first picture is of an overlook from the train area.

This train is huge!! Pretty impressive, too big that I do not think PJ really thought it was a train.

Close up of Kayla, it is only a matter of time before this look changes. She has 4 loose teeth right now.

Maggie makes me giggle!

I am not sitting here long so snap quick mom!

Does this baby ever shut her mouth?the answer..... no, poor girl!

Soccer

Finally took the time to capture a team and individual photos of our soccer player. Funny thought as I was headed out the door I grabbed the camera, it said 66 photos(yikes is that going to be enough?) Keep in mind the team only has 7 players :~) Are we spoiled or what with these digital days. Of course 66 was enough. The girls did a good job of smiling and only 4 were taken.

Brie

This baby amazes me. She is trying hard to not stay a baby long! We are still army crawling, but she can make it from the toys in the living room to an open basement door in 9 seconds!She has become very good at it. She has an eagles eye and can spot the smalllest of things on the floor and again gets to them very quickly. She tries to pull up her knees but decides to just get where she needs to fast. Sleeping through the night offically which it nice for mommy! Because of lack of weight gain we started to do more bottles and now we are nearly weaned from breastfeeding. It is bittersweet, I love our time together and the fact that it is our last baby but, now others can help feed her and get some snuggle time with her as well. PJ was very challenging as far as table foods, Brie could not be more opposite! She is on all table food and basically refuses baby food! Only 2 teeth but she can eat almost anything! Her vocabulary has increased as well, mom, dad, uhoh, waves bye bye and waves hi in a different way. It is hard to remember she is only 8 months. To me she acts more like a one year old! At any rate wanted to catch you up on her as opposed to waiting till the nine month post, who knows what I will be doing then and I had a minute now. So there you go, now you are up to speed on Brie.

Sporting our Halloween dress, fancy shoes and cute hair bow from granny, and of course the two teeth. She is at such a fun age, I wish we could freeze them right now.

Dates

Makayla had a playdate and the girls had matching everything while playing dress up and requested a photo. How could I refuse, what fun the girls had. They played all day and when it was time to go it was still too early for them. They played so nicely together all day that I asked Pete about weekly playdates. Makayla was occupied all day long. The girls even let Maggie and PJ play with them at times. Her little friend has 3 younger siblings as well so they have alittle in common.

Then the parents had a date!!! Thanks to a wonderful co worker of Pete's who watch the crew. She even requested to come over early so she could have time to play with them. We were willing to have them in bed but she insisted. It was so great to get out, dinner(just us, no kids). It was lovely to have uninterrupted conversation. We then went to a local "bar" and played ski ball and other games. It is amazing how much that helps ones stress level. We had a fantastic evening, hopefully we will have another soon. It has been 2 years since our last offical date, much to long.

Time

Where has the time gone? I have not posted in 3 weeks! I tell you 4 moving little people keeps a person busy. Our house has done a 360 since Brie can move. Things are not getting done, counters are piling up and bedtimes seem to be later and later for the parents. I will let you know that each of the kiddos sings independently and dances often, I tell you this because someone told me singing kids means happy kids! So I guess they are happy, as are we. It is hard to make time to enjoy each of them however we are doing just that. The house shows that we are taking a time out from it, but you know what, my baby is already 8 months old and each of them needs us to hang out with them right now. House I am sorry, but for now forgive me as I am loving on my babies.

PJ is 2

So my little man turned 2 today! He had a John Deere little party with us and so enjoyed the tractors. I think Pete lit the candles no less than 10 times, he had no desire is waiting for us to sing Happy Birthday, he just kept blowing them out. We actually had birthday weekend and opened gifts Saturday so grandma could witness and so he could have a couple days to play with the new toys. Thanks to all for his birthday wishes and for sending gifts.

PJ was quite careful and particular opening his gifts and required NO help from his sisters!

The Thomas was a huge hit! The yellow car sings the theme song from the show, dear lord is it permanently stuck in my mind. I have no doubt he will have happy Thomas dreams tonight with the music playing right along with the dream. Anyway again thank you to everyone he had a great birthday!

Brie 8 months

Call me a broken record as I say the same thing each month but I cannot believe my baby is 8 months! So much has changed this last month! We are up to TWO teeth, mastered sitting, is definately crawling, sleeping through the night, sitting at the table at EVERY meal, (she will not be left out when food is involved), tolerates baby food but much prefers table food! PJ is her favorite at the table as he is always trying to let her try all of his food! She is still nursing except 2 bottles a day at daycare and has become much more vocal. She is still the happy little baby we all love. She is most friendly in church with anyone who is not paying attention to her. Lots of scrunchy faces and big smiles and grunts just trying to get their attention and create a smile. Now if someone is being nice and sweet to her and she does not know them it is hard to get her to smile. So for Brie the ignoring approach is best if you want her attention. She is still quite attatched to her mama but as long as I am out of sight she does well. As for size she is petite, I do not have updated stats as we do not have a check up till 9 months, but she is the smallest of the babes easily. She is actually following the size marked on the clothes, I haven't ever had that with one of my babes. It makes the clothes last longer. We just love her to pieces.

more soccer

Grandma came to town to watch a soccer game and play for the day. We headed to Panera for lunch and then to the house for an afternoon filled with playing games! All sorts, lots of new ones thanks to granny for Kayla's birthday. It was lovely to relax and enjoy her company. The kids just love seeing family and as always time just goes to fast. We all gave her big hugs as she left and thanked her for a special day!

early Halloween

One of the kiddos favorite Auntie's sent an early Halloween gift. An adoreable little mummy and his pumpkin! They were all tickled opening their packages. PJ loves the mummy so much he had to dance with him! He continues to drag this poor little mummy around, I try to insist that he leave it alone as I too think it is pretty cute and I do not want him ruined. So a big THANKS Auntie Coke!

and we're crawling

Sept. 20th Brie took the baby thing to a whole new level. She is offically crawling! ANYWHERE she wants to go. I cannot believe it as she had just learned to be a good sitter only the week before! She is by far crawling earlier than any of my other babies! I think we are in trouble. She has a strong fasination with electrical cords already, and EVERYTHING goes in her mouth, good or bad, food or not!