October

I am repenting for neglecting my blog and will do my best to keep it up better.  I am always surprised to learn how many people actually read this thing!

Andy has asked me repeatedly if he could have a bow tie.  I just didn't think it would look very good unless he was attending a formal event.  So he borrowed one from a boy at church one day and took a picture to prove how debonair he looked.  I'm still considering....

Yes, this is from Halloween.   Andy told the kids that if he had to carve the pumpkin, they had to clean it out.

Poor Carson had a hard time.  I thought one handful was enough, but Andy insisted he do more!  The poor boy had already helped clean out a pumpkin at school, and his teacher said he did it willingly enough, but turned his head and gagged audibly a couple of times.

Parker was a little dragon for Halloween!  I took him around to see some of our friends in the neighborhood. He's a pretty popular guy, especially with women. They always comment on his squishable cheeks.

Dakota loves to have someone sit with her.  She follows me around the house all day and literally sticks her nose into whatever I'm doing.  She loves her toys too.  She's started bringing them into the house sometimes, which I'm not in favor of, but it's cute that she loves them so.  Her favorites are the squeaky ones, but I think she has loved the squeak out of all of them.  Maybe Santa can help....
 

Spencer is learning to type.  He's pretty good at it, especially for a third grader.  I didn't learn until 8th grade.  Already his education is so much different from mine!  Anyway, I liked his comfy little set-up here.

Parker loves to watch shows with Carson.  They were watching Sesame Street on this day.  He giggles and dances when they sing.  Then when it's over, Carson turns it off, and Parker wails with despair. 

Catching Up

Once again, time has slipped away from me.  There's something about having the third little boy that keeps things really busy!  It's not any one of them, it's the combination of the three.  Anyway, here's the update....

You may have heard of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."  At our house, we have Invasion of the Food Snatchers.  I went out with Carson to catch his ride to school yesterday, and when I returned to make my lunch, the plate that had previously been full of roast beef was quite empty!  The plate itself was right where I had left it and all the other food was undisturbed.  I turned around and saw these brown eyes watching me, guilty as sin!  She was uninterested in her doggy kibbles that afternoon.  Hmmm, I wonder why....

She really likes Honey Nut Cheerios.  She hangs out by Parker in the mornings because she knows he'll start tossing her Cheerios.  He throws them over the edge of the high chair and immediately shakes his head "no-no."  (He's aware of the rules, he just chooses not to obey them.)  Dakota snaps the cereal in midair and Parker giggles like crazy. 

Dakota loves her family.  She always goes in the bathroom and rubs against Andy's towel.  I've even noticed her rubbing up against the kids bath mat when the shower curtain isn't in the way.

One day she stood at the window, growling and barking in her scariest tone.  I saw an animal control truck across the street.  Apparently the neighbors had found a stray dog and called the county to come and get it.  Dakota has never had any contact with animal control, though, and I can't figure out how she knew who they were and that she didn't like them.

Parker is a delightful little rascal.  He is busy getting into mischief all day and he gets really mad when we stop him.  He wants to be deeply involved in whatever his brothers are doing, whether they like it or not.  He recently taught himself to play the kazoo.  (If I can figure out how to post a video, I'll put it on here.)  He also enjoys playing an impromptu duet when Spencer is trying to practice the piano.  He loves to go for wagon rides, especially when Dakota comes along.
 

He loves his baby swing and giggles a lot. 

This was Spencer's birthday party at the pool.  Parker looked super cute in his little baby Speedo.

Enjoying the outdoors at Carson's soccer game.

 One day while the kids were out of school, I took them to a trampoline park.  It was pretty amazing!  Basically, it's a huge room with multiple trampolines hooked together so the kids can jump from one to another.  They have an area for basketball and dodgeball.  The boys' favorite part was the foam pits.  They bounce down a long tramp and jump into a pit of foam cubes. 

Spencer is becoming a good swimmer!  I am delighted with his progress.  I've scheduled them for more lessons while they're out of school in a couple of weeks.

Geronimo!!

He actually enjoys jumping off the diving board and going down the big slide.  This is amazing for any child of mine!

Carson isn't as brave yet, but hopefully with more time and practice, he'll get there.  Right now he just needs to get his face in the water!