Grey Hairs & Ice Cream

My youngest has been giving Mama & Daddy a ton of grey hairs lately:

TA-DA! Look at me Mama!

Unloading the dishwasher and I turn around and see this:

I help you Mama!

Our sweet, funny girl loves ice cream... Since her last well-baby visit we have been trying to help her put on some weight and we got the ok from the Dr. to give her lots of high calorie foods: avocado, cheese, eggs, butter and ice cream! In the beginning of the video J captured her saying "I-Keem" .

Funny story: Our family took a drive after dinner one evening to check out some cool houses in our neighborhood all decked out with lights and Halloween decorations. We happened to pass our neighborhood Rita's Frozen Custard stand to see if it was still open even though it was fall. The last time we had been was in August, and we drove by slow, and saw the sign, "See you next year!". Bummer. We turned back onto the road, and Madison was apparently watching closely and said clear as day, "Hey! I-Keem!" and as we kept going she said it again, "HEY! I won I-keem!!" (I want ice cream) One of her first full sentences, and yes, it was about ice cream. LOL.

Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we finally made it to the pumpkin patch! Between birthday parties and busy work schedules, we were so happy to have an easy-going weekend to hang out and enjoy our sweet girls and the season. Here are a few pictures I snapped with Jarrett's phone...

 

Next weekend:  A little cold weather, and that means it is time for our annual family walk-along-the-canal to enjoy the fall foliage with Bent Spoon Hot Chocolates!!

All about Lulu

Lindsay Diane, 3.5 yrs

 Our sweet first born will be FOUR in a few short months... what a beautiful, loving and smart little lady she is! I have been meaning to write this posting for awhile now, but it shocks me how fast time passes. I saw a quote online about being a Mama, "Days are long, but years fly by"... how true!! 

Over Labor Day weekend we took advantage of all the fantastic sales and picked up a full size mattress for Lindsay's final conversion of her crib to toddler bed and now to a full size head board.  

We put all the bedding on her bed and told her to come inside, "Surprise!!" (Don't you love the black church shoes? She was 'tap dancing'...LOL)

"I LOVE my new bed!!"

One day in Homegoods Lindsay saw the ballerina quilt and said, "Mama! Look those ballerinas have blonde hair like me! I love ballet too!" We were lucky enough to find all the matching coordinates so I made the executive decision (or Lindsay actually) to just go ahead and get it!

Lindsay slept great, and told us, "Now I have room for all my friends!!" We limited her slumber party stuffed animals to 3-4.

I made some blackout panels in lavender polka dots, and her room was finished! I have some frames I want to put a couple ballet pictures in, but I am waiting for the perfect photos.  Madison loves to climb in bed with Sissy and read stories together. Lindsay already let me know when her cousins come to visit, she wants them to sleep with her...I doubt there will be much sleeping going on!!

Lulu has been into anything ballet lately, and been loving her little ballet class at the YWCA on Monday afternoons. They are putting on a mini Nutcracker in December, and I am looking forward to watching her perform...LOL. Hopefully this time she won't be the last kid on stage needing to be pulled off..

Inside her dance class... SHHH! I was sneaking a pic.. no parents allowed!

Little Miss Sasafrass!

I have been watching 3 kids for a few hours on Tuesdays, and Lindsay and Madison have loved having a play date every week at their house!  Their Mamas are leaders in our chapter of Community Bible Study, and I watch the kiddos while they can meet and plan on Tuesdays. They are fantastic, sweet little ones and we love having them come hang out every week. It gets a little crazy, but it is so much fun! Lindsay is a great hostess, and shares her toys and mediates among the kids.

Hello Leaves! Pretty hard to rake leaves with 5 kids running through your pile... but it sure is fun to jump in!



Popcorn snack time with kiddos... Peyton (5 yr), Jack (4 yr.) Madison (20 mo.) Lulu (4.5 yrs.) Tegan (3 yrs.)

