Trick or Treat

The kids, and our neighbor Elliana (Tinkerbell)

Ava was so proud to sport eye shadow, blush, one of Mommy's necklaces and jewels in her hair.

The Farmer and his chicken

The last soccer game

Yesterday was Carter's last soccer game of the season.  He really enjoyed playing soccer and unless something changes, we plan on playing again in the spring.  Unfortunately there was an error on the schedule and the other team didn't show up!  Or as Mike told the kids "The other team heard they were playing the Rangers, and they were too scared to come!"  So it was a rousing game of adults versus kids, and Ava even joined in the fun.

The kids recieved a medal and certificate.

One last time....

Go Rangers!

Carter and his coach

After the game we went to Culver's to celebrate and have our cheat meal for the week.  Everyone enjoyed their burgers, fries, applesauce and green beans.  Including....

this little BOY.  I took this picture at Culver's.  Later I looked at in on my phone and couldn't get over how big he looks!  Definetely turning into a little boy, for sure.



3 Little Pumpkins

Yet another celebration, today it was at Carter's preschool.  Carter had a great day, and Ava was so excited to be included.  She sat at the table with everyone else and shared treats out of Carter's bag.  She also got to sit on the carpet and do songs with all the big kids. 

Here is a picture for Meme and Grandpap Bob.  Ava's favorite new place:  under the coffee table.  She really does take after her Aunt Margie!

Halloween Celebration Numero Tres

Mighty Max

Ava decided to mix things up a little bit, and she wore a Cinderella dress that we had on hand in our dress up bin.

Ava enjoyed her treats.  She received a peanut butter pumpkin in her treat bag today, but don't worry I sacrificed myself to save my son. 

We still have Carter's school party on Thursday, until we can finally trick-or-treat.

OK, is this picture not adorable? 

As if we needed a reason to prove he's one of us:  here it is.  Mike's patented thumbs up pose replicated by our 10 month old. 

The latest in our little family:

• Carter is really doing well with preschool/church Sunday school.  I haven't had to worry about our little sticker chart for about a week.  In fact, on Monday he was disappointed when I told him that it was not a preschool day.
• Ava thinks it is hilarious to pretend to be asleep when we stop and get out of the car.  It really is sweet and endearing, I always get a really good hug and snuggle out of it.  But the problem lies in that she wants to be carried and babied.  Sorry sweetie, but I have yet another little guy I need to take care of.
• Dawson has picked his lovie.  Unfortunately, he has latched onto Mingo the monkey, which technically belongs to his brother.  I have finally convinced Carter to allow his brother to use it.  It's just so sweet to watch Dawson pick it up, bounce it around and of course suck on its face. 

Our Morning

More Trick or treating.

By the way, thanks Mom and Dad for wearing everyone out yesterday.  This is the first time in at least a month that all three kids are sleeping at once.  SCORE!

HallZOOween

HallZOOween!

Chicken baby was there

Polar bears playing with pumpkins.  FUN!

We also got to see a magic show.  Wait a second, that volunteer from the audience looks awfully familiar.  Uncle Patrick!  Yes, he volunteered to have his head sawed off.

There he is! Don't worry he left the magic show fully headed. 

Right after I took this picture of these two, Dawson latched onto Uncle Patrick's nose and gave him one of his patented face sucks.  Of course I missed that moment, but I did catch...

Uncle Patrick's reaction!  Baby slobber up the nose, not cool.

Fun Day with my baby chicken, soldier, and puppy.

Happy Birthday Aunt Margie

Happy Birthday Aunt Margie.  I hope you are enjoying Disney World, wish we could be there to enjoy it with you! 

Happy Birthday Aunt Tiffany!

Happy Birthday Aunt Tiffany!

We hope you are enjoying this wet, cold day and they aren't working you too hard!

After Dinner Tickles

After Dinner Tickles

Dawson and Daddy

Got your toes

makes the little guy happy

altogether now:  awwwwww

Our Visit to the Fire station

Last week (before we left for Las Vegas) we visited the Fairfield Township Fire Station with my MOMS Club.  I was lucky enough to be able to leave little guy alone with the grandparents.  Carter loved seeing the firemen's bedrooms, but he was scared to death of the firemen in all of their "gear." 

Ava was also really frightened of the firemen in his gear.  She wouldn't even look at him!  She just buried her face on my shoulder.  What a fun, exciting, learning experience!

