Sleep, please?

Claire has this new thing where she goes to her crib just before bedtime and sobs and tries to climb in. I thought babies this age were trying to climb OUT of the crib?

Fall Leaves

A few Saturdays ago, we decided to rake a bunch of leaves in the front yard and let the kids jump in them. That has been one of Kenley's dreams for many years now, so she was in heaven. I've had a few people ask for pictures of the house and the yard, so I tried to get some of those as well.

A trip to the pumpkin patch!

Just kidding. Turns out this place doesn't have pumpkin patches. Let me tell you, Alaska is seriously LAME when it comes to the holidays.

So we get this e-mail that the church where Kenley goes to preschool is having a "Fall Festival" with a pumpkin patch, among other things. So we go, all excited to finally find a pumpkin, and the "pumpkin patch" is really three hay bales set up outside a craft fair. There were like 8 pumpkins on the hay bales - 5 with that gross gray speckly stuff stuck on the sides, and then like 3 that looked gorgeous. But they were fake.

So we'd told the kids they could get a pumpkin, so we headed to Wal-Mart, and then even THEY didn't have any normal-sized pumpkins! So they each got a lame baby pumpkin. So here's our contribution to the annual pumpkin patch blog posts. She looks as sad as I felt about the under-celebration of Halloween here.

A Fall Walk With Aunt Gail

A few nights ago we met up with my Aunt Gail to walk along the coastal trail. We're probably in our last week or two before snow, so it was nice to get out and enjoy the fall colors and weather while it lasts. And since they don't have pumpkin patches here (waaaahhhh!!!!), these will have to do for my token contribution to fall photos on my blog.

 For some reason, Claire thought she was frozen in place and wouldn't walk at this little park. I don't know if it was the jacket, or the unfamiliarity of walking in sand/grass, but she was just standing there. Considering that she is currently in love with toddling and getting into everything, it presented me with some interesting ideas. Do you think if I put her in her coat in the house she would stay put for more than two seconds? She did quite enjoy the leaves on the ground, and picking them up to give to everyone. It was a big job, but she did her best.

Conference Weekend

Last weekend was General Conference, which for me not only means watching the Church leaders speak on TV, but also a relaxing weekend filled with food and family. And this Conference weekend was no different. On Saturday we went up to spend some time with my cousins and their families. We made caramel apples and Halloween crafts, and then enjoyed some Cafe Rio-style burritos.

 And Claire examined Cade very closely, staring at him and poking his eyeballs and mouth. These two babes both have the most darling, chubby cheeks.

Then the next day we watched Conference from home. The kids loved coloring in these little packets that James's parents sent to them. Here are their cute little self-portraits.

Even Claire got into some coloring action.

And then all three kids licked their own reflections in the mirror.

There are boys, and there are girls

So I know "they" say that boys and girls are inherently different. And they are. 

Exhibit A: Bendaroo Museum

My kids love to make me things out of Bendaroos and stick them to my the wall by my bed. The ones on top are the designs Kenley made for me. Multi-colored hearts and a cute little snowman. The ones on bottom are the designs Parker made for me. A spider, a black ball, and black celery. You can't tell me you wouldn't want to wake up to the sight of black celery every morning.

 Exhibit B: Dress-Ups

Parker was a "train guy lightsaber man." Kenley was a "rock star witch."

Exhibit C: Creativity

Parker spends all day building boats, trains, and spaceships. Kenley spends all day whipping up adorable masterpieces such as this portrait of "Praker" and "Kenley Mae." Love those curls in her hair.

Exhibit D: Singing


Here is Parker singing his version of Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor," complete with new & improved lyrics.




And then here is Kenley with her own song, inspired by Taylor Swift.


And then both of them singing "Popcorn Popping" together. :)