Autumn fun

Fall weather definitely arrived today. It is my absolute favorite time of the year! With the beautiful scenery in our new community, I cannot wait for the leaves to turn!

There is already a blanket of leaves covering our backyard. The kids had a ton of fun jumping and rolling in the leaves.

playing football after dinner

It was Stephan's first week of fantasy football with his friends. Wow, it's a lot to follow! We joked about paying someone else to help Stephan manage his roster....

Casey hard at work raking and burning leaves.

I love, love that smell.

Isn't this how you eat your toast and jam?!?

Aside from the fall fun, we were lucky enough to have two delicious dinners sans children. Not that we do not enjoy taking the kids out to eat, but it is certainly nice to have adult conversations from time to time. On Friday we went with Gramps, Jude and Nic to one of our favorite restaurants while Grammy and the kids had a pizza and movie night. And on Saturday, we went to a new (to us) restaurant with Grandpa, Grandma and Shelly because they are headed back to Arizona at the end of the week. Liza took the kids to her sister and brother-in-law's house (Jaclyn and Andy) to play with Jack, Julia, Grace and Sam. The boys were boys, of course, and Norah had a blast with Julia and Grace. That is where she inherited these stylish frames!

In Daddy's Chair

When we planned to move, Casey started a hunt to find his perfect chair. A leather club chair that would be comfortable, but stylish. He found it and waited 18 weeks for it be delivered . We all call it Daddy's chair even though he does share and let us enjoy its comfort. Good thing because Norah is quite fond of this chair. She climbs up, scoots way down low and kicks her feet.

On this particular night, she was full of pep and had no interest in pj's or bedtime. She climbed up in the chair, kicked her legs so hard and squealed as loud as she could. Casey, Stephan and I were in stitches....she was just as happy as could be in Daddy's chair.

A fun weekend

Play time! Stephan, Norah and I went down to the lake front to play on a favorite playground and get coffee and snacks. Norah loves the swings, especially when Stephan is pushing her. She had such a blast!

She is such a snuggle bug. When she gives us hugs these days, she pats us on the back.

Stephan took her all around the playground to show her all the fun!

Stephan is doing really well in school. He got an A on his first science test. He has a huge spelling test on Friday & he is hoping for the same results!

He was invited to be in a fantasy football league. It's just for fun, of course. They had their draft party last night with pizza & new friends!

Stephan's team won their second soccer game. (After that game, their record is now 3-0! Off to a great start!) Grandma, Pops and Liza came along to cheer on the team. Poor Grandma squinted the entire time because Norah made a claim on her sunglasses.

After the game, we all went to lunch. Then Stephan, Norah and I went with Liza to cheer on Jack's football team, which also won!

the restaurant is on the new riverwalk

(I am having such trouble with this camera! I am sorry for all of the blurry, grainy photos. I cannot wait for my new camera!)

Norah and her pal Mattie. She is Grandpa and Grandma's dog and the same age as Stephan. She is such a sweet little dog who has had a special relationship with both of the kids.

Norah & Grandpa! We went to Grandpa and Grandma's house to watch the Rider Cup. Norah had fun playing with Grandpa. They played all of her favorite games like peek-a-boo behind the coffee table, back & forth with her walking toy & catch. Her throws do not go very far, but she caught on to the concept of tossing the ball back & forth with someone else.

Norah and the walking toy at Grandma's house. She can practically run back & forth across the room with this toy. She is so close to walking on her own. I think she could do it, but she is so cautious about it, which is unlike her. I keep telling Stephan that he was my safety baby. Norah is fearless except when it comes to walking. She stands on her own for a little while and suddenly looks around like "Oh no, this isn't right, I should hold onto something!"

Spaghetti night

Do you think Norah liked the pasta?!?

This was a highchair to bathtub sort of a night....

A few cute things about Norah, age 12.5 months

~When she sees her dolls, she makes the sweetest little coo and kisses them.

~She loves to copy me as I get ready for the day. When I put on lotion, she rubs her hands together. After I brush my hair, I give her a comb, and she rubs it on her head. Then when I say "oh, such pretty hair!" and she tilts her head and runs her fingers through her little curls.

