Riley-isms

Riley's foot/leg "fell asleep" for the first time today.  While eating lunch she said, "MOMMY, MOMMY!!!!  My feet are sparkling!!!"  She didn't like it, but it got much better after she walked around and got her blood flowing again.

At lunch on Sunday she told us "God heals all our boo-boos."  LOVE IT.

Tailgating

Oh how we love tailgating!!!  The kids usually end up in the back of the Denali playing.  This works so great for us!  It's a little play area that is partially shielded from the wind and keeps the kids somewhat contained.  As you can see, we always get suckered into playing in there too! :)

We finally managed to get a family pictures.  I don't know if we'll ever get that elusive perfect picture when everyone is looking at the camera AND has a happy face on.

Poppi showed the kids a new trick, the sunroof.  Both we very excited about it, for about 10 seconds, then it was on to the next thing.

Another attempt at a family picture Zoe is my second cousin?  Cousin once removed? Either way, she and her family- my cousin Josh's family joined us for the last tailgate.  SO much fun.  We live so far from them that its such a treat when we can get together.

Did I mention the girls loved the pom poms?  Oh, and Riley things Zoe is the coolest!

I think Zoe has the pose down, I wonder if she could give Riley & Jude some of her pose secrets.

Harvest Season Fun

Aunt B and Uncle Bryan came over the other night to watch the kids while I sold some jeans and Woody scored some football.  Jude has a large crush on Aunt B, he likes to do whatever he can to impress her.  On this evening, he chose to show her his impeccable balancing skills.  And I bet he said "Haa!" For Hat.

Aunt B always has great activities for the kids.  Riley and Millie got to make pictures with stickers!  Riley tells me all the time how "Millie is my best friend."  We are so blessed by the friendships with the Smiths.

At the October Craft Fairs, Riley got a nap mat. Its one of the coolest inventions.  It's a mat that has a pillow and blanket sewed to it.  She takes it to Bible Study Fellowship each Wednesday morning to use during their quiet time.

We didn't get enough pumpkins on our first trip to the pumpkin patch, and since there are a few to choose from up here, we went to a different one last weekend.  Lots of fun games to play and pictures to take...if your kids will sit still.  Mine aren't to that point yet, WAY to much to discover and touch.  Woody and Jude wore their hats, so Riley wanted to wear hers and wanted me to wear mine.  So I obliged.

How cute are they?

Daddy and Jude waiting on the hay ride to come around.

Pickin' punkins.

On the hay ride.  It was a lot of fun, but my allergies had two days of retaliation waiting for me.

When we got home with our pumpkins, we carved them.  I carved the first one.  The kids used the cut out pieces and the Jack-o-lantern and made a 3D puzzle to entertain themselves while Woody took his time creating more of a masterpiece.  Meanwhile, I roasted the pumpkin seeds.  SO good!  I've never done it before, but they were so good.  The kids loved them too.  I love finding fun treats like that!  As Riley would say, "Nutritious AND delicious!"

Her daddy dared her to try the pumpkin, she pretended but never tasted it.  Don't blame her!

His masterpiece on the left, Riley's in the middle, mine on the right.

And you can't have a jack-o-lantern with no candles inside!

Jude thought his new friend looked hungry, so he spent our photo session trying to feed the pumpkin leaves.

When he couldn't get the leaves in it's mouth, he just picked it up and removed the top.  That's problem solving right there!

She's so big.  We had so much fun on our family day at the pumpkin patch.  Family time.  LOVE it.

18 months

Okay, not the picture I was hoping to get with Jude sitting on the couch with his frog, but we've been busy lately, and Jude never stops moving.  I know I'll probably later regret not making it a battle...but I didn't want to make it a battle as so many things have become battles these days.

So what is this boy up to these days?  Everything boy, that's what. 

• He still loves to eat and normally out-eats his sister at every meal.
• As a result of all of this eating, he has grown 4 inches in 6 months.  Not to shabby for a short little man.
• Eats his food very quickly so that as soon as I sit down to eat, he is ready to get up. This results in my scarfing down a few bites of my food while he screams "down!" and starts throwing his food on the floor (one of the aforementioned battles), then cleaning him up so he can get down.  Note to self: toddler induced portion control has resulted in weight loss.  I think I may create a new diet program and mass-market it.  One week with a toddler will guarantee a weight loss of at least 5 pounds. 
• Loves to talk.  He can say several words right now.  Mommy- "Mah-nee", Daddy, Riley-"Wiwee", Juice, Milk, Eat, Down, More, Please- "Peas".  I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting.  He's a pretty vocal baby.  I attribute it to the fact that he hears Riley and I talking all day everyday, the chatterboxes that we are.
• He loves BSF, Bible Study Fellowship.  We go for 2 hours each Wednesday morning.  The kids go to their own classes while I go to mine.  It is so good for each of us.  I get restoration, adult conversation, and a deeper relationship with the Lord while they get play time with other kids their age, a lesson, a snack, and songs about Jesus and how extremely cool He is. They are even learning how to have a quiet time!  This is so awesome to watch when we are at home.  He reaches for his teachers when I drop him off.  He turns on the charm while he is there, saying "Please" and "Thank you" in sign language and sometimes verbally.  His teachers also brag on the great hugs and kisses he gives them.  I love that he loves them.  I hope he blesses them as much as they bless us.
• He is a climber. We often find him stuck on chairs and stools.  He hasn't mastered getting down yet.
• He loves to hide and rearrange things for us.  He has a few hiding spots I've discovered.  He hides Riley's stuffed animals in the bathroom cabinet.  He hides sippies, snacks, and kitchen supplies in their little play refrigerator. He has a gift for hiding the exact things I need to prepare dinner each night.  I wonder if he is trying to tell me something about my cooking?
• Loves loves loves his sister.  They play so sweet together right now.  Beyond the occasional, or more frequent, fight over one particular toy, they play very well together.  And when either falls or gets hurt, the other is right there ready to offer comfort.
• When he wants to love on someone, he normally beats them on whatever body part he can reach, usually a leg or back.  I really have to watch him when he is around Caroline Penturf as he loves on her so much. We are quickly learning what gentle means.

I know this post is larger than the normal updates, but he's pretty fun to watch these days.  And I've been so busy watching that I haven't updated this blog as much as the Melanie of the future would like.  Maybe I'll get right on that, or maybe I'll enjoy these kids right now and post later.  ;o)