Life in Random

Here's what we've been filling our lives with the last 3 weeks, but in random!

Trunk or Treating/Halloween Celebrations:

Lydia just learned to balance on Roy's feet while walking :) 

Day-to-Day Fun:

Abby all dressed up for black and white day 

Hill rolling! 

Sam wanted to take a picture for Roy...until he realized that I couldn't be in it with him.  We had to send Roy the picture below later to prove that Sam was feeling happy that morning 

 Lydia loves to comb her hair and 2 times last week, wore a headband (that she insisted on putting on herself)

 Lydia leading me to a different playground

Long Weekend in Williamsburg:

 Fun at the Bouncy House!

Pumpkin Patch:

 

Leaf Jumping:

And More Halloween:

One little monkey jumping on the bed!

Abby, the Red Ruby Princess

Pictures!

I just love this picture of Roy and Lydia teaming up to bring the scooter down the hill in our neighborhood.  Miss Lydia is turning into this very independent toddler.  She talks so much now and wow, does she have opinions!  She is so good with noticing when a family member is sad or in need of love and is the first one over to lean in and say, "Muah!"  She tries hard to copy both Abby and Sam and is fairly convinced that she is another big kid.  She also is rarely seen without having a baby (or a good substitute for a baby) in her hands, being pushed in a stroller, or at least within reach.

Sam really loves his gym class.  It's basically a PE class for 3 year olds.  It's been good for him to practice listening to adults and follow directions.  We have piles of funny stories and sayings from Sam.  He can frustrate me and yet I can't stay mad at him for long because he is so lovable.  He loves to grab my cheeks and say, "You. Be. Still." while he starts kissing my face, mostly aiming for the lips.  It makes me laugh quickly.  His prayers have also gotten very sweet and he has started to think about what he is praying for.  I just wish I knew what he was thinking when he prayed for Darth Vader last night.

 

Lydia and Sam have really been able to develop their friendship since Abby started school.  They pay a lot more attention to each other, even if it's not always the best kind of attention.  They have this funny game where they get as close to each other's faces as they can while making weird noises.  This picture looks a little strange, but I promise that's what they were playing!

I love the colors we get to see here in the Fall.  We've just begun our traditional Fall festivities of visiting a pumpkin patch and jumping in leaves:

Oh, we miss our long days with Abby!  Abby loves kindergarten so much!  She now knows everyone's names and can read each name in her class.  She knows stories and facts about each kid in her class and has several new best friends.  It's fun to be able to hear about what she does in music, PE, art, and library each week.  She also gets pulled out to do some advanced academics during the class rest time and she loves that.  She gets to go with one of her best buddies, Lance.  Abby is awesome and tells us stories about her day all afternoon and evening, not surprising since she is very chatty.    

Roy watches while the big kids pile leaves on each other and Lydia draws with chalk.

People I Love

Here are some pictures of these little people I have dedicated my life to.  I love them so much!

Sam is hanging like a monkey from the bars in his gym class.  You might have to squint to avoid the mirror's glare :)

Lydia is suddenly a toddler who loves being a little mommy.  This naptime, she had 4 babies in bed with her.

Painting project!

My girls.  I love them!

Oh, Sam.  I love this child. 

 Play-doh Angry Birds that Sam and I created one day during quiet time.

Lydia's new game is to open every drawer in the kitchen and then run away laughing.  (Please disregard the extra stuff laying around.  Amazingly, we aren't clean every second :)

Sam and Grandma reading "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat"

Abby's school picture that I am way too cheap to actually purchase.  Isn't she the cutest ever?

Two cute cuddlebugs.

Life Lately

I just have to brag a little about these cute, funny, smart kids:

• We listen to a few different stories on car rides.  Most days, the kids prefer listening to stories over music.  Lately, I have realized just how many times we have listened to the stories.  When we listen to "Cars", Lydia can accurately yell Lightening McQueen's line, "Mack! Maaaaack!"  When we listen to Dr. Seuss's ABC's, she says several of the extra-emphasized letters.
• We were walking and a shirtless runner ran by.  At full volume (of course), Sam asked, "Oh no!  What happened to his jammies?"  "Ummm, those are his running shorts," I answered.  "Oh," he replied. "What happened to his shirt?"  And of course this is the one time a runner isn't plugged in to some sort of device.  I just tried to pick up the pace and get as far away as possible.
• Sam was refusing to finish his dinner the other night.  I was showing him all his food and reminding him that he better eat his food if he wants strong muscles.  His smart aleck remark, "Just my bottom has strong muscles!"
• In Abby's class, the special helper for the day is called the Happy Apple.  Every day after school, Abby runs over and asks, "Guess who the Happy Apple was today?"  Every day leading up to today (it was finally her day), she would tell me who the Happy Apple and then say, "I'm so glad it was his/her turn!  He/She loved being the helper!"  While she was anxious for her own turn, she loved seeing her kindergarten friends so happy.  I'm so proud of her!

Sam attempting to share the iPhone.  Lydia attempting to maintain control. 

Dirt!  Even better: baseball dirt!