glimpses of October

Britt found some pets I didn't like very much...

...and one pet I thought was gorgeous. :)

Granny got the kids an early Halloween prize, and they've played with it nonstop! {I should have taken a picture of them in their spooky blankets that Grandma T got them too. These kids aren't spoiled at all, huh?} :)

Happy kids at bedtime.

Part of fire prevention festivities...the kids got to sit inside a real helicopter! Britt was thrilled, while Marnie refused to let go of her mother and get inside. :)

Chocolate pudding monster!!


Marnie and I tagged along on Britt's field trip to the local pumpkin patch. The kids had a great time wandering the corn maze and trying to find a pumpkin they could fit their strings around.



that armadillo shirt is one of Britt's most prized possessions. if only we could find a fruit bat shirt...

Little Miss Mimic

Marnie is the biggest copycat I've ever met. Sometimes it drives me nuts (like when I turn off a light and she begs me to turn it back on just so she can turn it off too), sometimes it's awesome (like when she pees in the potty because that's what "Bubba" does), and sometimes it's just adorable (like when I leave my make up unattended for 20 seconds while I open the front door for the puppy).




She had to include Daddy and Britt too...

A few things from last week...

Old pet met new pet... they got along quite well. :)

New pet learned a trick. Watch for him in the circus one day...

The kids sat still (AND smiled) for approximately 3 seconds, and I was there with my camera! It's a pre-Festivus miracle!

Marnie got out of a lot of various punishments because she does this face when she gets caught. (She didn't escape EVERY time out though...)

Little Miss Trouble decided it would be fun to join me in the shower one morning. One second I was washing my face and the next thing I knew, there was a fully clothed child standing behind me! A little bit creepy...

25.6 pounds

They each weighed it at one time.

Britt at 12 months old...

Marnie at 19 months old...

...and Griz at 3.5 months old.


I just find that interesting. :)

while daddy was chopping wood

we played in the forest.






HUGE ugly bug I found...in my hair! I'm an outdoor girl for about 15 minutes, then I want to go in my house and take a shower. Check out the pinchers on this beast!



"Mom! This one looks like a gun, huh?"

adventures in childhood

In the last month, Britt has:
*mastered riding a two-wheeler
*learned to tie his shoes
*started Pre-School (which has prompted many talks about why we can't punch someone in the face, EVEN if they did hit on your dream girl)

Marnie has:
*wanted to sit on the potty several times a day (not that she does anything once she gets there, but she enjoys feeling like a big kid).
*increased her vocabulary to the point that I can't even estimate the number of words she speaks. seriously. it's constant chit-chat at our house.
*enjoyed practicing tricks with Griz (you give her a few dog treats and she goes through a routine of "sit," "shake," "lay down," and "BANG!" --it's pretty much the cutest thing you'll ever see.)

As for myself and Justin... we've been enjoying his semester off. We're in the process of stocking up our wood pile and installing our new wood stove (can't wait!). Justin's also been enjoying college football with a snoozing puppy in his lap and I've been enjoying making/devouring pumpkin cookies with my two little kitchen helpers. Life is good. Busy...sometimes way too loud...exhausting...but good. :)