In Living Color

Black and white just doesn't do it justice.

The tree...trees....

 Searching is the most fun.

 Pete made sure to show us all of the trees he was taller than this year.

 We found it!

 Daddy goes to work.

Believe it or not seeing these things get wrapped up it a lot of fun... :)

 They both get trees in their rooms this year...we will see how it goes. They liked decorating them.

It is the only one I have taken this year...

Pieper November

She is certain she is going to marry Pete and live with him forever in our back yard.
For some reason she likes to go to the nurse in school.
Acts like a 17 year old more than I would like.
It has now changed... she wants to marry most funny people she meets or sees...the doctor made her laugh so she instantly wanted to marry him.
Loves homemade jam vs store bought.
Was home sick for four days from school... and wrote a letter to her teacher and classmates about how much she missed them.
Love to tell people how tall she is getting because she is sleeping in her own bed.
Loves to go to birthday parties but cries when we walk out of the door, especially if it as someones home.
Would really like to buy hot lunch at school ( some of her friends do)  I haven't even put money on her lunch card...yes, it is like a credit card...
Wants to make sure everyone does the "right" thing.
Thinks it is funny when the boys get in trouble at school and the girls are all being good...
Likes to make up stories about when she was little.
Loves to hold her little cousins.
Still will go through about four outfits on days she doesn't go to school, not including dress up outfits...
Will sit with Pete and help him go potty on the potty.  Will read to him or get him toys if he is upset.
Will sometimes make her bed in the morning.
Will problem solve even before you tell her too...I said I forgot to take out the recycle and she ran to get her shoes and coat on.
Is still sensitive.
Is still the best at making Peter laugh.

 Jeff just loves that she can laugh and cry like her mama!  She did her hair by herself after her bath...

 The letter she wrote to her class.

Face got painted for the first time at a birthday party...I don't let them get it done.

Peter November

Wants to go to Hawaii.  I can not begin to spell it the way he says it.
Randomly thinks we are going to Grandpa and Gram's house and get disappointed when we just go home.
Loves to play spiderman... he has started playing 'kill' so we are trying to get that changed... boys.
Loves to play with Pieper unless he is tired.
Wanted to buy Lucky Charms but only eats the 'charms'...can't wait for that box to be empty.
Is worried if he goes to school (we are trying to get him ready) he will not see Pieper or me...
Has a ton of energy unless you go for a walk in the woods then all of the sudden his 'legs are tired of walking'
Is worried about throwing out our carved pumpkins...he will miss them.
Pieper had to make a dream catcher for school so Pete made one as well.  He told his Dad he had to put a bell on it because when the "dream catcher catches bad dreams the bell will ring."
Will always want to give you a hug if he is getting into trouble.
Likes to dump his toys all out or books off the book self just to look for one toy or book, his room is always a disaster.
I feel like all of the sudden he is easier to understand.  He starts speach next week for his "t" and "s" and "f" sounds.
Is getting better about his letters.
Still loves look or I spy books, would do them day and night.
Misses the fact he gets no more Ipad or kindle until he goes potty all the time in the big boy potty...unless I am cutting his hair...then he gets it.
I think he is growing, he is sleeping like a rock.

Fall days.

 Walks at the many nature preserves in our area.

 Silly kids who wanted to take a picture with Mom.

 Our lunch spot.

 A very common sight...

 Raking again!

 Our winter birds... the Heron has still been flying low over the house from pond to pond... He walked on this day, right through the yard.

Both kids love the fire, Pete really likes to watch it start.  I can't even count how many fires we have had this year... we will have to order wood this year as the trees we cut when we moved in are all on the wood pile... :)

Happy Halloween!

 Pieper's school had a big parade...I stopped counting the Elsa's at 13 but this was only half of the school. Second grade and half of the 13 kindergartens.

 Pete liked it because he could play on the playground but he did run over to wave at Pieper as she walked by.

 Maleficent by Maleficent watching Curious George and "No Noggin" before the big event.

 Pieper added the mask she made at school and Pete was standing still challenged...

 Running for the 'trunk or treat'. It was a perfect Halloween night.

 He was roaring at me but I missed it...

 A Frozen trunk!

We stopped at a couple of the neighbors, our 'neighborhood' is too spread out to trick or treat, another reason I really like the trunk or treat at the church/school.

 Jeff thought maybe I spent too much time making the costumes for the amount of time they have been worn...pretty sure it was worth it. :)

Pete October

Wants to be Maleficent for Halloween. (the dragon)
Likes to be called a big boy.
Is good at buckling himself in the car but doesn't want you to watch.
Talked his Aunt and Uncles ears off when he was here.
Loved his train and subway rides into the city.
Now always points to the skyline of NYC when he sees it on the news and tells you he has been there.
Is always full of energy.
Says 'chocolate' anytime he sees it... on tv in a book...where would he get that?
Still love to jump from couch to couch. Or 'glide' as he calls it.
When looking for a book he will pull them off the bookcase and not put them back...
Is not ready for preschool yet but I am hoping  by Christmas...
Ran up stairs telling Jeff and I there was a 'real live wizard in the house'... Jeff didn't get up to look until I went downstairs to check and called him to come down and pick up the little salamander that was in the basement.... ' little wizard' indeed.  He was soooo excited... it was only about 3 inches long and very cute but outside he went...
Is getting better with his letters...sometimes.
Likes to show you what 2 plus 2 is...
Has just started to like the broth in soup.
Loves to blow leaves with the small blower.
Loves to ride his bike but mostly if you are outside with him.
Told Pieper the other day when she was home from school 'I love playing with you Pieper' yep, heart grew that day!
Loves Nutella.
Still pretends to 'save the day' as spiderman.
Eats on his own time schedule.
Will say very few words on the phone and then start to push buttons... not much fun for Grandpa.

Pieper October

Comes home from school and will eat like crazy.
Likes to read books in the evening.
Loves to show you her sight words.  Will tell you if the are in the book she is reading or on the tv...anywhere...
Gets Pete to play school.
Likes showers more than baths...
Says how she would love to get that toy to almost every toy she sees in the paper or on tv.
Was upset when she didn't get to go into the city when her aunt and uncle were here and Pete did...
Drew her own face on her pumpkin and insist it is the spookiest one, and it is.
Is very excited to be Elsa for Halloween.
When we all went out for dinner she made sure everyone looked 'fashony', even Uncle Rudy.
Loved going out for dinner, she is very good at restaurants.
Likes to go the farmers market to look for the goats and try some of the food.  Bread and pesto is the best!
Loves to take soup to school for lunch.
Said for the first time how much she liked a boy... I have forgotten his name but normally she talks about how much more she likes girls than boys.... That could have taken a while longer... :)
Except Luke... as she covers her mouth and talks out the side...'he gets in trouble a lot' 
She outgrew all of her shoes all at once...
Is excited to see her baby nephews and nieces again. (and for the first time)

Visitors!!

Taking pictures of Pieper's costume... please note how Uncle Rudy is struggling with the silly phone...it was a source of some fun....Whenever she puts on her costume she hold her hands like that....

 So many books were read... I bet Aunt Jean doesn't read any for a good long while...

 I will not explain this picture, suffice to say I am laughing right now...

 It was their 29th Anniversary and nothing 'crazy' happend!  Cheers!

 Lovely lady.

Trying to take a selfie with said silly phone...

Pumpkin patch.

 Pete liked the white ones again this year.

 Pieper went for size and yes she carried them both to the cart by herself, Jeff just helped at the end.

 Nobody wanted to get their picture taken...

 Corn pile!  My favorite.

 Back to the car.

 Success!  And apple cider donuts of course.