Weekend Highlights

Here are some pictures that highlight the fun we had this past weekend.

On Friday we went to the Carmel High School Homecoming football game. It was quite strange to sit in the stands next to the student section--I felt so old and couldn't help but think of my own children grown up (well, more grown up than they are now!) and in high school. It struck fear into my heart. I'm not going to lie.

Daddy and Caroline, both wearing their Carmel H.S. gear. I had to put a bow on her so she'd look like a girl!

Jack and Grant were actually quite interested for awhile but mostly liked the marching band drums.

On Saturday we went to a family festival that was kind of a let-down, but the boys did learn about fire safety in a fire safety house.

Grant loves sitting in the driver's seat of all vehicles. This steering wheel looks almost as big as he is!

Caroline all dressed for church--love the hat and how it accentuates her cheeks!

Jack learned the story of the lost sheep in church on Sunday and made these ears. I just love how cute he looks in these, though the goofy face may need to be disregarded!

Children's Museum Fun!

Yesterday the kiddos decided not to take naps. Ordinarily this would have annoyed me more than it should, but I opted to choose a better attitude... so we took a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Children's Museum. We LOVE that place, and it had been awhile since we'd been there. I've never taken all three kids by myself so I was a bit nervous about how it would go. However, it worked out great. There was just one situation where I received shocked looks from other adults because of my kids' (or rather, one child's) behavior, so I count that as a successful visit. Here are some pictures of our excursion!

The boys LOVE the "flight" to Egypt.

Caroline liked checking herself out in the mirror, but I distracted her for this picture.

Jack's obligatory race car picture.

Perhaps Grant's future profession is being on a pit crew at the Indy 500.

Grant lately

My poor middle child. Sometimes he gets lost in the shuffle, especially since he has a laid-back personality. So I thought I'd put the focus on him today. Here are some Grant highlights from the past week:

Grant loves blueberries!

He said, "I really cool" and "check me out" when he put on these sunglasses!

Here is a video of Grant dancing. I love it!

Teeth!

As the mother of now three children, there are some things I've learned. Boys have a LOT of energy, hunger and sleepiness can lead to disobedience, and I have absolutely no idea when to expect teeth in my babies' mouths! With Jack, I expected his teeth to appear from the time he was 3 months--surely that was the reason for all of his fussiness! Nope--his first tooth popped up at 6 1/2 months! Grant handled teething the same way he handled life: laid back and calm. So...I figured I had no expectations about when Miss Caroline would get teeth. Unfortunately, she drooled so much and gnawed on things for so long that I had a hard time not assuming that the teeth would come early.

Fast forward to Sunday. I've been feeling her gums daily just to check if there are any teeth--and yesterday there was a little tooth poking through the bottom gum! I don't see or feel any others, but I'm sure they are soon to come.

Here is what Caroline's been doing a lot of lately.

She was all smiles the day the tooth came! (That sounds like a horror movie, doesn't it?)

Apple Picking

On Monday we were still in Chicago. It was a fall-like day (cloudy, windy, and cooler) so we decided to go apple picking. Each year we have talked about going to an orchard, but for some reason, we don't think of it until the season is over. My sister and her husband had been to an orchard with some friends so we opted to go there. It was a 45 minute drive, but I'm glad we went. It was a fun orchard, and it was great to see the boys enjoying themselves and learning more about apples and where they grow. And, of course, I took a lot of pictures.

following the leader to the perfect apples

beautiful apples

Is this the perfect one?

Jack picking his first apple

Megan, a bit windblown, and Barrett, all snuggled up!

a family picture at the orchard (Caroline got to ride in our new Ergo carrier!)

Grant's favorite thing was picking an apple, taking a few bites, dropping it to the ground, and finding a new one.

Tim, Megan, and Barrett (well, his feet are showing)

my little monkeys!

Jack and the "welcome" bear--We just like this picture for some reason!

One "Last Fling"

On Saturday we trekked up to Chicago to visit my sister, her husband, and their baby (and their dog). It's fun because Barrett is exactly 8 weeks older than Caroline, and I love seeing them interact.

Sharing a toy

both of them sitting so well (though C. probably fell soon after this!)

On Sunday we visited the Naperville Last Fling Festival. Some parts of it reminded us of the midway at the state fair: a lot of games and rides. The part we really enjoyed, though, was the section for kids. There was a magician, petting zoo, and car that the kids could paint. And who doesn't want to paint a car? I am just hoping that this won't be such a great memory that the boys want to continue it at home with our paint on our car!

Barrett hanging out (literally), watching his cousins

Grant enjoying the petting zoo, with a little encouragement from Daddy

The boys painting a car--with permission, of course

And, if you're really interested, here is a video of the babies playing next to each other. I think it's cute, but I guess I may have a reason to think so!

An anniversary of sorts

Fifteen years ago today I met my future husband. It's interesting to reflect on that time. I feel like it must have been more recent than that, but no, it really has been that long. I was so young!

I remember that day like it was yesterday. How many people can I say that about--that I remember exactly the moment that we met? I had been at Taylor for a week or so and was excited (definite understatement!) about all the people and activities there. My roommate and I were going to dinner, and she had arranged for us to go with a guy she had met and his friends. I walked out of the dorm and saw Ryan. The sun shone and angels sang. Well, maybe not quite, but I have to say that, for me, it was an instant attraction. I don't think it was mutual, but I did not let that stop me! It took 5 years, but we eventually did start dating. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Then (on a pick-a-date)...

and now (after a long day with kids--both ours and others!)