Labor Day and Family and Friends Galore!

What a week!  It was chock FULL of friends and family.
On Labor Day, A^4 went over to Scott and Lucy's house to see their newest addition, Benjamin (6 weeks old).  Sam was SO excited to have company at his house!!  He was running everywhere and jabbering up a storm!  (Ayson, Addie, and Sam all go to the same daycare - Grandma Linda). 

Ayson and Sam playing with the "tunnel"

Addie in a cute sleeper that Ayson used to wear.

On Wednesday, Mommy's Cousin, Betsy, and her family: Mark and the girls Madeleine (4 yrs) and Stella (18 months) arrived for a visit.

Ayson was SO excited to meet and play with his cousins.  He alternated between calling them "kids" and "cousins."

A great picture of all the girls...minus Mommy :)

Everyone at play.

Addie and Mark getting a closer look at each other.  Stella getting a look at the strange baby in her Daddy's arms!

Betsy, Stella, and Addie.

On Friday night, we all went out to dinner (at Betsy and Mark's suggestion and offer...thank you!).  Mommy and Daddy had never attempted a dinner outing on a Friday with the kids...eek!  But we arrived at the restaurant before 5, everyone did great, and the babies were back home and in bed around 7.

The restaurant had a small "arcade" area with car video games and toy vending machines...perfect while waiting for dinner to arrive.

Saturday morning with the Mommy's and their babies.

Addie checking out her cousins :)

Madeleine and Ayson eating popcorn.  Ayson is just about sitting on top of Madeleine in this picture...he must have learned from Mason (Mason used to sit on Mommy's belly when Mommy was pregnant with Ayson and Addie).

Madeleine, "the sleepy head," cuddling with her Daddy and Ayson and Stella trying to get up on the chair too so as not to be left out!

Betsy and the girls left Saturday...it was sad to see them go and there were multiple good byes.  The house seemed so empty!

Profiles of our babies!  Saturday night Ayson came up to Addie, who was just finishing her dinner, and started talking to her.  Addie had the biggest smile!  In this picture, Ayson is checking out what is going on in the kitchen while Addie is checking out her brother!

Mark stayed with us Saturday night as he had work in Rochester the next week.  That night, Mark made us a yummy spaghetti sauce and bruschetta and Daddy grilled pork chops...yum!  Like Mommy, Betsy is lucky to have married a cook :)

A Sunday morning picture to round out the week.  It was a bit chilly downstairs, so Mommy dressed Addie in the sweater that Aunt Shirley (Betsy's Mother) made Addie...it still somewhat fits!  :)

The day warmed up nicely to the low 70s and A^4 took a nice walk in the orchard...what a great week and weekend!

Another week with A^4!

New developments this week:  Ayson's vocabulary amazes both Mommy and Daddy.  Addie is rolling ALL over the place and is constantly watching everything that goes on around her.

On Tuesday, Mommy finished feeding Addie before Mommy was done with her dinner.  Mommy sat Addie on her lap and Addie kept twisting around and grabbing for Mommy's corn (home grown).
Addie:  "Mumma!  I want a bite of your corn!!!"

A big smile from our Baby Doll on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Neighbor Denise offered to watch the babies while Mommy and Daddy went kayaking.  We had a wonderful time and Denise had it easy as Mommy and Daddy had the kids in bed before Denise arrived :)  Thank you SO much, Denise!

The air was so still at Labrador Unique Area...the water was like a mirror!

Mommy and Daddy forgot that there was a Blue moon coming!

A picture looking south...our little slice of the Adirondacks in Central NY!

Hanging out in the shade on Friday.  Ayson riding Neighbor Gianna like a horsey on Friday afternoon...giddy up!

On Saturday, we went to Grandma Collene and Grandpa Ric's for the 2nd Annual Rib Off.  All the cousins had tons of fun on the four wheeler, playing with Ruby, sitting on Grandpa's little motorcycle, looking at the cows, and running around the farm.
The picture should be called: "kids on the go"

Daddy standing next to his contest winning rib cooking setup (he tied with Ric's son, Jason.  Daddy would have won outright if Mommy had voted...but Mommy did not get a chance to try the ribs before the vote took place.)

