A family chore

Leaf clean up is a bit of a chore at our house but we try to make it fun and also
a family event

Griffin loves to run through the piles

wheelbarrow ride

Bill is in charge of the burning

the kids clapping for daddy and the fire

me hauling leaves

the yard is covered again but the trees are empty so one more round of cleanup and we will be done!

Maine Trip Part 2 Book Club and Library Tour

While in Maine I went to my sister's book club with her- it was Saturday morning at the Pittsfield Library.  Everyone brought a breakfast dish to share and we discussed The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. 

Before we started our discussion we were given a tour of the library (one of the club members is the librarian).  The dome mural was awesome- painted by a Maine humorist Tim Sample.

cool bench made from card catalogue

cozy area

kids area

We had a great discussion about the book and other books and various other topics.

I joked that I might have to join the next meeting via Skype- but I did enjoy the group and I wish they were closer.  I plan to read the next book that they are reading called The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. 

Trip to Maine part 1

So I finally was able to snuggle my nephew Henry!  He is an active little man so I had to catch him first and he is very attached to his momma so I was not his favorite.

He is a lot like Griffin in a lot of ways, just 1 year younger.

precious

I also found some time to snuggle Ava bean!

silly faces

Henry likes his picture taken

I had some drama getting to Maine- delayed flight, broken CPU -which meant a cold plane in Greensboro, turbulence landing in New York which resulted in me getting sick on the plane and then an almost lost suitcase

but I made it and it was worth some drama, I had an awesome visit with my sister and her family and friends and I have more pics and stories to share

Home Again

I am home, well actually I have been since Monday night.  I went to Maine for a long weekend to visit my sister and her family.  It was so GOOD.  We had a few adventures and all kinds of fun so I have lots of pictures to share I just need time to catch up and get organized.  It is so good to be home snuggling my little ones and being with my hubby.  We are getting ready for Thanksgiving and lots of December plans.  I will post pictures and trip details soon.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago after church we took some pictures outside

here are a few favorites

now for a few duds...

do you have a favorite?

griffin and puzzles

Pumpkin Project

We started by cutting pumpkin shapes out of cardboard

then I let the kids paint them

on a another day after the paint was dry we used our craft supplies to decorate

yes still in pjs

Griffin's pumpkin- I guided him a bit by putting glue in certain spots

Sydney's pumpkin

we had fun

the party continues

Saturday was our friend Max's birthday party at the gymnastics place
Sydney and I had a blast (Bill stayed home with Griffin because he was running a fever and has croup)


Bill and I met Max's parents in our childbirth class and when we went to the hospital to have Sydney Bill ran into Max's dad in the hallway.  We put their little bassinets side by side on November 12th 5 years ago- Max was 1 day old and Sydney had just been born- too bad we did not take a picture.  This one will have to do- Nicole and I got together for a walk with the babies
Sydney and Max together at just a few weeks old

Sydney and Max now

 Max's super cool cake

Slumber Party

Sydney had her friend Addyson over for a slumber party to celebrate her birthday. 

Addyson and Sydney went to the same daycare up until about a year ago.  They see each other at the pool and when I asked Syd who she wanted to spend the night she picked Addyson.

Pizza party

Kettle corn while watching Tinker Bell

sharing a candy treat

The girls stayed up until 10 and then Bill and I were exhausted so I tucked them in bed. 

We heard some giggling til about 10:20 then they were out until 6:30.

We had fun!

Five Years Ago

November 12, 2006 was the day we became parents to Sydney Nicole.  It was truly one of the most precious days of our lives.  I can remember trembling with excitement and to be honest a little fear (not about being a mom but about the pain of child birth).  We were so excited to have her in our arms.  She was so perfect and very alert right after she arrived. 

We are continuously overwhelmed by the joy of being parents and Sydney is such a gift.

Happy Birthday baby girl. 

Finally Fits

Grammie La la bought this outfit for Griffin a long time ago, maybe July or even earlier, last winter?  Anyway it finally fits him and it is finally cooler here.  It is an 18 month outfit but he is small so it works.  So comfy and soft, thanks Grammie. 

Fun and Learning

I am always looking for ways to make learning fun so I made this worksheet for Sydney using some of my fall stamps and I had her match the number of items to the correct number.  It was easy for her so I guess we need to work on higher numbers and maybe some addition. 

How do you make learning fun?

ARGGH

Our computer is sick again- remember it just crashed and I bought a new hard drive, well now it is acting crazy and shutting itself down in the middle of a task.  So I am dropping it off at the "computer doctor".  I may be missing for a short time depending on what needs fixed.

Inspiration

Dwell on this:

I will stop looking back with regrets

or looking forward with fear

and give the best I have today

Halloween

Several people that work in my office dressed up for Halloween.  We figure it is a pediatric office and if kids are sick on Halloween they should at least have some fun at the doctor's office.  We never managed to get a picture with everyone but a few of snapped a few pictures. 
It was fun for all the kids, and us adults.

Speaking of kids- here are Sydney and Griffin or should I say Snow White and my little Giraffe.

We went to a trunk or treat at our friends church and went on a hayride-cold but fun.

the kids enjoyed saying "trick or treat"

Griffin was not shy or afraid of any of the customes or decorations

some of the trunks were decorated so cool- Sydney enjoyed fishing

The kids had trunk or treat at daycare and also at the nursing home affiliated with the daycare and then had parties.  They both received so much candy!