Fall Fun

I just love fall! Cooler temps, warm and cozy sweatshirts, yummy foods, colorful leaves, pumpkins and cornstalks. It beckons me outside, so naturally I bring my kiddos out too! Hopefully they will love fall just as much as I do! Here are a few highlights of our October--

One sunny afternoon, we headed outside to go for a scavenger hunt. Dylan helped come up with a few items to find, we wrote them down, and off we went. Dylan loves to be outside, take walks, and collect things, so this is a perfect was to accomplish all three. We found everything but the squirrel this time!
On a whim last Friday, we drove out to the zoo for their Halloween celebration. Dylan loved showing his penguin costume to the penguins. He built a scarecrow with Grandma, collected some treats, made a paper pumpkin, and checked out the animals. However... I think Dylan's favorite part was watching the Bobcat move dirt for the new monkey exhibit!

Here are a few pictures from raking. Our tree has finally turned all yellow, so hopefully we can get the leaves raked up before it snows. If Dylan helps us pick up the leaves, we might never get done!

My mom had last week Thursday and Friday off of school, so we had to have some fun! Thursday we headed out to Orchard Hill Farm to enjoy the cold, sunny morning. Dylan and Austin loved running around the farm and through the corn maze. The roosters were waiting to be fed, so they had fun doing that too! Hannah was just in awe of everything, but as soon as we mentioned the sheep, she "baaa"ed until we saw them! Despite all the people there, it was a nice FREE farm to spend some time enjoying the animals, pumpkins, corn maze, and apples! We'll be back next year...

And We're Off!

Mission accomplished! We finally have a few steps on tape! Her first "real" steps were in nursery 1 1/2 weeks ago. That's right. I did not see her first steps... which is a little sad for me. But I'm over it! Just this week, she has initiated steps on her own. Instead of walking to me, she'll walk from the couch to her toy box or book basket! She'll take 3-5 steps then fall, but it's a start. When Dylan started walking, he didn't ease into it. It was almost a run. Hannah's journey to walking has been a bit slower, but she is also doing this a month earlier than Dylan! You go, girl!

Hannah's Tricks

So, I was trying to get a video clip of Hannah walking this afternoon... but she wasn't cooperating! Here's what I did manage to get. She's just too darn adorable! :)

Our Favorites

The new picture on our blog heading is an ode to...

... Dylan's rusty work wagon.
... my favorite season and it's harvest.

I wish I still had my garden at Blandford. Oh, how I miss it! Dylan and I had fun bringing his wagon out there and collecting our harvest.

Sweet Hannah Grace

"Just helping Mom clean the windows!"

Walking around the room

"My new milestone. I love standing!"

"Can you see my little fangs?"

"Isn't it OK for me to do this, Mom?"

Dylan's Thoughts...

Here's a quick look into Dylan's thoughts, or at least what comes out of his mouth!

On Sunday, Peter Fish banks were handed out to collect money for World Hunger. The CRC's theme this year is "Give It Up". Pastor Phil tried to explain this theme to us during the children's sermon by having the kids point up to heaven. (I didn't hear his real explanation since I was too busy watching Dylan talk, poke, then hug Brianna, who was sitting next to him!) Then they were each given a bank. Later Sunday afternoon, Dylan kept holding his bank up telling us we needed to bring it to heaven. I didn't get it until I remembered the children's sermon. When I asked him more about it, this is what he said.

"We need to put money in the bank for children who do not have food or candy. Then we have to send it to heaven and God will give food and candy to children."

I guess he did listen during the children's sermon!

Earlier today, I was watering a plant which was pretty dead. (Keeping house plants alive is not a gift of mine!) Dylan was curious about what I was doing, so I told him I needed to give the plant water because it was dead. He asked when it would be alive again. I told him that it would take time, some sunshine, and water. Then he walked over to the kitchen table, sat down in his chair, and said this:

"Dear Jesus, please help our plant to be alive again. Thank you. Amen."

We all should do that a little more often!