Cookies with Gramy

Pete kept eating the frosting long after we were done.

Pete 20 months

He does not like to go to sleep
He gets his stubbornness from his mama.
He likes to sing
He needs a hair cut but our last time cutting was not fun.
He loves milk
Likes to feed Jeff
Still likes to eat with a fork but often will ask you to put the food on it
Still likes to dump his glass upside-down
Will go to his room when you tell him to go to time out and he won't come out until you tell him to... I am not a fool, I am enjoying this while it lasts
He still giggles in the most amazing way
He knows how to work his Mama
He loves to ruff house with Daddy
He is fearless
He likes the Christmas tree and has already broken an ornament
Eats fruit first then vegetables, although he did eat the turkey first on Thanksgiving
likes all things crunchy
Loves to get a hold of Pieper's puppy
Still loves his soft blanket and 'twirling' it in his fingers
I think he would follow Pieper anywhere

Our brush with Sandy

We were without power for ten days thanks to Sandy but we count ourselves very lucky.

We had this tree and a few others taken down on Friday before the storm, the tree was dead on the inside but alive on the top, we are not to sure it would have stayed up in 70+ MPH winds and it was right next to the house.

The house made it through safe and sound. the big tree in the back almost even with the front window is the one we had taken down.
                                             
                                             

 

Katydid Lane one week before the storm.

Most of the leaves were gone which saved us but we had three trees down and the beginning of the lane that took out our wires... sorry I didn't get a picture, when ever we went through or walked up you had to keep and eye on the trees, I was almost hit by falling branches twice just going to get the mail. (yep, we never lost mail service)

We lost power around 6:00 PM, Mom and Dad had left on Sunday morning so they would get stuck, sorry to see the visit cut short and they had to drive home in rain all the way to Iowa but safe and sound. This is what the kids and I did while Jeff was hooking up the generator.  We were able to have lights and heat as well as water and fridge.  We could even use the microwave if you turned a bunch of other stuff off.  I grilled a lot. :)

 Pretty common sight even a week later.

 The size of the trees that fell was amazing.  most of them fell from the top and pulled the roots right out of the ground.

 Todd's point.  I still haven't been able to get into the park.  the sand completely took the road. In this picture they had one side cleared.  The tides were still high after Irene so I am wondering if the 'on the water' walking path around the park will be opened again.

 Another big tree, the great thing for most of the ones that I saw, they missed the house by a few feet but missed!
We did Halloween in the dark, in the house, we went from bedroom to bathroom and made the kids knock on the doors each time and then run out to the living room to give me time to change rooms, they had a blast.

Pumkin Patch with Gramy and Grandpa!

 Pete asked for Grandpa's hand and didn't go to far with out it.

 They loved to pick up the pumpkins and throw them into the wagon... yep I had THOSE kids...

Enjoying fresh apple cider donuts and cider.

A "Looney" Halloween.

Wylie

Beep Beep

Pieper 3 years 4 months

She sleeps like her Mama... This could mean trouble.
She is very into anything Princes
We are getting ready to cut her hair for the first time
She likes to dress herself but gets frustrated with socks and stretch pants
When she sees something she doesn't have she let's me know she doesn't have it
Still loves to help in the kitchen. I usually only let her help with baking
I am not sure how but she can find anything on the IPad she wants to in regards to UTube, she found some great old Donald duck cartoons!
She is playing better with Pete...or maybe they are both playing better with each other
Likes to vacuum the floor and spray windex on the windows
Like to act like she doesn't remember things she has already learned...like days of the week.
Wants everything in her room to be pink, that is what I get for letting her pick the paint color!
Today when the garage door opened she said "I think someone with pokey kisses just opened the garage door, do you know who that is...?". Jeff is already growing his Christmas beard so she gets pokey kisses. This is a perfect example of how she talks durring the day...I am not sure if I have a mini Yoda on my hands or what, a lot of things are in code!
When we didn't have power I put Nemo on the portable DVD player and now she will randomly walk up to me and quote something, the favorite right now is "put one fin on that boat mister and your in big trouble". I will worry when she starts to quote Clint Eastwood like her mom and aunt!;)
likes to tell me what road we are driving on
Still loves shoes
Always buckles herself in and out of her seat belts
Sings extra loud at the library
Wants to go swimming almost everyday
Makes a lot of different things with blankets; houses, Christmas trees, doctor's office, boats...usually in Pete's closet.

Pete 19 months

He loves to laugh when Jeff does
Pieper is one of his favorite people most of the time
he tries to say more words but prefers being the strong silent type
He likes to eat crunchy things always, unless there is fruit, bananas being a favorite
He doesn't much bother with crying, even if the bump looks bad.
He loves to pick on Pieper. Wonder where that came from?
He loves his Mama, especially when he is doing something he should not be doing.
He loves to give kisses and hugs
He ALWAYS wants to talk to his Grandpa on the phone and will make a fuss if he thinks you are not letting him so you have to tell him who you are on the phone with.
He is very good at waving bye on skype and blowing kisses.
He is a pokey eater
He is hot blooded and will always take off his socks
He is kind of a picky eater
He must have an M & M when Pieper does
He likes Elmo, the big and now little one we have and a bonus he is also on his diapers
Mickey Mouse and Bubble Guppies are hiS favorites but thanks to his Aunt Karla he also likes Blue's Clues
He is very good at hiding on a flat wall
He can say most of his cousins names
When Jeff comes home he will drop everything and run into his arms
He likes to pick up rocks on the way to the mailbox
He took a piece up to the board in library all by himself this week, my little man is growing.