Gardens, Trains, and Chicago-oh my!

This week Brian, the girls and I went to Schamburg, IL. I had to be on a job site, but it was so wonderful to have them there! They had a lot of fun, they went to Legoland and saw pretty cool sculptures made completly of Legos! They also went to a few parks, played basketball, and of course spent time at the mall!

Chicago in Legos
President Obama, Norah, and Bella

Bella playing Basketball!

Norah playing Basketball!

Last week, Mimi and I took Brad, Kiley, Spencer, Ashton, Norah, and Bella on a train ride to Washington, MO. We had a wonderful time-the kids did great on the train ride and had a lot of fun! We walked around town a little bit and had a delicious picnic near the train station, played, and then came back. It was a fantastic "DU" Destination Unknown with Mimi!

Norah, Spencer, Kiley, Bella, and Brad playing on the caboose! Spencer, Norah, and Kiley

Ashton, Brad, and Bella

Ashton, Spencer, Bella, Brad, Kiley, and Norah at the Kirkwood train station getting ready for the ride!

A few weekends ago, we planted our first garden. We planted lettuce, peas (which Bella thought were peas to eat and did so!), radishes, lavender, marigolds, parsley, and basil. The lettuce, radishes, and peas are starting to come up and the girls are so excited to see them when they do!

I dug the holes and they put "a few" seeds in each hole...we might have a lot of veggies!!

Easter Dresses and Kite Flying

Norah and Bella had new Easter dresses (and shoes of course!) and were thrilled to wear them today!

Norah showing off her beautiful new dress...in her big girl bed!!!
Bella showing off her beautiful new dress!

Norah received a kite for Christmas, and today was the perfect Spring day to fly it! The girls loved taking turns flying it and running after it...I think they enjoyed being the one to pick it up or chase it just as much as flying it!

Easter

The Easter Bunny came to our house and hid eggs in the back yard for Norah and Bella. They had a great time hunting eggs and were so excited every time they saw one! Bella became really good at getting an egg and opening it quickly to see what candy is inside!

Hunting for eggs...marked "N" for Norah and "B" for Bella!

Norah with one of her eggs

Bella showing us her egg

The hunt continues!

Gardening and Playtime

This weekend we were able to take advantage of the beautiful Spring weather we're having and garden! Norah and Bella have been so excited about planting gardens-vegetable and flower-this spring, so they were definitely ready to get started! We need to till the vegetable garden bed first, so that will have to wait until next weekend. The girls helped make Easter gifts for Mimi, Grandma, and Nana by picking out pansies, pots, and planting the flowers. They had a great time and loved playing in the dirt!

The girls got new building blocks a few weekends ago...Pampers points finally added up! They love building towers over and over again.

Spring!!

This weekend was a wonderful sneak peak into Spring in STL! We played outside both Saturday and Sunday and the girls had a great time! They loved helping with yard work...especially moving leaves from one pile to the next :)

Norah playing teeball

Bella helping to rake leaves

We played teeball and soccer and mostly just ran around enjoying the weather the day.

We also did another exciting thing this weekend....we booked our vacation house for the summer! Well, it's just one week, but it's an oceanfront house and we are so excited :)

October Events

Our little Bella turned 1 on Oct. 17, we can't believe how quickly the time has gone! She's walking (trying to run) and talking a lot. Some of the talking is still in "her language!" but she's saying a lot of words. We also started Baby Sign (thank you Aunt Mary!) and she's picking up on that really well!

Bella with her birthday cake...."Before"

"After"!

Bella opening some presents...such a cute Birthday Girl!

We had Bella's birthday party on Halloween, and encourage costumes!

The Cat in the Hat and Raggety Anne came! This is a picture with them, our Dinosaur, and (Haley and Larry's) Thomas the Train!

On Halloween we went Trick-or-Treated with my sisters and their families. We had a great time and it wiped the girls out! Afterwards we went to Mimi and Papa's house to Trick-or-Treat and play with them...it was a great night!

Group picture with Spencer, Kiley, Ashton, Brad, Norah, Isabella, and the "Cars" costume is a neighbor kiddo.

Our little "Love Bug" and "Dinosaur"!

The Great Pumpkin

We picked our first pumpkins of the season today...and it was perfect weather!! It was a beautiful fall day with just the right amount of chill in the air! The girls loved the wagon that was at the pumpkin patch...we think it helped having pumpkins inside to keep them interested and snug!

The girls enjoying the wagon ride!

Pumpkins and hugs!!!

We also had Brian's work picnic this weekend. (That's where the new family picture was taken.) It was a lot of fun, the girls had a great time in the bounce house and Norah loved the HUGE inflatable slide! We painted pumpkins and the girls had their first taste of cotton candy...Bella is a fan, Norah not so much :)

As we transfer into Fall, it makes me think of family and friends even more. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so many loving people. We thank the Lord each day for all of you in our lives. Have a wonderful week!