Sock Monkeys

I had started in folding my Mt. Everest size pile of laundry on the bed the other day when Jude and Gwyneth decided to help. They soon discovered a fun new game to play together. Usually Gwyn stomps around the house with a sock hanging out of her mouth while screaming like an "elephant." This time they decided to make themselves gloves out of Daddy's socks.

And quickly moved on to bouncing on the bed, effectively smashing my neatly folded piles to smithereens.

Pony Rides

See my pony

Jet black pony

I ride him each day

When I give him oats to eat

Trooting, trotting go his feet

See my pony

Jet black pony

I ride him each day

A song that my mother sang to us when we were little. My kids love it when I sing it to them. Funny that they call it the "Horsie" song when it never says anything but "pony." They get the connection. Yet, yesterday when we asked the kids if they wanted a pony ride they all shrank back and declared, "NO!" It wasn't until later that we thought to say "horsy" ride, to which they all responded, "YES!" Still, no one was actually brave enough to attempt it once we finally made it through the line. No one, except Preston. Who woulda thunk it? I think he surprised us all. And he inspired all the other little ones. We got to hear for the rest of the day how badly they needed a pony ride. Thank goodness the last place we stopped had them! We made it just in time. The ponies were hungry and tired and they were about to quit for the night. Gwyneth's pony was none too happy and was quite feisty. Perfectly matched to Gwyn, I say. They would have done this all night, they loved it so much!

Pumpkin Patch...

We don't do jack-o-lanterns.
I think they're creepy, ugly and messy. (:
So we told the kids they could each choose a little pumpkin all their own to take home and set on the doorstep.

We got a tractor-drawn hay ride out to the pumkin field.
I think that was the boys' favorite part.
Gwyneth was so concerned they were going to leave us there.
She kept a close watch on the tractor as it came and went with more groups.
Every time she saw it she would try to run up to it before it left again, thinking it wasn't coming back.

How many times did I tell the boys to stop kicking the poor pumkins?

And how many times did I tell them not to stomp in the dirt?

Many.

Jude. Always so much energy...

Gwyneth.

Faithfully trudging along on the quest for the perfect pumpkin...

Jude found one he likes!

Looks like Daddy is planning an ambush.

Love this one of Daddy and his boys.

Do you see how green these pumkins were?

Well, this is the shady side.

And this is the sunny side.

Quite the difference.

The prized pumpkins...

We'll pick another field next year. For sure.

This place was a little off.

No one working there seemed quite right in the head.

Very eerie, it was.

Harvest Festival

We had so much fun at the festival today!
This was the first year we’ve been able to take the kids and they had a blast!
Cousins, hay rides, pumpkin patches, kettle corn, candy apples and pony rides!
What could be more fun?

This is my fav snap of the day…




















I'll post more soon, along with all the juicy details!
(Sorry Kaylee! I couldn't resist.)

Batcam...

He gets so exasperated when I call him that.

“Are you teasing me?” he laughs, every time.
He loves to be teased.
I think it might even be his love language.

A birthday gift.
He wears it every day.
And as soon as he puts it on,
he’s all business…
takes his job very seriously, he does.
It took a lot to squeeze this little smile from him.
Goof.

He was running all over the house with Aunt Tess the other day and when she stopped to catch her breath he asked why she wasn't running anymore. She told him she was just too old and he instantly replied, "Not me. I'm just brand new!"

I call her my prickly pear…

Because she is.





















It’s kinda like cuddling up to a porcupine.
She wants me to hold her, always.
But if I dare try to sneak in a kiss, she frantically cries,
“I don’t like smooches, Mama!”
And promptly rubs off every trace.

Or if I run my fingers through her hair,
She “hmmphs!” away from me and gives me a dirty little scowl.

I often pine for the fact that we didn’t name her Ethne.
It’s what I always thought her name should be.
After all, it means “little fire”
And those of you who know our Gwyn have seen the spitfire she can be.
It’s also Scottish.
And when I see those gorgeous strawberry curls…

But perhaps she will have a little sister just like her
And maybe she’ll be our Ethne instead.




























That's better.
There is a sweet side to counteract all that sour...
If there's a chocolate chip bribe in the works.

Grandpa's Orchard...

Jude and I had so much fun in Grandpa's orchard last week.
I don't get very much quality time with this guy
because he'd rather be with Daddy if given the choice.

Mama enjoyed it...

Always on the lookout for an airplane.
He loves them and can spot 'em instantly.






















































He was so horrible to me a couple weeks ago.
He would just whine, sob and scream all day, every day. But as soon as Daddy walked in the door he was all smiles. One night I told Lyle I'd had it and needed a break. I locked myself in the bathroom all evening and read my book. When I finally emerged, all soggy from my bath, Jude looked at me with the sweetest smile on his face and said, "You. Look....Pretty, Mama!"
He hates it when I'm upset with him and knows exactly how to turn me into a puddle of goo in a mere instant. Works every time. It would do Daddy good to learn a thing or two from him.
Little monster...