Flag Salute

One of the great things about being a first grader is that you get to have a turn holding the flag with your eighth grade buddy at morning prayer.  We were all super excited when it got to be Lizzy's turn.  Not only does Lizzy love her buddy, but how awesome to get to go in front of the whole school and hold the flag!  Way to go, Lizzy!  You did a great job!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Every year, we love to visit the best pumpkin patch in the world with our cousins.  It's just the most darling place.  There are tons of baby animals for the kids to hold, hay bales to climb, a maze to explore, and of course, tons of pumpkins to choose from.  Lizzy and Peter were super into the animals.  They loved the snuggly cats and bunnies.  Peter wanted to explore every inch of the barn, and was eager to hold and pet all the animals.  It was amazing to see Catherine standing up around all the pumpkins.  I keep forgetting that this is her first Halloween!  She seems so big now, that she surely must have been here last fall, but she just missed it.  She was a giant pumpkin in my tummy, and now here she is, having so much fun climbing and exploring all around.  I love this tradition, and I hope we can visit this patch every year!  

Pumpkin Festival

It's that time of year again........Pumpkin Festival!  Oh, I look forward to this every year.  It's so fun to see the whole school pitch in to create an old fashioned, wholesome, great family event.  On Friday, I was able to help out with none of my anchors (Peter and Lizzy at school, and Catherine with daddy) around, so I was amazed how productive I could be!  It was great getting the school all decorated.  When we picked up Lizzy after school, she was so excited about her fun time at the carnival with just her school-mates.  She loved all the games and excitement, but was especially proud of herself that she made it through the haunted house!  After school, we all got to enjoy the games, and Peter was a real ringer, winning two of them!  He was so proud:)  The next day, after soccer, we decided to have lunch at the carnival and play some more games.  What a great day!  The weather was perfect, the kids were all so excited, and we had the best time.  The kids even got to get these amazing face paintings done!  Lizzy cried when she had to wash is off that night, and I had to agree with her- it was so beautiful!  What a great way to spend a weekend!

Daddy's Birthday........

......just keeps going in our house!  We finally got around to making daddy his favorite chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  He didn't seem to mind too much that it was a little past his birthday- he got to celebrate longer, right?  And who doesn't love a chance to make a cake and light up a whole bunch of candles?  I think the kids could do this everyday!

Baseball Boys

One of the presents we gave Pat for his birthday was his very own baseball glove, so he can play catch with Lizzy and Peter.  One day when Pat was off work, we went to the park with Peter and Catherine while Lizzy was at school.  The boys got out their gloves and had a great time throwing the ball around.  I loved this picture that I got, capturing our fun day at the park.  Look at Peter's rosy cheeks, his sweet adoration for his daddy as he looks up at Pat.  I'm so thankful my kids have such a dedicated, loving, fun, and wonderful daddy!

Mud Pie Break

Lizzy's soccer games are very fun, and we all enjoy getting to watch her tear it up on the soccer field.  But sometimes, for the littlest spectators, the games can get a tad bit long.  We've tried lots of different ways to pass the time- scootering, eating snacks, playing around the field- but the favorite by far has become..........making mud pies.  It turns out, everyone, and I do mean everyone, loves to play in the mud.  It started out just Peter and I, then Catherine, of course, had to get in on the action, then Lizzy when she had a break, then pretty much every kid around, once they spotted the mud, knew a good thing when they saw it.  Thank goodness for mud!  It's saved us on many a Saturday morning.

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy

Our daddy had his birthday, and of course we were all ready to celebrate.  On his big day, Lizzy had a little musical show at school.  We all went to watch her, then ran to Susie Cakes to pick up a special dessert for daddy.  Everyone in our family has a big sweet tooth, so we were all excited to wish daddy a Happy Birthday, then dive into our cupcakes.  Mommy and daddy went out to dinner later all by themselves- what a birthday treat!  

Stand and Point

Grocery shopping just got a whole lot more exciting around here.  Catherine is way to busy now to just sit patiently in the cart and look around.  Now, if that seat belt is not on really tight, she'll stand right up and point at all the fun things she sees.  I'll sit her back down, and then the second my back is turned, there she goes again.  I guess there's just no keeping a good woman down.

Water Table Fun

It may be fall around here, but it sure doesn't feel like it with the weather.  Sure, we've had a few chilly mornings sprinkled in here and there, but mostly, we've had sun, sun, and more sun.  In fact, we've even had a few small heat-waves.  We decided to bring out our water table to beat the heat.  Since Catherine is so good at standing now, we all thought she's love it.  Turns out, she wasn't the only one.  While Catherine loved splashing around, Peter turned it into a car wash and Lizzy scooped out water to tend to the plants.  It was certainly a fun time for all.

Special Sisters

Lizzy loves to hold Catherine these days.  She especially loves to hold her when we go and pick her up from school.  I see the excitement and pride on her face, the "Hey!  Look at me!  I'm a big sister and I get to hold my little baby" look that she beams at all her classmates.  I'm glad she can hold Catherine for the moment, and drink in how special it is to snuggle another tiny person, because Catherine's "holding" days seem to be numbered.  She's getting so big, and more and more, squirming to get down, already showing her independence and desire to explore the world on her own.  Oh Catherine, let us hold you just a little bit longer.  Stay our baby for just a little while more.

Dancers

There is just something about little girls in their pretty pink dance outfits, fluffy skirts swirling and soft shoes prancing, that is totally adorable.  Maybe it's their sweetness, or their demure, shy smiles, barely masking how pretty and lovely they think they are.  Maybe it's just the ruffles and all that pink, pink, pink concentrated in one spot at one time.  Whatever it may be, it's lovely, and darling and so very, very sweet.

After School Adventures

Oftentimes when we pick up Lizzy from school, we join the long, snaking line of cars in the "car line" slowly inching along waiting to pick up their kid and then zip back home.  Sometimes though, if I need to pop into the office, we'll park on the street and walk over to pick up Lizzy.  The great thing about parking is that on our way back to the car, we can stroll through the gardens of the church, and there, if we take a moment, some magic can happen.  Lizzy and Peter are experts at turning an ordinary spot into an extraordinary, magical place.  The overgrown, often ignored garden right next to church becomes a magical forest.  Leaves, petals, acorns, and berries are transformed into fairy food.  Lizzy and Peter are off an adventure, and Catherine and I are enjoying watching, excited to see what will happen next.

Soccer Buddies

Lizzy loves playing soccer, but this year, an extra bonus is that she's on the same team as her special school friend, Tatum.  These girls really enjoy one another.  Often, after practice, they'll hurry to a nearby grove of trees, full of perfect climbing spots, and quickly play imaginary games or read books together before we have to go home.  We've even snuck in some very fun play-dates after games to keep the fun times going.  It's awesome to have a special friend to share team time with.  

Carpool Cuties

What's one of the best things about going to school?  Our carpool with our neighbor, and Peter's good buddy, Evan, of course.  Boy, there's just something exciting about having a friend join us in the car.  The boys love being silly with Catherine, Catherine loves smiling and pointing at the boys, and mostly, the boys love being super silly together in the way-back seat.  Our carpool makes school-days extra exciting and fun.