The Farm

This was our FOURTH trip to The Farm!  It's one of my most favorite fall activities, and even more so this year because my siblings came with us!  We definitely missed Tana, but Konnor was here on business and the McTaggarts came down to join in on the fun!  First, a look back:

No pictures from 2007 when I went with friends, seven months pregnant with Rooke.

2008, Rooke was 9 months old:

2009, Konnor was with us, Rooke was 21 months and I was seven months pregnant with Gretchen:

 

And here we are in 2010!  Rooke is almost 3, Gretchen is almost ten months old, and the fun was enjoyed by all!  I snagged a few pictures from Aubyn's post on the trip.

Ryan likes experiencing "fun food" with Rooke.  Corndogs definitely fit in the category of "fun food".  Cheers!

This is Rooke two years ago, doing the same "practice walking" that Gretchen is doing above in the same pumpkin patch!

In preparation for our trip to The Farm, Rooke and I read In Search of the Perfect Pumpkin.  He was pretty excited to find our perfect pumpkin.  We were looking for a small pumpkin that was totally orange without spots or bruises.  Ryan grabbed a couple and put them in Rooke's track so he would be sure to find exactly what we were looking for.  Here he is, pointing to our perfect pumpkins! 

Ryan Payne, Esquire

There are few days I will remember forever.  

Today is most certainly one of those days.  

MY HUSBAND PASSED THE BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Three years of law school, two months of studying, three days of testing, and three months of waiting - we finally got word today that Ryan Payne has been welcomed into the Washington State Bar Association.  We're done!  Done!  Done!  Done!

Done.

We've had a great day celebrating with friends and family, topped off with a fantastic dinner at Lola with my brother tonight.  Yipeeeeeeee!!!! 

Feed My Starving Children

Last weekend, I met up with some friends from our community group and a couple hundred other people to volunteer at a packing event for Feed My Starving Children.  I'd not heard of the organization until someone told me about the opportunity to volunteer, but it didn't take much reading on their website to get excited about what they are doing to help starving children around the world.  Take ten minutes, even five, and check them out.  See if you, too, aren't excited and eager to volunteer at a packing event in your neck of the woods.  You, too, could look awesome in a hair net!  Follow the link above or click here to watch a short video.

birthdays

It's hard to believe we are already half way through October!  We're having too much fun and the time is just flying!  We went up North at the beginning of the month for Scott's birthday.  Random family fact: my sibling's and I all married someone with a birthday in October.  Yay for birthdays!  Yay for time with the McTaggarts!

Rooke and Evelynn enjoying frozen yogurt pops.

"Cheers!"

We put the kids in Evelynn's wagon for a little stroll.  I couldn't stop taking pictures!

Being the super cool guy that he is, Scott put on a show for his birthday party!  He played (almost) all of his own stuff.  He's an incredible songwriter/musician and Ryan and I loved our front row spot for the show.

Speaking of birthdays . . . this is what Ryan wanted for his birthday morning after a yummy breakfast: snuggle time with Rooke while watching Sesame Street ABCs.

31!

Happy Birthday to my hot Husband!

Breaking News

We interrupt our regular posting to bring you breaking news . . . Gretchen Ruth has taken her first steps!  Seriously!  It will probably be a while longer before she's actually walking, but we have steps, folks!  She took three steps with Ryan before I was in the room.  Then did that again while I was watching and turning the camera on, and this was the take we got on our third time around.  Something about my sister's house and the month of October inspires my kids to walk.  Rooke did almost the exact same thing two years ago.  So fun!  

 

P.S.  I think my husband looks sexy when he wears his running shorts and brown socks.  That's why he's dressed like that.

September Compilation

This video is kinda random . . . just some clips from stuff at home during the month of September.  We usually have the most fun at home among all the mess and chaos of our lives!

Our little monkey loves to crawl up the stairs and will do so without a moment's notice if you're not watching!

Snuggling with Daddy while watching Sunday football . . . Ryan's dream come true!

Have I mentioned she's an active little girl?!

We have a small garden bed next to our front door which Rooke has recently turned into his digging site.  We have an increasing number of cars and trucks designated as our "dirty toys" so his diggers have something to bury and dig up.

Recently

Recently, Gretchen enjoys clapping and hissing through her teeth:

Recently, Rooke has enjoyed playing with his trains in his room.  He doesn't want to use the tracks, but prefers to wheel his trains around on his bed.  The trains have conversations which move between normal dialouge to that straight from any number of the Thomas the Train books we frequently read. 

Walking

We've enjoyed some amazing weather this week by putting our legs (and stroller) to good use on several lovely walks.  After moving to Seattle, my mom gave me a book called "Take a Walk" that maps out 100 walks through Seattle and the surrounding areas.  After doing this trail, there is only one walk left for us to check out within city limits.  Ryan ran there and I drove with the kids to meet him.  Rooke kept saying "We're in the jungle!" 

 

Giving the trees a little "water" - his first nature potty experience!

On another day, we ventured out to walk a few errands, but got a bit distracted at the Faire Gallery Cafe where I was told they sell Nutella Hot Chocolate.  We bought one to share and it so delicious we should have gone back for more!

We made a stop at the Digger Park, so named by my son for its sand pit full of diggers and such.  

"No hands!"

"What, Dad?  White pants?  New shoes?  What did you say?"

 

She loved feeling the sand in her fingers

  

And speaking of walking, Gretchen wishes she could!