Yummy...getting ready for Christmas is so much fun this year. The kids really enjoyed making the cookies ---well probably the decorating and taste testing was the most fun. It is amazing how quickly a double batch of cookies goes with little fingers always sneaking another one!

Snow....Daddy's big helper

Parker and Daddy went outside to clean off the driveway. Parker was super excited to be Daddy's big boy and felt super special. The girls and I have it right...watching from the window in our PJ's!

The Joy of Scissors

We've had an entire day at home today (don't think that has happened since school started) and they are bouncing off the walls. I made playdough, that lasted a while and now we are cutting feathers for our turkey puppets. The scissors have been hidden in unreachable places since Tia took my pair and 2 $100 bills out of my drawer and cut them into many pieces. I hid the kid scissors after she cut the baby dolls hair but she is smarter than mommy and used my scissors!

We really enjoyed putting our tree up and the kids have their own little tree with ornaments too since helping with one wasn't enough for them. They move the ornaments around every day and most of them are in the same spot. This is the JOY of Christmas!

Trick or Treat

It is Halloween week and time for candy....candy....candy....that is all their minds are on and they wake up asking for it, fighting over it and trying to get some out of the candy bowl all day long. We went trick or treating at the nursing home yesterday and Iris had her Halloween party at school today. I'm room mom so I got to help out and get a couple of pictures. It was quite surprisingly very quiet for a room full of 3 year olds. We are super excited for Trick or Treating and can't wait for Grandma and Grandpa's visit.

No We Can't Keep them....

Happy Fall.... here is a picture of the kids in front of the Morton Arboretum. The kids love the Children's garden and enjoyed seeing all of the different pumpkins and gourds.

No we can't keep them...Our neighbors found 2 baby kittens in their yard right before they left on vacation. We took them home with a promise to find them a new home. Daddy was very surprised to see two baby kittens when he got home from work and Parker really begged to keep them. Daddy stood firm (good thing one of us would!) and we dropped them off at a no kill shelter the next day. They were only 3 weeks old and needed a nursing mother (which this place had)...so in the end it was good lesson for the kids that the baby kittens got a new mom to take care of them because their other mom couldn't. We had lots of fun playing with them while we had them though...oh so cute!

Playing House and a Fire Truck

Parker is pretending to be Mike and Iris is Val and Tia is the baby....hmm...she is little but I didn't think she could actually fit into the baby doll pack and play....
I never dreamt Iris could fit into it...it is like a clown car...maybe it will even hold me!

At our visit to the park after school the local fire truck was doing testing and training. The kids were super excited to see the ladder all the way up in the air and shooting water out. The firemen were nice enough to give them hats too.

Iris made a big mess

I was inside cleaning up after dinner and the kids went to play outside. Next thing I know Parker runs in and says Mommy, Iris made a big mess....Tia comes in next and says Big Mess Mommy....so I take a deep breath and go outside to see what the mess is. On the driveway is a big blue puddle of fabric softener...over half of the Costco size bottle was spilled out and Iris is smiling her devilish smile and pushing the lawn mower through it. I get the hose out and let Parker help, of course Iris and Tia end up soaking wet and screaming.

Pennsylvania here we come and go...

The kids did great in the long car rides --so super great! We drove to Penn State on the way out...the kids were bored by mom and dad reliving the memories and anxious to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house. They had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa and loved the fish pond in the yard. They even got to feed the fish. Mom and Dad had fun at the wedding and really enjoyed getting away for the night. It all went so quickly...even the 25 hrs of driving wasn't bad.

Parker's First Day of School

Parker has started 4 year old preschool, here he is with his friends Finnegan and Katelyn. He shares a cubbie with Katelyn too (he talks about it all of the time). I forgot the camera on Iris' first day of school---we'll get a picture soon. They are both really enjoying school and Tia starts next week.

Daddy brought home a pet....

Meet Leah...the pet lizard (technically, a leopard gecko). Hmm...I thought Daddy was joking when he called that he was bringing home a pet lizard. Leah did not eat the first 5 days of being in her new home....yesterday was my first day on lizard duty, Mike is back to work... last night I wake up to myself turning all the lights on and searching the bed for the lizard and I realize I am having a nightmare about the lizard...great, I am sure looking forward to going to sleep again tonight.

Birthday Party

Musical Chairs, the gold fish game, and birthday cake. Parker really enjoyed his party with his friends. He has been so trying since the party, it is such a let down to go back to normal day to do after an exciting, attention filled birthday weekend.
We are looking forward to heading to PA for the weekend for a friend's wedding and to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa...we are anxious about the 13 hr. car ride...hopefully it will turn out just like the one to Georgia back in April...perfect (we are certainly not expecting that..but one can hope).

An Afternoon Break and Air and Water Show

Here are Parker, Iris and Tia enjoying a break together after playing in the yard. Parker and Iris love to play Mommy and Daddy (or they call each other Mike and Val) and Tia is the baby with a new name everyday. Tia used to fight this and has given up. Now that she enjoys it, they all play together happily.

On Sunday (Aug. 18) we went to the Air and Water Show. We drove in early to the city and ate and Mommy and Daddy's favorite breakfast spot, Ann Sather's. The kids were great in the restaurant. They enjoyed being down by the lake and playing football and running around. They liked seeing the airplanes but after the second one went by they could have cared less. If you've seen one airplane you've seen them all. Mike and I kept pointing out all of the different planes and when they were doing stunts they just looked at us like ok, how is that different than the last one.

Ultimate Couch Potatoes and Baby Strollers

After a slumber party with friends and a sleepover at Grammy's Parker and Iris have been enjoying their portable beds. They even have to use them on top of the couch to watch a movie.

We now have 3 baby doll strollers, one for them each to ride in....here they are racing around the house, seeing who is the fastest.

We're Blogging Now

We've starved everyone of the website and I am saavy enough to create a blog so here we go...maybe you will see a few more pictures of the kids

We have about 2 weeks before school starts. Parker is in 4 year old preschool and Iris is in 3 year old preschool. Summer camps and swimming lessons are over for the summer....hmmm...I think I am ready for a change of season but the winter will be very long being stuck indoors. We have playdates and visits to the park planned this week. Grammy came for a visit today, the kids love the extra attention.