Halloween 2009

This has been a crazy Halloween! The kids have all taken turns being sick! Taylor and Dylan were the first with it--fevers and coughing. And they were home from school 4 days and both missed their school parties! Gretchen started getting sick on Saturday, but felt fine enough to go trick-or-treating with the boys. Then she stayed home from church and school two days--fever, coughing, chills, dizziness! Poor Blake had one of his sickest days on Halloween. I still want to put him in his costume and get some pics of just him.

Monday before Halloween

Our tradition, the Monday before Halloween, is to carve our pumpkins. A few weeks earlier we went to the pumpkin patch and the kids picked out the pumpkin they wanted. Dylan would not reach into the pumpkin for anything! Gretchen wouldn't either! Taylor was the one who loved cleaning out the pumpkin (surprise, surprise seeing how much he loves worms!). We also decorated some sugar cookies. They liked eating the M&Ms that were supposed to go on top, rather than the cookies themselves.

Funny Baby!

We went out to eat at Chili's last weekend and Blake was being so funny! He kept resting his chin on the table and then looking around with his big eyes. The kids were laughing so hard. And Mike was lucky to get a picture. They also thought it was funny that the server spilled a little water on his head as she was passing out our drinks. Blake didn't even notice.

Mike's office

One of our top priorities on a long list of things to do in our new house was to finish Mike's office. My brother-in-law did most of the work! Then Mike took on the painting. He had the kids help him a little and they thought it was great! It is done and he is working from there now! His "office" was next to the washer and dryer in our old house in the unfinished basement. Now he can reallly get some work done!

Afternoon at the Cove

Saturday was the most beautiful Fall day. We packed a picnic lunch and headed for a fun local fishing hole. We stayed for a couple of hours, each of the kids taking turns holding a pole. Gretchen was the lucky one this day, she caught two! Taylor caught one and Dylan got to reel in a couple, also. Blake and I just relaxed on a blanket on the grass. I love these Fall days when you appreciate the warmth the sunshine brings. I tried to soak it up knowing that Winter is not that far away!

Starting solids

Blake started eating solid foods just before he turned 6 months. He likes all the different kinds of cereal and seems to like most of the fruits and veggies. He seems to really like pears and squash. It is hard to go from just nursing to taking the time to prepare and feed him solid food, but I know it is part of growing up! I'm enjoying this last baby so much! We all just love him!

Fun in the Bumbo seat

This is Blake at the end of September, almost 6 months old!
He is my first baby that I've gotten to use a Bumbo seat with--they are so great. Blake is pretty good to sit and play with toys. He really is a good baby!