Boo at the Zoo

We made our trip to the LA Zoo today for the annual "Boo at the Zoo" festivities: costumes, candy, crowds, and HEAT. Above, you see the big bad witch, and below, her little black cat. It was so hot, the only part of the costume that Sophie could wear were her ears.


Silly witch is tired of smiling for pictures.

Spiderman (Andrew) and Maddie ride the train.

Birthday Dinner

We went out for dinner to celebrate my birthday Saturday night. We had a great time and some good Mexican food. It turns out Sophie LOVES french fries, and they are a perfect finger food for her. Both girls were really enjoyable to be out with. Maddie loved watching all of the servers in their Halloween costumes.

Maddie and I made the cake together. It had orange frosting on top and chocolate on the sides. Boy was Sophie mad when she saw us making the cake; she wanted a piece and didn't understand why she had to wait to have some.

In case you've lost track of time, like I have, I'm 33.

First Fieldtrip

This morning I spent a little time in Maddie's classroom before we headed to the pumpkin patch for her very first fieldtrip. I loved being in her class, surrounded by all the happy kids and festive Halloween artwork. It really made me miss teaching the littles ones. . . Then we were off to the pumpkin patch to enjoy some time in the great smokey outdoors. I know the sky looks overcast in the pictures, but really it is just the after effects of all the area fires this week.

More Fieldtrip Pics

Maddie makes the sun shine on her pumpkin seed.


The bee pollinates the flower.


Maddie follows her best friend Colby through the maze.


Madeline, Emely, and I ride the train.

Various Pics from the Week

Just some pictures taken during the week; the girls eat a breakfast of waffles and carrots (veggies cancel out the syrup, right?)

Yeah!!! Waffles!!


Sophie plays with her train and tries to catch some rays, no luck she's still as pale as ever!


Tuesday's smokey view from our backyard.


A view of the Southern California sky from our front yard.

We Found Fall!

Jessie and I drove the kids (in the minivan, of course) about thirty miles out of Riverside and up into the mountains today on a quest to find some apples and pumpkins to pick. This was our first stop; a quaint little store with tons of overpriced produce, jams, caramel apples and the like. The scenery was beautiful, and Maddie finally got to see some of those "red" leaves that she learned about in preschool.

All three in one picture; right before a pumpkin rolled off the hay and bonked poor Emmet right on the head! What a sport.


Look at all those apples! Now I know why there were none left on the trees!


The nice lady behind the counter peeled little apples for the kids to nibble.


Maddie and Sophie, five dollars each, and not a single taker!

Pumpkin Pickin

Where to start?


Hey, one of those pumpkins is moving!


Maddie found one!


Mommy found one!


Aunt Jessie found one, too!

The Hay Ride

The hay ride was Maddie's favorite part of the day.

Sophie's New Wheels

Halloween Pajamas

After a rough day of shopping (score, these cute jammies) and lunch with the girls, I got some snuggles and these adorable pictures to boot. Not a bad Sunday at all!

Happy Birthday, Sophie!

A little party for a little girl:

Cousins:


Daddy and Maddie:


Silly Milo:


First birthday, first ear infection, first potato chip:


Second birthday cake, carrrot cake this time:

Finally . . .

Finally! The blog is updated! Here you can see one of Sophie's new skills and a little of her temper, as well. Doesn't she have the best big sis?

12 (and a 1/2) Month Check-up

I took Sophie back to see her doctor today for her "well baby" appt., but she is anything but! Last Thursday I took her in and she had an ear infection in her left ear. After being on her antiobiotic for 9 days, she not only still has her infection in her left ear, she has one in her right ear, too. So, we'll have to try another antibiotic, and maybe she'll get her shots in two weeks when we go back.

Here are her official one year stats:

Weight: 22 pounds, 1 ounce (69th percentile)
Height: 31 inches (95th percentile!!!)
Temp: 101 degrees (Boohoo!)

My Little Pumpkin

My little pumpkin missed her one year appointment today because her doctor called in sick. Since I couldn't get an appointment until the 19th, I used my home scale and measuring tape to check her stats. According to our home scale, she is 22 pounds (68th percentile) and her height is 29.5 inches (75th percentile). She has 8 teeth, 6 of which have arrived in the last 6 weeks (no fun at all!). She has also been sans bottle and formula for about 2 weeks.

The Pumpkin Patch

I took the girls to the pumpkin patch this morning. Then we went to Toys R Us for a mini shopping spree. Thanks to the generosity of our family members, we had quite a few gift cards to take care of (thanks everyone!). Maddie helped Sophie pick some things out, and we decided it felt a bit like Christmas.

Our New Wheels!!!

Well, now I have it all: a husband, a house, 2 kids, a dog, and a . . . minivan!! We purchased a new Nissan Quest Friday evening, and I LOVE it!



Maddie took the pictures of me, and here she points out her favorite part of the new car.

Birthday Girl!

Look who turned one! Our little Sophie rang in her first birthday with a quiet evening and some chocolate cake. While we had a very small gathering planned, it had to be postponed due to illnesses all around. Milo has a stomach virus, Emmet has a cough, and the baby of honor has a nose full of green boogers accompanied by a temperature of 101.5. She is feeling pretty miserable, but was able to devour her cake, none the less.


Sophie used the candle from Maddie's first birthday cake, and I lit it with one of our wedding matches.

Birthday+presents=CAKE For Maddie!