Happy Halloween

Julianne in her little pumpkin outfit

Another super fun Halloween at our house. This year Jace was sooooooooooooooo excited. He was buzzing before we even got any candy. He helped me carve a pumpkin this morning with features he had drawn.
This year he really enjoyed Trick-or-Treating. He marched right up and rang every doorbell on our street. Then he came home and spent the rest of the evening at the front door, sorting candy and greeting the kids that came to the door.


Jace sits waiting at the door with treats

As Joel tucked him in tonight, Jace was sad about Halloween ending. "We will do it again on Monday." he insisted. Joel's attempt to explain that we will do it again next year ended with some frustration from both sides.


Vikings with our little Dragons in training

Jumping in the leaves

What a beautiful fall day it was. After spending the last three days subbing in the preschools I was happy for a day home with the kids. Thanks to Joel, I was able to sleep late.  We had a happy surprise visit from Aunt Lea Ann. She was able to get Julianne to laugh. After she left to pick up Lily, we spent the rest of the afternoon outside. I raked the leaves while Julianne napped in her chair and Jace busied himself with all sorts of things. He helped me a little. He got the mail from the mailman and sorted it. He called Grandma Elaine and compared the number of bags of leaves we had raked. He visited with passing neighbors. He drew pictures with chalk on the sidewalk and on the shovel he was using to scoop leaves. Finally, he made some spectacular leaps into the last pile of leaves.

This evening we took a long walk. Joel carried Julianne in the front pack and Jace rode his bike. Then dinner, baths and bedtime. I better go, It's past my bedtime. Goodnight.

We love all the toothless grins.

Great Grandma Courtney

My Mom and my Grandma came for a visit a couple weeks ago. They had adventures on the way here and on the way home and were fabulous company for the days in between. I wish I had taken more pictures but here is the one that I did take.

Julianne with Great Grandma Courtney in their pink sweaters

Preschool field trip

Today I accompanied Jace's class on their first field trip. Jace was so excited to have one of his classmates ride in the car with us. The two boys giggled and shouted at each other in back seat on the way to the farm museum.

The kids were all wearing bright yellow t-shirts that they had decorated. Our group wandered around the grounds of the museum where there were houses and farm buildings set up like a farm from the 1860's. Jace spent part of the tour holding hands with one of his classmate's younger sister. The class enjoyed all the animals and the pumpkin patch. All the kids were tired and hungry by the time we finished our tour and stopped in the grass for a snack. The weather was great and the trip was a success.

These 3 + Me = Family

what is that look for?

A busy day at our house included:a morning dance party in the playroom, a trip to Babies R Us for diapers, lunch watching PBS kids, putting together a crock pot dinner, a long walk around the neighborhood park, swimming lesson, dinner, and bedtime. After the kids' bedtime routines are done Joel and I still have to clean up dinner and the playthings in the living room, run a load of laundry, shower and get ourselves ready for bed. No wonder I'm tired.
The best picture today would have been one from our walk but I was carrying a sleeping Julianne in the front pack and decided not to carry the camera. I'm sad about it now because it was so beautiful watching Jace march through the fall colored trees carrying a huge bundle of limbs that he decided we needed to put in a vase at home. He lead me up and down trails along the creek gathering all the different color leaves. It was great fun.
I also tried to get some photos of his swim lesson. The lighting in the pool is tricky and he spent most of his time with his head underwater so I missed every shot. Julianne, who has slept through every swim lesson until today, was very alert and looking all around.
Here's the best photo I got at the pool.

The crock pot dinner was so yummy. It was a new recipe I found for Pizole (a Mexican, pork stew with green chili sauce, tomatoes and hominy). It triggered fond memories of Mary Lou who used to make something very similar.

pajama girl

The first thing Jace noticed when he got home this evening was that Julianne was still in her pajamas. "Little girl's still in her jammies!"
Yep, she was. I figure it is a pretty successful day when one outfit lasts the whole day without a diaper blow out.  Also, we had been out of the house to the grocery store. So the fact that one of us was still in pajamas did not mean we did not have a fun, productive day.

Also, If you jammies look this good, why not wear them all day?

Jace decided this morning that she needed to wear the headband. He put it on her.