Fall Love

 Fall is just flying by. 

The weather here has been fantastic. Iowa is absolutely gorgeous this time of year.

Can you believe Halloween is just around the corner?  After much worry and concern on my part, Griffin has decided he DOES want to be a dinosaur for Halloween.  At first he didn't want to be anything.  He wanted to go trick or treating as "Griffin".  (yes, some days "Griffin" is a scary monster...especially if he doesn't nap long enough)  But with more talk of the upcoming holiday (i call it a holiday...you decorate for it, you have to buy treats for it, there are Hallmark cards for it.....), the little girls at daycare had persuaded Griffin that Tinkerbell was a really cool costume.  We delicately had the conversation about boys generally not trick or treating as Tinkerbell.  He didn't care.  He still wanted to be Tinkerbell.  Thankfully a Potterybarn kids catalog came full of Halloween costumes. Griffin spotted the shark costume right away.  Hooray, anything but Tinkerbell!  But with the price tag of almost $60, there was no way he was going to get that costume.  A super-duper Momma would have made a replicate of that pricey Potterybarn shark.  Unfortunately for Griffin, I'm just an average Momma.  BUT, I was lucky enough to spot a $9.99 dinosaur costume at Children's Place.  Equally scary, equally masculine, WAY less expensive, and thankfully Griff loves it! 

 Channy was easy this year.  I had originally thought I would dress her as a witch, but that wonderful Children's Place had a $9.99 butterfly costume with her name written all over it.  We are so ready for Halloween! (minus the candy... it has to be purchased the day of, otherwise it somehow disappears)

This little monkey has mastered climbing stairs.  She's a busy little girl.

 

 Really couldn't get many smiles from this normally very smiley girl. 

I think she was mad about the headband.

Griff has taken up nail biting. A very disgusting habit. 

I wonder where he picked that up from....

After a grueling photo shoot, we took the kids to IHOP for some much needed pancakes. ( & momma needed a serious cup-o-coffee)

Apparently modeling is some very exhausting work.

Punkin Patch

This weekend Kelly & Dustin came for a visit.  We went to the Raider homecoming game, we visited Carroll's Pumpkin Farm & we watched the Hawkeyes defeat Penn State. All in all, a great weekend. 

Although it was windy & cool, the kids had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch. 

Griffin & Channing loved spending time with Kelly & Dustin. 

Daddy & Mommy enjoyed the extra sets of hands.  

Big Papa & Nana E. joined us at the pumpkin patch.  Griff was so happy to see them!  He wouldn't let go of Papa.

I was a little disappointed that with all the extra family there, no one was willing to step up & ride "Sunshine" with Griff.  So I had to squeeze my butt into the little cow.  Thankfully we didn't tip & Bessie didn't get a flat.

Channy was getting a little tired of the pictures.

So was Griff.

We really need to work on that smile.

I have to put this picture on here--I finally got a good smile!  It is sad that I had to talk about bodily functions in order to get this kid to really smile.  You can always get a boy (or a man for that matter) to laugh if you mention farts. Don't judge, you do what ya gotta do to get a decent picture!

September Highlights

I was able to get a quick photo of the kids before taking them to daycare a couple of weeks ago.  We love Friday night football--Go Raiders! 

The kitchen seemed a bit crowded with Channing's highchair, so we took it down to the basement & moved Griff over to a big seat & Channy is now in the booster.  She loves it.....

 & so does he. 

 Check out the fuzz head. 

Not much hair up there.

 Both of the kids have been sporting new wheels.   Griff got a gator for his birthday from Nana & Papa B. 

He is such a nice brother.....he keeps offering his sister rides.  Maybe next year after we install seat belts, side airbags & buy her a helmet, chest protector & riding goggles she'll be able to hop on with him. 

Here you can see Channy strolling around with her new wheels.  She hasn't quite mastered turning yet.  Nana B. & Daddy have seen her standing on her own for a few seconds...I have yet to witness it.  Won't be long though, and this little gal will be walking unassisted.  Can't believe she's almost 10 months old!