Painting pumpkins

We picked out some pumpkins at the local farm stand and the boys each wanted to paint theirs.

The concentration in this picture makes me smile.

I love these matching Mickey smocks that Aunt Tori gave us!

They were totally engrossed and loved every minute. And I loved watching them work together.



In a couple weeks, we'll cut out some faces and make them glow! Jack can't wait!

Small Talk

I love to record the boys talking. I like capturing the way they pronounce things, and their little voices, which are going to deepen before I know it, are so sweet.

I remember hearing audio tapes of myself when I was little. My dad or grandfather would hide a tape recorder in his pocket and have a little conversation with me. Listening to them later made me appreciate so much that they'd thought to do it.

PJ was looking at the camera on the table next to me while it was turned off and saying "cheeseburger" just a second before I picked it up and tried to catch him saying it. Of course, once the camera's on he doesn't say it again.



Then, while PJ was napping, Jack and I started looking at designs we could use to make his birthday invitations. I had put water on for tea and asked him if he'd like to have some with me. He was in. So I let him have a real teacup and we put it in a tea pot and sat at the table.

This is our conversation.



My battery cut out there at the end, but I was telling Jack that maybe we should do this every day while PJ is taking a nap.

His reply: "I fink we should!"

Apple Festival

This past weekend, we met up with some friends at a local fall festival.

The place, called Joanna Furnace, was an historic site that was used for iron production. The main furnace building was undergoing renovation, but look at how beautiful it is.

You can see that the place was perfect for kids - pony rides, tractors, trains - and had lots of delicious apple treats too!

Someone had set up these gorgeous Lionel trains, and Jack could have stood at this table for hours.

There were older men doing woodworking with tools that were either run with belts or foot operated, like this lathe.


There was a steam whistle, like one that might be on a steam train. Jack got to pull the rope on this one and make it blow. It was the highlight of his trip.

The Apple Barrel Express was also running all day. I wasn't sure how Jack would do on this - being tugged around the site while we stayed "back at the station." He loved it!





We even got a little family picture at the photo spot. It's not often that we're all in a shot together, so this one is a keeper. Look at these beautiful fall colors!


Happy Fall!

25 weeks

This picture is from three weeks ago, but I still look about the same. It's hard to believe I'll be 25 weeks pregnant tomorrow!

And now that I'm finally feeling more "whenny" than "iffy" about the baby being born, I thought maybe it was time for another poll.

As you may or may nor know, we're not finding out the gender of this baby either. It was so exciting not knowing with PJ. And when he came out, the midwife said "It's a girl!" which totally shocked me because I was so sure it was another boy. Then, one second later, Patrick (who had a side view) said, "No, a boy! A boy!" and then I was shocked all over again. Those five seconds of excitement made the whole 41 (yes, 41) weeks of not knowing so worthwhile!

A few things have me mixed about this one. First of all, my nausea started sooner than it did with the boys, and it lasted much longer. I was queasy from about 5 weeks to 18 weeks. I'm also feeling much more uncomfortable in the...um..."chestular" area than I was with them. These things, combined with the fact that I'm much more emotional this time around (though that could be attributed to the sheer exhaustion that comes from being pregnant with two toddler boys), have me wondering if it's a girl.

However, at our 21-week ultrasound, the tech, in trying to get a better view of the spine (baby was being uncooperative) flitted oh-so-quickly past the baby's nether regions and both Patrick and I wondered if we'd seen a boy part.

It's hard to believe that in just 15 weeks - well, who am I kidding? More like 16 and a half weeks - we'll get to meet this new little person. What an amazing privilege it is.

Remind me of that about 6 weeks after s/he's born, will you?

Vote in the poll to the right and let me know if you think it's going to be another little boy Baby T for us (as is only fitting, as Patrick grew up in a household with SIX sisters!) or a little girl Baby T.

A Day out with Thomas

Thomas the Tank Engine came to the Strasburg railroad last week.

It was a beautiful fall day and the boys had a blast. Jack was especially captivated by the "GREAT BIG THOMAS!"

We paid a visit to Sir Topham Hatt, who was slightly creepy and fascinated Jack and PJ both.

We had an open-air car for our ride and PJ loved feeling the air and seeing the cows outside.

A nice lady waiting in line took our photo while we waited to leave. We don't have too many family photos because one of us is always behind the camera. Usually it's me, and I'm happy to keep it that way.

Jack did a lot of staring. He couldn't get over how big Thomas was.

We had a great time!

Cloth diapers

Anyone use cloth diapers? If so, which brand(s)/style(s) do you like?

