Quality Time with the Kids

Well, Mommy has been "out of work" due to the federal government shut down.  Mommy used the time to get chores done around the house: she treated the window sills with poly urethane, mopped floors, painted the pantry/laundry room, and had fun spending more time with the kids :)  Daddy came home early at least one afternoon and we all went to Stafford Park so that Ayson could ride the balance bike on the pathway.  Unfortunately, Mommy did not get the pictures off of Daddy's camera before he left for Spokane WA.

Monday was perfect, weather-wise and we all had fun at the park.
Addie climbing on the bench.


Ayson and Gianna kicking the soccer balls around...look at Gianna with TWO balls.  You go, girl!



Ayson getting carried by Gianna.  Ayson will ask Gianna to throw him in the trash and then he will run away from her.



Climbing the backstop fence at the park.  Addie wanted to get in on the action.  Mommy just noticed that Ayson was looking up Addie's dress...nice.



Tuesday:
A^4 went for a walk in the orchard to check out the preparations for the Apple Festival that will be held on Columbus weekend.  Ayson is getting excited for the petting zoo, kid rides, and visit from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger.




Thursday:
Hugs with Daddy.



Friday:
Ayson and Daddy playing with matchbox cars (including sound effects).



On Saturday, Grandpa Chuck and Pama came over to watch the Clemson vs Syracuse football game (Clemson won big).  Grandpa brought chips and everyone inhaled the chips (Mommy does not buy chips and they were a special treat...everyone in the photo is munching on a chip!)



Pama and Addie.



Pama helped Mommy with bath night, thanks Pama!



Pama reading Addie one of Addie's favorite bedtime stories: "Muddy Paws Goes to School"



Ayson with Grandpa and Pama.



The weather was overcast and drippy on Sunday so we spent most of the day inside.  Addie was having a hard time getting in to her chair so Ayson would show her how to do AND Addie would watch and then do the same thing.  Mommy loves to watch the kids play together!

Fall Fun

Addie had her 18 month well baby visit on Tuesday and the Dr said Addie is doing fantastic.  No pictures as Mommy had her hands full with Addie.  Addie did not change much, weight wise (Addie weighs 23 pounds)
Addie's major new word last week:  "me" as in mine!  She says "me" quite a bit when playing with Asyon and when he tries to take things from her :)
Ayson has been eating very well lately.  Could be a growth spurt but possibly just from extra exercise. As the weather has been gorgeous, we have been outside every night and have been kicking around soccer balls with Gianna at the park.  Ayson has been running all over the field and not just riding his bike on the black top.  Addie is getting better at walking on grass.  It is so cute to watch her toddle around!




Daddy lost a bet to Gianna.  Daddy was not able to steal the soccer ball away from Gianna...because she is too fast :)  Go Gianna!


On Saturday, A^4 went to Critz Farm Harvest Festival: one big farm experience for little kids!  A petting farm, all sorts of playground equipment with  fun slides, hayrides, a hay bale mountain to climb, corn mazes, and pumpkins.  Ayson liked the slides while Mommy thinks Addie got the most out of seeing the animals.




















The HUGE corn maze takes about 40 minutes to complete so we decided to save walking the corn maze for another visit.  We did walk in a bit just to walk through the "corn tunnel"






The kids picking out pumpkins.



Ayson getting a ride back to the car.  He did NOT want to leave!


For dinner on Saturday, Daddy made a yummy chicken mole and mexican rice with beans...Mommy made guac :)



On Sunday, the kids played outside while Daddy and Mommy cleaned up the garden.



Ayson lounging with Daddy while watching football.


Addie's turn to be Daddy's little football fan!

Life Is Good

All is well with A^4.  Playing outside as much as possible and then on Saturday we went to Grandma Collene's and Grandpa Ric's.  We had fun visiting with them and going to Farm Days and learning about a working dairy farm (more ice cream...yum!)

Mommy can't remember many of Addie's words from the past week but Addie did say "Ayson" :)
Ayson told his friend, Sam, that he loved him...to cute.  Ayson also told Mommy that he loves Gianna :)

Monday:  Daddy Jungle Gym!



Tuesday Morning:  Ayson came into Mommy and Daddy's room and wanted to cuddle with Mommy:)  Obviously, the alarm had not gone off yet...



Addie playing with chalk at the park.



Nice hat!



Mommy helped Ayson draw his name and Addie's too.



Addie still loves to swing:)



Wednesday:
Gianna brought a toy puppy over to the park for the kids to see and play with.  Both kids loved the puppy!






Thursday:
Music Man Ayson pulled his rocking chair over to the bench so that he could play his piano.  Addie was playing with the playdoh toys.  Addie loves to carry the bag around the house.  Mommy needs to give Addie a little purse to play with!



Addie:  Hmmm, what is my crazy brother up to now?!?"



Daddy, Ayson, and Gianna were throwing apples at the apple tree trying to make the apples go "splat!"



HUGS!



On Friday afternoon, Khanlen and his Daddy, Jeremy, came over to the park (both Ayson and Daddy have a playmate..as can be seen from the pictures)






On Saturday we visited Grandma Collene and Grandpa Ric and we all went to Farm Days at a working dairy farm.
Ayson enjoying the hay ride with Grandma and Grandpa.



Addie: It's lunch time, let's EAT!



Ayson standing in the tire of the HUGE Case tractor.



Playing ring toss.  Addie even played a game too (toss the rings on the milk bottles)



Grandma and Dolly.



Grandpa getting in on the picture too:)



Sunday:
Ayson had Mommy set up his tent.  He then put a bunch of cushions in and both kids sat and played in the tent.  Addie has a huge smile on her face (hidden by Frosty's arm) in this picture.



Daddy is refinishing the pantry (new laundry room) and he placed a boot between the wall and door to stop the door handle from punching a hole in the wall.  On Sunday, Addie picked up one of her boots (a gift from Lulu) and placed it next to Daddy's.  TOO cute!



Daddy was a cooking machine again.  Two batches of lasagna (for kid lunches), Mexican tortilla soup, a roast dinner, and butternut squash soup.
Both kids loved the soup.  Addie picked her bowl up first (Mommy did not show her...Mommy tries very hard to HIDE her bad habits...like licking the plate or sipping from the bowl :) and then Ayson did too.



Addie watching her big brother.  The two certainly know how to feed off of each other...especially in the car when one starts screeching, the other chimes right in!



After dinner, we played outside, ate a few raspberries, and looked at the flowers.