Happy Halloween!

Harry Potter, a witch and a skeleton had a fantastic Halloween!!

Brotherly love.  Sorry, the pictures aren't very good, but it was so cute to see the boys playing ball in the hallway.

Delia wants to be "a mommy and a teacher" when she grows up, so she likes to ask to do "mommy" things.  Like helping with laundry, dishes and picking up toys.  For some reason today she asked to do some outside mommy chores so I told her to grab a rake.  I never thought she'd actually do it!

The weather was beautiful today so we asked the kids what they wanted to do.  The big kids both said (without hesitating), "Go to Maymont!"

As always, the kids loved feeding the animals.  Henry was so happy to be able to play too.  While walking to see the bears, we passed a huge hill and the kids asked to run up it.  Not once, not twice, but at least a half-dozen times!  Even Henry got in on the action, with a little help from Daddy :)

We take our pumpkin carving very seriously.  So seriously, in fact, that we involve power tools.  John even bought a new drill to make sure the pumpkins turned out just right.  We waited a little late to buy our pumpkins so we couldn't find anything small enough for a repeat cannibal pumpkin.  And no trip to the pumpkin patch either because Saturday soccer, lots of rain and being out of town meant we just couldn't get there.  JGray and Delia designed their own faces, and then they decided that Henry wanted a Mickey Mouse pumpkin.

In past years we have had MAJOR trouble with the neighborhood squirrels destroying our pumpkins.  We had the trees removed in our front yard (storm damage for the pear trees and the gum tree was dying).  Turns out that dying gum tree was the squirrels' home.  No tree = no squirrels = jack-o-lanterns are left alone :)

JGray's super scary pumpkin 

Delia's super happy pumpkin 

Henry's Mickey pumpkin 

13 Months Old!

Look who's 13 months old!  He may not be walking yet (although we think he could but chooses not to), but he's talking up a storm and trying to climb on things (say what?!)

Some of Henry's favorite things at 13 months:

• Talking!  He has several intelligible words--Ma, Da, Dust (for Dusty), this (when pointing at something), Hi Da (he loves to talk on the phone), Bye, 
• He has several signs that he usually regularly (more, all done, eat)
• He loves to blow kisses and give kisses (open mouth)
• Loves to play with his cars and trucks.  He makes the cutest "vroom" sound when he's pushing them.
• Loves to read books.  He's not a huge fan of listening to us read them, but he loves to look at them on his own.
• He still has 4 bottles a day (I know, bad Mommy), but he loves them.  Right now we're working on getting him on whole milk (today it's half formula and half milk) and then I'll tackle the bottle to sippy cup transition.  
• Loves music.  He takes a music class and has so much fun and is all smiles.
• Has his own playgroup!  We've started meeting once a week with 3 other sweet little boys, and I can't wait for these boys to grow up together.

Monkey Boy

Saturdays are for soccer!  I should have brought the bigger lens, but at least I remembered my nice camera!

Coach Daddy and JGray ready to play! 

Celebrating after a big goal

Apples, apples, apples!  As soon as JGray got off the bus, we loaded up the kids and went to Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville.  Everyone had fun!!

When H was born John's manager gave us a beautiful flowering plant, a camellia, that we planted in the front yard.  It was the one "must save" when we re-landscaped the front yard, and the plant seems to quite happy in its new home.

Say what?!  Two blog posts in one day!?

This afternoon was Trunk or Treat with our MOMS Club, and it's always one of our favorite events.  The kids dress up and walk from car to car collecting candy.

 Harry Potter, a skeleton, and a witch ready to get some candy (or in Henry's case, Goldfish)

Delia is wearing my witch costume from when I was 4 

H and his buddies.  Next year, they are going to be trouble! 

JGray's playgroup (and all the siblings).  We started meeting when the big kids were 18 months old!

Preschool pictures came home today, and they leave me wondering,"Where did my little girl go?!"

Delia absolutely loves gymnastics!  She's been taking classes since she was 2, and it's one of her favorite parts of the week.  I love watching her roll and jump and climb.  It's the end of the first session so they got certificates today.  Here she is standing on the podium.

JGray is really enjoying Cub Scouts.  John sent me this picture from their meeting tonight.  Here the Tiger Cubs are getting ready to present the colors during the pack meeting. JGray carried the Cub Scout pack flag.

The big boys are in DC for the Bears-Redskins game today.  Go Bears!!

The view from their seats!

      Check out the glove he got from Roberto Garza!

The boys had so much fun, even though the Bears lost.

Another glove!

Girls Weekend!  I have the most amazing friends from my years at William and Mary.  Best friends.  Babies have made it hard for us to get together, but we made it happen this year and I am so glad we did.  A weekend at Kingsmill, complete with spa appointments, lunch at The Cheese Shop, a delicious French dinner and a pitcher at Paul's.  All with LOTS of laughter and fond memories.  And a promise to do it again next year!

The view from our villa.  Yes, that is the James River!