Boo at the Zoo Nights

Every year our zoo celebrates Halloween with nighttime activities for families and young children. The zoo is decorated with lights and family friendly decorations. Most of the animals are put away, but usually you can see the spiders and snakes. Yikes! Children wear their Halloween costumes and receive healthy treats along the way.

This year Jack decided he wanted to be a penguin! Grandma Cheryl made his costume. It turned out so cute!! He loves it! Jack found the North Star penguin and the two of them danced with each other. It was hilarious! A crowd started to form around them. They were very entertaining!

Natalie is our little Bumble Bee. She likes her costume and was a good sport. We were out until after 8pm. She just snuggled up in her stroller and tried to sleep.

Aunt Amanda, Uncle Jason and puppy dog Sam went with us. All the Grandparents and Aunt Cathy came too! We had a great time!

A Day Out With Thomas!

Jack spent the day with Thomas the Train! He took a 25 minute ride on Thomas. We went under several bridges (Jack's favorite!!) and sat on the top deck of the train. Jack had a blast! There were several activities for him to do...a hay maze, Thomas tattoos, storytelling, mini train ride, and of course, a gift shop. Jack got to meet Sir Topham Hatt! It was a nice, crisp, fall day. We had a great time!

Natalie's 1st Haircut

Mommy took Natalie to her hair salon to get her first haircut. Natalie was such a good girl! She sat on Mommy's lap and giggled at herself in the mirror the entire time. She looks like such a big girl with her new haircut!

And yes, Mommy was getting her hair done at the same time. :)

Story Time!

Jack and Natalie LOVE to read!!

Jack is learning sight words in preschool and is applying them to his books at home and reading to us! He is so proud of himself and we are so proud of HIM!!

Natalie loves to crawl on your lap and look at books. She points to the pictures you ask her to in the Look and Find picture books. She's growing up so fast!!

Clowning Around

Jack and Natalie clowning around for the camera. They are very close with each other. They giggle, laugh, and play together. Poor Natalie is lost without Jack when he is at school in the afternoon. She listens to Jack and does what he says (in a good way!). He is a great help with Natalie. He can calm her down if she is upset and make her laugh if she is whining.

Natalie is still not walking or standing on her own (she's lazy!). Jack has taught her to walk on her knees in an upright position. It is hilarious to watch! She is getting closer to walking on her own...she just prefers to crawl everywhere!

Pumpkin Farm

Jack and his pumpkin he picked out.
Natalie and the pumpkins!
Jack and Natalie.
Jack and Natalie - so cute together!!
At home with their pumpkins!

We took our annual trip to Eckert's to pick out our pumpkins last weekend. The weather was very warm, actually quite hot (around 80 degrees). We had a good time. Jack rode all the rides and fed the goats. Jack and Natalie picked out their pumpkins. Looking forward to Halloween!!

Natalie's 1st Birthday Portraits

Happy 1st Birthday Natalie!!

Natalie and her cakes!
Grandma, Sam, and Natalie.
Mommy and Natalie opening presents.
Natalie, her new dolly, and Stroll Along Walker.
Family Photo :)

Hard to believe Natalie is a year old already!! Where has the time gone?

Natalie's birthday party theme was "Cupcakes". We served deli sandwiches, chips, dill potato salad, cupcakes, cake, and ice cream. Mommy attempted to make a cake shaped like a giant cupcake (you can see it in the first picture). Well, that was not as easy as I thought!! It was a Wilton pan shaped like a giant cupcake. The morning of her party I couldn't get the cake out of the pan! It was stuck! It came out in pieces and I tried my best to put it back together again, but it was not pretty. I sent Todd to the store to pick up a sheet cake! Needless to say we were eating cake and cupcakes for weeks after her party!