Updates!

It's been a while since I've shared what the kids have been up to, interested in and able to do.  So I thought I'd dedicate this week's post to just that!  They've really been loving the fallen leaves.  It is actually quite helpful they gather them up in their buckets and dump them in a garbage can.  It's about time they earned their keep!  When I can peel them away from raking leaves, they've also been enjoying going for walks.  And by that, I mean we all walk: as in no wagon!  Our walks are a lot of fun, a lot of frustration and a little exhausting.  But, they love their independence so walk, we will! Their new favorite show is Peppa Pig which is about a family of British pigs.  The best part is that between Peppa and Mary Poppins, they now speak with British accents. They are starting to actually play together for the first time, playing "grocery store" and "school bus".

On one of our infamous walks

Under the pretty tree

No more leaves on the pretty tree!

Snuggling up for Saturday morning cartoons

Rocking chair buddies

They grabbed me and asked me to come
see their "neighborhood"

Colds keeping us down :(

Just a couple of boys playing trains

Hudson Pierce has a memory like an elephant.  He can recall everything we did for days, and he remembers all the steps in a process.  For example, we have 3 rules for walking together from the car to the YMCA and he recites them before we get out of the car every time "Stay near mommy, walk on the sidewalk, don't run in the parking lot"...every single time (side note: WE WALK FROM THE CAR TO THE YMCA...NO MORE STROLLER!! I'm pretty proud of that).  He also is a stickler for doing things in order.  Just recently I was telling the kids that, as soon as we got home we'd go straight upstairs and get a bath, to which Huddy replied "we have to take our shoes off first"...right you are, Huddy Buddy!  He also loves playing catch and basketball with Dylan.  He is frequently requesting Dylie to play catch with him, it is absolutely adorable.

Making faces

Huddy enjoying a warm day, raking the leaves.

Dyl Pickle has been very creative recently.  Which makes sense as his left is his dominant hand.  He likes to bite his food into shapes such as boats, dinosaurs and choo choo trains.  Speaking of trains, the boy loves him some choo choos.  He can hear one from miles away, and goes nuts when we see one, and could play with his train set for hours.  He likes to ask, "Mummy, whatcha doin', Mummy?"  His favorite book is Caps For Sale (just like Daddy).  He is certain that wearing hats and glasses makes you a "cool guy".  He likes to put some on and ask "I a cool guy?" Yes, Dyl.  You are the coolest guy.

"Caps for sale, 50 cents a cap!"

Such a cool guy

Finally, Sloanie girl.  As she'd be happy to tell (sing) you, she "Is 16 going on 17".  She is entering her threenage years and has anointed herself as a second Mommy.  Unfortunately, she's taken a liking to the phrases "no" and "stop it".  We are working on better ways to express ourselves.  She has been starting to play pretend with her baby doll, making sure she is fed, cleaned up and asks her if she needs to pee pee on the potty.  She has started to "read" books- reciting them from memory.

Her hair is getting long enough for a bow!

Mommy daughter duck face