Down on the Farm

As if we haven't had enough Fall fun yet, we visited yet another Pumpkin patch this weekend.  This time we tried out ButterPrint Farm.  It was unique because it is a real farm, so it is not as commercialized as the big name patches we usually visit.  We did finally get our pumpkins and spent hours scooping and carving away!  Here are a few of my favorites from the 175+ pictures I took to remember the day!

Rubber Duck Races - The girls LOVED these!

Marina, of course, loved the animals!  Trista, of course, was nervous around them!

Looking so grown up while learning about corn!

Marina enjoying the jump rope that Trista got to make!

Time to go...somebody needs a nap!

Trista surprised us and dove right in to scoop out her pumpkin!

She did wash her hands a few different times during the process!  This is her pretending to be a zombie!  I personally think she is far too cute to successfully pull off the zombie look!

Marina's first pumpkin carving experience!

Not sure what to do with the goo!

Checking out what Daddy is drawing on her pumpkin!

Attempting to pick up Trista's pumpkin!

Trista's Kitty Bat pumpkin that Mommy carved!

Marina's pumpkin that Daddy carved...Jack the Pumpkin King!

Now for the real Halloween fun tomorrow!  Hope my little Marie and Dorothy enjoy trick-or-treating...

Spelling and Climbing

The conversations that I have with Trista while we are driving are priceless!

I promise I wasn't driving when this picture was taken!

   Today, out of the blue, she says to me, "Mom, remember when I was afraid of the E.G.P. at Lori's house?"  I immediately begin racking my brain to figure out what exactly that could mean.  After a minute of being clueless, I ask her, "E.G.P?"  Her response, "You know, that spider that was on Lori's house."
   Ha!  So last time we went to our hair dresser's house, there was a giant spider decoration near her front door.  My mom and I were discussing it before we got out of the car and we spelled out the word spider to each other, thinking Trista wouldn't know what we are talking about!  Although she doesn't completely get it, I'm thinking that the spelling is pretty much done now?!?
  
   And then I have my climber...

   This is how the highchair must be sitting now whenever she is not strapped into it at the table.  The last few days, I have turned around multiple times to find her standing on the footrest part, ready to climb more.  Tonight, I turned my back for a minute and she got herself completely up the chair into the seat!  I figure climbing on it when it is sideways and on the carpet is a much safer option!

Autumn Excitement

October has been chock-full of fun Fall activities, so here is post that is chock-full of pictures of the adventures we have enjoyed!

 We had a blast raking leaves and then jumping in them!

 Then we headed to County Line Apple Orchard...

 where Marina loved picking and eating the apples...

 and Trista became an adorable little apple herself!

 Both of my little pumpkins delighted in the animals, face painting, and balloons!

 Next trip brought us to Johansen Farms (on a rare 88 degree October day)...

 where Trista conquered her fear of slides...

 and Marina showed off her comfort with the animals!

 Another weekend brought us to the Round Barn Farm...

 more animal adventures for Marina...

 and more fears crushed by Trista!

 Just this weekend, we were lucky enough to attend a block party.  We don't actually live on this block, although we are there quite often!

 Great activities for the kids including pumpkin painting...

and tie-dye.

 Marina played soccer (notice the baby doll that NEVER left her arms!)

 Trista and her friend Jordan!

 And the girls all decorated and ready for the bike parade...too bad neither one could keep up!

 Break from the fun with some of our favorite big cousins, Emily and Raegan!

 And last, one of my girls' favorite October activities...

staring at our neighbors' many Halloween blow-ups!!

Hysterics

Laughter from a small child is the best sound!  It can turn any day around and make you smile no matter how crabby you may be feeling.  So next time you are feeling down, check out these giggly videos! (Note: No children were harmed in the making of these videos!)

And to leave you with a smile on your face, here was my view the other night before I got the girls dressed for bed!!

Raising My Spirited Children

Reading the book, Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka is like hearing someone tell a story about my home.  Kurcinka describes spirited children as always being more: more intense, more persistent, more sensitive, etc.  Some synonyms for spirited include vibrant, animated, vigorous, passionate, determined, spunky.  This word spirited so perfectly defines my children!  Trista and Marina are both extremely vivacious, fiesty children!  Every emotion is intense and I often wish that I could have a video camera recording in my home 24/7, because pictures just don't do these two spirited children justice!!
We do however try to capture as many moments as we can.  We have many blurry pictures of the constant motion, many pictures of the assortment of crazy faces we see daily, and many pictures depicting one or both of them involved in some sort of mischievous adventure.  Here is a small sampling: