Happy Halloween!

It's been a busy weekend with Lainey's preschool Halloween party, trick or treating in the Village and now, actual Halloween day.  On Friday, we were blessed with an incredibly dry, sunny day for trick or treating in the village.  It was a chaotic scene with kids and families everywhere trying their hardest to get to the candy.

It didn't take the kids long to figure out the hang of it and Beau even managed to sneak some candy on his own.

This would make a fantastic Christmas card photo don't you think?

Beau showing me his 4th piece of candy

And how he felt when I took the "sure to get lodged in his throat not at all appropriate for kids" piece of candy away.

Monkey on the loose! Zookeeper in hot pursuit.

Hanging with Grandpa is a favorite place for this little monkey.

And even then he can't stop climbing!

Happy Halloween from me and my two little monkeys!

Random Cuteness

Lainey spotted this purple wig or as she calls it, her purple hair and has been having fun prancing around in it. Both kids really have a strong silly side and I love that about them.  Beau wants nothing to do with the wig, which just makes me more determined to get a pic of him wearing it. We'll see who wins.

Does he look excited about the smooch that's coming his way or what?

Love his eyes in this shot. In all three of him, I photoshopped out the goober, slobber, whatevers that were on his shirt. I LOVE photoshop!!

Lainey modeling her new nightshirt I made her in my sewing class.  As I was finishing putting the buttons on, she asked me what it was. I told it was for her and she said, "Oh, thank you Mommy!"  Yes, I melted more than a little.  She's in such a great phase right now that I could just eat her with a spoon. 


And you may have noticed that all of these shots were taken by the front window in the living room. I like the light there and have even moved the couch further away from the window to take advantage of the light.  Hopefully once the remodel is done I can figure out some way to make that a mini studio. 

October

We've had a beautiful October so far. It's been pretty dry with lots of sunshine.  I keep waiting for the rain to start, and I know it will but I'm very happy it's waited this long.

We've lived in our house now 8 months and I never get tired of the view from the park that's a block and a half away.

And I know one little guy that isn't tired of it either.   When I ask him if he wants to go to the park, he says, "hang?"

We usually go to the park after Daddy gets home from work because when I try to take them by myself, it's a constant game of who do I stay near, the kid that loves to dangle, or the girl who loves to run off and drink out of the dog fountain while Mommy is occupied with little brother?

It's not nearly as much of a break for Mommy as one would think. 

To say he is obsessed with balls is an understatement. He's also been known to interrupt soccer games and practices that are going on at the park.  All he wants is the balls they are playing with.  How do you tell a 20 month old he can't play?  

Waiting for Daddy

At the end of the day the kids love watching for Daddy out the window.  I try not to think it might be because they are sick of being with me but the hero's welcome he receives makes that a little difficult.  All kidding aside, I love how excited they get when he gets home.  And he honestly deserves the warm welcome he receives.  

Sometimes it takes him a little longer than they'd like and they get a little bored.

But sometimes you see a friend. This day it was Leah, our three year old neighbor from across the street.  Beau is quite fond of her. Apparently he likes older women. 

Then she left and they were back to bored again.

Really bored.

Then Beau decided he had been sitting long enough and took a leap onto the sofa.

Then Lainey joined in and I officially lost all hope of getting them to stop. Good thing Daddy came home about 10 seconds after I snapped this shot.  All of this happened in a matter of 5-7 minutes by the way. 

Fairbank Farm

How I lived in Snohomish County for 15 some odd years and never visited this jewel of a pumpkin patch/petting zoo is beyond me.  But it would be just my luck to move to Seattle and then go.  We were lucky enough to score an invite to the Fabulous Miss Annabelle's first birthday party that was held here.  She holds a very special place in my heart and I would've sooner chopped off my arm than miss her special day.  We didn't hit the pumpkin patch section but instead spent our time feeding the "dirty birds" as Daddy called them and falling in love with the ponies, just born baby pigs, goats and chicks.

Getting bird food from Daddy

Hmmm....wonder what it tastes like?

Mommy told me not to get too close to you guys

But she told me I could touch you.  Sheesh, she sure is confusing! I'm not sure I want to pet you.

Well, I guess if Lainey can do it, so can I.

Mommy was glad to see the One Finger Rule has sunk into our heads.

And she said I rocked my very first pair of rainboots. Batman of course.

Lainey told the goat she loved it.

She also expressed her love for the pony.

That one finger rule again. Love it!

Mommy said these were chicken nuggets but I don't see any. Do you Beau?  All I see are chickens. 

Watching a baby chick hatch

Baby pigs that were born the day before.  Pretty much the cutest things I've ever seen.  There was just one with spots. Think Mom's wondering what happened there?

shutterBUG

Thanks to her Aunt Nan, Lainey has a new camera.  She had been asking for a new one almost since the minute she broke her old one.  Lucky for her, she has an aunt that had a spare camera!  

I admire her determination to get the shot.  She even busted her brother climbing on the kitchen counter.  Once I pry the camera away from her, I'll download the pic and share it.

I love it when she scrunches up her face when she's concentrating or pointing out something to us.  Of course, it could also mean that she needs her eyes checked.

Is it any wonder why I love taking pictures of this child?  She's just going to have to suck it up and deal.

There is something about this photo and the one below that I really like.  It's like most art. I have no idea why I like a piece. I just do.  Could be because of how difficult it is to get Lainey to look at the camera.  I'm sure that's part of it but also, I think one of Lainey's best features is her eyes. She's always had these big beautiful hazel eyes and long eyelashes.  Among other things, long eyelashes are wasted on the young!

How's GML? I know how you love it when Lainey gets to dominate a post!

Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday Robert took a rare day off and we headed out to our favorite pumpkin patch, Craven Farms in Snohomish. We've gone there the past 4 years or so and although it's quite a jaunt for us now, no more so than any other pumpkin patch and well worth the drive.  On this day, we practically had the place to ourselves. There were maybe two or three other families there.  As a mom, I loved that I could let my hooligans run free without worrying who they were disturbing or not being able to find them in a sea of people. The photographer part of me was disappointed at our late start and the resulting harsh, mid-day sunshine but, I'll take full sun and an empty pumpkin patch over rain and lots of people in the background any day!  The kids loved looking at all the pumpkins and are still asking to go back.  What is the fascination with pumpkins I wonder?  I am enjoying this time when the kids are still little enough to think the joy is seeing the pumpkins and not buying them.  $20+ for an average sized pumpkin is so not going to happen while I'm still kicking and when the grocery stores have them 3 for $12! 

On the hunt for the best pumpkins in the patch.  I think two best ones are sitting in the wagon. 

My beautiful girl who hates looking at the camera.  Over the course of the outing she got more and more impatient with me and my camera.  

City kids on tractors. 

Lainey showing the first signs of being over the whole picture thing.

He looks so grown up to me in this photo

And he REALLY likes pumpkins!

"Seriously Mom? Aren't you done YET?" I just want to apologize to Lainey for the orange shirt. It's cute but I didn't really think about how she'd blend with the pumpkins. And the sequins on a sunny day, well, the reflections showed up on her face. My bad but who knew it would be sunny in October in Seattle?

This proves she must really love me. 

and just a few more. I promise!