Food and Fall and Rolling like a Ball

Noah reached a few milestones this week, he rolled over for the first time, and we tried some solid food with him. He liked both! Every time now we lay him down he rolls right over, and gets very frustrated, but it won't be long until he's moving.

Rachel got really excited about bath night one night, and dumped in all the bubbles while we were getting ready to come upstairs, hence the very bubbly bath.
Fun with leaves. Daniel was looking out the window very sad the other day that the leaves had fallen. Stephanie was here at the time and trying to explain to him how they do fall, but they come back after the winter time.

Conner, our neighbor, with Daniel and Rachel.
So both Kevin and I were getting ready to get out the door Tuesday morning, and were slightly frantic. We looked down and watched the very moment Noah rolled over, and got his picture and gushed all over him. I am very thankful for the milestones we get to experience with every child. Here is Noah right after he rolled over the first time.

I will post more pictures from the weekend with them dressing up. Kevin was home with the kids today and took them to Target, I am very proud of him, so we have candy to pass out, and already the neighbors are asking if the kids are coming out because they usually have something special for them. I am not exactly sure what they will be wearing, but it will be fun either way.

Paying My Respects

We just found out someone we knew from college passed away yesterday while being deployed in Afghanistan. He was one of the first people I was in contact with in college being our cadre corporal, and I respected him deeply.

In Memoriam: (10-27-2009) The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of Marine Captain David Seth Mitchell, Class of 2001. Captain Mitchell was killed in the collision of his AH-1W SuperCobra with another helicopter in Afghanistan on 25 October. He is the fourth member of the Class of 2001 we have lost since graduation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Ut Prosim.

The Middle

Has anyone seen the new show on ABC called Middle? I enjoy watching either on Wednesday nights or on hulu, but it is about two working parents with three kids, and I think it is hysterical. Not that my kids are as old as the ones portrayed, but already I find myself saying some of the things the main mom says, or thinking how easy it would be to find myself in some of those situations.

But in less dramatic fashion, here are some pictures of the kids and some of the things we did this week. Next week is my last week of my full/part time work. Stephanie goes full time with her other family after this week, and looking at the month of November, I think we are going to be gone for a good portion of it. But it has been good for me, and they are looking into me working at home, so we will see how things end up.

Noah is just a happy little boy, and I enjoy hearing his raspy coos and little laughs.

Here we are with a movie night with the kids, with a kid friendly movie, of course.
We did carve our pumpkins a little early, so they are getting enjoyed now by the local wildlife. Here is our friend Jumpy squirrel, and anyone who know Curious George will know where we got that name from.
Not that I watch TV with the kids a whole lot...this was just a very cute shot too.
Here we are making pumpkin muffins.

Thanks again to Memere for the gift box this week, and for the princess towel, of course!

It's getting cold outside

It was another very quick week! With Kevin having Monday and Friday off, I was able to get some extra work hours in, besides the Tuesday and Thursday I regularly have, so that was different for me this week. The kids are doing great with Stephanie, and Daniel and Rachel are getting better at listening when we go out, so I was able to run some errands with all the kids and survive. Kevin was Mr. Mom on Friday, and even got dinner ready...well we had Chinese takeout, but it has been a good change of pace. Rachel told me that Daddy need to go to work, and Mommy needs to stay home, but she adjusted accordingly.

Daniel has been talking so much more, and asked for Noah, and his picture taken with him, so I had to oblige.

I am working hard at getting out of the house with the proper attire for the kids. Coordinating hats and socks and shoes isn't too easy for me, but I was proud that Rachel was nice and warm when we went out today. We went grocery shopping together, and checked out the new Target right down the street....it is very nice!! They even have a Starbucks in it, so I walked around shopping with Rachel and a pumpkin spice latte in my hand, I know I am going to have to be careful now that a store like that is so close!
Noah is trying to sit up in his bouncy seat, so we have started putting him in the bouncer, and he is enjoying it. He is trying to roll over, and just watches the kids whatever they do.

