Your Turn/My Turn

Reid is obsessed with pulling the wagon. But he usually has a passenger in it since Elsie enjoys being pulled around.Here they come down the street.
Now today for the 1st time, I turn around and the tables are turned. Reid is the passenger.

Here they go taking off down the street. Thankfully they don't go very far. Just 1 house down in each direction and then they turn around.

October Birthdays

Rob's family has a lot of fall birthdays.(9 between Sept/Oct/Nov) So for the last 2 years we have had a get-together in the fall to celebrate all the birthdays together. Last year Aunt JoAn and Uncle Dave moved to a house on a lake, so it is the perfect spot to celebrate.

We had lunch when we arrived. We set up the umbrella table for the kids to have lunch. Perfect. Who doesn't have an umbrella table in their living room???Then the boys and kids went out fishing and for a boat ride.

After a while we all went outside. Aunt RaRa(Sarah) and Elsie were having fun hanging out on the big blow up turtle.

Uncle Dave wanted to take us on a hayride. So he borrowed a jeep and trailer from the neighbour and around the lake we went. The kids loved it.

We stopped to pick some apples while we were out on our ride.

Elsie found the perfect one.

Who needs to get them off the tree when you can pick them off the ground??

Finally Reid tries to get some off of the tree with Grandma's help.

Daddy's birthday

Nana was here for Daddy's birthday so Mommy and Daddy got to go out for dinner and a movie. Here the kids are reading everybook that we have in the family room. If its quiet in the family room, you will often find them sitting and reading. I hope that its a good sign. Reid is sporting another one of Daddy's hats. We bought daddy a griddle so he can make us pancakes on the weekends.

Waiting patiently to help with the present.

Not so patient now, getting down to business.

Playing Outside

We have been spending as much time outside as possible over the last couple of weeks. I'm dreading it getting colder and not being able to run outside easily. The kids have been trying to learn to ride their bigger bikes. Fortunately we have 2 of these tricycle like bikes. Aunt Lisa pulled one out of the garbage for the kids and the other is a hand me down from cousin Christopher. They have discovered that if they start at the top of the driveway, it is slanted enough to give them a little momentum.

Reid has started to like wearing hats when he goes outside. We don't have any that are his size, so we have tried to makedo with a couple old ones of Daddy's. He looks pretty cute with a hat on.

He did it, and he's proud.

Lost computer cord/Strolling with Strollers

So, If you have been wondering why I haven't posted any pictures lately, ask my children where the cord is to transfer pics from the camera to the computer. It went MIA, so I had to search for another one and it just wasn't at the top of the list. Its back now though so I'm catching up tonight.

I went to the Toledo Zoo almost 2 weeks ago for a program called Strolling with Strollers. We were there before the zoo opened and got to see the exhibits before there were a ton of people there. There was a guide who took us around and told us a lot about the animals that we didn't know. Its a great way to spend a few hours and its only an hour away.

I just thought this was the cutest picture. Reid just looks so curious. Like he is wondering if it is really going to move or not.Of course we had to go on the train. I'm not sure what they are looking at. I think the train is their favorite part of the zoo.
Reid checking out the giraffe on the train.

A self portrait waiting for the choo choo to start.

I always push them right up to the rail and talk about the animals. This picture has me wondering if they can even see anything. That bush looks like it is right in front of the rhino.

Checking out the sleeping orangutan.

Notre Dame

This past weekend we went to South Bend to visit with Rob's family. Rob and his brothers went to the football game with their Uncle Craig. (thank you Aunt Connie for giving up your ticket so the brothers could go together). I walked to the stadium with the guys just so the kids could see what was going on. For those of you who are reading this who haven't had the experience of going to a college football game, it is quite an experience. Lots full of people tailgating. People walking all over campus. There are some very loyal fans. Tons of stuff for the kids to look at and great people watching.

After the guys headed into the game, I walked across campus to take the kids to the pond. I knew there would be some ducks there for them to feed. We didn't get out of the stroller. I knew that would be a disaster. Luckily the ducks and swans were close enough to the edge that they could feed them from their seats.

I think that swan in front of the stroller would have come right up and taken it out of our hands They seemed pretty tame.
This is a picture of the kids in front of the Golden Dome. It is Notre Dame's famous landmark. It is on the building that is at the center of campus with a statue of the Virgin Mary on top of it.
You can see it from wherever you are on campus. I think it just has administration offices in the building now.


We also stopped at the Grotto which is by the pond. The Grotto is a cave of stones where you can pray. There are candles to light and benches to sit on. We said a prayer for our friend Tuesday while we were there.
The Grotto is just a peaceful place. No matter what craziness is going on in the world, it is just so peaceful there. When I was on bedrest, my MIL and her friend Barb came here and said a prayer for the twins and I.

Halloween Camping

Two weekends ago we went Halloween Camping with our good friends at the Monroe KOA campground. We rented a cabin close to our friends.It was a lot of fun. Each site decorates and then all the kids get to go trick or treating from site to site. Unfortunately the whole campground lost power in the late afternoon so there were no lights to see the spectacular decorations on all of the sites. I didn't even decorate the cabin we were in. We just went to hang out with our friends. Some people go all out. There was a whole family there dressed as the Flintstones. Complete with their car and their site decorated as Bedrock. There are costume contests, pumpkin carving contests, mini golf competition, fishing competition, coloring of bags and pillowcases. A ton of stuff for everyone to do.

This is Reid relaxing and having a snack.

Elsie checking out the scary tombstone that sings.
Some of the girls-Olivia, Grayce, Ally, Elsie and Emily.
Reid was a dinosaur. The hat stayed on for this picture only.
This is all of us. Elsie was Abby Cadaby from Sesame Street. Elsie didn't do much trick or treating. She was refusing to walk or ride in the wagon that night. She wanted to be carried and that wasn't happening. So she stayed at the site and passed out candy with me. Rob and Reid went out for a bit. Reid was actually starting to say trick or treat and was enjoying getting treats.

Before you ask, Elsie isn't cyanotic(lacking oxygen), she had a blue sucker.
The kids walking with Daddy.
Elsie with Mommy handing out candy.
Elsie getting ready. Carrying both baskets and her own Abby doll.