Tude

Over the last few months our sweet little Fernie has developed a bit of a "tude"!!  Sometimes it's funny and other times it's exasperating.  She clearly lets you know what she wants or doesn't want.  Don't misunderstand me, she is still sweet, caring and helpful but she has also let's her desires be known!  She is quick to say "No, No, No, No" or "Noooooooo" (high pitch scream).  And if she really is mad she will just scream.  One time I said to her during a screaming fit "Fernie, do we scream?" and she immediately stopped and said "No!"  It's amazing how much she really understands. 

We really didn't go through the terrible two's with Jack, so maybe that is what this is?!?! 

Fernie still likes to take off her pants and do her own thing.  When I'm in the kitchen she likes to be right by me.

Best seat in the house, I guess!

The last football game of the season was pretty chilly so only Jack and I went.  Zack and Fernie stayed in the nice warm house!  Cold weather can easily be forgotten with a bag of Mike 'n Ikes and hot chocolate!

With baby about 5 weeks away I'm beginning to wonder who might have some jealously issues?!??!

We had the pleasure of having Nana and Papa visit this weekend!  Jack had been counting down the days and it finally arrived.  We did our best to keep the kids from waking Nana and Papa the first morning but 7:00AM was as long as we could wait!!!

 

We did lots of reading, took Nana and Papa to the zoo and library, went to McDonald's playland and participated in our school's annual auction!

Jack enjoys feeding the animals but only the smaller ones.  He would say to Nana "you distract those big animals while I feed this one!"

 

I kid you not, Jack said to Fernie "don't wurry Furnie, they can't eat you!"  We have never been to the zoo when the bears were this close, they had dug a huge hole by the window.

I can't believe how much this little man is growing up and grasping the concepts of the world.  It's funny to hear in his words the things he thinks we are saying...
On a walk:  "I think that dog is a boy...he has gutters" I'm thinking he meant udders because it was a female dog!!!

Reading a book:  Me:  "...and all the kids cried tears of joy..."
J:  What are tears of joy??
Me:  When you are so happy you cry!
J:  Like when Papa cried @ Brit's wedding?? 

Talking with Zack:  Z:  Jack did you know the planets rotate around the sun?
J:  We learned that in school, dad!!

"Mommy, don't be a gooseball"...I think he meant goofball!

While getting ready for bed:  J:  Mommy I have chubby checks...
Me:  No you don't why would you say that??
J:  Because they are red and they hurt...
Me:  Oh you mean chapped checks!

A while back I hurt my back and every once and a while he will say:
"Mommy how is your back feeling today?"
When moving or lifting something:  "Mommy don't hurt your back"
"Furnie, don't hurt Mommy's back"

Jack is our little tender-heart!

Our Lovies!!!

 

Fall FUN!

Life is NEVER boring with these too, I can only image what like will be like after #3 arrives!! 

Fernie's newest thing is to take her pants off...she thinks she is VERY funny! 

 These two are BEST buds.  Fernie loves her "Pop Pop" very much. 

 We were blessed by a little snow a few days ago.  Good thing Jack was prepared!

 Our little snow owl!

 What do YOU do when someone rakes you a pile of leaves?!?!

 

 Jack was very helpful...Fernie would rather eat a snack!

 I spent the morning with Jack at his Fall School Party.  We both had a great time!! 

 The best part of our school day:  RECESS!!  Jack showed me all his tricks!

 We had one very excited little boy on Oct 31.  I think he had his costume on by 3:00pm.  Fernie on the other hand wanted NOTHING to do with her costume.  Just looking at her costume would bring tears to her eyes....good thing we had an owl hat!

 

 There is nothing more fun than tackling dad!

 

 We take full advantage of 40-50 degree weather!

 She rides on each playground toy for about 3 seconds...

 

 When Fernie was done, Zack hopped on...Jack was thrilled! 

 

Birthday Fun!

We have had a busy few weeks...enjoying the fall weather and celebrating a VERY special birthday!

 

Fernie loves playing in the dirt.  This is right before she ATE a handful of dirt.  I know what you are thinking..."how could you not stop her?"  And I would say SHE IS VERY FAST!

 As tradition would have it, Jack received a birthday muffin for his birthday breakfast!  Pretty low key on his birthday since he was having a party on Saturday.

 This picture is to show how you how resilient Fernie is...she just fell off the slide (head first).  She is of course holding her head like it hurts but has a smile on her face!

 Jack has become very protective of Fernie over the last few weeks.  At times he is VERY helpful with her. 

 We are becoming VERY serious about sidewalk chalk.

 We are working on writing Jack's name...see if you can find it....

 For Jack's birthday we asked him what he would like to do.  We encouraged him to have a friend party but he was adamant he only wanted family AND he wanted to go bowling.  Well can't argue with the birthday boy!   So bowling we went.  He had a BLAST. He even got his own bowling shoes!! Here he is helping Nana bowl. 

 Dad's got some mad bowling skills!!

 Fernie was content watching...She did feel the need to take off her shoes though!

 

Jack took his bowling very serious...

 

 ...Until about the 5th frame!  Then he wanted to play the arcade games...what 4 year old wouldn't??   

 

 

 While we waited for the pizza to arrive we played in the leaves. 

 

 

 READY TO PARTY!

 

 

 Of course we had to read EVERY Curious George book he received!!!  Seriously Jack LOVES books. 

Jack's newest thing is to look at toy magazines (if those advertisers only knew!).  He asks me every day, "did I get a new toy magazine in the mail??" 

 Barnes and Noble was kind enough to send Jack a free dessert for his birthday.  So this Friday I took Jack and Fernie out for a treat! 

Fernie and I settled for a cookie...not as messy! 

 This girl is full of SPUNK!

 It's apple picking season! 

 

 While Jack was picking apples, Dad was raking leaves.  We got home just in time to help move the leaf bags.

 Zack showing off his leaf crunching skills!

Every since Jack was little he and Zack would play "Up high" (Jack's name for it) and now Fernie enjoys the same game!  (some days she lets me do her hair and others she does not...today was a NO!)

Can't believe Zack and still lift Jack like this! 

 So glad Zack enjoying rough-housing with the kids...that is so NOT my thing!

 What happens when you give Fernie chocolate in the carseat...glad she's washable!

 I think our trips to the zoo are coming to an end but we had to sneak in a quick trip this weekend!

 

 This picture is blurry because Jack is jumping up.  I share this picture because this is a genuine happy face from Jack....the prairie dog ate the corn kernel he threw in the cage!

 Football buddies!