A Spooking We Will Go

It's that time of year again - the tags have been cut off the costumes and it's time to start showing them off!

Today we went to a party sponsored by the town, at the Lake Park, just around the corner from us. They ahd all sorts of kids games - it was just for those 10 and under - like ring toss, a cake walk, etc, and the kids could play as much as they wanted. It was so much fun - Toby really had a blast! After the party we took a walk around the lake - there is a huge bridge that spans the middle of the lake.

The fountain in the lake

Toby had his face painted

She may be a darling peacock but she's really not thrilled with the idea of a costume, lol. But darnit, she's cute and will wear it!

My little bumblebee!

Tonight Curtis grilled stuffed pork chops for dinner - yum! They were stuffed with provalone cheese, procuttio (sorry I know I misspelled that one), and pepperoni. YUM!

When we got home, this butterfly landed on my flowers! I had my camera on my shoulder already - how convenient! He was so pretty!

Tomorrow we have plans for Boo at the Zoo, I've heard great things about it so I hope we have a great time. It sounds like the weather is going to cooperate, and that's half the battle!

More Halloween pics to come!

Conversations with Toby

I made an apple pie this weekend, thanks to the great apples from Uncle Roger and Aunt Joyce's orchard! It was soooooooo good too!
This was all Toby. He decided he wanted to wear his baseball hat, and this was how he was wearing it!
I let Luci wear Toby's cowboy hat yesterday and she left it on for probably 20 minutes! She was so cute crawling around the room in this hat!

Toby's language skills are really flourishing! He says some of the funniest things...and repeats everything we say.

He's been very into praying before meals lately. Some of the best prayers have included "Thanks God for the pickles" and "Thank you for the pumpkin patch" (that's been in the prayers every meal since Saturday morning).

He loves to help let the dog outside. This morning he was engrossed with something else when I went to the back door to let the dog out. I merely said "Toby" to catch his attention and see if he wanted to help. He looked up, then jumped to his feet and yelled, "Oh! Oh! Oh! The dog has to pee!" Curtis and I were dying. He is too funny these days.

This morning he came in to wake me up and his first words were, "Grandma's house!" I asked if he wanted to go to Grandma's house and he nodded his head emphatically with a giant smile. Now, I don't know which Grandma he was referring to (and maybe it was both, he certainly had a great time both places), but our trip to Ohio definitely made a positive impression on him! I just wish we could pack up and go visiting today.

He is also so excited for Christmas. Yesterday we received a Fisher Price toy catalogue in the mail and after dinner I handed it to Toby to keep him busy for a bit. He cozied up on the couch and went through it page by page, studying the toys carefully. After a bit, he came running up to me and pointed out a racetrack toy that he apparently really wants. It was so cute! He's attached to the "toy magazine" (as he calls it) still this morning.

Luci is teething (again). She's been up twice this week needing motrin. And she's being quite the drama queen this morning, which is a sure sign she's feeling a little off.

It is a cool crisp morning here - it was 65 in the house when we woke up, so we are all cozied up in sweats this morning. It's supposed to get up in the low 70's today so it will be really pretty later. Have a wonderful Fall day!

In search of the Great Pumpkin...

A trip to the pumkin patch! There's nothing Toby loves more than a bunch of pumpkins, and he must have picked up on some subtle conversations between Curtis and I (we were trying to decide when to go, but not let little Big Ears in on it). Well last night as I tucked him into bed, Toby asked me if we were going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow! I was floored as I thought we were keeping it on the down low. But yes, the plans were to head to the pumpkin patch today!

It rained last night so it was chilly and cool, but there wasn't much of a crowd!

Here's Luci showing off her new trick - pointing! She started this yesterday and now points to everything! It's so cute!



Toby trying to pick up a pumpkin

Luci just wanted to play with the dirt, but we did get one picture!


Brotherly love...

Our pumpkins. The biggun is a 22 pounder! It's bigger than Luci!

Toby had a great time running through the field and it must have worn him out as he is conked for nap AGAIN! That's every day this week! Luci is out too...and at the same time!

We had an inch of rain last night, so things are very wet today. Curtis is busy with a lot of work this weekend, and I'm hoping he can get into the attic and pull down my Christmas decor. It's time to start thinking Christmas pics!

10 Months

Oh dear, she's hit the double digits. I am going to be a mess on her birthday, I can already tell you that!

