seasons

We're not really sure what season it is at our house.  We had snow over the weekend, our house is filled with pumpkins, cinnamon, and apples and we're still enjoying fresh tomatoes from the greenhouse.  

 

I love these goofy kids.  Mason wanted to wear his awana vest.  Then of course Emma needed a vest.  And with the vest always comes a hat.  I love those tomatoes too.  They are some of the best ones we've had yet. 

pumpkins

On our way to visit my little nephew, we stopped for a bit to visit with my best friend, Mindy, and her family.  We started the morning with coffee at quite possibly the most crowded Starbucks I've ever been too.  Luckily we scored a huge table out of the way where the kiddos could sip their hot chocolate while we visited.  Then it was off to the pumpkin patch.  

 

 

 

 

They were totally into the smaller pumpkins that they could carry all by themselves.  Livvie was also very into the goats and spent most of her time feeding them.  Mason and Emma weren't about to get close to them, which was a little amusing. 

 

 

 

 We are so thankful for this sweet family and the special times that we get to spend together. 
 

little nephew

Last weekend we set off to visit the newest member of our family, our sweet nephew, Cody William.  He is just too adorable.  I love this picture of him and his pretty mama.  She didn't actually get to hold him much while we were there because everyone else wanted a turn!  

 



 

 We packed those two short days with as much cousin love as possible. 

 

We cracked up at Emma's don't-you-dare-try-to-talk-to-me-I'm-holding-the-baby  face.  She literally didn't move a muscle until I tried to steal Cody back and then she let you know that she was NOT done holding him yet. 

 We played trains.  Lots and lots of trains.

 We tore up the house with countless rounds of ring around the rosie.  Lots of giggles, squeals, and screams.  Jackson had so much fun playing with his cousins.  My sister couldn't believe how loud everyone was.  I just smiled and said "welcome to my world."  Oh how I love my sister.  I loved chatting about going from one to two and all the changes it brings.  

We tried on our new snow gear.

 We tried to get a picture of all four of them.

We played outside.  Enjoying the sunshine while playing in the sandbox and raking the leaves at Nana's house.

Such a fun weekend punctuated with the longest drive home ever.  I think Mason stopped to go to the bathroom about as much as we stopped for coffee.  I can't wait until we can do it again!

wordless wednesday

in the kitchen

We've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately.  Which is nothing new.  It's one of our favorite places to be.

 

Last Friday it was english muffins.

 

Then Wednesday it was letter crackers with Grammie. Mason loved spelling (and eating) his name.

And Wednesday night it was apples.  Oh the apples!  We ended up with way more apples than we were planning on.  We bought the winter banana (weird name, but they are sooo good) apples on the back counter from an older couple in a nearby town.  The three huge boxes on the table were given to us for free a few days later from another family with extra apples from their trees.  So, that means many evenings will be spent putting them up.  Applesauce, apple pie filling, and apple chips will soon be filling our pantry. 

This morning it was pumpkin bread.

 

 

I love my little helpers!

little sis

 I just love watching these two play together.  Mason can be so sweet and gentle with his "little Emma."    He is always looking out for her (except for those moments when he is tackling/screaming at/tormenting her of course.) 

 

 

 

When I went to pick them up from daycare today they came walking into the house holding hands and smiling.  I can't help smiling too.

18 months

Dear Emma,

You reached the 18 month mark on Friday.  It's hard to believe you are heading towards two!  You have been such a blessing in our lives. You are energetic, moody, snuggly and the life of the party. 

 

 

Your wispy hair is filling in with various shades of blonde, amber, and red depending on the light.  Tiny curls peeking out from the back make me smile.  You love to have your hair combed and your teeth brushed.  You don't love rinsing your hair in the bathtub or having your face washed though.

You are one loud girl.  Your squeals are full of delight and pure happiness one time and complete annoyance the next.  It's either one or the other with you.  You let us (and Mason) know how you feel the minute you feel it. 

Your vocabulary is taking off.  You are starting to put words together such as "hold me," "I too," and "up please."  You ask for "nack" (snack), "wa-wa" (water), and books among other things.  Every day you surprise us with the words you know.  You have quicky gone from calling your brother Masey to Mason (much to his delight...he kept informing you that you were saying it wrong.)

Your favorite animal is a little pink lamb which you have named "cow" because that's what Mason calls his cow.  You always ask for it when you are going to sleep.  You love to snuggle up with blankets and pillows and carry them all over the house. 

We get a kick out of how animated and outgoing you are.  You love to be with people.  You love music and are often found dancing and singing.  Being outside brings you so much joy.  You often bring us your shoes and pull us to the door repeating "out! out!" and pointing outside until we give in. 

A few more teeth have made their appearance, but we're still waiting for 5 more.  You let the whole world know what is going on with your little teeth and usually have one really bad night when they are coming in. 

You are quite the helper.  Stacking wood, hanging clothes on the drying rack, throwing things away, putting dishes away, and "helping" Mason with whatever his current building project is. 

 

 

Emma, you give us so much to be thankful for every day.  There is so much to love about you.  Some of my favorite moments are watching you play with Mason, snuggling with you in the early mornings and catching your sweet smile and that glimmer in your eyes. 

We love you sweet girl!
xoxo,
mama

building



Mason's been busy building his own bunkhouse.  This means finding every single little toy that will fit in his skidloader...then loading them onto a trailer (a big toolbox) and hauling them to the building site (the couch.) 

All the while informing us that "this is a bunkhouse but it doesn't have bunkbeds." 



first one up

This is what happens when Emma wakes up from her nap before Mason....

His football gets turned into an art project.

happy fall

We spent the last day of summer riding bikes and catching bugs.  Enjoying the small wonders of being outside.  

 

Then the kids went down for naps and my best friend and I headed off to a knitting retreat.  Two days of mind-boggling knitting techinques, chatting with new friends, and catching up on what's new in our worlds as only best friends can do. 

The house is cozy and smelling of fall as jars of applesauce boil in their water bath.  We're ready for a new season and all that comes with it.