Never a dull moment with these two!

Playing dress-up :)

 Exploring!

 His newest line and move..."I'm mad!"

 One of the few fits per day that we see from our awesome 2 year old! :)

We LOVE fall!

Apple picking...

 Apple pie...YUM!

 Isn't it a beautiful thing?

 Pumpkin patch!

 boo!

 bwoo-ha-ha! 

 Found the perfect pumpkins!

 All of our pumpkins and the hay rack ride!

 Curling up with a good book in a comfy chair, with a cozy blanket. :)

 and.....football!

 It makes him sweaty. :)

We do love fall for all of the reasons above. The colors, the smells, the cool weather that encourages more family time outside and inside, traditions, holidays...it is absolutely one of our most favorite times of the year!

Our little loves have some big news!

The very last day of July we found out we were expecting a third little bundle of joy! I had my first appointment in September and all looked as great as it can at 10 weeks. I had forgotten how long this first appointment was! Sonogram (yay!), visit with dr., bloodwork, etc. The sonogram was by far the best part. Being the third time I have had this first 10 week sonogram, I was very excited, but was surprised at how emotional I became. It is just so amazing and I don't think a person could ever get used to that moment when you see your first, second, or even third sweet little "gummy bear" on the screen. Baby was "resting" at first, but then soon after started bouncing around, stretching, kicking, and "waving." I was on cloud 9 walking out of that room and feeling so very, very blessed. ETA April 9, 2013! (One day earlier than big brother Gavin's due date!)

We told the kids that night (mostly because we were so excited!) Of course Sydney was thrilled and Gavin doesn't really understand yet, which is understandable! The next day Sydney told our daycare provider and the news has trickled throughout town ever since. :)

Since we had just been back to my hometown the weekend before, (and it is a long haul to-and-from), we decided to send a surprise photo card out to our family! Here was the big reveal photo. :) Let me tell you what, it is a true miracle that this photo was even possible...there were probably 3-4 timeouts in the course of this photo session, many tears and frustrating moments, mostly coming from our two year old. BUT the most important thing is that in this case "last time is a charm" and it all worked out perfectly!

our three loves!

They look excited....right? :)

Just as I expected....

 School started and I completely slacked off on updating. The month of August flew by. We had a Worlds of Fun Family day courtesy of Joe's work. It was a very long day (and I learned that I prefer Worlds of Fun over Oceans of Fun for multiple reasons), but the kids loved it. Gavin fell asleep during supper and actually, just yesterday Sydney asked me when we could go back! 

Riding the train!

Sydney and me on the Viking Voyager...she loved it!

 In August not only did I return to school, but it was Sydney's first year of Preschool. The week before their first day we attended an Open House and of course, Sydney found the reading corner and the imaginative play area with the kitchen and baby dolls. Gavin enjoyed the blocks and the trucks. Of course. :)

 My handsome boy at the Gardner rodeo! We went to watch cousins Jase and Brian ride bulls!

 Sydney's first day of Preschool. She was so excited and I was so excited for her, but it was rough for this momma. I was lucky enough to have someone cover my classroom so I could drop her off myself for her first day. She was such a big girl, so excited and happy to be there. I held it together until I got to the parking lot and then of course I cried! She is getting so big, so fast and I knew that next year will be a drop-off for Kindergarten! We are so proud of the little person she has become and is becoming. We know she'll do great things.

 The kids requested to go fishing one weekend so we spent a very uneventful day at Pomona Lake. The only one of them to even get a bite was this little guy. The one who kept talking loudly, splashing the pole in the water, and having us cast so he could reel in (over and over and over again).

 All in all August was a very busy month, luckily September slowed down a bit for us, just in time for October to roll in...

I surrender!

We are taking a break from the potty training. He was showing some progress, but not enough to convince me that he was truly ready for this huge transition. I definitely don't want to traumatize him by pushing the issue.

So...we are surrendering to the 2 year old...for now. ;)

time is running out...

The time that I can spend with these two sweet faces every morning, for all day...it's running out!

 

I report back to school Monday the 13th and the kids will return to daycare that day. Sydney is excited to go back to Miss Sherry's and see her friends. The teacher in me is excited to get back in to the swing of things....the mom in me is sad! The summer has flown by and it seems to go faster every single year. When it dawned on me the other day that I had one week left with them I vowed to do something out of the ordinary with them every day until we went back.

We have painted!

Drew sidwalk dinosaurs!

Sydney and the Stegosaurus she created

Attempted a wax paper collage of items we found in "nature" (i.e. around our yard ;)) This didn't turn out so well but the kids loved the nature hunt!

Yesterday we also did a little science experiment with water, oil, and food coloring. It was pretty exciting and the kids loved watching the droplets of color "explode" in to the water after falling out of the oil! I have found many ideas on this website: http://www.playcreateexplore.com/p/activites-for-ages-1-3.html This blogger has recorded so many unique and easy ideas to just throw together and enjoy with your kids!  I look forward to more fun with the kids, but I know these last few days will fly by!

You know you're a mom when....

__(fill in the blank)__

My response? It's kind of long, but let me build up the scene a bit. You are sitting on the bathroom floor while your 2 year old SON (I emphasize son because sitting in front of your daughter on the potty would not result in the same mess ;)) sits on the training potty. You have knowingly placed yourself directly in the "line of fire", reading the same Diary of a Worm as you read to him the first 18 times he sat here to try to go potty (to no avail). He finally does go and it goes all over your legs....your hands....your feet...the floor...and you don't bat an eye because 1) you react so quickly to redirecting the "line of fire" that you don't even think about having pee all over your hands and 2) you are SO EXCITED that he finally went! Finally! Covered in pee and still happy as can be for your sweet boy...that's what it means to be a mom! :)


Day 3's breakdown so far:
2 accidents, multiple attempts, 1 success! hooray!

If anything, G is showing me that he has amazing control over his body because his big sister had many more accidents than this! She also had more successes though so maybe it balances out. ;)