Jen (Jason's wife) and her girls are all smiles!

Grandma Collene feeding Addie her yogurt...yum!

Jim and Barbara sitting with Addie in the shade.  Addie had plenty of people who wanted to hold her!

Sunday afternoon had A^4 back in kiddie pool.  Daddy and Ayson splashing each other.  You can see the water that Daddy splashed Ayson with, if you look closely.

Ayson sliding into his pool.

Addie and Mommy hanging out in the shade watching Ayson.  Addie gets such a kick from watching Ayson play!

Ayson told us he was going to water the flowers...using pool water that he had in his mouth...here he is watering...

Our Babies are Growing Like Weeds!

Another week of August has peeled away and Ayson and Addie are growing up so fast!!  Mommy is almost afraid to blink.   Ayson (in Mommy's opinion) is listening more to Mommy and Daddy AND is starting to understand consequences (related to his actions (good and bad)).  Addie is expanding her solid foods: so far she has tried avocado, banana,  sweet potato, apple sauce, yogurt, and oatmeal.  She is also starting to sit and is turning into a squirmy baby on the changing table.

On Monday, Ayson stacked his bricks by color...hmmm, looks like he is going to be "parallel and perpendicular" just like his Mommy and Daddy (Daddy is much worse than Mommy :)

Ayson dancing and bouncing with Addie on Tuesday.  I don't remember why he is not wearing pants...Mommy's short term memory is not what it used to be!

Finally!  A picture of Addie and her toes!!

Addie" "Hi Mumma!"

Now that Ayson can peddle his own trike (when he feels like it...he still likes to have Daddy and Mommy push him around), he can wear his bike helmet!

Ayson digging in the garden next to the corn on Thursday afternoon.  His bucket hat barely fits anymore but he insists on wearing it.  Daddy thinks we will have about 40 ears of corn to harvest.  The tomatoes look amazing and Daddy has already canned 14 quarts and will do at least another batch this week!

Friday night "pizza night" with tomatoes and basil from our garden.  Addie is trying vanilla yogurt for the first time in the picture.  Bet she wishes she could have garlic pizza instead! 
Addie reaches for Mommy's water glass when Mommy is holding Addie and takes a drink of water.  Also, when Mommy eats in front of Addie, Addie opens her mouth as if to say "I want a bite too!"

On Saturday, we went to Grandpa Chuck's 60th Birthday Party!  There were so many people to visit with, hold Addie, and entertain Ayson.  Too bad Mommy and Daddy did not get a picture of the birthday Grandpa OR Pama!

Addie with Grandma Collene and Aunt Donna.

Addie and her second cousin, Garrett.  It looks like Addie is trying to get Garrett's attention: "Garrett, smile for the camera!"

Addie LOVED Auntie Julie's pretty necklace and covered it in lots of drool :)

The cousins had a blast playing together and ranged in age from early teens down to 2 months (Garrett).  The "mobile" kids were all over the 4 wheeler until the battery died...then the kids scattered in all directions.

Addie with Pama's Mom, Bev.  Two years ago at Chuck's birthday party, Bev held Ayson just about the entire time (Bev is a known "Baby Hog" :) and Ayson fell asleep in her arms.   This time around, Addie fell asleep in Grandma Collene's arms and Mommy can't believe that she did NOT get a picture!

Our crew :)

Ayson even got to drive the four wheeler and he did not want to get off...even when Uncle Dan was loading it back in the truck when it was time to leave.

Marccella (Pama's niece) and Addie.  Looks like Addie is "working" on something in this picture.  She did have a nice poopy diaper for Mommy a little bit later :)

Ayson and Alaina playing with homemade slime.

A picture of Mommy, Auntie Clarice, (Garrett's Mommy) and Marccella on the baby blanket.

Over the weekend, Addie started sitting "tri-pod" style on her own.  She now also rolls over frequently and on Sunday she got stuck in her crib on her tummy.

Addie: "Look, Mumma!  I'm a BIG girl!"  Mommy:  "Yay!  (sniff, sniff...my baby doll is growing up so fast!)"