Truly amazing

Yesterday morning an amazing thing happened!

Audrey and Carter got up at 7 a.m. on the dot (on Saturday morning - sheesh, don't they know it's the weekend?) So being the great parent I am, I promptly went out to the living room, turned on Disney Channel for them, and headed straight back to my bed.

A few minutes of peace and quiet went by.

And then the amazing thing happened.

Carter yelled out ... catch this .... he yelled "DADDY!!!! DADDY!!!!"

What is so unusual about this?

The kids NEVER, EVER, EVER(!) call Daddy when they want or need something. It is ALWAYS Mommy.

After recovering from my shock, I almost sat right up and sang the Hallelujah Chorus!

But I was too comfy under my covers while Chad went out to get the kids drinks and cereal. :)

15 months old

At 15 months we are in the thick of the "exploration" stage. Everything is about -What does this thing do? What happens when I bang this against the table? How fast can I run before I wipe out? What does that taste like? (which is why I had to call poison control yesterday ... and just in case you were wondering ... eating a small bite of deoderant tastes disgusting but is not really dangerous). :P

So Chloe pretty much spends her day exploring everything she can get her hands on. (Which is why my house pretty much constantly looks like the toy box threw up.)

But despite the messes, the bumps and bruises, and the constant motion Chloe is in ... this stage is really so much fun.

She is learning so many new things - like how to show us her belly button and how to moo like a cow (all important life skills, huh??!) She is not saying many words but she sure is a constant stream of jibber-jabber. I think right now she is focusing on all these physical skills, and then one day a few months from now she is going to wake up one morning and have sentences start pouring out of her little mouth!

Here are a few of the other new things she is learning:

How to sort shapes

How to climb up on stools and get into stuff

How to give Mom a dirty look when busted with contraband
(and apparently also how to overaccessorize!)

How to sing and dance

And last but not least ... Chloe has learned to be so cute that it is hard to be upset when she creates all sorts of mayhem around the house :)

She is a ton of fun these days!

Carter's prayer

At dinner the other night, Carter volunteered to pray. This is new for him, and I think preschool is encouraging his confidence to pray. (Hooray for preschool!) Anyhow, it went a little something like this:

"Okay everybody -
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them, give a little clap.
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them, lay them in your lap.

Now this is the serious part. Fold your hands, close your eyes, and bow your heads!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for today. Thank you for ALL our blessings.
{Insert a minute or two of indecipherable jibber-jabber here.}
And give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
In Jesus' name, Amen."

It was all I could do to not bust out laughing. So sweet and cute and humorous all at once!

Peek a boo!

Somebody discovered the little open shelf in our island.
Now she spends her time going back and forth through it like a little worm!

Have I said how much fun this age is?
It is so. much. fun!

It had to be done.

The other day I went to Target -- and bought a moisturizer that included the descriptors "firming" and "anti-wrinkle".... my 30's are just speeding by and before you know it ... well, I will be older.

But hopefully wiser as well!

Bed Head

No explanation necessary. :)

Apple Picking 2010

Yup, if it's October ... it must be apple picking time!

Last year we went to a different place called Varner's and we loved it. Not only is it close by, but it is smaller and not so crowded and "commercial." So ... we went back this year. They have a number of free things to do that are perfect for our young kids.

For example:

Sitting on big ol' tractors and pretending to drive them

Riding little pedal tractors

Hay bale mazes

Checking out pot belly pigs, chickens, ponies, goats, etc.

Prancing among the pumpkins

Splashing in puddles

Riding in little wagons pulled by a tractor
Isn't Chad a good sport on this kiddie ride with Chloe?

And of course, there is the apple picking.
Although that is NOT free.
But you DO get to take home a bunch of delicious apples when you're done!

This year Chloe could actually participate in apple picking.
Although she kept trying to pick rotting apples off the ground and eat them.
She even picked up an apple with about 5 yellow jackets on it and put it up to her mouth to take a bite ... but thankfully no stings!

Enjoying the wagon ride while eating an apple

3 cheers for apples! :)