Here's her birthday picture~

We had spaghetti earlier this week...a baby's paradise...Today she found my boppy pillow and had a grand time lounging on it! She was having a blast! She's getting so much hair...all of a sudden she's looking more little girlish, and less babyish!
And finally I have a video to share. Some random dancing (and some 90's flashbacks!) and a rather long episode of the chicken dance. Toby LOOOOOOOOOOVES the chicken dance and will use any excuse to cut a rug. LOL. Enjoy!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Dolly Dolly

I am so thrilled with this project! This is a knitted doll for DD for Christmas. It was sort of a last minute project...as in, I was bored with what I was working on, so I found a distraction for a week!
Here she is before hair (I was really nervous about the hair, so I made sure to take pics before in case I messed everything up!) And the after, with loads of hair and a hat to boot. I ended up sewing the hat on so it doesn't become lost in the alternate universe that exists under the couch.

Next up I have a pair of socks and a stuffed penguin for Toby, and a slew of other projects just getting started!

A Whrilwind Trip

Ah, home again! I think this was by far the shortest and most exhausting trip we have taken to date. We left Thursday for Ohio at 3:30 am and drove back yesterday (Sunday), getting home at 8:30pm. Curtis and I were in bed by 10 and zonked until the kids woke us up at 7 this morning. They are BOTH napping right now which tells you a lot about their state of mind as well.

I do have a few pics to share...Luci had her first wagon ride while we were in Ohio.

And Toby had a ride as well
Toby picked out a pumpkin with Grandma M and she helped him gut it and carve it! He had so much fun and couldn't wait to tell me all about it. Luci and I went shopping with Grandma C and had a blast.

Saturday night we went to a wedding. Toby had a blast - he couldn't wait to get out on the dance floor and cut a rug. Sadly, there was no chicken dance (we'd been promising him for weeks he could dance the chicken dance at the wedding - OOPS!) So I'll have to get that one going for him this afternoon :O)

Toby was so sad to leave and this morning he's been telling me all the fun things he did at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I think the kid is seriously bummed he had to leave. Luci on the other hand is thrilled to be home! She's kind of in a "mommy" phase right now...and home means familiar, so I understand her excitement.

I have a few pics from last week too...this little lizard was hanging out on the neighbor's fence last week.

Here is the doll I knitted Luci for Christmas this year. It is even cuter in person! I can't wait to give it to her. I'm also working on a penguin for Toby.
This is a rainbow that Toby drew on his magna doodle last week - he showed me and told me it was a rainbow! My little artist at work.
Toby found this lizard today hanging out on the hose reel right outside his bedroom window. He came running to find me yelling "Frog! Frog!" I had to tell him it wasn't a frog, but lizards are just as much fun! We have been seeing tree frogs on the house lately, so it was an honest mistake, lol!

I am just plain pooped. I think it will take me a week to recover. Tonight is Curtis's late night at school, so it will be a long afternoon. I have most the kid's stuff unpacked but haven't touched mine and Curtis's. I did get Lex picked up this morning - boy was he happy to see me! He's happily napping right now too. I even got a grocery run in sans kids while Curtis studied for his test, Luci napped, and Toby watched Cars (again!).

Well, I hope you all have wonderful weeks! Today is lovely - sunny and in the mid-70's with a nice breeze cooling off the house.

Chel

October already?

Oh my, are we really into October? I'm loving fall but just can't believe how fast the time is flying by.

Yesterday we went to downtown to the Autumnfest. It was nice - craft booths, a magician, free balloons...everything we could want in a morning out! We had a nice time.

Last week I tried an impromptu photo shoot with the Drama Queen. It didn't go so well. I really should stick to trying this when Curtis is home as now that she's mobile, Luci sees no reason to sit still for pictures. We did have fun with the tutu though.

But after a bit, it was all too much for her...
We have broken out the Halloween clothes! Toby loves his "punkin" shirt...
And Luci loves her spiders!
Things are busy here. Luci is getting closer and closer to a full time walker. Right now she walks until she falls flat on her face, then crawls where ever she was going. She's having great fun learning to walk though! Curtis's school schedule is getting busier...I am SO looking forward to December! Toby is loving MOPPETS this year - they have a craft and story and he is always so excited to tell me everything he's done!

Well, naptime is almost over and I have lots of laundry waiting for my attention. Have a nice Sunday!
Michelle