First of Many Halloween Parties

We started our dragged out Halloween festivities with our Moms Club Halloween party. Grace, Lydia and Ella busted out the princess dresses and celebrated as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Belle.

The girls loved the crafts, snacks and playing with their amazing friends.

Here's Grace coloring Halloween pictures.

After watching all the other boys and girls make squirrel feeders, she decided to give it a shot. I had to hold the pinecone as Grace coated in peanut butter. Heaven forbid she get her own hands a bit dirty.
Lydia and Lauren opt to skip the crafts and go right to the food. They are a match made in heaven!!

The girls and their friends.
One party down only 3 more to go before Halloween.

Manicures & Pedicures

Ella's favorite thing in her toy room has been the play kitchen, until recently. Apparently, I've been leaving Ella in the good hands of her sisters for a few too many hours. Ella's new favorite thing is the vanity, particularly the pretend nail polish. Ella now spends her days painting her fingernails and toenails. I have to give Lydia credit for teaching Ella the importance of taking her socks off as soon as she gets near the vanity. You do know that you need bare toes to paint! I'm sure it won't be long before Grace and Lydia insist Ella get her nails painted as routinely as paint theirs.


(In case you haven't noticed, Ella's hair continues to get lighter by the week).

More Pumpkins

Just when we were almost pumpkined out, we decided to go one more time - with Paul. We enjoyed a great hayride. It was an amazing day to be outside with the family. The weather was warm; the leaves were many shades of orange, yellow and red; and the kids were happy. What more could one ask for in October.

Lydia enjoying her hayride.

Grace is mesmerized by the tall trees and many leaves.
Grace, Lydia and Ella in the pumpkin field.
My little ladies searching for the perfect pumpkin. It's not nearly as easy as it looks.
Lydia playing in the hay.
Grace ready to throw a handful of hay at Mom.
Grace playing school. She's quite the studious girl.
Are you surprised that Lydia is the bossy teacher? Not me!
My two favorite little farmers!

Kaylin's Back

Grace is thrilled to have her friend Kaylin back from Amsterdam. It's incredible to watch the two of them play as if they've never missed a beat. Here they are on a recent play date.

(They are taking a break from driving their giant ship through the big ocean to get their picture taken. They were also trying to warn Ella of the dangers of the giant sharks since she's so near to the water).

Even Ella is happy to have Kaylin back. It's one more little girl to push her on the swing, keep her smiling and laughing, and dress her up.

Welcome Back Kaylin, Shane, Sarah and Matt (and baby too).

Leaf Jumping

The girls and I were back in Freedom for a baby shower a couple weeks ago. It's not every October that the kids can play in the leaves while the temperatures hit 80 degrees.

The girls were given strict orders by their big cousin, Haley not to go near the leaf pile until she said it was okay.

Here are all the girls. (I'm thinking Haley might need some Badger attire to coordinate).


Grace and Lydia on a mission to throw leaves at...
Alyssa and Ella.

New Photographer

There's a new photographer in the family! Can you guess who it is? She does an amazing job capturing the normal daily life.

Lydia in pjs
Diesel chilling
Sesame Street on the TV
And the pretty photographer herself.

(Notice that Ella is missing from the photos since she was apparently not willing to pose for Grace).

Random Zoo Day

We were at the zoo a couple weeks ago and the girls insisted that we take a picture of them with the baby gorilla... then they wanted it on the computer too. so here it is for all to see.