adventures documented via iPhone

We had playgroup at the church building just before Halloween. Most of the kids dressed up a bit (Matix had bad behavior before going, so he lost that privilege) and ran around and played. We all also brought some food to share for lunch. It was a big turn out and the kids had fun.

Lullaby got a cute headband. This isn't the best picture of her in it, but it's the only one I have so far. She looks ADORABLE in it. She is growing up so fast.

Quick stop at a playground with the whole fam. I love going out all together.

Trying out several new pumpkin recipes lately, and we have found a favorite. I tweaked the recipe from the original several times and found the best adjustments. So yummy! I will have to post it sometimes soon.  Our neighbors have been helping us with the taste testing...

Hawken with his ratty blankie. It has been torn in half and sewn back together a few times now. The edges are all frayed and falling apart. But he loves it. It is supposed to stay in his bed, but somehow sneaks out almost every day. :)

Across the street from our neighborhood is a church and one morning as we were leaving to run some errands, we saw balloons all over the place. I drove over and asked what was going on and it was a free community event. They had a bounce house, hotdogs, games, music, and were giving away free turkeys for Thanksgiving. The kids bounced and bounced and bounced and loved it. I didn't get a turkey because I wasn't sure what the intention of giving them away was, to people who couldn't afford it? To raise awareness of their nice charitable church? What? But I dropped my license there in the parking lot as we were leaving and they called me to tell me. I went back several hours later, just before they were finishing up and they still had tons of turkeys they wanted to give away, so I took one then. Hooray for free turkey, now I for sure have to attempt it for Thanksgiving!

Picture for any inquiring grandparents... Matix and Hawken think they NEED a lunch box for next year. Matix actually will, since he will be in Kindergarten, but Hawk won't... Lullaby of course needs one since she sees the boys needing one.  These are the ones they love. Matix loves the superhero one, Hawken loves the Ninja Turtles one, and Lullaby loves the princess one.

I love having the preschool kiddies at my house. While the kids thought they were playing with play doh, I was getting them to do some letter recognition and we spelled lots of words. Their names were the most fun to do. The kids loved it.

good big sis

Sitting up next to sister on the couch smiling and having a good time. 

Oops, spitting up a bit...

Sister notices and wipes clean.

Kiss and hug from sis, and everything is good again.

Zoo Boo!

Another fun Halloween activity was at the zoo, for ZOO BOO! Clever name, right? :) The kids dressed up and looked so cute together, even though this day Lullaby would not wear her mask, but she still proudly announced to anyone that would listen that she was "cat WO man!" It's so funny how she says it!

There were a couple of candy stations and games and tattoos and a coloring wall and giant candy caves to explore...

There was also pumpkin painting which the kids ate up! That was my favorite part of Zoo Boo too.

We got to see a few animals too, but let's be honest, on this trip, the candy was the main focus.  The chimps were especially interactive this particular day and Paul got some video of this one clapping and playing with the kids, so fun!

Sweet Solace in his milk induced coma. I love it.

Batman and Robin at their best.

We also ran into a TON of friends. We tagged along with my friends Mindy and Susannah (and their families) most of the time, but we also saw another 7 or 8 moms and their kiddies. It was BUSY.

fire house tour

Hawken's class went on a field trip to the fire department and Matix was in heaven. Being a firefighter when he grows up has been on his "when I grow up" list for a long time now.  Paul had the morning off and got to come with too, hooray!  No pictures of me, again, but you know I was there because of the massive amounts of pictures that were taken. :)

The firefighters were SO sweet and great with the kids. Moving slowly and explaining everything so they could understand. I loved it when they got dressed up in their outfits and explained what each part was for and that it was still nice friendly Officer Davis under there.

The kids got to sit in the fire truck and pretend to drive.  Some of Hawken's classmates were a little shy, but Hawk and Matix ate it up.  Lulli wanted nothing to do with sitting in the truck or going near any of the firefighters.

The guys gave all the kids high fives, but somehow missed Hawken and he was pretty upset about it. Check out Hawk in this would be happy group shot.

Not all the kids would pose for it either, there were a handful of nervous kiddies holding on to the mommies legs during this tour.

At the end, they gave all the kids little fire hats. They were so excited about this and Hawken even snuck in a high five and felt better about the trip.

Another great preschool field trip! What fun!

way behind...

And just like that, it's November. NOVEMBER. There are still about a million Halloween adventures I need to post about, and a preschool field trip, and several other little day to day things... I'll start with this quick picture I took of a fairly regular thing. Anywhere Solace is, Lullaby is near by. Watching him, playing with him, talk to or about him. This little girl loves HER baby! :)

I am so happy with her reaction to him. I think they will be close friends, even if Solace has other plans... And, I love the little nervous look Solace is shooting to his right. I don't know what was happening over there, but he sure is expressive already. You can always tell how he is feeling.

sitting up

Solace is no where near sitting up by himself, but the kids LOVE when I prop him up like he is.  He seems to like it too, just for a few minutes, but then he squawks until I lay him back down.  This morning they watched a bit of a movie while they waited for the preschoolers to come (it was our week).  Kina has to be right there too, of course.

Also, Solace went to the doctor yesterday for his 2 month visit... even though he is more like 2 and 1/2 months now... Oh well.  He measured in the 95th percentile for height and in the 70th percentile for weight. Perfect health, what a blessing.  And tall and skinny, like his daddy.