Joy Of The Seasons!

        I am here to write about the many seasons that have come and gone without a post and the life that has been taking place during those wonderful seasons. Every season is very different and comes with its own joy. Nothing is ever the same, the kids are always growing and with that so am I. I have loved all the milestones so far even the ones that have tested my will and added a few gray hairs to the inventory. It's the day to day that I love best (giving babies baths)!  I am trying to savor every minute of it. I love my husband and kids a little more each day, the ones I can hold and the one that I never will again.

Summer - A time to plant things

I have so much fun pretending to be a farmer and getting to include Riley in as much as I can. It's dirty work but isn't that the best, most fulfilling kind of work?

  Fall

 We have made good use of the wagon this fall. August was finally big enough, they just loved riding together!  It was fun to drag them around the neighborhood and hear laughter trailing behind. Riley and I enjoyed collecting different colored leaves on our many walks.  It was fun to try different ways to preserve their beautiful color. Sometimes she just liked gluing them to her art then painting on them. This was a long fall, which was great because it is my favorite season. I like the crisp air in the morning and the smell of the leaves and all of the beautiful colors everywhere.
    I raked up all the leaves and this year put them at the bottom of a slide and Riley had fun going up the tree house and down into the leaves.

 I love those big blue eyes

 Here Riley is all snuggled up reading some books.  She is really good at playing with August and getting him to chase her. She is a very helpful, imaginative and sensitive girl. Her vocabulary is really growing too, it is fun to hear her thoughts on things and to get a peek into her imaginative play.
   We have started to teach her the basic rules of board games which she really enjoys. I like to take her to the library a lot, too. She is very shy during story time but enjoys going to pick out a bunch of books before we leave to go home for lunch.

August at 9 months

August can crawl really fast now and is pulling up on things. He isn't spitting up very much now so that has been nice. He tries to mimic words sometimes and is a lot of fun to play with. He likes to try to crawl over me and push cars around the room.

 The many faces of August Parker

Pumpkin carving!

 Riley and I sketched out a happy face for our pumpkin and went to town. She enjoyed scooping out the pumpkin guts and later toasting the seeds. She was apprehensive to try one but did anyway and liked them.

Riley as Elsa and August as a little monster (below)

August is almost 10 months in these pictures.
He has 6 teeth and I just noticed another one on the bottom popping through, so I am sure another will be quick to follow since they come in twos.

Babies are such quick learners; he can do the baby signs for milk, more, and all done.  He also waved bye-bye to Keenan when he was going back to work after lunch one day, so cute!

 Winter

 The first snowfall
   We had our first snow storm not too long ago and the next morning Riley and I had a lot of fun running around in it with our snow kitty and snow dog. She liked just running around and getting Quinny to chase sticks, but we also managed to build a snowman. It was a little tricky because the snow was a little dry and powdery but eventually we got it done. He turned out pretty cute!  She was sad to see him melt but we picked up our snowman stuff for the next time. Dante and Quinny had a lot of fun in the snow too.  Quinny (the cat) was really dainty about snow his first year outside but now it doesn't seem to bother him and he had plenty of fun chasing us around the yard. 

 Gingerbread Houses

 This year we did Thanksgiving down in Ottumwa. Stacy made a lot of wonderful food and we all enjoyed time together. August, who has been difficult to transition to eating much finger food, finally decided it was worth his time. He is even doing a little better with a sippy cup.

We decided to decorate gingerbread houses while we were there so the kids could decorate together. I baked extra gingerbread men so they could try that, too. Liv loved it and kept asking for more. They all enjoyed the opportunity for so much candy so soon after breakfast!  This was my favorite tradition and I am glad I get to keep it alive with my own children.  

Christmas is on its way. Soon after getting back from Ottumwa we went shopping for chex mix materials and Keenan made the first of many more to come.  I had to document the process in case anyone had doubts - Keenan was definitely in the kitchen!
    Riley and I went to work setting up the tree and putting the ornaments on. She loves her kitchen one and the Madagascar penguins because they talk. Riley loves decorations and comments on the lights quite frequently. I put up mouse pocket. I think it is just an advent calendar but it is the one I had growing up so it feels special to me.  Each day she can anticipate a candy waiting for her there. We also made a chain that will count down to Christmas, I hope that helps with the concept of time. Looking forward to seeing family again soon!