Trick or Treat!

Halloween this year was great fun. We were invited to a wonderful party at a friends house with about 10 families. All the kids and most of the adults dressed in costume. They had a scavenger hunt and lots of fun treats and games. After the party we rushed home so the girls could go trick or treating in our neighborhood. Grandpa Dave manned the door while I played crowd control with the boys and got them ready for bed. Shawn took the girls out to trick or treat. It's all about logistics in our world :-) Ellen and Anais were very excited about their stash!

Halloween Parade

The girls preschool celebrated Halloween with a parade in the gym and a social in their classroom. Here are photos of the girls in costume - Ellen as Ariel and Anais as a dragon. Also a photo of their class in costume.

Halloween Celebration

After the parade we all went into the girls classroom for lunch and a social. The boys were quite the crowd pleaser with their matching skunk costumes. And yes that is both of them on my lap wrestling - just another day with 1 1/2 year old twin boys :-) Thankfully they didn't spray each other (and me) with their stank!

Sorry boys!

Here's a photo I can hold over the boys heads when they are 16 and itching to get into trouble!

Grandpa Dave!

Grandpa Dave is visiting us for 2 1/2 weeks to help us enjoy Halloween and celebrate his 71st birthday on the 3rd. We all love having him here although I get the feeling he finds our busy life a bit exhausting :-) All I can say is welcome to the club!

Fall Hayride

The multiples club that I am a member of had their annual hayride at a horse farm near our house. The girls had fun naming the horses along the route and the boys enjoyed throwing the straw out of the wagon. After the ride, we roasted hotdogs and had s'mores - yet another thing Dylan loves to eat!

Fingerpainting

Jessica had the boys do some fingerpainting in the basement today. A braver woman then I :-)

The Creamery - one more time

By most accounts, today was to be the last warm day of the year so a couple of us gathered up the kiddies and headed to the creamery. Ellen, Anais and I all had the seasonal pumpkin flavor. Delish! The boys wrestled with the pumpkins that were for sale.

Linvilla Orchards

The girls didn't have school on Monday thanks to Columbus so Jessica - our new nanny - and I took the kids to one of many apple orchard/pumpkin patch/petting zoo/playground farms that they have in the area. The first thing on the to-do list was face painting - Anais a butterfly and Ellen a puppy.

Playground

Next up was a stop at the playground. The boys loved climbing on the train! Will someone please explain to me the instinctive draw boys have to anything with a motor and/or wheels?

Treats

And after our "quick" picnic lunch, the girls choose their special treats. Ellen an apple coated with caramel, then dark chocolate, then sprinkles. Anais couldn't resist the green monster with blood red nails on a stick!

Pony rides

The girls then rode the ponies. After that we picked out our pumpkins and headed home. A great fall day!

Road trip to Ikea

My friend Emily and I took our "big" kids to Ikea. I think this truly is Ellen's favorite place. And the kids enjoyed carpooling together.

Our early bird

Nicolas is awake and ready to roll most mornings before 6am. Someday we'll sleep!

Lucky Charm!

Ellen found a 4 leaf clover in our yard! She was very excited about it and we hope this means she is blessed with the luck of the Irish!

A dragon in the basement

Anais has decided to be a dragon for Halloween this year. She is very excited about it and when she plays dress-up, puts the costume on and chases Ellen the princess around. The boys tag along behind giggling and trying to attack the dragon and save their princess.

A Cornhusker - born and bred

Here's Nicolas making Grandma Sandy with her deep Nebraska roots proud. The boy loves corn on the cob!