Want a bite of my apple?
I found this great jogging/bike path right behind the Crosspoint towers, it is so close, so we all went for a jog on it today. The kids were all bundled up, and it will be a great path for Daniel to bike on. I wish I found the path a little earlier on in the season, but it is still nice to know it is there. Anyone else want to go for a jog with us?

Rachel's Birthday Weekend

It was a good birthday weekend with Rachel, and I'll let the pictures do the talking.

On Saturday we went to pick some apples and pumpkins. We had to ride on a tractor out where the apples were ready, and we were all set to go in our VT wear. Daniel needs some VT clothes, but I am sure our trip to VA this Thanksgiving will solve that.

We went for the Cortlands, and here is Noah eyeing a tasty one.

Another family of five helped us out with the family photo.
Where's Rachel and Daniel?

Future farmer of america....

Aw shucks...
We had a good time celebrating in New Bedford with Kevin's family, but I didn't take that many pictures. I worked this morning just for a few hours, and Kevin was in charge, I am trying to break him in easy. He carved the pumpkins with the kids.
Daniel actually took this picture of Kevin and the pumpkins. Daniel didn't like to scoop out the guts of the pumpkins because it was too "orangy". We roasted the seeds and they were yummy.
Tonight we went to the Rainforest Cafe, and then to Build a Bear. Rachel picked out a pink unicorn, and named her Horsey. We were laughing all day because our friend Bill, who takes our trash away, gave her a gift this morning which was a little baby doll. We asked her what the name of the baby was, and she said Jim. So we have baby Jim and Horsey added to the family today.
Here she was trying to carry it home...

So here's to an upcoming year of more words, potty training, hair braiding, princess dancing, tea partying times. It's so fun to have a girl.

Three's good for me

It was a good week. Work was good and connecting with old aquaintances and my old stomping grounds, and the pace of work was good for me. I was so blessed to have a great person to come to my place and watch the kids, and that gave me the additional confidence to go out and change up the routine a little.

But three kids is enough for me. Enough to realize I can't do this alone, enough to know I can't do things as fast or that slow is ok, and enough to know I need to give myself some grace and let some things go. I need God's wisdom and strength everyday.

So here are pictures of my three kids:

Not to overlook Rachel turning two on Sunday, I am posting this picture now because of the busy three day weekend we have planned. We are going to enjoy some of the fall weather tomorrow, going to New Bedford on Sunday to celebrate the shared birthday of Rachel and Kevin's grandmother, and going to the Rainforest Cafe on Monday to have a birthday dinner together. So Happy Birthday Rachel, we love having you in our life!

Pictures and Part time work

Last week when we got back from our Florida trip, I got an e-mail from a person I had worked with on base offering me a part time job working in the Hazardous Materials Pharmacy on base. I played with the idea, asked around about child care, and found a situation that would work out for me and the kids for at least a few weeks. So next week I am starting a part time job just a few days a week, where I will be gone and back home even before Kevin gets home from work. I admit I am excited about the very family friendly opportunity, and thankful for the opportunity to keep my resume updated and a little time away from the kids may be healthy break for me right now. Kevin has started doing a compressed work schedule, so this weekend has been a little longer than most. The kids seem to be a little more clingy to Daddy lately, so the extra time every other week will work out well.

Rachel as been talking a lot about butterflies lately, and I gave her a early birthday present from Memere. And she looked so cute with her wings and princess dress on.

Noah has such a cute little personality right now, and he is interested in everything it seems. The Hokie colors look great on him....
Noah can get onto his side like wants to roll, I need to start watching out for that a little better.
Daniel is starting to have more conversations with us, and ask a lot more questions. We were talking about Rachel's birthday, and how he wants her to have an ice cream cake, and I asked him how old he thought I was. He said I was 5. He loves to put together puzzles and we have some good one on one time in the afternoon while Rachel still takes a 3 hour nap. I am adjusting to the no nap thing, although the bed time routine is so much easier with how tired he is. The next few weeks will be a different sort of busy for us, and we are one week away from having a two year old on our hands!