First flurries!!

Let's just say I was much more excited than the kids when I glanced out the window late last week to see the first flurries of the season. I was almost giddy bundling them up, rushing us out the door before it stopped as quickly as it started. So, there we were, standing in the middle of the yard -- not loving it. I think Patrick's exact words were "it's cold, it's wet, hurting my eyes, want to go inside now".

Sick days...

We literally spent two full days in jammies last week, everyone in the house was sick. Around the end of the bug, Patrick was feeling chipper enough to construct a castle with his blocks -- and quite proud of himself, he was!

11 months old

Lucy's first birthday is 4 weeks away today exactly. We can hardly believe how quickly the year has flown by. She is crawling all over the house, having mastered the only two steps we have very quickly -- the up part, that is. She loves to turn around at the top and "jump" off. I think that is from watching her brother. In fact, she wants to be doing everything that he is doing. She is totally done with her bottles and formula in general, not really by our doing, but her's. Just decided one day she was done with them :) Every now and then we can get her to drink a little bit of soy milk out of her 'big girl cup'. Lucy is becoming much more mischevious as well -- when she is done eating or simply doesn't like the options in front of her, she starts dropping things onto the floor. To the tune and encouragement of her brother laughing. And she is very sensitive as well, her face just crumples when you tell her 'no'. She is becoming very jealous of Patrick and protective of me -- when the three of us are playing on the floor and he tries to sit on my lap, she stands up and and tries to pull him off my lap or -- better yet -- hit him in the face. We have caught her a few times standing very briefly unsupported when she is closely focused on a toy in her hand, but I would be very very surprised if she is walking by her birthday like her brother was. The words are just tumbling out -- adding 'tractor', 'truck', and 'cracker' lately -- giving her around a dozen words or so. We are so excited for her birthday! Oh, almost forgot. This picture is her "praying". She knows that food follows the prayer, so she is always anxious to get on with it!

Patrick

I feel like we focus too much on what Lucy is doing because her developments are so noticeable, but Patrick is growing every day as well. He is almost 2 1/2, will be in a couple of weeks exactly. He is getting so big -- gaining 5 lbs and 3 inches since the spring. We are working on cutting with scissors, using markers and crayons, and holding silverware the right way. He is running full board, so we are practicing hopping and jumping, skipping and galloping. He is a little helper -- right up there to add ingredients, mix batter, and fix a sandwich. And of course, picking up sticks in the yard or loading up the trailer with Daddy. We are practicing dressing for the day and helping with chores like gathering laundry, setting the table, and making his bed. He does everything full throttle and tries to be very independent, whether or not he can actually do a particular task. He recognizes the primary colors and we are moving on to shapes and counting. He is trying to understand the concept of money and buying things. His vocabulary is increasing every day, including funny phrases like "we've got plenty" or "sometimes" or "might be". I got some great pictures of him this morning, capturing his personality in such a perfect way. Check out the slideshow.

Fall colors

I snapped a couple of pictures of the kids underneath our neighbors beautiful red bush. The colors are just amazing this season! We have been enjoying these final few unseasonably warm days-- spending most of our time outside between the park, zoo, long walks, playing in the yard, and picnic lunches.