Fall is Here!

We are enjoying the cooler weather, but not the early dark evenings.  Here is a peek in the last month of happenings at our house.

Alice playing with Caleb's hair - both completely hypnotized/immobilized by the television except for Alice's small hand movements.

This talented bunch carved a Frankenstein pumpkin this year.  This scattered mother did not capture a picture of the actual finished product - and it's now moldy and needs to find it's way to the trash.  It was a great pumpkin though!

Caleb is working hard on his writing!  These bathtub crayons make it very fun to practice.

Happy Birthday Caleb!  This 4 year old enjoyed a Star Wars themed week full of cupcakes, cake, celebrating, and one very FUN gift!

Apparently a 4-year does not need a license to drive - nor does he really need lessons.  Caleb took to chauffeuring Alice around in his new birthday Jeep with little instruction.  He's a pro - although he has a bit of a lead foot at the get-go.  Alice may have a mild case of whip-lash but she powers through.  She LOVES being along for the ride, preferring to sit and watch the world fly by than be behind the wheel.

Two laughing sweet peas.

Below are several pictures of the lady sweet pea.  At dinner tonight Caleb and I came up with a list of 5 things that Alice loves:

1. Me (Caleb)

2. yogurt

3. napkins

4. fairy movies

5. Mom and Dad

Happy Halloween!  Two sweet gnomes.  This was a very fun Halloween for us.  One of Caleb's best friends from school is moving into our neighborhood in a few weeks, so she and her family came over and went trick-or-treating with us.  Caleb and Lauren went door-to-door like old pros.  I was chuckling a lot, watching the silhouette of a little person in a gnome hat, being so brave (especially for someone so shy and reserved) to ring doorbells and put it out there.  Free candy gives you courage apparently.

At the beginning of August we had our Wyoming cousins to KC for a visit (and Aunt Ellen and Nana too)!  It was a great time - lots of playing, playing, and more playing.  Below are some favorite pictures.

This was an attempt to get everyone to pose with Nana.  Not an easy accomplishment - at least everyone is in the picture.

Caleb trying on August's boot.  August is on the tail end of his foot recovery.  He gets the screw removed the week of Thanksgiving and is already planning a return to the water - something involving a full body wetsuit that can be worn in cold weather.  I'll offer to stay home and watch the kids.  Brrrrr.

Caleb's top 5 things that he loves:

1. Mommy!

2. yogurt

3. trains

4. froggie

5. Daddy and Alice

Last few pictures of summer

It's been a long time since my last post!  We've been wrapping up summer here.  A few things to note:

1. August is no longer on crutches!  He's still wearing a boot, but only has 3 weeks left of that.

2. Caleb turns 4 next month - I can't even believe it.

3.  Alice is talking up a storm.  Caleb keeps her busy at dinner by saying a word and asking her to repeat it.  Our favorite is purple...she yells it "PURRRple"

4. The kids are enjoying soccer for another season this fall.

5. None of us are sick right now!  (knock on wood - seriously)

Sweet little Alice!

Caleb with his new train that "goes all by itself."  He loves to just watch it go around and around.

Train plank!

Powell Gardens had a cool exhibit over the summer - Fairy Houses and Forts.  The kids had a blast running around and playing while August kept up on his crutches (did I mention how glad he is to be rid of those?).

Two little monkies jumping on the bed!

3/4 Family Vacation

We headed East last week - meeting some of my family is Maryland for a week long vacation.  As the title of this post implies, only 3 of us Peas were able to go.  August's foot injury turned out to be surgery worthy.  He had a screw put in the day before we left and then stayed behind to recover in the peace and quiet of an empty house.  We missed him a lot - but still managed to see the sights and enjoy ourselves.

Here are some good cousin pictures...by the end of the week Caleb asked me to stop taking pictures...I figure if they just would smile the first time I asked I wouldn't have to take as many.  So here are cousin pictures - Anabel and Alice - sweet, but also not really into the photography.

Sam and Caleb hamming it up for the camera.

Best friends - forever.

Caleb in front of the Washington Memorial.

Sam and Caleb resting thier tired feet at the World War II Memorial fountain.  Caleb first walked up to this one and immediately started to pull down his pants.  I was in such shock it took me a minute to stop him.  He said he thought we were going swimming - but then was content to just soak feet.

One of the few pictures of me on the trip - proof that I was present.  At least my eyes are open.

Caleb and Grandpa watching the planes.  This might have been Caleb's highlight of the day.  With these monuments so close to the airport, the planes and helicopters flew by every few minutes.  Each fly by got him really excited.

Even on vacation Alice will make the stink face.



Cousins playing.



Girls at the beach!  Alice is not a fan of the sand...she wouldn't take her shoes off.

Caleb at the Washington DC zoo.

We stayed in an amazing house on Cheasapeke Bay - Here are a couple boats we could see from the front deck.

Another rare photo - 3 peas at the Air and Space Museum in Virginia.

No one would smile and look at the camera on command - oh well, ended up cuter being an action shot.

Caleb and Sam on the boardwalk.

Caleb and Abe Lincoln

 Another good zoo pic!