I'm thinking of switching to cloth for baby #3 (pictures to come - just had an ultrasound on Thursday!) in an effort to cut down on expenses.

This quick post is to let you know about (and to enter myself for) a chance to win 6 cloth diapers from Bum Genius.

Click here and leave a comment to be entered!

Why we love Aunt Devon

My boys love their Aunt Devon.

She always runs around with them, plays silly games, and gets them laughing.

Saturday afternoon, we enjoyed the gorgeous weather in the backyard.

Raise your hand if you love shorts with long sleeved t-shirts.

(Not on myself, of course - my legs have taken on an elephantine quality that comes from being perpetually pregnant for the last four years or so - but on my boys, love it!)

Devon carried PJ around on her shoulders and at one point, jokingly asked, "Where's PJ?" He responded by peeking around and saying "Here he is!"

I adore this photo.


Devon's not afraid to get all kinds of silly.

"Jack, how far do you think I can push this monster truck?"

"I don't know, Aunt Devon."

"Well, let's see!"



And there it goes, both boys in hysterics about how fast it went down the hill.

Well, maybe not PJ. He has a hard time showing his emotions, but he's laughing on the inside, I assure you.



Aunt Devon will be moving to California soon, and while we're excited for her new adventure, we're going to miss the heck out of her.

We love you, Aunt Devon!

Friday Night Dance Party!

These speak for themselves.

Dutch Wonderland

Let's not talk about the fact that it's been almost exactly one month since I posted last, shall we?

Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.

At the beginning of August, Patrick took a much-needed week off from work and we had a little family "staycation." It was just what the doctor ordered, since his work schedule had been terribly hectic and we were both feeling exhausted.

One of our day trips included a local amusement park just for young children called Dutch Wonderland. We had so much fun watching the boys experience this place for the first time.

The first ride we went on was a little boat ride that guided itself around a pond. Jack and I rode together and he "drove."

This was my view the entire time, and I have to say, it made me a little misty.

Still does, actually. But hey, I'm pregnant.

Patrick and PJ had fun together.

Patrick and Jack went on a tilt-a-whirl type ride with turtles, and as they waited in line Jack explained his concerns. Patrick assured him that it would be fine.

They chose their turtle car and got settled.

Thumbs up before the ride started to let me know that everything was okay...

...and then this picture while the ride is moving that I snapped too late because I have a crappy camera, but which shows Jack, white as a sheet, looking like he's about to die.

I couldn't help it. I cracked up.

PJ saw nothing funny about it and thought it was a little annoying that he had to wait while Daddy and Jack got to do fun rides.

Then we went to see a little Thomas show they had there. Both boys died and went to heaven.

Not literally.

There was clapping and singing and PJ was riveted...

...until the people behind us opened up a take-out container of some sort and started munching on french fries. Then he was focused on the food.

After the show, the boys got to pose with Thomas for a photo. Out of the four shots I took, this is the one in which they are most looking in the same direction.

Jack and I went on the merry-go-round. I thought he was having a great time until I saw this picture and realized he was pretty scared on this ride as well.

I crack up when I see this one too. You'd think we were going around at breakneck speed from the look on his face.

Jack took Patrick for a ride on the antique cars, which made Patrick a little emotional remembering that his dad had taken him on the same ride when he was young.

Again with the misty.

A nice spiral slide was just Jack's speed and he went on this one about four times.

And then, there were the monster trucks - the first ride that PJ got to go on too and was he ever in love.

Jack was thrilled because:

(a) they got the front car and it was like he was the leader pulling all the other trucks around.
(b) the car was red.
(c) there was no line when the ride was over so the lady operating it let them go around again.

Jack still talks about the three magnificent points of this ride.

Patrick got to go with them, and I think it's safe to say that were this a Norman Rockwell painting, it could be called "Proud Papa."

This photo makes me a little nauseous because I'm sure that before I know it, this will be 16-year-old PJ behind the wheel of an actual car and oh my gosh, can we please not talk about this either?

Mmmmkay.


Then, there was this tiny airplane/spaceship ride that both boys got to ride together in seats that were back-to-back. Although it's not much, this picture represents the most fun part of the entire trip for Patrick and me because PJ's face as this thing was going around was just PA-RICELESS!

Unfortunately:

(a) out of three tries, I could not time the photos to capture their plane, until this one.
(b) immediately upon snapping this photo, my camera battery died.

The end.

There are oodles more pictures to post from this summer, but I'm not going to make any promises about when they'll get here. I'll do it as soon as I can.

Thanks so much for checking in!