Sunday

Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to my favorite fall activity, the pumpkin patch!

The kids had a ball, there was so much to do that we were there for over three and a half hours!  Of course by this time everyone was exhausted, but after a quick shower everyone passed out quickly.

This is Ava and Carter running around the straw maze.

Dawson's favorite:  the tractor

We went on a 30 minute hay ride, which was approximately 20 minutes too long.  Luckily the kids were not complaining, just Mike and I.  He compared it to the dolest train ride ever!  

Two ends of the spectrum:

Ava was petting, loving and even kissing the goats.

Carter was looking at the goats.  One of them brushed his hand, which he did not want.  We had to go immediately to get hand sanitizer.

Pumpkin bowling was a big hit.  I love the look of concentration on Ava's face!

Yummy apple cider pumpkin bottles!

Carter's favorite:  the corn conveyor belt

He spent quite a bit of time putting the corn on the conveyor belt, running to retrieve it and then doing it all over!

There was also a big corn box for digging, scooping and driving the digger.

Ava shopped until she dropped!

There was also a big play structure in the shape of a tractor. 

Dockie is yelling vroom vroom!

I love adventures with my kiddos!

Weekly Funnies

Weekly Funnies

• I love nicknames, and all our kids have had multiple nicknames over the course of their lives.  Carter is following along this line and has nicknamed his sister A-V-A.  Dawson is still learning how to say his sister's name and for awhile he was calling her Uva {spanish for grape} Eva, and finally Ava.
• Today I had a funny conversation with my oldest.  He was playing with a neighbor boy who is in first grade and he wanted to play with him again. I said that wouldn't be a problem, but he is in first grade so we would have to get together in the afternoons or weekends.  "What's first grade" he demanded to know.  After I explained all the grades he would have to go in for school he said "that's a really long time."  Then I proceeded to explain that when he went to college he would have to be a freshman, sophomore  junior and senior before he was done.  "What's that, something to eat?"  Um, not quite.
• In case you were worried Ava's pink blanket is five year old, in first grade and her real name is Corvette Marie.  LOVE this girl and her imagination.
• DAWSON'S FIRST FUNNY!  Recently I was reading a book with him and he repeatedly called a dog a woof woof.  I was trying to get him to say dog so I prompted him "look, it's a d...d..."  and then he said "da puppy."  Well yes, it is a puppy! 
• I can't believe this little boy is growing up so fast.  Today Carter was telling me about the prettiest girl in his class.  But he won't talk to her, he just likes to defeat her.  Also, to him, pretty means that she wears a lot of pink.  Pink shoes, pink pants, pink shirt. 

Carter and Ava have been doing chores and were finally able to pick out their roller skates that they have been talking about since last spring.  My cautious Carter refused to stand up for the first day or two, but now he is cruising all over the basement.  Ava was amazing from day one on her skates!

This evening we went to a local park to play, picnic and hike.

Dockie, this could have been a cute picture if you weren't throwing grass!  This was even the best one out of about ten that I took.

This park has a fun zip line for KIDS to swing on.

I know Carter had a ball.

Dawson thought he was riding a zip line, in reality it was the poles on the swing set.

This girlie can play her daddy like a fiddle.  When Daddy is around she is all of a sudden unable to climb up a tunnel without him, can't buckle her seat belt or even hang up her clothes.  These are all things she does for me on a regular basis.  

Thank you my family for a fun evening together!

Weekend Recap

We had a fun fall weekend that included a visit from Grandma and Bo, along with the kid's great grandparents Grandma and Grandpa B.  This was a wonderful treat because we usually only see them once a year at Easter time. We ate lunch together and then the girls and grandparents went to a craft show and the boys watched football/napped.

Grandma bought a beautiful hat for Ava at the craft show, but this little face has been caught stealing it on multiple occasions.

This little one has been giving squeezes lately.  He gives you a hug and squeezes as hard as he can.

The kids also played in the basement for a little while and Ava got into the St. Patrick's day gear.  Very creative use of the bow tie, Ava!

More Ballet Pictures

After a rocky start this fall, Ava has fallen hard for her ballet class.  There is nothing more fun than watching her grinning ear to ear for 45 minutes.  

More ballet pictures, because they make me happy.

They played on a parachute, here is Ava sitting in the middle.  

Shaking the parachute

They danced with feather boas, sashed with princess wands and twirled in the hula hoops.  Ava, I may complain about your wardrobe drama but I love having you in my life.  My little girl, nothing could be sweeter.  

Then and Now

Fall 2012

January 2009

Wow!  Carter was actually an only child in this picture.  Hard to believe that ever happened!

Field Trip

I had a wonderful morning with my little Carter bean.  He went on his very first field trip, and I was lucky to have been picked to be the chaperone for the field trip.  His very first BUS RIDE!!

We went to the Safety Center which is a combination of Police/Fire and EMS station.  So we checked out the fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, fire poles, a holding cell and the police even demonstrated the tazer {although not hangover style, nobody was hurt during our trip.}

I just wanted to post a picture of Carter with his little school buddy.  They seem to have a sweet friendship; they hold hands and put their arms around each other.  

I was SOOOOO worried about how little Dockie Doodle was going to do.  He stayed with a friend while I was at the field trip, can you believe it he didn't even cry?  Although they have the coolest ride on excavator, so that really helped out!

Latest Stories

Dawson's newest interests include:  school buses and excavators

Dosen't matter where we are or what we are doing, if that boy sees one of those two things he starts yelling "vroom vroom, vroom vroom."  Once we acknowledge the bus or digger, he's happy again.

