Vivie and Meg's school pictures

Incredibly cute.  My sweets.  Pics from the Goddard.  If anyone is actually reading this and wants prints, let me know.

Grandpa!

Meg got a hug and a holg from Grandpa just before we left.  It's rare, so I thought I should post it!

Park

The streak of warm weather was unstoppable, so we headed to Temple to hang at a park.  Megan was content to pick up some leaves.

And of course, try to eat them.

There was a sand volleyball court that provided hours of fun.  Castles were made and demolished.  Pip even plotted out a maze for Vivie and a new friend to try to solve.  Pretty ingenious.

Meg had her FIRST swing ride!  Loved it!

Vivie rocked the slidey boards!

And once again, Meg had to find something she could grab to pull up to stand.  This little stretch of stairs amused her for a long time.

Silly pics from game night

Game night at the Wert's!  A tradition whenever we go home.  It may be my favorite thing about going home.  I love the company.  I love the snacks.  I love the beer.  I love the games.  I love having a bit of adult time.  This was the end of the night and we got a serious of pics.  Matt, next to me, clearly was not going to smile "regular".

So I started going with the silly poses too.  By the last shot I was rolling on the floor laughing.  

 

Corn fields

Exploring the cornfields behind Grammie's house is becoming a sort of habit.  Seems like every time there is something different to see or explore.  This time we found a "pond" from the recent rains where we could throw little rocks and corn husks.

Vivie Loves Harry

Vivie loves Harry.  A lot.  Several times this trip I'd find her just cuddled up to him, neither one moving for a long time.  There's something about him that just calms her.  One time I literally could not find her and started to panic.  She had found Harry in the back of the basement, Grandpa's lair if you will, and was peacefully laying with him sucking her thumb and happy as can be.

Hershey Park!

After pottery, we continued on to Hershey Park where we took the chocolate tour.  Nearly as I remember it, just a little updated here and there.

Singing cows!

The all-chocolate gingerbread house:

After the tour we went to the main park, where the kiddie rides and come adult rides were open.  It was in the 60's!!  Not sure why, but here's my Mommy scowl:

Pip and ever on the not air balloon ride: 

Viv and Rhiannon:

This is just after I kicked butt and won two stuffed penguins playing whack-a-mole.  The secret?  Just don't miss!!  We were all tired and hit the big carousel one time before heading home.

Pottery!

Friday after Thanksgiving we headed out with George's crew for a jam-packed day.  First we hit a pottery glazing place in Lancaster where we all painted to our heart's content.  Miraculously, no ceramics were harmed during this outing.  I made a plate for Megan and Phil made one for Vivie to add to the one we already have for Pip.

Pip made this scary skull (of ALL things)

Here's George adding the 50th layer of paint to Ever's Buzz Lightyear:

Pip was a design consultant on the plate Phil made.

Viv made a puppy dog, not sure if it is pictured here.

Meg hung out, as usual!  Luckily, some girls at the next table took a liking to her and googled at her for a while, keeping her happy for a bit.  Otherwise, it was a juggling act to amuse her so we could be productive!

Crack pie and Crazy Meg

Jen whipped up a crack pie per request from Phil.  It was indeed pure yumminess  ... didn't think I'd enjoy a dessert without a single chocolate morsel so much!  Here's Pip, about to dig into his.

And here is a silly pic of Meg, classic Meg, pulling herself up to stand behind Viv.  Looking like the crazed frantic baby that she is!

Suzy is ONE!

Absolutely can not get my head around the fact that last Thanksgiving Jen was on the verge of motherhood, very pregnant and just waiting for Suzy to come.  Now she's here and she is the sweetest love.  We really enjoyed seeing her this Thanksgiving.  She is all confidence and calm.  She walks like she's been doing it forever!  Here we are hanging out with some bubbles.

And here we are after the big meal, celebrating Suzy's birthday a couple days early with yummy cupcakes Jen made!

Clapping!

She ate the whole thing!

Love this side-glare for the video camera!

Thanksgiving Foods?

I'm not sure this is supposed to be on the menu at Thanksgiving, but Pip and Vivie filled their bellies this year with Cheese-Its from Grandpa's basement stash.  They claimed to love watching both football and Lord of the Rings because they got to snuggle up and eat snacks to their delight.

Pip also experimented with kielbasa and much to everyone's surprise, decided he liked it!

Really Pip??

Really!

Pip plays with Megan

Take a listen to Pip playing with Megan.  He's so sweet with his love.

Hot Tub Flips

So I'm on the computer putzing around and Pip comes in and is like "MOM, you GOTTA come see this".  I follow him into the hot tub room, and this is what he does.  Have no idea how to learned it.  But it's a hit.  I am concerned this hot tub might be a permanent fixture for all the fun it brings.  Who needs water???

Sink baths

We didn't have the time (energy?) to give Pip and Vivie a full bath tonight.  But Meg of course, got hers.  So Vivie wanted to jump in her counter tub.  I figured , why not?  She climbed up there with her My Little Pony figures and amused herself for at least 15 minutes.  Then Pip wanted a turn.  Here is the big guy squeezed into the tub.

And Vivie, huddled on the floor by the heat vent.

I just sit right up

Well Meg's been making progress on her crawling and maneuvering.  She's not the same baby as just a few weeks ago.  Even Karen, her main caregiver at daycare, tells Phil every morning that she is growing up to fast and we need to slow her down.  She seems genuinely concerned that they will make Meg move up to the next room sooner than her scheduled January date and she doesn't want her to go!  I can't blame her, Meg doles out the smiles for everyone all the time and you can't help but be drawn into her love.

This weekend when we were at the Battleship Cove, she hung out in my Ergo the whole time, happy as a clam.  We kept passing some of the same people and there was one man with his son who noticed her perma-smile.  He was like, "Is she always this happy?"  Yep, yep she is.  He'd see her later, "Is she still smiling"  She'd look and give him a huge grin and sometimes a squeal.  It was pure joy for her, and for me too.

On the movement front, now she is not just crawling, which is a cinch these days.  Now she moves to sit and smiles real big, so proud of herself.  Here she goes:

The beach in November

Well this October Phil and Pip actually went to the beach, but in November we have to pretend.  Vivie and Bridget set up their umbrella and got some drinks.  Pip and Connor worked with them to construct some dirt castles and moats, completes with running water supplied via cups from the faucet.  A little less easy than the beach, but it kept them amused for a while.

Incidentally, about an hour after this was taken Phil got our newly purchased leaf blower up and running.  I got a 9/10 on the "clearing ability" scale and man does that thing blow leaves!  And mulch!  And sticks!  And toys! The most cathartic experience in a long time.  Have a problem?  Try blasting it with a leaf blower.  Problem may have gotten worse, but you will feel better.

Dry Erase Heaven

I was away on a girls weekend in NH this weekend (awesome, 7 mile hike, conversation, drinks, and dancing) and Phil was on duty with the kids.  He had the brilliant idea to get a dry erase board.  They hung it in the playroom and it's been a great addition.

Here Pip is with his tank rendering, complete with little army men and bullets shooting. 

Spicy Meatballs!

Phil revived the classic spaghetti and meatballs this weekend to rave reviews.  Can't beat those spicy meatballs!