I Love Fall!

Grandma Penny came to our house for a visit and the kids have been looking forward to it all week. Last night we carved our pumpkins and it was definitely a group effort. I hope they last until next weekend, but at least we will be able to enjoy the Jack-o-Lanterns all through the week.


I have no idea why they picked me to draw the face on the pumpkins. Drawing skills are not one of my finer qualities. It will be obvious when you see the pumpkin faces.




The tops are cut off and they are scooping out the Pumpkin brains. The girls worked hard to pick out all of seeds so we could have roasted pumpkin seeds, but I messed them up when I was cooking them up in the skillet. I guess I didn't cook them long enough as they were soggy and too oily to eat. Bummer!




Squishy, Ooey, Gooey!






I think they turned out really cute! Grandma Penny and Wes made up for my lack of drawing ability with their carving skills. :)

We have so many beautiful fall colors in our yard right now. We have reds, oranges, and yellows. The bushes and trees are gorgeous! If it would stop raining and the yard would dry up some we could actually go out rake a pile and play in them.








Early in the week we had a day in the lower 70's so my mom joined the kids and I on a hiking (more of a walking and stroller pushing) adventure to Ha Ha Tonka State Park. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.


The girls are peering through the bars at what is left of the castle ruins. Jaidyn wanted to know where the dungeon was.








The girls with the Nana on an acorn hunt.

We have a busy upcoming week with the Halloween activities in full force. Halloween is my favorite holiday so we have been reading lots of Halloween/fall themed books all week. We watched the 1st Harry Potter movie this afternoon and I have Twilight to watch tonight after I get the kids in bed. Wes is working tonight, but I am looking forward to a nice relaxing evening!

What next...Mt. Everst??

Levi has found that he can climb about anything to get what he wants. He either pushes his little yellow chair, my rolling desk chair or turns my post office box or laundry basket upside down to climb up on something. Tonight, I secretly watched him climb up on the dining room table.

Wow! This is a little higher than the usual chairs that I climb up.







My mom took the 3 kids to eat and play at McDonald's earlier this week and she said that Levi just couldn't get his 2nd leg up on the first stair to go up in the tunnels and slides and she said she wasn't about to help him out in his efforts either for fear that he might get stuck up there. She definitely didn't want to have any part in that sort of rescue mission. :)

Finally, after being cooped up inside for several days because of cold rainy weather we had a chance to get outside today for a stroller walk and sit outside on our deck while dinner was cooking.

Levi is thinking he is pretty studly in his new Cardinal's Baseball beanie. It's a bummer the Cardinals choked in the playoffs.




These pictures were taken shortly after we had to hold him down and pull a huge splinter out of his hand from climbing down the deck stairs. Notice the snot from his nose and tears on his sweatshirt. Poor little guy!


He put the sunglasses on all by himself (upside down).


Cool dude!

On Saturday we spent the good part of the morning waiting in line at the doctor's office to get our seasonal flu shot. They had a Flu Shot clinic and we showed up only an hour after they started and yet our kids were the last young ones to receive the child based shot as they were then out. I am not sure what we would have done if they weren't able to get one as I know that the health department was out of them also. The bad part is they could only give Addy and Levi a half dose because of their age, so they have to return in a month to get the 2nd portion. Grrr, as if the 1st one isn't bad enough for a little one.

Tomorrow, after preschool, my mom and I are going to take the kids to Ha Ha Tonka state park. With the leaves turning and a day in the upper 60's it should be a perfect day for trail walking. I am looking forward to it.

Crazy Busy

So yes, I have been missing in action as far as the blog is concerned. We have been so busy and at times I almost feel like a duck on the water...calm & collected from the outside, but paddling like hell to stay afloat. Everything is going well, so no complaints, but it just never seems that there is never enough time in a day and my house would definitely show that. A tornado hasn't hit it, but it sure looks like it sometimes.

Last weekend the kids and I took a trip to visit my sister. On the way, we stopped to let both sets of my grandparents (Levi's great-grandparents) meet Levi.

