Evie's 5 month photo shoot

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Washington Farms - October 2011

These pics really come from 2 different visits to Washington Farms.  On October 1st, we went pumpkin picking.  It was a windy day, but nice out.  Then, 2 weeks later when Grandma & Grandpa L. visited, we went back for all the fun activities.  The cow train is an annual treat, and happens to be my favorite.  It was Evie's first time!  We all had a fun time, and even walked through a corn maze.  It's an annual treat we never miss!  :)

Camo Gabby

Last week, there was 1 day at the children's school where the children were asked to wear camo.  I didn't have any for Hannah & Lily, so i bought them each a scarf to wear in their ponytails, a' la 1960's.  Gabby wanted to try it on, so I put it around her head.  She was pleased when she peered into the mirror.  Gabby looks cute in everything, even camo!

Halloween 2011

This year, Connor was a skeleton, Cameron was a phantom, Hannah was a cheerleader, Lily was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, Gabby was a cute witch, and Evie was a pea pod.  A friend, Michael, stopped by with his dad to trick-or-treat with us in our neighborhood.  He was a very realistic-looking cowboy.  Everyone had fun trick-or-treating for about an hour and a half.  It turned cold, and little hands were turning into popsicles.  I brought Gabby & Evie home after 1 hour and then made hot cocoa for when the other children got home.  Everyone had a good time, and we have more candy in our home than is healthy!  If anybody wants some, I'll send a truck over to your house!   :)

Bobbing for apples

The day before Halloween, the children bobbed for apples for the first time.  They had a fun time trying to pick up the apples with only their teeth.  We made it a beginner's game by leaving the stems on.  In a couple pictures, you can see the boys holding the girls' hair back for them.  This was unprompted, and I was so proud of them.  Gabby did not want to bob for apples...maybe next year   :)

Sibling Revelry

Here are a few pictures of our little ones enjoying the company of their siblings, taken in September.  I love to see the love they have for each other. 

Evie-Bunny

The super-cute bunny Gabby is holding is Evie's.  Or perhaps I should say "was".  I bought this bunny shortly before Evie was born & thought it would be her special lovey.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  She's so cute in her pink and white striped fur and matching pink headband.  And she's soooo soft.  Well, this little bunny was sitting on my rocker in my bedroom when one day Gabby came in and saw her.  She picked her up and wanted to bring her downstairs.  Evie is too young to mind, so I thought, 'okay...she'll tire of the bunny soon enough and I can put her back later."  I was wrong!  I had bo name for the rabbit, so just called her what she was...."Evie's bunny".  Gabby loves this little bunny so much, she won't go anywhere without her....around the house, the car, stores, the backyard...you name it.  Gabby will very clearly say "MINE" when speaking of the bunny.  The name has stuck, but she's made it her own, & named the bunny after her sister...calling her, Evie-Bunny.  I've already called the shop where I bought Evie-Bunny and they do not have anymore.  But they promised to try to order some.  I'm crossing my fingers   :)

Ride Around the Neighborhood

This is what our family looks like when we take a bike ride around our neighborhood.  Usually we go walking, but the children love to ride their bikes, too.  We have a steep hill and also some mild ones, so it can be a nail-biting experience to watch the children picking up speed going downhill, and they tire of walking their bikes uphill, but it's always fun spending time outdoors as a family.

Gabby was here...

I opened my fridge to take out some tea, and found Gabby's toy baby bottle lying there.  It was so sweet!  She had put it in the fridge as she sees me do.  She has been copying me a lot lately, pretending her bunny is her baby to be fed, burped and diapered.  The most sincere form of flattery....

StellaLuna

One late afternoon, I noticed a small bat clinging to the side of our mudroom entrance.  It just stayed there, calming blinking its eyes and bothering no one.  I told the childen not to bother it.  Perhaps it was lost or confused.  We nicknames it StellaLuna, after the children's book.  As I suspected, she was there when we came in for the day, and gone in the morning.  It was very cool for the children to see a real bat up close like this.  They were able to admire her and talk about what she looked like, all with a great view.She was actually sweet-looking with her tiny blinking eyes and calmness.