~She still enjoys identifying body parts--eyes, ears, mouth, nose, tongue and toes. She will find her own tongue and toes, but she points out the other parts on the person asking her. It's so weird! I think it is because we started identifying those parts on her doll.

~The Wheels on the Bus is so last fall...her new favorite of all favorites is the Itsby Bitsy Spider. She wiggles her fingers at us when she wants us to sing it...over and over and over!

~She loves to do "tricks." When she is standing, she sticks her leg out behind her and leans back like a little dancer. And when she crawls she stops and sticks her foot up behind her like a yoga pose of some kind. When we clap and say "Yay! Tricks!" she does more with a smile on her face. She is such a ham!

~She has finally decided shoes are not so bad and brings them to us to put on her feet. She sits in front of us & puts the shoe on the edge of her toes. Although, this is usually around the house. When it comes time to leave, she does not see the need to wear shoes outside!

~She is already a fan of football season. She thinks we are so funny when we cheer & clap for the Packers. Stephan is trying to teach her to say "touchdown!" and put up her arms. Or at least put up her arms when HE says it.

having a good laugh....

Just in case you missed it...

On Friday night we watched Stand Up To Cancer, which was aired on the three major networks and hosted by their three evening news anchors. It was hard to watch without a box of tissues. Over 50 celebrities lent their support to this major telethon. I am anxious to know how much was raised to fight the disease.

Check out: www.standup2cancer.org

Fall is here!

Every year when Stephan goes to bed the night before school, he wishes for cold weather. He wants to wear his back to school clothes on the first day! No such luck, this year our hottest summer day was the first day of school. In the last week it has quickly turned to glorious fall weather though. Fall means soccer games for the little man, football, apple picking and cozy clothes! We love to bundle up after dinner and go for walks in the crisp air.

We didn't know if Stephan would get a spot on a soccer team in our new community. He was on the wait list until the day before their first game, which they won!


(the first to arrive before the game)

Norah during her most cheerful moment of the day (I wish her face wasn't so dark in this picture)....who knew that she would quickly get more sick that day and her cold would turn to the dreaded croup. Three nights with no sleep & the poor peanut was miserable. In all, she was sick for over a week. And the croup is the pits! Stephan never had it...boy, it is just no fun.

Did the guys at the NFL who plan the schedule way in advance have any idea what an exciting game the first game of the season would be?!? Packers vs. THE VIKINGS...AT LAMBEAU...NO FAVRE...and the weather turned cool enough that we could get cozy and make chili. It was great! (And they won!!)

Can you see Norah's shiny runny nose? Poor thing! She laughed and clapped along with us though when we cheered for the Pack.

(a couple of weeks ago enjoying brunch outdoors...what a cutie...we're so proud of him and how well he has transitioned with all of these changes)

First Day!

Stephan started fifth grade today at his new school! I am so proud of how well he handled this change. I know he was probably a little nervous, but it was overshadowed by excitement.

Stephan is taking the school bus this year, which is a new thing for him. He is excited about it & even wanted to take it on his first day. Thankfully he didn't mind that I drove over to the school so I could meet his teacher and sign up for PTA activities. That is important to Stephan...he notices the "mom activities" and has always said "I want you to be one of the moms who makes copies."

The day before school started we went there one last time to find the bus drop off/pick up, figure out where the fifth grade door is located & all of those fun logistics. We noticed a nature trail at the back of the playground & our neighbor later told us that is a small nature preserve that belongs to the school. The kids have lessons in the preserve, go for walks, snow shoe and have on-site "field trips" with staff from a local nature center where our friend Naomi works.

Stephan is thrilled with his teacher. Based on what I have been told by neighbors, he could have been hand picked for Stephan. He sounds like just the right teacher to help him transition into a new school. AND he loves soccer just like Stephan!

(On another note, Stephan is less than excited about the after school program...we're not allowed to say "day care"...he has a few days a week....apparently it is boring and all "little kids.")