Let the Fun Begin!

I guess this is part 1 of our Halloween fun... Sadie is really starting to get more into Holiday festivities (I can't wait for Christmas this year!) She enjoyed helping me get out some fall decorations and was very excited to see her stack of Halloween/Fall books come out of the basement. She liked helping make some Halloween treats this year (including pumpkin bars and orange rice krispie treats w/ Halloween sprinkles. She has LOVED seeing kids dressed up also. She was a bit hesitant of the scary costumes at first, but she told me yesterday after talking to a skeleton (w/ a mask) in my classroom--"Mom, I like that scary man." Her dad has enjoyed teasing her about "scary" jack-o-lanterns and she likes to tease him back by being scary (a dryer sheet over her face = a ghost).

Sadie chose to make Halloween trail mix for her friends at church and Ms. Jennifer's. She loved dumping everything together, stirring, and filling the bags--perfect for a 2 year old! (Kinnick enjoyed sitting in his high chair and eating cheerios and dried fruit.)

Sadie came to my party at school--she thought she was big stuff marching in the parade then watching all of the big kids march by. She also enjoyed the cupcakes and treat bags. My Kindergarten kids always love to have her.

Last night, we carved our pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Kinnick loved exploring the slime. He of course was trying to eat the seeds. He also kept trying to put everything back into the pumpkin--makes sense, right?

Sadie was a bit more of a priss this year... she wanted to wash her hands every time she reached in. She was also very concerned about when we would be washing her clothes and the sheet on the floor. She told us that Kinnick was getting way to messy. This picture is her showing her messy hands and making a pouty face.

After the big debate, Sadie wanted a "nice" jack-o-lantern. We decided to carve it to match Kinnick's shirt...

Both kids were in awe when we turned off the lights and lit up our jack-o-lantern. Kinnick got very mad that I would not let him reach in and grab the candle. Sadie told him "No Kinnick, we do not touch candles. That is very dangerous!"

Today was Streator's down-town trick-or-treating. This is the first year we attended. We stopped at the library first--they give out books every year. Sadie had fun!

Marc had to work this morning, but we went with Sadie's friend Mikenna and her parents. (I was glad, b/c I don't know if I could have handled both kids by myself--too many stores to go into w/ a stroller and a 2-year old!)

Kinnick was out by 10:30 when we were ready to head home. He was a tired little monkey!Stayed tuned for part 2...

Raking Leaves

Last Sunday we decided to try raking leaves as a family. I've always thought this would be something fun to do, but wasn't sure how old they would be before they would enjoy it (and at what age is it not fun anymore?) Turns out Sadie loved it! Kinnick wasn't so sure about the leaves, but he loved having the freedom to explore the yard and the garage...

Sadie enjoyed "helping"--good thing we have a couple rakes!

Because we haven't played outside for awhile, Sadie had to get out everything... her softball tee, her basketball hope, her soccer ball, her riding toys, her bubble mower--she had a blast and she kept bringing toys to Kinnick also!

Kinnick knows what sport is in season.

It was amazing to me (although it really shouldn't have been) that Sadie needed no directions or prompting for playing in the leaves. I thought we would make a big pile and then show her how to jump in it. No need--she was in the pile very early on! She loved walking through it, laying in it, and throwing leaves on her brother and herself.

Kinnick was a bit more hesitant. My smiley easy going baby was actually in tears at the prospect of sitting in a pile of leaves...

Happy Fall!

5 Month Belly

This picture was taken October 17th (JoniKay's Wedding!), exactly 4 months before my due date!

Tanner's Apple Orchard

Last weekend we made our trip to Tanner's. It was a bit crazy that we had to wear winter coats, but we had a good time. We went with our friends Ryan & Liz and Jeremy & Megan (and their 4 kids). I really wanted to let Sadie do the playground/pony rides this year, but b/c it was so cold, we skipped that.

Sadie liked feeding the goats--she really liked showing them to Kinnick too!

Kinnick, all bundled up and enjoying his ride.

Kinnick was pretty interested in the goats--he kept trying to touch them.

