Autumn Days

 The other day I asked if someone would like to sweep the leaves and sand off the porch, and was surprised when Josiah volunteered.  Then he surprised me again by finding the hairdryer and attempting to blow the porch clean.

In sadder news, the boys have stopped napping.  Now they have to stay in their rooms for an hour and rest.  Sometimes Caleb still falls asleep.  I love the way he is following the rules and staying in his room.

Pilgrim Dishes

We celebrated my 30th birthday last night, and among many spectacular presents that I received, these dishes from my mom were a favorite.

 I added the Pilgrims myself.

 Sketched them on the back of black construction paper and cut those puppies out.  Noses are tricky for me.

 I put double-sided tape on the back, and woila.  

Now we can't have anyone over for dinner until after Thanksgiving.

 If you would like to try your hand at cutting out sillhouettes, I recommend pointy scissors.

I cut my boys' heads out with kids' safety scissors, and that was not the ticket!

Speaking of tickets, the other day I was shopping with Caleb (while Josiah visited Jenn - a fabulous system!  Thanks, Lou) and we were looking for something, lotion maybe, and I was picking up bottles, reading the labels, and I said, "That's not the ticket."  After that, anything I would look at the store, Caleb would look at the item seriously, look at me, and say, "Is that the ticket, Mom?"

Hike to the Bluff

If I've posted this before, stop me.  I know I have uploaded these pictures a few times, but little men in Disney undies keep coming along and changing to  new websites.

 We took a fun family & friends hike to the bluff.

 The boys had a great time, except that Caleb's shoes were a little on the large side, and he kept losing them and crashing.  But as we all know, he is prone to crashes even under the best of circumstances.

 Looking out over our fair city.

 Heather looking at me with her "Angry Eyes"! 

 Caleb being a reindeer.  He has a cute head.

 Papa was proud of his kitten, Mittens, for taking the whole hike with us.

The boys climbed this fallen tree over and over with Mittens, and all three fell off at least once each.

Caleb is 3!

 We celebrated this handsome boy's birthday on Saturday with a fun Monkey Party!

 Jennifer found this clever way to make a 3 cake. 

I thought it turned out nice and jungley - like a zebra/lion's mane combo.

 And now, for an interview with the birthday boy himself.

What is your name?

"Umm, Taleb."

Any more parts of your name?
"Not Josiah.  Dat is Josiah right there.  (Points.)

What is one of your favorite things to do?

"Play Momma's I-pad.  I love Momma." 

What else?
"That's enough." 

What is your favorite food to eat?

"Tookies.  Tocolate tookies.  Turkey tookies."

(Josiah brought home a turkey cookie that he made at Moms4Moms today.  Thinking about this cookie that he did not get to eat tears Caleb up, and he gives the rest of this interview with his head down on the desk, in his very saddest voice.  Bribery with M&Ms commences.)

Who is this cute baby?

"I can't tell you.  Pickle head.  Lydia."

What is your favorite book?
"Nothing.  I just want you to scwatch mine hand."

(Caleb is an itchy fellow.)

Who are some of your favorite people?

"Only Lydia.  But I can't tell jokes."

The boys had a great time opening the presents!  Josiah did lots of helping.

"Dat me and dat Josiah.  Huh!  What?!  I want you scwatch my hand a little, Mom"

I love how Chris and I are both rescuing Caleb from falling in the flames in this candle picture.

"I loved Roary the Race car and Bongo from Lou."

Favorite book?

"Happy Halloween, Biscuit."

Favorite movies?

"Dorwa the Explowa, Thomas the Twain, and Diego."

Chris enjoying his Craig's List find that he got for the boys' birthdays.  

"I love dwiving."

"I love to play tars, and with Henrik with him twains."

If you could go anywhere in the world?

 "I like going to Luke's house."

Tell me something you love about Josiah.

"Tas him my bwudda."

And your Momma?

"Tas her my momma.  Her tute.  (Cute!)

And your Dad?

"I love him so very much tas him handsome."

"Now you dive me more tandy?"

There were five M&M's given in exchange for this interview. 

A Halloween Party

Our fun friends had us over for their second-annual Halloween party this weekend.

 Everyone else had their costumes planned for week, or at least days.  

We came up with lumberjacks the night before, and I loved how it turned out!

 Chris and I made the axe heads from cardboard boxes.  Pretty simple.

 Jennifer and Joel and Lydia won the costume with their stunning "Bee Keepers with Bee" ensemble.

 Craft Night girls!

And the night ended with a pinata bashing.

Thanks, Chris, Brooke, & Zoie for a fabulous time!

Virginia Creeper Trail

We recently spent a long weekend in Damascus with my parents.

The highlight of our trip was our day on the Virginia Creeper Trail. 

You rent bikes and they drop you off at the top of the mountain, and it is all downhill from there.  For 14 miles!  The most fabulous way to bike, if you ask me.

Chris and I had been on this trail twice before.  The first time, it was the day before we got engaged.  We kept holding hands as we pedaled along, and, of course, that ended in a crash for me!  On this day, we didn't try any of that hand-holding nonsense!

It was the boys' first time on the trail, and they did fabulously.  Especially Josiah.

Caleb liked to cry for a few minutes each time he got strapped in.  Josiah is fake-crying alongside him.

The leaves were at the peak of beauty and we had a wonderful time!

Halloween costume pictures coming up tomorrow!

A Book-Shaped Pillow

The boys have birthday on the brain.

Josiah's was last month, Chris's was last week, and Caleb's is coming up in ten days.

Last night the boys were giving me imaginary gifts in a huge box and I finally asked what was inside.

Caleb said he was giving me a pillow shaped like a book.

 And Josiah said a machine that shows Downton Abbey.

Who knew toddlers could be so perceptive?

These guys might have the makings of great gift-givers!

P.S.  I should note, the boys are not practicing to be underwear models - yesterday we went to play down at camp, and it was so warm that the boys stripped down and hopped in the creek!