The rest of October

October has been a busy month for us. Between Pres' birthday celebrations, playdates & travelling(among other things), we've not had a minute to spare around here. These are a few of the things that have kept us busy.

A couple weekends ago, Jeremy took Ava & Drew to get pumpkins so they could color on them & then make jack-o-lanterns. They got a kick out of writing on them:

After they were finished, we put them on the back porch & every morning (&several times throughout the day) they would go to the back door & talk to them. Very cute!


I love pumpkin bread & had been wanting a recipe for a while, so I asked my friend Vanessa @ Feed My Monkeys for one. She shared hers & I asked Ava & Drew for help. Here they are greasing the bread pans. (We LOVE our Learning Tower, by the way!) The 1st batch didn't turn out great because I over cooked them, but we will try again soon!

Here's Pres watching the baking from the doorway. She stayed pretty happy for the time it took.

Last week, I decided it was time to try *real* fingerpaints. We tried it a few months ago with pudding & they seemed to enjoy that. Ava was even more into it this time.

We have been 'storing' Raffi the Rocking Giraffe in Presley's room. A week or so ago, I was playing with her in her room (one of the mornings she decided to get up at 5:30am) & she took an interest in it. So, I brought it downstairs & she's had a blast with it! She learned very quickly how to get on & off all by herself! :)

Ava & Drew are also enjoying having 'him' out again!

Last picture & I KNOW someday Drew will not be happy with me for sharing this, but right now he thinks it's funny ! Ava & Drew have started wanting to sleep together. I don't mind & so they've been hanging out in each other's rooms for a while after bedtime(for the record, they have yet to *actually* sleep in the same room--they always get in trouble for being too loud or start fighting!). One night they decided to raid Ava's drawers & change pants. Hilariously, the 'pants' that they picked out were actually TIGHTS! I'm just surprised they were able to get them on by themselves!

Trick or Treat

Halloween was spent with my family this year. We had a great time & the kids experienced a few 'firsts'.

First cookout:


Pres really seemed to enjoy it. She was not at all distracted by being outside!

Ava & Drew enjoyed it, too. Though they probably didn't eat as much as Pres.

Drew mostly focused on the buns:

After our cookout, we got ready for their First trick or treating. Drew & Ava had decided they would go as Woody & Buzz from Toy Story.

A shy Buzz Lightyear:

res was supposed to be a giraffe, but she fell asleep on the way, so we left her in the car.

I wasn't sure how they'd do, walking up to strange houses(we knew the people) & asking for candy. But, they had no problem with it. They were even pretty good to say thank you everytime! :)

Pouring out the candy after:

We had a great time & I'm so glad we decided to go this year. Ava & Drew really enjoyed it & it's always fun to see them having fun! :)

What's going on...

Well, apparently we got past Presley's birthday & (as far as the blog goes)time stopped. Then I checked the calendar & 2 weeks have gone by with no posts. I don't know where the time went.

We celebrated Pres' birthday with Jeremy's family the following weekend. I know I have pics...but, the camera has been put away & I have not found the motivation to dig it out. I'll get to it....someday! ;)

We took Presley's 1 yr/A&D's 3 yr/family pictures last Wednesday. Instead of doing them at a studio like we always have, we decided to find a photographer(Neely Brook Photography) who would take them outside. She suggested a local park & we met there at 9:00am(VERY crazy morning trying to get all 5 of us in picture-ready condition AND leave the house BY 8:00am--but we made it! And I think we all look good! :)). We really had a good time taking the pictures. When she was doing individuals of one child, the other 2 could roam around & look at the flowers/water/peacocks & they stayed HAPPY!! And I think they turned out pretty well, too. (If you go to her website, you can look at some of our pics on her blog)

Ava & Drew spent the following weekend at my parent's house. Drew had decided that he needed some cowboy boots like Dandy, so Friday they went shopping for boots.

You can kind of see them in this picure of them at the Pumpkin patch. He has worn them at every opportunity since & LOVES them(& looks adorable, too!).