Lindsay is inquisitive, and always has questions about the world around her. She has been doing great in our "preschool practice" during the week, and has been learning so much! We have been working on using scissors, writing her name and letter sounds. We went to a friends birthday party on Saturday and she was so proud to write her friend's name on the card, then sign her name at the bottom!! I hope she will be a lifelong lover of learning!

Concentrating hard doing "Preschool Practice"

Love you my Lindsay Loo! xo

Family Reunion

The girls and I flew back to California for a visit and to attend the Guenther Family reunion. My Grandma or "Gigi" as the girls call her, came from a brood of 9 children, born to German/Swedish parents who lived in Shafter, CA. It was so much fun getting to see all the cousins, and catch up on what has been going on. Living so far away from family make us appreciate the precious time we do get to spend together!

Maddie Grace taking a walk in the backyard

   It was the second time I flew by myself with the girls, and they did fantastic! This time of year is Jarrett's busiest, and this year was especially crazy for him because he was heading up a committee for the new university president's inauguration. Poor guy had only 2 days off the entire month of September :(

We had a wonderful dinner with Papa, Grammie and Uncle Matt. Papa made an apple crisp and it was delicious!

 We took a visit to Grammie's work to visit her co-workers and say hello! The girls couldn't wait to throw pennies in the fountain outside. We went to Chuck E' Cheese for lunch and went shopping for cold-weather clothes for the girls!

 We had a nice visit with Papa and he made us breakfast one morning: Pancakes and Bacon!

Lindsay photo bomb!

 On Saturday we went to the family reunion at our cousins home downtown. There were around 60 people, and there was tons of stuff for the kids and yummy food! Here are a few pictures:

Balloons!

Our family Matriarch, Grandma Rosie

Lindsay playing with her cousin Bella, whom she just met.

Hello family! Chatting it up...

 Madison loved it when Uncle Matt held her! She didn't seem to mind being up high, he is over 6 feet after all! I think she felt pretty safe with her big strong uncle. He didn't seem to mind lugging around his tiny little buddy too much :)

Maddie and Uncle Matt

Hula Hoopin'

Giant backyard bouncy house

 There was a huge playhouse in the backyard that all the little cousins had a blast playing in. It was pretty fancy- electricity, built-in china cabinet, real kitchen and chandelier! Adorable!

Perfect weather, and lovely chats!

Madison (19 mo.) and Ellis (15 mo.)

Tiny Tots... preferred to watch safely on the outside!

Me, Cousin Pam & Cousin Teresa

 On Sunday we spent the day with Nonna, Grandpa, Aunt Katie & Walker and cousin Katarina! Nonna made us breakfast in the morning, and the girls had so much fun playing together outside on the swing set. We also had a surprise visit from cousins Anna & Cassidy who were in town from Nor Cal, and loved catching up on their adventures.

Nonna and Maddie Grace

OLIVE-YOU! Sweet cousins Lindsay & Katarina

We had such a lovely visit, with perfect fall weather (for Bakersfield at least) it made leaving on Monday even harder! But it was probably a good thing because seriously, I think I gained like 5 lbs. There was a LOT of good eating. Love you family, and thank you for such a wonderful visit!! Can't wait to see you again soon! xo

Farewell Summer!

How can this summer be over already? It is suppose to be in the 80's-90's for the next couple of days, but after that, there is nothing but low 70's predicted for the next week! We have noticed a chill in the mornings and evenings, and there are already leaves piling in our front yard! Here's a quick recap of some fun summer stuff we are saying goodbye to...

Sun hat Beauties

 We didn't make it to the shore very often this summer, so at least my sun hats got some wear by the girls!

Pretty Girl after church one morning... I taught Sunday school this summer and the girls were my helpers after class organizing my lessons :)

 There were lots of trips to the park... I think I should have bought stock in mosquito repellent! I am so not going to miss the mosquitoes.



"Cheese!"

 Visited a neighborhood lemonade stand...

 Also checked the Camden Aquarium, and I don't know who had more fun, J or the girls. Every year our DVR is filled to the brim with shark shows from Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. Is it a coincidence J happen to suggest a visit to the aquarium right after? LOL.

 We wanted to picnic on Labor Day, but instead got rained out. We made due with a carpet picnic in the playroom, with the girls favorites: hot dogs and chips n' dip!

