pins

My aunt had all these photo ideas from pinterest that she wanted to try.  It's harder than you think to get a successful photo with little guys and bright sun, but here are some attempts:

wild guy

TGIF - tee gee eye eff!

I'm busy looking at photos and I'm just going to ignore the weather report that it is supposed to SNOW tomorrow!?  Waa, everyone say it with me - mild winter, mild winter, mild winter!

This is just wild!

Just about a week ago Lizzie helped this wild guy take a bath - Thx Liz!

school

Aiden's school has a photo stream online that I picked these off.  He's having snack (very normal compared to the olives and pickles he usually tells me about) with his buddy Leo.

The class photo never disappoints in the laughs department.  This year the teacher came out to the car and Aiden was carrying his portrait package.  The teacher made a face and said they were going to try for retakes. Aiden pulled it out to show me, and it wasn't until I took a good look that I knew why.  She then went on to say that they are always smiling at the kids and she doesn't know what happened!  HA what sour pusses!  (I stamped out the other kid's faces because they are so strict about kids online and I don't know the families.)  Aiden is a tall guy in the back row despite being one of the youngest in a 3-5 year old class.  Smiley guy had a crooked smile which is better than the barracuda smile or the stone face...  I just took a photo of the little id card they gave us.

bday

The birthday cousins - Ages 21 + 18 + 4 = 43!

This was the second of two cakes to celebrate in Ohio.  Big thanks on behalf of the birthday boy for the kick off celebrations and the presents!

Some soon-to-be four year old I know was really excited to get the space shuttle lego set (which happened to be on the cover of his favorite lego magazine this month) from the Henrich clan - HUGE thanks from the little guy with orange icing on his finger, and yep even in his ear:

Thanks to the rapid fire camera timer we had fun with this year's family shot - KC tooted right as the camera took a shot so we all had huge smiles ;)

fall

The Halloween friends made another appearance in Ohio.  They are playing a game of ring around the rosey in my parents' front lawn this year:

Giggly guy liked the clown ghost the most:

At the pumpkin patch with all the cousins:

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the fun times!  More photos coming soon...

Aaaah, sweet relief of being home... After a morning where KC was dry coughing and squeaking at lunch, I was worried that the flight home was going to be a doozy. But to my pleasant surprise, KC konked out in the security line and stayed asleep against my chest until we were getting ready to land! A miracle! AB and I had lotsa QT coloring and decoding letter codes (his current fav) in his fun book. Super cooperative AB and sleepy KC both get A++! So it is possible to travel with two kids and one adult and keep everyone happy ;) What a relief!

crisp

Enjoying family time in cool crisp Ohio... Pumpkin cutting, playground romping, crafting at the fall ball, and cuddling...

spooky science

We had fun at Spooky Science Night at the science museum. They had a spooky story abroad the Mather ship, a science of fear goosebumps exhibit, tarantulas and jumping cockroaches to greet, a fire show with a fire breathing pumpkin and electrical current jumping through the scientists fingers, glow in the dark painting, and slime making with the mad scientists. Aiden picked the last thing he saw as his favorite - "the exploding pumpkin which can you believe it - broke into pieces!" (the chunks of pumpkin flying amazed him for some reason) I think by his reaction he liked the glow in the dark painting a lot too. KC was a good sport looking all around.

art

We cruised to the art museum on this rainy day... KC was there strapped to my chest sleeping ;)

visiting

We started with lotsa nice visits. Gigi enjoyed some giggly guys and stories read by Aiden. My cousin Tim's trip overlapped a bit with ours, so it was nice to see him (check out his biz: http://www.paddleboardnewengland.com/). We also cruised in to meet my mom's class and bring the kiddos a popcorn party. This was all before more family arrived at dinnertime! More fun to come...

family

Snaps from a fun week with the Brennan clan! Thanks for everything! We miss you already!  

despite

Despite all the grandparent love we've had lately we were ready for more... J was headed out of town and  somewhere months ago I thought it was wise to book a flight for me with both the boys for a fall Ohio visit. 
Despite an airline attendant that insisted I take three pounds of stuff out of my overweight luggage...while nursing my small baby in the ergo...while wrangling a little guy (although very well behaved)...while feeling like I was wilting a bit in my determination to make it work.
Despite the security guys allowing my now sleeping baby to stay in his ergo, I had to wait 15 minutes to get my hands swabbed for who knows what... while I thought maybe it would've been easier to wrangle a stroller.
Despite being delayed an hour, we found a nice kiddy table to sit at... although someone, who will remain nameless, may have accidently peed on the back of their shirt... while the gate kept showing Providence instead of Cleveland to confuse us...
Despite a very turbulent, Aiden dubbed "bouncy" flight...both boys were calm and happy...although my very determined baby wanted to help our neighbor with his wine...while mom hoped that the smell of wine may help relax her... while any empty cup of ice makes a very fun baby rattle...  
Aiden gets an A++ for cooperating and playing so nicely with his surprise magic ink pad.
Keaton gets an A- for being calm, yet wide awake, but being a little too interested in drinking some of our neighbor's wine.
Despite all the nervousness and second guessing, it was a smooth trip to the land of O-HI-O.

diner

 We hit diner night for some dancing and face painting fun.  Kayley and Aiden loved marching all around the restaurant with their shakers and bells ;)  Trevor even joined in the fun, while Keaton slept through about half of it... Aiden picked a pirate face. Doesn't Kayley make a cute kitty?!

zoo

Spent the late afternoon wandering around the zoo with all the kiddos - We are just being spoiled by perfect weather! The cousins get along so well.

halloween part one

It's only the middle of October, but Halloween part one of many, many, many kicked off this weekend!  Captain Hook and his parrot (named Sully) were celebrating with the Lake mom's club at the beach on a beautiful sunny day.  The pirate came home with plenty of loot!

old town

We found some scallops (especially for Nana and Grampa) in Old Town, Alexandria

family

We are loving some family time with Nana and Grampa all the way from Arizona! These photos are from  lunch at Fairfax Corner Kidtoberfest and the Air and Space Museum... more fun to come!