While they played in Lindale, Pres & I ran errands here. I have to keep her busy when A&D aren't here, because she gets SO grumpy--I guess it's because she misses them ... which is sweet, but it also makes for a very tired mommy at the end of each day! :)

And here's a bunch of random pics (taken with my phone) from the last couple of weeks:

I'm not exactly sure...but, it was SO funny(if the hysterical laughter under there was any indication)

Pres has started giving(slobbery, open mouth) kisses:

We've been going to the bounce house almost weekly. All 3 of the kids LOVE it & for only $10, it's a great way to run off A LOT of energy. Last week, there was a new HUGE inflatable this is only about 1/4 of it. It's great b/c I can get in one corner with Pres(yes, I have to get in sometimes) & A&D can play on the big slide & other fun things.

Ava & Drew have always loved puzzles, but have been getting bored with the big wooden puzzles for a while. My mom got them a small(10ish) pc jigsaw a month ago & they loved it & figured it out quickly. So, when we were at Target early last week, I saw these 24 pc jigsaw puzzles. They got them(for good behavior) & did great at putting them together. They're already almost too easy for them. Guess we have to go bigger!

Well, that pretty much catches us up. I need to do better at taking pics(& then downloading them).....but we seem to keep pretty busy around here(maybe it's the 3 kids...who knows! :)).

Happy Happy Birthday Presley!

Ok, yes, her birthday was Wednesday...but, 2 days late is better than nothing, right!?

We didn't do much for her birthday. Just our normal Wednesday stuff(Bible study, lunch, naps, play outside), then had a couple gifts for her that evening.

Here's our birthday girl all dressed up & ready to head to the church:

Yay! Daddy's home & it's time to celebrate! :)

Where's the food?!

They come bearing gifts! (I decided not to bother wrapping them. We didn't have a lot of time before Pres needed to go to bed, so it was quicker this way!)

They're a hit! (& of course, Ava & Drew love the new toys, too!)

Presley, at 1 year old you:

*are 25 lbs(>95%) & 31 1/2 in(>95%)

*wearing 18-24mos clothes (& some 2T)

*still nursing 3-4x/day(and at least once at night!)

*trying to walk....you'll take a couple steps & get so excited you lose your balance & fall over

*say dada, momma & drew...uhoh, hi & byby.

*"talk" ALL the time...

*make us laugh all the time....from your dancing to music no one else hears, to pulling up your shirt & grabbing your rolls & giggling...you are hilarious!

*LOVE Ava & Drew. When they 'let' you play with them, you are SO happy!
*are generally happy...as long as you're getting your way & are right in the middle of whatever is going on ;)

My sweet baby girl, I cannot believe you are already ONE! Time as just flown by & we have loved every minute. I'm so glad you & Ava are becoming friends & that you are big enough to withstand Drew's hugs! :) Hearing the 3 of you laughing together just swells my heart & brings joyful tears to my eyes! I love how your face lights up & you crawl as fast as you can to the door when I say daddy's home. You make me feel so special when I get home after being away from you for a bit & you get so excited that you can't hold still. How I wish you could stay little forever, but I know that we're going to have even more fun as you grow up. I love you P! :)

Party #1 of the Birthday Festival

On Saturday we had party #1 of Presley's 'Birthday Festival'. We celebrated with Noni, Dandy & Aunt Jess & had a great time.

Here's the birthday girl cheesing for the camera:


Checking out the cupcake:

A little dancing before tasting:

1st taste:

That's my girl! :)

Time for gifts. Had to lose the shirt because it was covered in icing! Drew helping, of course.

'I did it!'

Ava came to help at the end.

Also, want to mention that Pres is really starting to walk now. Today she took about 10 steps. She gets so excited that she often trips herself, but doesn't get discouraged. I guess it helps to have Ava & Drew cheering her on! :)

Cheerios for All!

We all love cheerios! :)

Girly girl

Pres attached onto one of Ava's purses the other day & she loves it. Although it would really help if she started walking...it's awfully hard to crawl when you keep getting tangled up in your purse!