Trick or Treat

Halloween has come and gone, and the kids had a great time this year.  It was probably the best weather I can remember for Halloween night, and we were so thankful for that.  Grant has been talking about being a cowboy for the last month or so, and little Molly made a precious butterfly (thanks for the costume Peter and Rach).  We brought home way too much candy and only had to deal with Grant falling in his cowboy boots (rain boots) twice as he dumped all his candy out of his bucket.  Molly seemed to get the hang of it quickly as she waddled up and held her bucket out. I think Grant told every person we visited that he couldn't eat that chocolate, but his mom sure would!  Darn chocolate!

Visiting with neighbors Theo and Cole

We stopped by to see our new friends and neighbors, the deKornes.  Say hello to Heidi and new baby Kaiya!

Ava and Molly...about 3 months apart and destined to be best friends (sorry I stole this pic from your blog Heidi...super cute!)

Attempt at a group pic...Stella bumble bee, Sofia Princess (Cinderella I think), Molly the butterfly, and Grant Cowboy

Grant and Fia...they stood there for like 2 minutes straight saying 'Trick or Treat' over and over again while we tried to get pictures of all of them.  

And it begins...

3 to 2

Today we had our ultrasound...and found out that we are going to be having another GIRL!!  That makes three girls to two boys in this family (as Grant explains it).  This was the first time that we have found out what we were having.  Since we have a boy and a girl already, we thought we would try it out this time.  We figured it might help Grant prepare too, considering he really wanted a brother.  When the ultrasound tech announced she thinks its a girl, Grant frowned and put on his pouty face.  He quickly came out of it though and seems to be excited to know what the baby is, even if it is another girl.  I still can't believe it's a girl, and won't be surprised if it really comes out a boy.  The tech said she was 85% sure, why 85% I don't know, but that's not a for sure thing to me.  So we'll see for sure when March comes around, but it's looking like Molly is going to have a sister.  The baby seems to be healthy and very active.  She is weighing it at 7 ounces as of now and has a lot of growing to do.  Please continue to pray for a healthy pregnancy!

The girl shot...apparently those three little dots by the arrow mean girl.  The right hand side of the picture is her tushy.

Face shot...kind of creepy

My fav...profile shot

Pumpkin Time

Every year, we tell ourselves that we're going to find a nice pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins on a warm fall day.  Well...that's not usually how it goes.  About a mile from our house, there is a house that sells pumpkins on their lawn.  And today, it was cold and rainy, but we figured we'd better get on top of this pumpkin carving thing, before it was too late. Grant was less than thrilled with the "slimy-ness" of the pumpkin guts, but enjoyed watching Daddy do the hard work.  

Fall Carnival

Fall Carnival time!  This year, I was involved with helping out with planning the Fall Festival and Carnival at Grant's school, so it was fun to see the kids have a great time.  Grant especially enjoyed the blow-up obstacle course, the pig race, and getting his face painted.

Obstacle Course

Scarecrow Building

Grant's Fav

Lovin' it

Molly Girl with Dada

Boo-ed!

We got Boo-ed this year...meaning someone left us a bag of Halloween treats on our doorstep, rang the doorbell, and ran.  We still don't know who was the culprit, but thanks if you're reading this!  We received a Thomas and Friends video, a cookie decoration kit, sweet treats, and more! As most of you know, I am not a cook or a baker, but when it comes to things in a box, I usually do okay.  Check out the yummy treats that Grant and I made one rainy afternoon!

So...not the prettiest sugar cookies

Proud Grant

 

Mmmm...enjoying the finished product

Just "Cuz"

We are very blessed to have a lot of family in town, and Grant loves to play with his cousins!  Ryan is my sister's youngest and is a year younger than him...you wouldn't know it though, considering he is taller than Grant.  Everyone once in a while, Grant will catch up to Ry Buddy, as Grant calls him, but then Ryan grows like a weed and shoots right past him again.  The other day they decided to dress up as superheros.  The funny party was, Grant was wearing a costume that is a size 2T and Ryan was wearing a size 7 I believe.  Height is not really our friend in this family!  I'm sure Ryan will be well over 6 feet tall, and Grant...well, not so much.

Sofia, or Fia as we call her, is my brother's oldest and is a year and a half younger than Grant.  They usually play pretty well together, but sometimes I have to remind Grant that Sofia is a girl and doesn't want to play rough and tackle, like he plays with Ry buddy.  But they always seem to have fun together.

Ryan and Grant

Grant and Fia

Haha!  Too bright mom!

Pumpkin Spice and Apple Cider

I really love this time of year.  There is just a slight chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and it's time for pumpkin spice donuts and apple cider at Robinette's!  We love this yearly tradition and we always thoroughly enjoy it...bite by bite.  Molly especially enjoyed her first tastes of pumpkin spice donuts.   Covered in cinnamon and sugar, we hopped on the hayride too.  Molly loves animals...although she quacks at every animal she sees, since she only knows what a duck says.  They both loved petting the horses.  Maybe we'll make it twice this year.  Oh how I love pumpkin spice donuts and apple cider!

Molly and the pumpkins

 

Yummy donuts and cider!

Waiting for the hayride

I'm so excited daddy!

Hope Homecoming

After a lot of planning and emailing, 9 of us made it back for Homecoming this year.  Way to go girls!  I'm proud of us.  We had a great dinner at the Curragh, made a stop at Sammy's for old time's sake, of course had to stop by the Delphi cottage, moved on to the Brewery (where I very much wished I could have had an Ichabod), and ended at the Dirty Bird...Parrots...of course.  It was so fun catching up with my college girls, and I miss you all.  I still cannot believe that it has been eight years since we graduated.  Next year...same time...same place!

Parrots!

Jen, Jamie, KJ, Lesley, and Carrie (one side of the table at dinner)

Rebekah, Heather, Tenille, and LP (the other side)

 Lesley, Carrie and Jen

Yes, we crammed 9 girls into the Mini!  

Those of us that made it to the brunch

Lesley and Carrie

Meijer Gardens Fall 08

We recently made a trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens, one of our favorite places to go.  It was a warm fall day and the pumpkins and mums were out in full bloom.  There were HUGE pumpkins everywhere.  It really was beautiful.  We had a great time playing in the pumpkin patch, splashing in the water, walking on the trails, and being just plain silly. Such a fun place to visit!

Nature Walk

This past weekend, my little family decided to be...um...outdoorsy.  We took a nature hike at a park nearby on a warm Sunday afternoon.  It was a lot of fun and we're so glad that we did it.  It was awesome to be out in God's creation with the family, as well as get some exercise.  We always enjoy Grant's comments on these little trips...here's a few:

"It's lovely out here"

"It's like we're on a bear hunt, but not scary"

"Hey, this looks familiar, we made it back"

Here are some pics of our new activity.  We can't wait to go out again when the leaves change colors!

My Little Artist

Grant has always loved doing artistic things...even since he was a baby.  Perhaps it's the fact that he is left-handed and right brained, but I think he is pretty darned creative.  He loves to draw, color, and create new things.  Of course his favorite thing to draw is cars and race tracks.  I recently picked up these paint brushes that have the paint right in the brush, and Grant loved them.  Check out this masterpiece:

His explanation: This is a car driving at night...see its headlights...see the moon and stars? That's the smoke coming out the back, and this is a pond and some grass and a bicycle on the sidewalk...oh and a flower.

GOOOOOOOOAL!

Grant started soccer last weekend on a YMCA U5 team.  Since last week it was pouring rain, and yes they still played, I decided to wait until this last game to get some footage.  Grant scored 4 goals in the first game and 5 goals in the second game...but who's counting?!  They play 4 on 4, the fields are small, and perhaps I should mention that there are no goalies.  He definitely is a speedy one and seems to be taking quite well after his mommy and daddy.  Here are some pics of the soccer star.  

 

Molly's Pick...A Good Laugh

I just had to put this video of Molly up. She loves to makes us laugh. I know it's kind of gross, but she thinks its hilarious. Enjoy!

Young Fives

Grant started young fives this year at St. Mark Lutheran School.  He goes to school Monday through Friday in the mornings.  It is going to be great for him to have some activity during the day.  Here are some pictures of his first day! (and some of Molly girl visiting Nona in the office)

Outside the school

In his classroom

Standing outside the giraffe room

170 Beats Per Minute

Most of you that read this blog probably already know that I am expecting my third child.  I've been a little blog shy about the issue, because I wasn't quite ready to put it writing.  Well...I feel like it's official now!  I had an appointment today and listened to my baby's heartbeat with extreme joy.  That little heart was beating so fast...170 beats per minute.  I have had a couple of ultrasounds before this as well, but there is just something about getting to this appointment and hearing that heartbeat out loud.  I must say, it is the best sound in the entire world.  On Wednesday, I will be twelve weeks pregnant.  I'm due March 25th, which seems like an entire world away, but I am getting more excited now after this appointment.  After losing a baby, you never quite forget that moment when they couldn't find the heartbeat, so this really does mean the world to me.  I still ask for your prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy!