Home Sweet Home Place: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Family over for dinner on Friday. Dinner with more family on Saturday night and a Halloween party on Monday! Busy, busy, busy! I didn't know how I was going to get everything done! There was decorating, and cooking and baking...oh my!...to do. But then, this little miracle happened.

Grace climbed into bed with Daddy - who was already napping - and fell asleep all on her own volition.

No prompting, no pleading and no bribing.

I looked up from a pile of cookies yet to be frosted and thought "uh oh!" The house is awfully quiet...that can only mean one thing. But I was wrong. Soooo wrong! Nothing could have made me happier!

The house was quiet. Everyone was sleeping. I had two hands AND my mind all to myself!

I happily and quickly plowed through the cupcakes and cookies needing frosting and thoroughly enjoyed every second!

Halloween Warm-Up

Heading out the door to Nana and Boppa's house, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the girls with their pumpkins (so kindly given to them by April and family).

Grace was a little camera shy...or obstinate. However you want to say it!

During the month preceding Halloween, Charlotte has carried this little pumpkin with her just about everywhere. Can you see the little bite marks on it?

She is teething...BIG time!

The first time she stuck this in her mouth I just about jumped out of my skin!

But then I made her do it about 10 times juuuust so I could get a picture of the spider in her mouth with the spider on her shirt!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Jumping Beans

Not sure what is in our water but it must have similar properties as jumping beans because...

Exhibit A

Grace jumping at gymnastics

Exhibit B

Grace AND Charlotte jumping on the bed

Things are officially crazy around here!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Unintentional Break

I think this is the longest stint I've gone without a blog post since I started blogging in 2008. All I can say is that this is a hectic and busy time of the year!

The weather turned a few weeks back to rain and dreariness!

Luckily, we had hit the Nordstrom sale a few months back and were prepared with some bright and warm outfits.

Not matching...

but they do color correspond.

We had Uncle Johnny-roo over for dinner! The girls love him

and he is beyond good with them!

Notice the art in the background?!

I am happy to report that things are going much better with Grace at school.

I think she is still shy and a bit reserved at times - there are no more tears at drop-off!

Progress!

She is talking and singing up a storm!

Singing is probably her favorite thing to do!

She does it before falling asleep, in the shower (yes, she has decided that she will no longer take baths) and when she is playing by herself.

Some of her songs are the usual suspects - Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, etc. - but others she makes up. Usually, they are some new word or phrase she's picked up. Which is completely scary because never have I been more aware of how much she is listening and hearing EVERYTHING I say.

It all gets regurgitated in her little "songs!"

I really need to get it on video!

We snuck in a jaunt to Boise. The weather was phenomenal. We spent lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa and knocked lots of errands off the list...including hair cuts.

If it weren't for the bottle she would look completely like a kid! Like a switch, the baby seems just about gone. It has been crazy fast!

Grace's new do. Lots of volume!

About a month ago, Charlotte started a new trick. I got it on video back then but haven't gotten it up on the blog until now. It seriously is one of my favorite things!

In other exciting news, while out on a run I ran over a snake with the Double BOB stroller. I couldn't figure out what was brushing my leg until I looked down and saw a snake recoiling.

There aren't words to describe the sound that I made or the fear. All I can say is that I haven't run that fast in a long time. Every leaf or branch or twig that I brushed into along the way only sparred me to run faster. Everyone asks me what kind of snake it was...as if I had time or the where-with-all to study the markings and colorings on the snake so as to identify it later on.

All I know is it was a snake. It touched me. And I ran like a bat out of hell!

In honor of the fast approaching Halloween holiday, we had Charlotte wear her little pumpkin hat. Adorable!

Last but not least, Grace has mastered her tricycle. So we've been getting outside everyday and enjoying the crisp fall days. Have I mentioned I love this time of year?

Won't be long until this one has the trike all figured out!

That is all. Just a quick little post about what we've been up to.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Ferry Ride

Our first ferry ride as a family of four.

Seriously, what happened to my baby?

There is no baby left. She is all toddler.

God, that was fast!

She's ready for the rain!

Our trusty ride across the water.

We played it up as tourists.

We even posed for pictures with the penguin.

Court is a trooper.

Proof that we actually did this.

Behold... the Emerald City!

Still don't believe me?

Ok here's the REAL proof.

The space needle.

The girls enjoyed our jaunt and we really thought we'd sufficiently worn them out for the long car ride home.

We even had an omen that all was going to go well - a rainbow!

Alas, Charlotte didn't sleep a wink and once Grace woke up from her VERY short nap all hell broke lose.

But the last 45 minutes of screaming in the car was worth it.

We had them fed and bed within the hour of getting home which left lots of time to finish off the weekend with ~~silence~~ a glass (or three) of wine!

Great weekend!