Sick days are here again. :(

One cold a month "they" say we can expect.

I was kinda hoping after such a tough sick season last year, we could "cash in" some of those immunities we were building last year.

September, not so bad, one cold lasted less than a week.

This month, worse, we even had to miss school!

(Read that in a four year old whining voice.)

So we got out the air mattress to relax on while we watch our show of the day.

And little sister visits to try and cheer up sick sister.

Maybe peek-a-boo will cheer her up... :)

Signing Time

Maleah is LOVING watching her signing time movies!

We usually watch one after breakfast in the morning.

She will sit and practice the signs as she watches.

And now she is signing more during the day.

Yesterday morning she woke up asking for signing time. :)

We are so glad for the gift of this early language.

(Thanks Grammie and Gramps!)

First Movie

This morning Daddy took Reese to her first show at the movie theater.

Our local theater shows kids movies Saturday morning for just $2!

They saw Curious George and enjoyed it.

Reese sat on Daddy's lap the whole time,

because she could not keep the theater seat down on her own! :)

Miracle Ranch

Miracle Ranch had a fall festival today that we got to enjoy.

Here Reese is meeting one of their cows, she wasn't so sure about the open fencing.

We then got to pet some animals in the petting zoo barn.

Maleah enjoyed looking at all the animals.

(Way more than Daddy did.)

Reese got to do a pony ride.

Then we made our way to the hay maze.

Daddy was able to show us the way because this is the camp he took his sixth grade students to.

We enjoyed the stories he told us about camp as we walked around.

I got to climb the hay mt. with Reese, my workout for the day. ;)

It was a fun quick afternoon trip.

We are looking forward to sending the girls to camp here someday.

(Nice that it is only 10 minutes from our house!)

Lost pictures

Found these when we charged the ipod...

Learning the food groups by organizing! :)

Learning about different textures.

Trip to the dentist, she did great!

In to everything... :)

Want to read a book?

How about one of those from up there?

You know, this gate is kinda in my way....

Maybe I can climb it...

I have seen them push this button....

"Post baby" "Pre-toddler" Maleah sure keeps us on our toes! :)

Sunny afternoon at the park

It is almost the end of October and it is sunny and 50s today!

We could have gone to the grocery store....

But the sun was calling!

The park has a new fence!

Perfect for Maleah to walk along by herself.

And some new swings!

Unfortunately Maleah does not like to swing....

I had no idea kids did not like to swing!

Reese brought her horse on a lease and had fun swinging it.

Maleah had fun walking all around and kinda liked exploring.

Big sister makes it a lot more fun!

We went on a walk along the trails and found many caterpillars.

Reese brought her camera and enjoyed taking pictures of each one.

The trails and all the fall leaves were so beautiful.

Maleah enjoyed her ride in the back pack. (And her thumb.)

Reese collect leaves and this "super cool stick".

So very thankful to be able to enjoy these days with my girls.

Farm field trip

Here we go...

Maleah loves to crawl around with a toy in her hand....

apparently she knows that you need your keys to go somewhere.

Here they are ready to head to the pumpkin patch.

Here is what we grew in our garden....a handful of carrots and two snap peas.

We have some tiny pumpkins that might keep growing.

Looking forward to doing a much bigger garden next year...

and planting on time!

On our way to Saturday morning ballet. Reese loves dance class!

Doing what works

We got out the pack and play to help contain Maleah from time to time.

And so Reese could play with her "little parts" toys while Maleah was awake.

But Maleah did not like being in there....and Reese REALLY wanted to go in.

So now Reese goes in and plays with her toys.

And Maleah stays out.

And all is well during playtime. :)

So close to a year

On the 10th Maleah turned 11 months! Can't believe she is almost a year!

Her new word is "NO!"

Guess she has been hearing that a lot because she gets into EVERYTHING!

A whole room full of toys and she goes for any cord, outlet she can find.

(Reese was so not this way, so this is all new for us!)

Maleah is eating well, always wanting to try what is on our plates.

Pretty sure she eats more than Reese sometimes!

Maleah is signing more and more. She loves/hates baby signing time now.

She loves to watch it and sign, but it overwhelms her from time to time.

When you ask her how old she will be she will show you one finger.

I am hoping she will take off walking soon...she is getting so dirty crawling.

And it is hard to spend time outside with an army crawler!

Can't wait to celebrate her first year!

End of summer beach days

It finally became summer here in September...

just when the kids had to go back to school.

But school did not start just yet for us, so Reese got to have some beach days with friends.

They had fun discovering sea suns....and protecting each other from them. :)

They play near each other....

And together too.

(Side note: this is the first year Reese has said that the water was cold.

Up until this point she would just run right in....I think she lost her baby fat this summer.

Wish I could loose mine. ;) )

And the favorite activity of this age group:

Building sand castles!

We got to have a handful of Saturday morning mommy daughter dates to the beach too.

And we had a lot of fun too....in our own way.

So thankful for this beach where we get to make so many memories.

Thank you Gramps and Grammie!

We went to the animal fair....

We made it to the fair the last weekend it was open.

The weather was great! It really felt like summer.

(Hence Maleah wearing only a onies...she gets hot and sweaty easily....

in fact she was already sweating when we got to the fair and were taking her out of her car seat!

And that was in the air conditioned car!)

This was Maleah's first trip to the fair and she did really well.

She enjoyed checking out all the animals, which she called dogs. :)

And she waited patiently while big sister did some rides.

Oh yea, Reese LOVED the chicks

(and wants to know if we can get one after Seb dies.....)

Reese was so brave this year!

She confidently chose the rides she wanted to do

and thoroughly enjoyed each one.

And apparently I was pretty proud of her. :)

After a few scones and some lemonade we headed home.

It was great family day at the fair.

Can't wait until next year!

Special Visit

Big sister Jamie came to visit in September, just before Reese's birthday.

Both girls just adore being with her.

Here Jamie is teaching Maleah how to use an iphone.

And Reese is showing Jamie the tricks she can do now.

You see Jamie was the first one to teach Reese to "text".

Waaaay back when Reese was 10 months old! :)

We are so grateful to continue to have Jamie be a part of our lives!

Now if we can just get her hubby a job back here in the NW!

Anyone need to hire a foot doctor? ;)