Hmmm, Levi looks busy with his nose. We also got to meet Steel another new addition to our family. He was born the day before Levi's gotcha day.


I think Grandma enjoyed parading around the nursing home with her great-grandchildren. They also found her Butterfinger candy bar stash. Levi kept going back to the pumpkin basket for more.

After visiting for several hours we went to my sister's volleyball game. While we enjoyed watching them play we were glad they won in 2 games and it didn't go 3 as we were all starving and Levi was tired of being confined to the bleachers.


The next day my sister treated the kids and I to an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. I love these types of places and look forward to the fall season for this reason. Levi enjoyed it, but it was right during his nap time and I think he was just trying to stay awake through it all.







Snow Angel in the corn pit










The "special" ingredient's for a witch's brew.


Peeking through.


Train ride




I also went to a Cardinal's game with the guys (My dad, brother & uncle). My mom, sister, aunts and cousins all came to my sister's house for a night of Mexican food and margaritas, but sent me with the guys so that they would have the kids all to themselves. Levi is great with others, but if I am around, I am his 1st choice. So they all plotted against me to get rid of me for the evening. :)

Everyone hanging out at Jill's house.








On Saturday before heading home we went to Grant's Farm. After getting attacked by the baby goats last year, they knew what they were up against this year. Small and cute, but vicious when it comes to a bottle of milk. After a few minutes of being surrounded by goats they decided to stay outside the fence and feed them. I made a big mistake by handing Levi the bottle and it went straight to his mouth. He spit it out immediately...I am not sure if it is a powdered formula milk or if it was actual goat milk. Disgusting!



Tram ride through Grant's Farm
















We teased my Aunt Charlene about wearing sandals when it was sub artic temperatures outside, so I had to include a picture of her wearing her sandals. She was a good sport despite all of our teasing. :)


An author was on site reading books to the kids as they excited the farm. We have 3 copies of his "I don't want to kiss a Llama" book, one for each kid. It is a really cute book.

Sunday evening Papa J.R. and Mama Lala treated us to dinner at Applebee's and gave the kids each these darling Halloween shirts. Aren't they cute?



Heading out the door to preschool.


Poor guy! Levi had to get 5 separate shots. I felt so bad for him as I held him down while the nurse administered each one. He fell asleep immediately when I put him in the car seat. Hopefully, the tylenol that I gave him kicked in. He is now caught up on his immunizations, but still needs a flu shot which I will probably schedule for all the kids along with Wes and I this week.

We also had family pictures taken this past week and I think we captured some great shots. I can't wait to get the proofs back and then order a new family picture for fireplace mantel. The family of 4 that we currently have in the frame is definitely going to be replaced.

Wes has been busy as he started working in a new county. He is also working the MU football games on an off day, so he has been busy working a lot. Thankfully, he hasn't had to work until 8:00am this past week, and has been wonderful help in getting the kids around so that we can leave for preschool by 7:30.

I have actually started running a little again. I really need to make a little time for myself as I feel so much better when I get a little exercise in each week. Since we have brought Levi home, my workouts have been non-existant. Hopefully, I will continue to get some runs in each week, but as the weather gets colder it gets harder. I really hate cold weather.

Monday we have our first post-placement visit and honestly I am excited about our social worker coming for a visit. I can't wait to show off Levi. He is doing very well. I still need to finish our questionaire packet (hand got cramped from writing last night) and get a few more pictures developed for the meeting.



Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend.

~ Flood ~

It saddens me greatly to see that so many people suffering from the flooding in the Philippines. Media reports are saying this may be one of the worst flooding incidents for the Philippines. The metro Manila provinces are currently deeply effected. We were in so many of these areas less than two months ago. I just can't imagine these people who have nothing to begin with survive these horrific conditions. I imagine that the aftermath of the flooding will also be equally devastating. I am hugging Levi extra tight tonight as his orphanage (Malabon City) is in one of the areas hit by this storm outside of Manila. Please pray for the people of the Philippines.

Philippines Flooding YouTube Video

Gulf News Article and Pictures