Week 44: The best Halloween ever

With near-60 degree weather and lots of activities planned last Saturday, Zach said it was the best Halloween ever. We carved pumpkins on Friday during a three-hour school delay, then we dropped them off in costume for their parade and class parties. On Halloween we had a hayride, trick-or-treating, then a bonfire with hot dogs, s'mores, and hot cocoa. They loved all the time they got to spend hanging out and running around with their friends. Gabe wore his creeper head box for about 5 seconds (because it's just fun!) but switched to the foam hat thing I made him for ease of walking and seeing.  Charlotte ran around for a bit before the hayride, but when we got the stroller out she happily climbed into it and was content for about 3 hours, just playing with glow sticks. Even at the bonfire she just sat and watched everyone and waved her sticks around. It helps that we have girl friends who like to talk to her and entertain her. Being able to turn the clocks back that night was perfect because we were so exhausted from everything.

These weeks need to slow down because I'm definitely not ready for the holidays! October didn't cooperate but here's hoping for a slow November! I have a scarf I'd like to finish :)

This boy is in love with reading, big time. There's no use even talking to him because he won't hear you.

Charlotte said goodnight and gave Daddy a kiss, then ran upstairs carrying (most of) her babies. She likes to be holding them all (5 or 6) when I tuck her in.

I think I started this one last fall. Or was it the year before?

Weeks 41, 42, and 43: Oh my!

The month of October has absolutely flown by. Where to begin?

We've had lots of fun stuff going on, but also lots of pesky colds and/or allergy symptoms. We had dentist visits (the first for Charlotte), Gabe's birthday, and a new Kirby game for the Wii. We've had 4 play dates (a neighbor's one-year-old girl over twice and two with Gabe's friends), and I ate with the boys for the school's monthly parent lunch. Frank and I went to Ikea, Charlotte likes to wear people's shoes around the house, and I received the boys school photos. A speech therapist met with Charlotte and determined that she could use some help; we will start that soon but I'm not sure when. I think we've seen the extremes of hot and cold for October, and the weather has settled on a comfortable cool. Charlotte wore pigtails for the first time, I made Gabe a creeper costume, and his teacher said at conferences that he doing excellent with behavior and academics now. We've already had a cub scout Halloween party and an event at the school, and they are looking forward to their school Halloween parties/parade and of course trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Like we need any more candy! (Though I'm not turning away butterfingers...)

Perusing entertainment center options

A gift we picked up

Charlotte lately: shoes + video games

Cub scouts pack meeting Halloween party

Gabe's birthday

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes; Gabe had a good day/weekend, if a bit under the weather. Things are going well here, but we've been super busy...I hope to have lots of pictures up next week :)

Week 40: Welcoming fall

It turns out that September 2015 was my least photographed month since my first trimester of pregnancy with Charlotte. We ended up with less than 300 keepers, whereas there's usually 500-800 a month, or 1-2k if we've traveled. That totally matches up with reality; we were low on energy and high on stress and to-do's. I *think* things have settled down some...we'll see how this week goes.

My favorite tree is changing from green to red. So pretty.

Charlotte thoroughly enjoyed her first ride in a "car cart." That and being in charge of the list.

I took Zach with me to Target Friday evening. As he put it, "Craft supplies, a book, board games, AND little chocolate donuts...this is the best day ever!" He spent his saved up allowance on the book and the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. We like the Monopoly Junior. It is super simple but you still get the enjoyment of charging people rent.

We've had to get creative on nights when I'm at Zumba or yoga and Frank has to put Charlotte in her crib. She's getting heavier, he's trying to go easy on his back, and we're not quite ready to let her be free in her room yet. She thinks it's great that she gets to climb in on her own now (with someone spotting her, of course, and moving the stuff so she can't try to climb out!)

The best part of last week was Gabe having a couple of great days at school. He's proud of his smileys and stickers! Something seems to have clicked and he understands how he's supposed to act...we are still working with him and keeping our fingers crossed that it continues.