Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

This year, we took Nora trick or treating.  We were expecting to go to just a few houses around us guessing she'd be pretty shy and not be that into it.  Boy, were we wrong!  We started off by Papa's house.  As soon as the candy hit the bottom on her pumpkin, it was as though the light bulb went on. By the third house, she ran back to Dan who was waiting back at the sidewalk with Myles.  You could tell she was really getting into it.

Unfortunately, she wanted to move faster than her little feet would carry her and she took a big tumble that caused lots of tears but no scrapes or blood.  So, we took a break and headed back home.  After about 20 minutes, a piece of candy, and feeding Rusty, she was ready to head back out at the prospect of getting even MORE candy! 

I was surprised at how excited even Dan and I were to see Nora walking up to the door and holding out her bag (of course not saying trick or treat yet...) and signing "thank you" when she received her candy.    I don't think smiles left our faces the entire time.  We are already looking forward to next year when there will be two little bodies dressed in costumes running up to ring door bells.  

Mrs. Ladendorf, one of our neighbors,
 looking at the most intimidating dinosaur of them all.

Getting the hang of this trick or treat thing

Nora and Dad by the neighbors pumpkins.

Oh, look.  Nerds.

"Can I have them now?"

Walking up to the next house with mom.

Mom and Nora

One tired out dino.

Mr. Myles when we got home.

Enjoying some of the Halloween candy.

Both the kiddos in their costumes.

Sharing a sucker with Dad.

What a day.  Trick or treating.
Lots of candy.  Elmo.
Life doesn't get much better.

hmm... what should I eat next?  Crunch or a Reeses? 

Observations

It does look like much but I was really pleased/impressed when I walked into the dining room and saw this last night.  

Why?  What's so special about this picture?  Well, as we were getting ready for dinner, I asked Nora to carry the forks in for me so I could carry the plates and drinks (No, we don't usually have soda and beer with dinner... it's usually milk and water.  Serious.)  She happily took the forks, walked into the dining room, and then proceeded to put one fork at each of our places.  It's little times like this that make me smile - and make me realize just how much they are picking up simply by observing.  Never have I said, "One fork goes by Mommy's chair, one fork by Daddy's chair, and one fork for Nora."  It's just something she's seen me do and did it (and kind of without me asking)  So while it looks like an ordinary table, it made for one happy mama.

Mylestones: Laughing

This handsome little boy started laughing!  It doesn't happen too 

often yet (that's a five month thing) but when it does it warms my heart! 

Can't wait to hear your laugh on a daily basis, Mr. Myles.

Carving Out Family Time

I know.  It's a terrible pun.  Carving out family time because we carved pumpkins tonight.  So I won't be winning any journalism awards for my titles.... 

Anyway, today was a crisp fall day.  One of those days where you finally have to put on a fleece.  One of those days where your fingers get a little chilly and the tip of your nose and cheeks get rosy.  Felt good.  I wanted to be outside and breathe that air so I bundled up the little ones and headed out to rake (again).  The littles looked so adorable in their hats I just had to get out the camera and snap away.  

One of my absolute favorite pictures from the day.  

I said, "Nora, show me your new mittens," and she
puts her hands up like this.  HA!  She does not look
at all amused.  

But she was.  She clapped her mittens together
for a while which made Rusty come to see what
was going on which made it even funnier.

And when the gray hat kept going in her eyes
because it's still a little too big, I switched over to
this cute one.  Love how round her cheeks look.

Myles got this crocheted froggie hat from a friend of
mine, Jenna, when he was first born.  He looks
absolutely adorable in it!

Nora thought she was being a big help by taking
the leaves in my pile and...

putting them here.  She means well.

   

All the fresh air proved to be
too much for this boy.

And when Daddy got home, it was time to carve pumpkins.  As you might remember from last year Nora wanted nothing to do with touching the pumpkin guts.  And with her girly tendencies, I was expecting the same for this year as well.

I was wrong.  Kind of.

She generally only wanted to touch the inside
 if she had a spoon in her hand, but she didn't
freak if she got some guts on her.

Her job was to put
the seeds into the bowl. 

All cleaned out.

Then Nora's attention span for pumpkins wore out and Myles woke up.  So we took a break, spent some time playing with Nora and cuddling with Myles, got pjs on and ready for bed.  

I think they like each other.

All three of my guys.

Carving took place with no children around - just adults with the knives.  And the final products look like this!

Upper Left: Myles' pumpkin (going with the
theme that baby's first pumpkin gets carved
with their name or initial)
Upper Right: Mine
Lower Left: Dan's
Lower Right: Nora's

Three Months Old

Three months old and he's...

sleeping through the night pretty consistently. 

* 7 hours * 

smiling all the time!

on the verge of laughing - just hasn't quite figured it out yet. 

drooling.

found his fingers (which explains the previous).

He would not keep his legs straight
for this picture! 

What a great smile!

Straightest legs of all.  Because he
kept rolling his legs up the onesie
kept going up too so it's hard to see
that it really is still long on him.

Snapped the picture when he was still balanced upright.
It didn't last too long!

Proof that he's found those fingers.

Official Three Month Stats: 

height - 24 inches (50%)

weight - 13 pounds 3 ounces (50%)

I'm Warning You...

Slightly Supervised

I had to put some laundry away in Myles' room.  Nora wanted to put on some lotion (one of her favorite things).  So I opened the container of Udderly Smooth, brought her in by me and let her put on lotion.  I guess I got into a zone and didn't check how much she was getting as often as I should have because before I knew it, she looked like this.....

A love for lotion.  

There are worse things.  Thanks for giving me a good laugh tonight, Nora!