For the longest time, whenever there was a choice I always gave him the color green.  Recently Mike was lowering Dawson's crib, and after pulling it out found three yellow cars under his bed.  I think he likes yellow!  It makes sense though, most school buses and excavators are yellow.  By the way, now that we have lowered the crib to the bottom screw he is no longer climbing out.  Thank Goodness!

More yellow:  today we went to Pump-it-up to play and the boy found two yellow balls and carried them around.  

Check him out in the crib, he loves this book!  The wheels on the bus is now rumpled and crumpled from carrying it around all day, but I love to see a book well loved.

Check this girl out.  Lately when I take a picture of her she does this pose:  tongue out and to the side, winking here eye.

  The drama of clothing: 

She will stand in front of her closet crying, I have nothing to wear!  Keep in mind she has a more extensive wardrobe than I do!  Eventually she will find a stained Dora t-shirt or pink soccer shorts that we placate her.  I pray for patience with this daily.

My babies snuggling in the grass at soccer practice

Tonight Ava and Dawson were ripping up handfuls of grass and sprinkling it on each other.  Ava looks at the grass raining down and says "unusual weather."

She cracks me up!

My oldest sweetie

I just love this boy so much.  I'm so proud of the wonderful boy he has become.  He is kind, loving, honest and he loves nacho cheese from Mexican restaurants.  Clearly related to me!

Canal Days

We live near a tiny town that is named after part of the Erie Canal that runs through it.  Today we decided to take a bike ride on the path that runs next to the canal.

We happened to come at the perfect time because the kids were able to see the canal boat ride!  In this picture you can see the horses that are pulling the boat and the kids riding along the trail.

Here is the boat in the canal {part of the old Erie Canal.}

We had fun taking a spin on the trail.  It was beautiful weather, the sky was absolutely gorgeous and we had a great time and got a little exercise too.

Ava and her Dad were riding along chatting with each other.  Later Mike told me the conversation went a little something like this:

Ava:  Dad, Mommy is smarter than Carter, Carter is smarter than Ava and Ava is smarter than Dawson. 

Mike:  Ava, did you know one day you'll be smarter than me?

Ava:  I am smarter than you Dad.

I don't think we are going to have any problem with confidence with that one.

Today I was driving in the car with her, running errands and she noticed a billboard and said "Mommy I know that girl.  It's the Mona Lisa."

Sure enough, she was right.

So I must give it to her, she is a little smarty pants.

Oh, do I love this little baby.  He closed his eyes when I started to take a picture of him.   

Love you little Dawh-sin.

{That's how he has been saying his name lately, it's very cute.}

This little kid has been obsessed with the baf-room lately.  Whenever Ava goes, he must also check out the facilities.  A couple of times he has sat on the toliet and today he told me baf-room.  So I went and sat him on the toliet and sure enough, he went!  Maybe peer pressure will help me out a little?  Not that I'm even thinking about working on potty training yet, but if he asks, I'm going to take him!

Movie Night!

Snuggles on the couch

Movie night with my babies

Love it

A Weekend with the Grandparents

Thank you Meme and Bob-Bob for babysitting the crew this weekend.  It was so nice to see you guys and spend some time together.  Although the kids were thoroughly spoiled as you can see.....

While the kids were being baby sat they had a trip to Bob Evans for chocolate chip pancakes {sugar} and chocolate milk {sugar}.  They also went to target because Ava needed shiny pink cat ears.  And a pink poncho.  And pink arm warmers?  {I still have not figured out what those things are.}  And all kinds of other random things the kids picked up.

Including an optimus prime mask and Dora towel.  Now Meme and Bob Bob understand that if you make a trip to target, you MUST take a ride on the Shadle Train!  {Which is just the shopping cart that has the attachment on the front, the only configuration in which all three kids can ride.}  

Funny of the week:

Carter:  Mom we had a fire drill at school today.  But my teacher wouldn't give us a drill.  We just had to stand on the yellow line.  

Cue conversation explaining drill {the tool} and drill {practicing}.

Some Stories and Pictures

The same night we were visited by Batman, Ava wanted to sing Elmo's song for us.  La la la la, la la la la, Elmo's World.

My sweet little girl.  She is going through the three year old nightmare stage. Every. single. night.  I feel like I have a newborn in the house again.  I remember Carter was about this age when he insisted on sleeping with Ava.  But, Carter was scared going to sleep while Ava just wakes up in the middle of the night sobbing, unable to go back to sleep.  I'm sure it's just a stage she will grow out of, just like her brother.

I think he may be part Lion.  Dawson now carries Angel Baby around in his mouth.  I guess it leaves his hands free to play! 

Also, Daring Dawson strikes again.  Today he moved the computer desk chair over to the fridge and tried to climb the refrigerator by putting his feet in the ice dispenser tray and pulled up with his hands on the handle and door.  Luckily I was in the kitchen and watched this all take place.  He managed to pull himself up and stood there clinging to the fridge, unsure what to do next.  Then I took him down and said please never do that again!

Picture this:

Carter is laying down in the grass staring up at the sky.  He doesn't realize that I'm watching him and I see his hands clasped together and he is talking quietly to himself.  Then he does the sign of the cross and stands up.  I laughingly look at him and say "Were you praying?"  He was embarrassed and with a big smile on his face he said "No."

Carter, it's always ok to say a little prayer whenever you feel the need.  I must say there is nothing that makes you feel the need to talk to God than laying on summer time grass staring at a beautiful blue sky. 

Batman Bed time

We have had several spottings of Batman at our home lately.  He usually appears around bed time, suspiciously in Carter's batman pajamas.

He puts a halt to the bad guys.

He flies through the air.

He is Batman.