Pumpkin Patch Time

I'll admit it, I LOVE taking our kids to fun places like the pumpkin patch.  We have been so busy lately with soccer games, visiting family and errands to run that we haven't made it there yet.  But today we fixed that, and took our little crew to Barn-n-Bunk.

There was so much fun stuff to do!  Carter's favorite was a little hay maze that ended with a slide into more hay.  It was pretty humorous to watch Mike crawling around on his hands and knees through the hay, with the flashlight app on his iphone lighting the way!  He didn't want Ava to get scared in the dark, what a sweet daddy.

This little girl loves to jump!  So I was not suprised at all that her favorite was the bouncy house (good thing we remembered socks this year!)

Although I don't have any pictures of it, Dawson's favorite was the hay ride.  I'm calling it a hay ride, but really it was a wagon ride pulled by horses.  Dawson refused to sit on my lap, and he wiggled and squirmed until he was standing up on the seat at the rails edge.  He loved watching the world go by, with his hair blowing in the breeze (WIND!) and waving to the passing cars, trees and pumpkins. 

But there were also train rides

and shoulder rides for the littlest one.

Playing in the hay is always fun

Playing in the buggy

(Funny story:  Carter got into the buggy and asked "How did they go to the grocery store?"  Pretty smart observation by a four year old about the lack of trunk space.)

Tractor Fun

Today was so busy, with a trip to the farmer's market, a soccer game and then after nap a trip to Barn-n-Bunk.  Then we topped it all off with a trip to Chick-fil-a.  I love that restaurant with kids, it almost feels like date night for Mike and I.  While the two big kids play in the play place we have time to talk to each other and moon over our littlest.  What a great day! 





Vegas Pictures

Just in case you were wondering, we had a great time in Vegas.  I forgot what it was like to be able to have a lesiurely meal with no interruptions, to sleep as long as you would like, and to not plan your day around kid's napping schedules.  It was a great break from reality, but I'm so happy to be home with my babies!

2.5 years old!

My little Avaroo, today you are 2.5 years old. 

What are you up to right now?

Well, currently you have started Mighty Max, a mommy and me preschool class.  You love to participate in the music and movement activities.  You love to answer all of Miss Gena's questions, and you love, love, LOVE to do the art projects. 

You make all kinds of friends wherever we go.  Recently we went to a bookstore and we were looking around the children's area.  Another little girl came to look at books and you walked up to her and said "Hi, What's your name?"  The little girl didn't respond and you looked at her Mommy and said "It's ok.  She's shy.  I'm Ava."

Here are some of your favorites:  the movies Tangled and The Princess and the frog, Sesame Street, Hello Kitty,  the Disney Princess Collection Book, anything PINK, spaghetti, sunbutter sandwiches, bananas and milk.

Your favorite pastime:  Jumping on the bed

Some of your achievements since you turned 2 years old:

• Counting to 14
• identifying your colors, although you will sometimes call red pink
• can identify your shapes, but we are still working on hexagon and octagons
• can make your prewriting strokes: circles and lines.  You have also written a lowercase a.
• You can now jump and get your feet off the ground
• still working on potty training, we have had a few accidents but you are in underwear
• You can open door knobs (sounds so silly, but we had to work hard on this.  Carter kept closing doors and effectively locking you into rooms.)
• You can climb up into your carseat, although I'm still buckling you in
• You have started snipping with scissors
• Your language has absolutely exploded.  You are our little conversationalist.
• You love to sing ABC's, twinkle twinkle, you are my sunshine, and pinky is so stinky

Daddy just reminded me to talk about the pink baby phenomenon.  You have always loved pinky, your blanket, but pink baby has become your closest pal.  Pink baby was the gremlin baby doll from christmas that was deactivated.  You MUST sleep with pink baby and she MUST be with you at all times.  I draw the line at bringing pink baby into the world, but she follows you closely around the house.  By the way, pink baby is the baby's given name.  Given by you, of course. 

You love to play babies (of course) and cook tomatoes and coffee on snakes in the kitchen (sounds delightful.)  You like to play cars, bears and tag with your big brother.  With baby Dawson you will "read" him books, push his cars around, stack his blocks and roll the ball to him.  You are the first to rush to one of your brothers to give them a hug if they start to cry.  

With all these wonderful things that I have written about you I must add:  if you toned down the attitude a touch it would be appreciated.

You are my sunshine, my Avey sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.  You'll never know dear how much I love you.  Please don't take my sunshine away.

We love you girl!