October Phone Shots

The girls playing at the gymnastics gym with their friend, Harper

Bridgette and I had a fun day together traveling to London to get her visa application completed.

I think he looks so handsome in his uniform!

Sharing an ice cream cone in the car?  What sort of parents are we?!  I love how Gretchen's hand is formed as if she's holding a cone as well.

Rockin' the headband

An eggnog latte went perfectly with our pumpkin painting

New clips encouraged the ponytail to last longer than ten minutes - thank you Hurt girls!

Our storyteller

Super Rooke and Super Gretch on their way to trick-or-treat for the first time on base

A very special 24-hour catch-up with Callie, our dear friend from college.

Westminster Abbey

 I love these kids!

The Leaves

The girls and I walked to school to pick up Rooke with the intent of staying and playing in the leaves on the village green for a while.  It was a fun way to enjoy the Fall days we've been having!

Pumpkin Day

We started last Saturday with our annual family trip to a farm to pick out some pumpkins!  The farm dog tagged along with us. 

The pumpkin patch was pretty much a giant mud pit, so I ended up being the designated pumpkin-finder since Gretchen and I were the only ones wearing wellies and she didn't want to get hers dirty.  I don't blame her.  They're super cute.  (We have since purchased wellies for Rooke that actually fit him so he doesn't miss out on any more messy fun!) 

In our family, we like to paint our pumpkins.  At least for now.  I trust my children more with a paintbrush than with a knife!  While the pumpkins were being painted, pumpkin spice muffins were being baked and a sweet husband was making an eggnog latte for his tired wife.

And after all the farming and baking and painting, some serious bath playing was in order!

It was a great Fall day of family fun!

New Sounds

She's discovered how to make a new sound yesterday and was doing it all day long!

Our Library Bag

Many of these titles are ones that friends have suggested.  Keep the recommendations coming!

Badger's New House by Robin Muller

The World Champion of Staying Awake by Sean Taylor

Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston

Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams

A Mango in the Hand by Antonio Sacre

Mitchell's License by Hallie Durand

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

We started with this one and Rooke enjoyed it so much, we've since read all three in the little series!

Zoomer by Ned Young

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

This is a CD that is so much fun!  The kids and I have had many a dance party with these creative and silly songs.  Our favorites are We Are the Dinosaurs, I'm Gonna Catch You and Victor Vito.

Seven Months

Our baby girl is seven months old today!  She loves trying out all sorts of new foods in this mesh chewing thingy.  Frozen mango is her favorite so far!  I'm also back in the never-leave-home-without-cheerios phase.

My mom's friend loaned us this donut.  I'd never seen one before, but it's been perfect for this age - especially when we're playing outside.  Bridgette loves to chew toys while watching, (yay for her bottom two teeth finally popping through!) and will happily hang out for about thirty minutes while the kids and I burn off some energy on the trampoline.