BEAUTIFUL FALL!!!!

Minnesota Fall is upon us and we are LOVING IT!!!  Sooooo many wonderful things about Arkansas that we miss soooooo much, but truly the look and feel of Fall in Minnesota has been so nice... past 5 years our Fall's have been in the 70s or 80s... here 40s to 60s.  Maybe it's the Indiana girl in me, but I have enjoyed having a little more 'looks like Fall, feels like Fall' couple months!

We started the season with some fresh family pictures.  I am a bit photo obsessed, maybe I'm just trying to hold onto their younger years, but I enjoy getting their outfits coordinated and dragging them all out for some pictures.  They just change SO much- even if it's only been 6 months since we last had them done- ha!  Here were some of my favs... I couldn't help but share, but act surprised when the Christmas card comes, ok?! ;)

Thank you SO much Ms. Jen, for your time, patience, and beautiful way with the camera!  We're so grateful!!

{Mommy Shot...never had one before- thank you!!}

  

{Sisters}

  

{reaching out for her big sister- who happily obliged- LOVE}

{Daddy Shot... love it!!}

Ms. Harper is keeping it colorful this Fall.  She is adjusting well to Kindergarten, we are just working on increasing her attention span during class time though... work in progress!  She continues to love gymnastics, make-believe anything, and 'teaching' her sisters.

 

Earmuff buddies!

These two are the SWEETEST... one of the biggest blessings of Minnesota is meeting this boy and his sweet family- he and Harper are already such good friends!

Ms. Maggie is ALSO making friends!  Her teacher snapped this picture for us.  Pretty much makes my day to see her sitting on the floor interacting with friends!!  She continues to enjoy school: is using a button to turn on and off toys in her environment and is using picture flash cards to communicate her needs.

She also moved into a big girl bed!!  Complete with bumpers surrounding her and all of her 'crib favorite stuffed animals and blankies' she LOVES it!!  She had REALLY outgrown her crib- it was time, but we were so nervous about how she would do.  Two wins: she hasn't attempted to crawl out of it at ALL, and she sleeps much more soundly.  HAPPY HAPPY.

...and a HUGE thank you to my new friend Kim who talked me into repainting my childhood bed frame with pink chalk paint!  Pete was not a believer until we saw it in her room- LOVE IT!!

Not a win: Maggie has battled sinus yuck for the last month and a half and is on her third antibiotic- GRRRR!  Needless to say, her new ENT is incredible and she goes in for her second set of ear tubes and removal of her adenoids next week.  Really REALLY dislike surgery, but I feel confident this will make a huge difference... because when Maggie is sick- there is puke- and when there is puke she has to sleep on a towel-lined bed... no likey!!  Crossing our fingers this is the answer for our peanut!!

 

We finally got her birthday gift from my parents installed- a big-girl swing for our basement!!  SHE LOVES IT!!!  Swinging is so therapeutic for her- so happy that in a place where there is LOTS of winter, we will have a fun indoor activity to help her when she's had a little too much of life- ha!

Mommy and Daddy have had too much of Maggie throwing her food on the floor... painting, repainting, cleaning, mopping are a thing of the past, folks!  We started by propping a towel up with kitchen skewers- ha and then Daddy helped out a bit by installing snaps to a cheap, plastic mat.  Success!!  The child is eating more, throwing none, and Mommy and Daddy did a big high five!!  Go Team- ha!

The youngest is beginning a new chapter with eating as well!  We were also a little irritated with scraping oatmeal off the floor, drapes, and slider and I finally just said forget it- and gave her a bowl of cereal.  She fed herself the whole bowl of Apple Jacks {yum o} and then lifted the bowl to her mouth and drank all the milk...  this child is SO much like her Daddy- ha!  Anyway, we solved that mystery- the kid was OVER baby oatmeal- bring on the cereal, man!

She loves and I mean in-your-face-no-rest-for-the-weary loves her sisters.  Big sister does it-shes there.  Mags is playing- there you will find Evelyn either playing with her or ON her sometimes- goodness gracious.  They are sweet to watch... most of the time.  Or there are times like this afternoon where they all have to play separately of each other- such is the life of sisters, right?!

  

Oh Norman... he got a prize and 'killed' it within 20 minutes- there was stuffing strewn throughout the entire downstairs- crazy dog.  WE are very excited that the houses on either side of us are under construction- so excited to have immediate neighbors and have the dirt from living in a construction zone past us.  Norman on the other hand is petrified of it all: he slams himself onto the slider whenever I put him outside and just cries.  He actually has managed to open the slider himself if he works at it long enough... goodness GRACIOUS this dog- thank goodness he's the sweetest!!

Fall is upon us and my mind is on indoor-activity planning.  I hear the days get LOOOOOOOONG come mid January when the cold and the snow just come and come.  Part of my planning was made much easier by the generous gift from Maggie's bus driver and his wife.  Yes you heard that right- her bus driver!!  He and his wife (who is Maggie's bus para) have the kindest heart and had noticed we didn't have a play structure in the backyard.  Their children had outgrown this one and they asked if they could bring it to us.  I was so touched and the girls- well they put it to good use almost on a daily basis- ha!  Daddy gave it a good cleaning and assembled it in our unfinished basement- it's been a major win for the munchkins!!

...for some reason this time of year and baking go hand in hand.  They may not help too much (although I LOVE them sitting at the island watching me bake, chatting, and playing), but they're ALWAYS willing to lick an icing beater- ha!  

So cheers to Fall... loving the colors, the smells, and the tastes of the season for sure!!