2 years already?

We made our rounds in Houston this past weekend, and boy it was fast! Aunt Lindsay was in town visiting and we were excited to have some time with her. Friday night, we celebrated Ainsley and Gage's 2nd birthday early so that they could be with Aunt Lindsay when they received gifts from her. Talk about spoiling rotten! Thomas cups were a hit - we still have an obsession with Choo Choos (yet Elmo is climing-up in the ranks). This is all surreal for me...have 2 years really come and gone already?!

Reading the card together
Ainsley making sure that Lindsay knows that this is a choo choo on her cup
Gage...what a boy. Not into the clothes (although his momma sure is), and just loving his new choo choo cup!
Lindsay and Jason getting ready to head-out for a rehearsal dinner

Thanks for thinking of us, Linds! The cups have been a huge hit this week (they won't leave home without them), and of course we have had fun getting dressed-up in our new duds!

Finally

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch at the Arboretum. Have been trying to go for a month, but with the rain, rain, rain, plague, and more rain, we just didn't get it done until after Halloween. Still had to go with the costumes, though! It's amazing how much things have changed since last year. They couldn't walk yet, so they just crawled around the pumpkins and gave me lots of chances to snap some pics. Now, they are so fast - you are lucky to catch anything. Sassiness to boot!

Of course, I had to drag Mimi with me - I can't seem to take them anywhere alone these days. She always seems so happy to be with them-

The famous pumpkin house
Picnic-ing


Playing peek-a-boo with Mom with a picnic tableShe couldn't get enough of this door. We have had to install the safety latches on the doors since she can open the door knobs now. Gage is capable but just doesn't know it yet...
Mimi trying to keep Gage out of the mud
Finally had enough
This is the 6th wettest October on record. Hopefully November will be nicer around here!

Ainsley and Gage are more verbal than ever. Gage sometimes holds back because he knows Ainsley is going to answer whatever question you ask. We hear this a lot:

"Daddy HOME!"
"Bye bye, Daddy" - at any time of day. They realize that he is gone to work.
"Paci!" - really?! It's been a binkie since the day they were born and when I was flustered when they were sick, I randomly said the word and it is one they can't forget - and demand constantly.
"Awa" - water. Strangely not agua.
"Ice."
"Pease" = please

Ainsley now says, "Yes," in response to questions rather than, "Yah." Thank goodness - "Yah" sounds kinda rude - even for a baby. But it was cute anyway;)

The Elmo obsession is starting to replace trains. Anything red is Elmo.

"Kashee" = Coffee

Trick-or-Treat!

Halloween was a blur! We had a busy morning and started celebrating with a festive lunch at the Garners (pics to come), took naps, and then dressed in costume for a party prior to trick-or-treating. Gage just said, "Treat!" instead of the full phrase and Ainsley said, "Tricktor." Close enough I guess! They figured-out what to do very quickly - mostly because they just like to knock on doors anyway. They did not want to put on their costumes, but when we put them on the counter in the bathroom to see themselves in the mirror, they were more willing. It's cute to hear them say, "ooooooh!" when they get excited!

Lainey bug, we borrowed your nickname for the night!

In Uncle T's yard

Heading out to Trick-or-Treat with MimiPizza Pit-Stop with Pop
Ah - to catch them together peeking into the door!
Thanks for sharing your candy with us!

Happy Halloween

Still have lots of sorting to do, but here are a few from this evening. Happy Halloween!

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm Take 2

Grandma and Peepaw came for a visit this weekend, and the weather was funky but perfect... It was cool and felt like fall, and we had time to get to the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm on Sunday before the rain came. It was a little more crowded this time since it was the weekend and closer to Halloween, but the trip was worth it. All of us enjoyed feeding the animals, and it was just nice to be out and away from the house after a week of the plague.

Fearless

Always talking...

Of course the kids didn't cooperate with smiles, so I'm sure you don't believe me that they had an amazing time!
Grandma and Peepaw
Wow - a family picture?!



They were happy about the pictures, can you tell?

For me, one of the highlights of this trip was hearing Ainsley and Gage finally say Grandma and Peepaw. We have been practicing, and although I knew they could say Grandma and were close with Peepaw, they were hesitant. They finally felt confident that they were saying the right things and were screaming at the top of their lungs by this morning when Grandma and Peepaw had to leave to go home. Thanks for such a great visit, the help and all of the sussies! XOXOXO

Big Orange Pumkin Farm

A few weeks ago, before the plague hit, we met the Scurlocks at the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina. What a precious farm with a petting zoo, hayride, pumpkin patch - you name it! We will definitely be going back!

Best Buds



Sorry we cut you off, Mimi!


Feeding the longhorn - no fear!

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

Nah - that's not how it goes. It goes Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Syndrome - wah! Ainsley came down with it mid-last week and poor Brian and Christina had to listen to her scream all Friday night (note to self - she can never have Benedryl - EVER). Thankfully everyone survived the night and I sent Carl to the game with them on Saturday. I was sad to miss it but made a good decision - it would have been rough for Mimi to handle a sick A even though G was doing fine. It was a long day!

Since it is a mighty contagious thing (despite what the pediatrician led us to believe), Gage now has it. Ainsley is finally on the mend having her first real meal since last Wednesday. Gage was eating up until yesterday and today seems to be his worst. Although, I think we have at least one more bad one for him (or maybe 2) before he is feeling better.

This pic is from Friday - the day that the sickness was confirmed at the doc. Gage was in great spirits since he was feeling just fine!Does this look like a girl not feeling well? Monkey was climbing all over the place and then just cratered. Poor thing. We gave-in and let them have binkies (now referred to as paci's by both of them) and "night-nights" (blankies). Just one more habit to have to break again once they are both completely well.
Last week - enjoying juice out of his pumpkin cup from Mimi. Look at him with his latest big boy hair!
Always spilling - my messy, silly girl! She doesn't quite get the concept of keeping cups straight when using a straw - and it's not like this is a new thing for her. Cracks me up!
Carl was supposed to play in a golf tourney today, but I asked him to stay home. You just can't manage 2 sick babies by yourself - someone always wants to be held! It has been great to have him here today.

Train Wreck

We had lots of tears this week when the train cars went off the tracks! The smiley picture is actually the beginning of a cry - nice catch if I do say so myself - even though it isn't just the perfect smile;)

Picnics

We have been practicing having picnics in Mimi's kitchen for a while - A&G think it's cool to get to eat on the floor. When Shakti and I were playing with them last Friday afternoon, they noticed the grill cover on the ground and just went and sat on it and had a picnic. So cute!

They love ice and are always trying to get water and ice out of the frige to take outside to their table. Evidence of sucking on an ice cube on Ainsley's chin...

Getting in the spirit

Aunt Amy sent Ainsley and Gage some Halloween sussies, and I had to capture a few pictures. They were so cute and excited to open presents!

These little horns light-up. She was not interested in wearing the barrettes until she realized that they flashed. As soon as I put them on, she wanted them back.
Boon!
Me too, me too! Sound familiar, Aunt Amy?

Thanks for thinking of us!