Sadie, Megan, Carson, & Kinnick

Sadie was very excited to pick out her pumpkin--she's been wanting to get pumpkins since we first started seeing them at the store. NeeNee helped her pick out and decorate an IA pumpkin a couple weeks ago so we told her she could pick out a pumpkin to carve. She had to check out ALL the pumpkins and spend time saying hi to the cutout sheep... She had a good time!

Kinnick is holding his dad's kettle corn--he thinks he's pretty big stuff!

Kinnick--10/11 Months

My baby is growing up too fast... that's all I can say! I am constantly saying, "He's getting so big--he shouldn't be doing that yet."

Recent Accomplishments:

• Shortly after he turned 9 mos. he took his first steps. He is now taking 8-10 steps at a time! (He still crawls mostly, but he's getting closer to being a little toddler!)
• He has now attempted 3 different signs multiple times--"more" "all done" and "eat" (big surprise there!)
• He is developing such a sense of humor. He is always imitating what we do and you can guarantee that if you laugh at something, he will attempt it again.
• He's quite the little climber as well--he loves to do stairs (he's just beginning to learn how to go down.) He also likes to climb on the step ladder with his sister to assist with cooking and baking activities!
• On a less enthusiastic note, he has recently discovered how to pull his bib off and throw it on the floor and how to pull off the tray on his highchair--it also goes on the floor.
  
  Loves:
• Bath time! He could play for over an hour if we let him. I still try to make him sit down, but it's getting harder & harder--this week he actually flopped out of the tub head first (kind of like a seal).
• The swimming pool--I always thought that Sadie enjoyed swimming, but not compared to her brother. He LOVES the water. He kicks, splashes, and laughs the whole time. We went swimming this week and I showed him how to blow bubbles--I didn't think he would really try it, but he did--successfully! He is so relaxed in the water, he lets me float him on his back and tummy and he loves to put his face in.
• Nursing in the morning--he's down to only three times a day (only b/c I am making him until he's old enough to start milk.) He loves to nurse as soon as he wakes up. He gets very annoyed if I try to change his diaper first. After his morning snack, he would easily go the rest of the day w/out nursing.
• His sister--I love the fact that they are best buddies. He adores Sadie and it really makes my heart happy.
• Food--I weighed him this week and he's up to 20 lbs--that's 4 lbs in about 6 weeks! The boy can eat! He usually cleans his plate and then finishes up his sister's food also. He's really not too picky, but he loves bread and pasta.

IA Weekend

Last weekend, we headed to Iowa to stay w/ Marc's parents. Aunt NeeNee had planned a fun "Sadie-NeeNee day" and Sadie had conversed w/ her several times on the phone. Sadie was VERY much looking forward to the big day! Their day started w/ a much anticipated trip to the pumpkin patch. In Marc pretty much summed it up by saying "I'm sure she will look at/touch every pumpkin before she picks one." I think he was pretty close!

Back at home--checking out the pumpkins with Kinnick (he stayed w/ Grandpa & Grandma during the big adventure.)

Sadie is preparing to decorate her pumpkins w/ some permanent markers (yeah, Aunt NeeNee is pretty brave to give a 2 year old permanent markers...)

Marc put into Sadie's head earlier in the week that NeeNee should help her decorate a Hawkeye pumpkin. Stephanie was a good sport and did a pretty good job (better than I could have!)

Here are the finished products!

Sadie was very excited to check out Grandpa's motorcycle--she LOVES motorcycles. She told him maybe next summer she will go for ride.

Kinnick enjoying one of his favorite activities--eating! (Yes, he is wearing his sister's bib... poor guy!)

Another activity for the night included finger/toe nail painting. Sadie took her sweet time choosing a color!

Sadie & Aunt NeeNee

They also made some brownies for us to enjoy.

While the kids spent the day with Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt NeeNee; Marc and I went to Macomb and met the Caseys and the Knopps for the afternoon. We ate at Aurelios and went to a WIU football game. We had a great time!

On Sunday we went to church in West Burlington and then enjoyed lunch and brownies before heading home:

My big girl giving her "really big" smile!

This is the closest I could get of a picture of my two babies together...

Grandma & Kinnick (not sure why this one is small?)

Sadie is enjoying her brownie.

I didn't really plan on giving Kinnick any brownie, but he pretty much helped himself!