7:34 am

Matt brought in the Christmas ornaments last night after the kids were sleeping. As soon as they knew what was in the bins there was so much excitement that I just went with it, in spite of the fact that the sun was just coming up. Opening the ornaments was always a joy for me...and I think that it was for them as well.

Halloween

Ella was very certain that she should be a black cat with pink in the middle of her ears and a black tail. Who knew that the craft store sells giant pipe cleaners that look just like cat tails?

Our proud fireman. He takes his job seriously :)

100 lbs of produce

Rather than heading west to the IL apple orchards, we decided to go east to Michigan for our yearly picking. Even though it has been well over a month, the kids are still talking about the hotel and the orchards. We made use of Matt's great familiarity with the Marriott chain and found a place that was just a few hours away and right in the middle of a bunch of orchards. Through three year old eyes, this translated to 'the place that puts chocolates on our pillows at night'. What could be better?!?

Dinner in our room overlooking the river

Making sure that her babies were adequately fed. And I'm not sure what Noah hiding in blue next to her.

This was the start of the picking adventure...

We took a break at a country restaurant with some of the best apple butter bread that I've ever tasted.

Nourished, we headed back out to orchard number two to get a few other apple varieties as well as peaches and nectarines.

Both kids tuckered out on the way back to the hotel.

All in all, we figured that we came home with 65 lbs of apples, 15 lbs of peaches/nectarines and 20 lbs of pumpkins. We'll be working our way through it for a long time.

Chatt-Nash Trip

I barely took 10 photos of our trip to TN but I'll post a few for posterity sake.

Atop Lookout Mtn at our 10 year reunion

In Nashville with the Orrs...making use of every seat in the van

Ella & Lily

Afternoon at the Arboretum

Morning at Home

First

Ella and Noah started preschool this year. They were THRILLED to go and have precious little stories about their days. From what I can tell, they stick together and have not yet ventured out to make friends. Each morning, Noah takes Ella's hand and leads her into the classroom where they give a huge double hug to their teachers. When I pick them up, I get a million kisses and a full run down of the day. Apparently, the big events of the day are:
1) getting to put up the weather flash cards. Neither of them can tell me the name of the kid that gets to do it (it changes every day) but Noah always spells it for me on the ride home.
2) remembering the number that you stand on in line as you go outside to play
3) the apple stamp that you get for washing your hands

I love that these are the things that stand out in their little minds.

Thoughts on babies

So, yes, we're having another one. We're pretty excited about the new arrival in January. I'm 23 weeks now and the kids have adjusted well to the idea. We've covered some of the basic questions like how the baby got inside mommy, when the baby is going to come and they've even adjusted to my food needs. This is pretty typical:

Me: Kids, I'm not feeling very well. I need to take a little rest and get something to eat.
Noah: Mommy you should go make yourself some food so that you don't spit up. You want Bigs? (Bigs is his beloved blanked which is indeed very large).

Or, this charming little tidbit that has happened more than once:
Noah (staring intently at my backside): Momma, why is your bottom so big?
Me: (smiles and says nothing)

The other day Matt's mom was driving the kids around and the conversation went something like this:
Ella: I want a baby 'gurl'.
Noah: I want a baby boy.
Nana: God will give your family what is best for your family. The doctor might even be able to know if the baby is a boy or girl. Mommy and Daddy are going to go to the doctor and he is going to take a picture of the baby.
Ella (completely incredulous): But how is the doctor going to get inside mommy? (And even more concerned) And how is he going to get out?!?

And lastly, some visuals because some have asked I'm as big as I was last time around.

Singleton, 23 weeks

Twins, 25 weeks (and hi Megs!)

And a kid shot just because....