 Daddy made Smores for Lulu and Maddie one evening...

 Daddy had some visitors at work while it was slow this summer... 

 

I am thrilled for autumn, mostly because it is my favorite season. Here's why:
1. Fall Foliage
2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes/ Salted Carmel Mocha/ Dunkin's Pumpkin Coffee.
3. Boot and sweater weather

Last year we tried our best to enjoy fall, but after living in a warehouse and closing/moving into on our first home took over. I didn't even decorate last year (shocking). So this year we are doing it right... pumpkin patches, apple picking, harvest festivals, and enjoying long walks through the changing trees... and yes, as of Sept. 2nd my decorations are up. Hello Fall, bring on the pumpkin!!!

Eighteen Months

Little Miss is 18 months old...

Peek a boo!

 

Found my bellybutton! Wanna see it?! LOL

 

 

Playing in Big Sis's room... is there anything more fun?!

 Stats:
* 17 lbs, 14 oz (such a tiny tot!)
* 30.5 inches tall

Favorites
*Food: Blueberries, Mac n' Cheese, chicken, pancakes, scrambled eggs, beans, spaghetti, strawberries, cheese, French fries, chips n' dip, hot dogs, pizza.
*Words: "No", "Sssh she" (sissy), "Mama", "Dada", "cheese", "all done", "turkey", "bebe" (baby), "Shish She" (goldfish crackers), "Boo Boo", "Hot" (can mean cold or hot), "Ball", "Bear", "Cat", "Pup Pup", "Book", "Car Car", "Go Go", "Hi", "Uh O", "Nigh Nigh" (good night), "Milk", many body part (slightly embarrassing at the grocery store) and all the grandparents names, plus some animal sounds! She has began to combine words, like "No Mommy!" and "All Gone" or "What's That?", "More _". Her vocabulary is expanding daily... today I heard "Bak Pak" (backpack).
*She can say "Pee Pee" and "Poo Poo" and will tell us when she goes, which means we better change her diaper pronto or she will try to take it off... we might be potty training earlier than expected!
*Will give hugs and kisses when asked (of course if she feels like it :)
*Will gladly point to pictures when prompted: Sesame Street characters, animals and beginning to recognize shapes. Yesterday she pointed at said, "Star!" and it was indeed a star!
*Loves music and dancing... especially with big sister.
*Reading.... Her favorite thing to do is sit on your lap and read. I think I probably read 20 books a day... and it is never enough for her! Her favorites books are "I'm a Big Sister" (sorry Maddie, you'll have to stay our little sis) and any book with puppies or Elmo. She loves going to the library where we check out board books, and has so much fun sitting on the carpet at home looking through them.



"Look Mama! I'm swimming!"

*Water Baby... Oh this girl just adores the water. We went over to visit a neighbor with a pool and Madison wanted to put her face in the water, refused to wear floaties or a vest/raft and wanted to jump off the side into my arms. Yikes! Thank goodness we don't have a pool in our backyard. At bath time she will lay on her tummy in the water and "swim". She puts her face in, and will look up at me and give the biggest grin.
*She is taking 1-2 naps per day, and goes to bed around 7:30-8pm, and wakes up around 6:30am.
*Hair... Gorgeous golden brown hair, and Hazel eyes. They look more brown to me, and I like to sing her, "Brown Eyed Girl" song. Has four new molars.. only teeth we are missing are the canines and 2 yr. molars!
*Just discovered her first freckle, on her leg! She told me it was a "Boo Boo"...
*Madison is such a little love. She loves to cuddle, and has a sensitive heart. She often gets jealous of Big Sis when she is with Mama, and squeals with joy as soon as she hears the door open when Daddy is home. She will clasp her hands when we say our prayers at night and say, "Aaa-mn" (amen!).
*Dislikes... whenever Big Sis gets something she doesn't, cleaning up toys, when Mama can't hold/pick her up, having to go inside after playing outside, not being able to climb the stairs.
We love you our sweet brown-eyed girl!! xoxo