Swim lessons

Today was the first day of another session of swim lessons. The boys were so excited. Everest got new spiderman goggles, Leaf got Everest's hand me down. 

When we got to swim lessons, the instructor never showed up. Someone called her and she had mistakenly written us down to start in January. The kids were not disappointed they swam and played for an hour and a half.

Gotta love the straps sticking straight out!

Just having fun

Leaf and Everest made a teeter totter in the driveway one day, while Nathan worked in the garage. They played so well together and had a lot of fun. They ran back and forth on the plywood ramp.

Leaf was a little more cautious than Everest. He would run full force, but then slow down once it started to tip.

Chef Elliot was over one night and cooking in Leaf's new kitchen.

October 2010

I am a little behind on blogging. 3 kids keep me busy. Here are a few pictures to share from my parents visit in October.

Is there a pheasant in our tree? Wait ....it's Leaf playing hide and seek.

Papa and Aurora

Pirate Everest, Nonnie, Leaf, Aurora, and Papa.

Aurora: "Nonnie wears me out."

Full pirate outfit (minus the eye patch)

Thinking about his next treasure hunt.

This and That

 Playing in the leaves.

The boys have been unloading the dishwasher every morning. Usually Leaf hands Everest the silverware. Everest decided to teach Leaf how to put the silverware away.

Two boys, two boxes, markers = Fun, fun, fun!

Everest made his box into a tow truck. He originally had a winch in the back and a string in the front. He tried to pull his car and tow Leaf's car. When Leaf wasn't in the car, it worked, but he was too heavy for the string.

 Aurora hanging out in the couch. Less than 3 weeks until the brace comes off!

 Nathan and Aurora doing diapers. We go through lots of diapers.

 Everest is digging for buried treasure.

3 Months old!

I can not believe Aurora is already 3 months old! It has gone by very fast. Have I told you what a WONDERFUL baby she is? I love my boys very much, but neither slept well as a baby. Everest had digestive issue due to allergies and Leaf had digestive issues due to surgery at birth. It wasn't their fault, but they cried ALL the time, and rarely slept more than 3 hours at a time (even at night). When Aurora turned 3 months old, she slept 11 hours that night. Now, I understand why people like babies so much.

I am 3 months old already!

Leaf has been nursing his baby.

He asked for a cover to use while nursing.(I have a nursing apron I use)

Becoming a Pirate

Over the summer, my mom read a book to Everest about pirates and a treasure hunt. Since then, he has been obsessed with treasures and treasure hunts. He made Nonnie promise to do a treasure hunt the next time she came to Indiana. Of course, she did.

She had all the stuff a pirate needs. When Everest woke up he had a note and a treasure map waiting for him. He found his hat first. And is off to find the next red "X", treasure map in hand.

Reading the treasure map, Leaf was listening intently.

Hat, eye patch and sword, what is next?

A real treasure chest with a lock too!

Leaf wearing the eye patch and watching as Everest opened his treaure chest.

WOW, there is money in the treasure chest! What a great treasure hunt. Thanks Nonnie and Papa.

Papa made the newspaper sword. He taught Leaf and Everest how to make them. Now we have about a hundred paper swords floating around the house.

Pumpkin fun

When my parents were here in October, they took the boys to a local pumpkin patch. The kids and my parents had a great time. Everest helped Leaf pick out his pumpkin and he picked on for Aurora. They also picked white pumpkin gourds.

Leaf getting ready to carve his pumpkin.

Look at the top mama.

I will just suck my fingers while Papa does all the hard work.

Everest's pumpkin. He carved it himself (with a little help from daddy). He drew a person and then cut it out. Not bad, if you know what it is. I missed my photo op of him cutting it.

Leaf's 2nd birthday

My little boy turned 2 in October. I am a little behind. My parents came to Indiana for his birthday. We had a small pizza party for him. Our friends Heather, Christopher, Elliot and Micah came over. I got individual pizza pans for the kids so they got to make their own pizza!.

Leaf's birthday outfit. I lined the pants with flannel (my first try at lined pants). I didn't think about it, I used red flannel. After the first wash, the pants are now pink, I don't care so much about them being pink, but they do not match as well now, oh well, he's 2 and doesn't care. He loves his ball pants, and that is all that matters.

Making pizzas

Micah's pizza

Birthday boy with his crown.

Cake.

Eating cake.

"My Birthday" Leaf continues to say this, every time he see his kitchen. My parents got him a kitchen set. He loves it. He makes pizza and ice cream the most.

Happy Birthday Leaf! We love you.