Mini Pumpkins...

The Neighbors grew mini pumpkins in their garden and gave two to us to decorate. The boys were pretty excited and kept asking when I'd get the special markers down to draw on them. I finally had a moment to let them make their mess and got down the sharpies.

They colored for almost an hour on those little pumpkins.
 

Now we're almost ready for Halloween.

Quotable

A few interesting things I've heard come out of my Little Misters mouths lately...

Sept 23rd

Lucius just ran up to me yelling: 

"marmee, look, look... This is going to be not awesome, look"

October 2nd

I win. Lucius just said "I don't like girls, I only like mom girls"

October 27th

Oliver coloring his pumpkin grabbed the gold marker and said to his brother:

"You would fall back in amazement and your eyes would glisten"..."Because of (the color) gold, cause its so so shiny"

Sometime in September...

Oliver: "do space aliens exist?"

M: "I don't know, what do you believe?"

O: "I believe they actually do"

Photography: Art Quote...

I’m almost finished reading “War and Peace”. I found this quote from a husband who answers his wife’s doubts about her own looks. I thought I’d use it to make my very first quote art photo.  I overlaid it on a photo I took while traveling in Italy of an older couple holding hands. I would have to agree with Leo Tolstoy, my love allows me to see the beauty in others.

Snail Mail...

While Oliver was at school today I wrote him a surprise letter and taped it up to his door. (something we do every once in a while to challenge his impressive reading skills, leave "surprise" notes around the house). I thought it would be exciting to have a little fun practicing his writing skills.

When he came home he read it, with just a little help from Marmee. After Quiet Time, he sat in his "new" old school desk to write his own letter to a friend. He choose to write a letter to the neighbors. He wrote their names but then got frustrated because he couldn't think of anything to write in his letter. Actually he wanted to copy my letter word for word, but I tried to explain then it wouldn't be his words. So he gave up for today.

Lucius, not wanting to be left out, quickly took Oliver's spot. He sat down and wrote a whole letter, which impressed me completely because up till now he hasn't even wanted to write his own name. The only letter that I touched was the 'e' in love, the rest is all him.

Going to finish Oliver's note when he thinks of something he'd like to say and Lucius' letter will hopefully be in the mail soon. It might be time to buy the boys their own set of postage stamps and envelopes. Excited to write more letters with these two hard working boys.

New family photos...

While Marmee was out taking photos with Auntie Mick and her family this weekend, we asked her to return the favor. She graciously stepped into photographer mode and took some wonderful new family portraits for us to treasure. Here's some of Auntie Mick's awesome shots (thanks Michelle- I couldn't have gotten these without you!):

Then because a few photos never seem to be enough for me, I grabbed the camera back and took even more photos of my adorable boys!

The Little Misters LOVE their Daddy and their Daddy puts up with my incessant need to take pictures of him! Hooray for Daddy.

Loving these! They're already off to the photo printer so we can get them framed and hung on our walls.

Lucius & crying...

True story:
My three (almost four) year old has a bit of a crying/ fussing/whining problem.
This weekend I was flipping channels and Tom Hanks starts yelling a classic movie line. Interesting, I could use this... Seriously: two days later and we haven't heard one inkling of crabbiness. Why?!?
Cause this Marmee says to him the moment he might usually get upset "there's no crying in baseball! There's no CRYING in baseball!"

Yup, true story.

Highland water tower...

My Aunt Melanie called me on Saturday to tell me about a fun adventure she knew we'd like. I love these kind of phone calls, not only do I get to catch up with my aunt but we usually end up adventuring. She let us know about the Highland Water Tower which is only open two weekends a year for visitors. Sunday (yesterday) we canceled our original plans and headed out. Auntie Mick & family came along on the climb.

 

 
We climbed the 151 stairs (thanks Melanie for counting them cause we forgot to count) to the observation deck. It was fun to see both Downtowns, Minneapolis and St. Paul, AND the airport. We watched planes come in and land and take off. WE also had to check out the views from each and every window.

downtown Minneapolis

 

downtown Saint Paul

What a fun adventure. I know the boys have been missing climbing towers since coming home from Italy- so it was extra special to show them one here in our "own back yard". 

A Cave Adventure...

Oma and Auntie Dana met us at the house last Saturday morning. The boys loaded into Oma's car to talk someone else's ear off, while Marmee and Daddy enjoyed a little silence in our own car. Oma followed behind us on a short hour long road trip to Wisconsin to see the Crystal Cave.

Oliver loved the last cave we saw in southern Mn. Since Lucius wasn't able to join us last time, we figured it would be fun to try a new cave. It was a pretty fun cave, complete with small bats hanging from the ceiling. There were quite a few large "rooms" in the cave that we stopped to admire.

 

A fun adventure made more exciting sharing it with Oma and Auntie Dana.