Playmates

I took some photos of Silas & Lorelai playing together the other day, your typical "day in the life" photo series. There are happy moments, and sad.

Now Silas is getting a bit snarky because he doesn't want to share the bag...

like that snarky face?

And Lorelai gets a bit snarky herself... but with more of a pouty face:

Snarky, meet Pouty:

Full blown cry for sympathy, complete with big fat tears... He, he. I still have the bag.

And Lorelai decides to be fine with that....

... because she gets to cuddle with Mommy:

Life is good.

Lost in the Leaves

Mystery Man raked leaves for 4 straight hours on Saturday. He had four "helpers."

Thanks to city workers, our curbside leaf pile disappeared today.

It was kind of sad to see it gone so soon...

Three Cheers for Mystery Man!

Happy Birthday, Mystery Man! Silas, Lorelai and I baked a Swiss chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting. Yum. We finally have given up on Breyer's (since they changed their recipe last year) and branched out to try a new all-natural ice cream. It wasn't too bad. But we still miss the OLD Breyers... why does life always change? At least MM still has his hair. Way to go MM! - that's an accomplishment! We love you!

Here are some photos of our little family birthday party.

Dirty Dessert

We had a dirty dessert last weekend. Ephraim checked out a recipe book from the school library and this was a recipe in it. Yum! (It's really a pudding mixture with oreos and gummy worms, in case you haven't heard of it).

Ephraim shows off the great dessert:

Mr. One-Eye and Ephraim enjoy some. Lorelai loved it, too!

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday we went to the Pumpkin Patch. It was a cold, desolate day, and the first snow of the season fluttered downwards, but luckily did not stick. But that worked to our benefit, because the Pumpkin Patch wasn't crowded at all and our kids had a blast. We rode the hay wagon to the field for our pumpkins, then fed a goat, climbed a pile of haybales (complete with tunnel), rode on a baved bicycle/tricycle path, and played in the little playforts, each filled with something great like dress-up clothes, wooden trains, and play kitchen. MM took the boys through a good-sized corn maze, then we finished up with some treats, including pumpkin bars and caramel popcorn. It was great!

On the hayride.

Lorelai began screaming as soon as the tractor roared to life. Here she is, freaking out.

Azael "surfed" the hayride by standing the whole time.

Apparently even the pumpkin patch was scary. Lorelai continued to cry even when the tractor was shut off.

Silas searches for his perfect pumpkin.

Lorelai finally calmed down and enjoyed the tricycle track.

Azael and Ephraim racing through the corn maze.
Now Ephraim has a momentary lead...

Hoory for Fall Fun!

Silas' Preschool Trip to Orchard

Silas and his preschool buddies went to the apple orchard last week. MM took off work and went along.

Here's the class getting ready before the trip. Silas is handing out an old art project to his friends.

Eating lunch before the trip.

At the orchard. MM said all the girls were constantly surrounding and trying to sit by Silas. Our little ladies man.

Running races.

Pickin' the "goods"

The class tries to pose.

Silas and MM being cheesy

Fun was had by all (this is the most-used quote in my hometown newspaper... love it!)

Another Nearly Naked Surprise - with Cohort in Crime

MM was supposed to be watching kids this morning so I could get some extra sleep. I woke up with my usual nausea and headache, spoke to MM for a while (he was still in bed) and then asked what Lorelai was up to. He didn't know. He had given the 3 boys permission to go check out the frost all over the grass in the yard. Well, Azael took this permission further and decided to take Lorelai out without MM knowing. Lorelai had been running around the house in only underwear. Azael stuck a pair of Silas' shoes on her, as well as Silas' jacket. I found them playing on the slide in the freezing cold back yard. Here they are. Remember, Lorelai only has underwear on under that jacket. Our little 2-year-old almost-nudist and her 8-year-old cohort in crime: