Ashland and Halloween!!

Hello to everyone! Well, this post won't be quite a lengthy as the last...considering it's only been several weeks- whew! I do have lots of pictures though because it is so hard to dwindle them down when I take so many and actually get good shots. So, hope you enjoy the photos this round! Grace, Holtz and I went, for the first time, to Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate. This time of year is especially beautiful because all of the leaves on the mature trees are falling. We went with our neighbor Dana and her daughter Savannah. We are so fortunate to be friends with Dana and Chris...they seem to know all of "the happenings" around town...cool places to go and see. The girls made leaf angels in the leaves, jumped in leaf piles, played tag, etc. Holtz had fun crunching leaves and yes, tasting them too!

I LOVE this photo...I think it is one of my best!

This year, the YMCA held a Halloween festival that had games for young kids, a fire for roasting marshmallows, inflatables and more. We met Grace's friend, Kate there...aren't they just adorable? Our neighbors went too but they arrived when we were leaving...bummer, I didn't even get a picture of Savannah! Grace in an action shot. Did she make the basket?? I'm not telling...sure looks good from here though!

Holtz getting another Baby Bjorn ride...look at all of the people behind me...it was packed! He is so heavy but it's hard not to put him in the Bjorn because it's so convenient. Definitely lots for a little guy to look at.

Grace competed in her first sack race. She jumped her little heart out and didn't even fall.

Now this is funny. Grace put a cowboy vest on Holtz (she loves to dress her little brother up (grin) and he is such a good sport). He was all by himself standing up looking out the window when I saw him...haha. I was so excited when I called his name to get him to turn around that he didn't sit down. Just look at this shot! *PS, I used to wear this vest when I was a wee one too!

Grace loving her brother...

Here's Kate's little brother Ryder. He is two weeks older than Holtz. They are really cute to watch together because even at this age, they feed off of one another.

Grace and I have started, every once in awhile, cooking dinner together. We are trying to introduce new foods to Grace and thought that if she helped make them, then she would be more willing to try them. We've made several soups and here we were making burritos. We call them pig pile blankets (much more appealing to a 4 year old). Here she is putting on her toppings.

She did eat it, eventually. I don't think she much cared for it but she was a trooper. Progress is being made!

OK, this year Grace got to go trick or treating twice. Her buddy Dylan lives in Nicholasville and their trick or treating was on Friday. We drove down Friday to trick or treat with them and then they came up Sunday for our trick or treating. Here's Kate and Dylan, Katie (one of Dylan's friends) and of course Grace.

Carving pumpkins! Grace did not want to get her hands in the ooey gooey mess...but she finally caved (bribery always works)!

Holtz dressed up as Tigger. Thanks Savannah for letting us borrow your old costume!  Holtz has been saying Mama, GayGee (for Grace), GawGee (for doggie) and now, he has said his actual real first word.  He said cookie two days ago!!  I was reading him a book that had a cookie in it and after I said cookie, he said it right after me.  I thought it was a fluke but then we kept saying it- so cool! 
Trick or Treating at our house. Here's Dylan, Holtz, Grace and Dylan's friend Katie (and Daniele, Dylan's mommy in the background)

Grace and I made gift bags for her preschool class for their Halloween party. Here we made a jack-o-lantern out of an orange gift bag and floral tape for the stem. I drew the face on and Grace colored it in. We filled the bags with lots of goodies!

Last but not least, Grace said something funny this morning during breakfast. We were eating at the table and she was looking outside at all of the houses behind us. She said, "Some houses don't have chimneys." We commented that yes she was right, some don't have chimneys. Then she said, "How does Santa get inside?" What a clever and observant little girl. Here's a picture of Grace dressing up and I caught her in the act!

Grace and her best black dog Ralph.

That's all for now! Until next time...

First Day of School, Princess Cakes with Aggie, AZ Vacation and More!

It's hard to believe that Grace is now in preschool! She attends Immanuel Baptist Preschool on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00am-noon and really loves it! Her first day was on August 20th so she now is in the full swing of things. Her teacher's names are Mrs. Prather and Miss Becky (Miss Becky was also one of her teachers over the summer when she attended summer camp there). She's made her own first friend- her name is Abigail. Grace says after every class that she plays with Abigail on recess (going down the slides, hide and seek, tag, princess, etc). Preschool is keeping me busy too- I've attended the parent observation day, volunteered for the pumpkin patch (so did Evan) and helped with the Halloween party. I'm loving it almost as much as her!

The weekend after Grace started preschool, Aggie (Aunt Alisa) was in town for an overnight. Little did we know what she had up her sleeve. We had friends over (Jen and Jeremy Alvis and their daughter Kate) and were playing a board game and decided to let Grace and Kate stay up late. Well, Aggie came home from her party around 10:00pm with a princess cupcake pan, frosting, cake mix, etc. Oh my goodness, we knew Aggie was awesome but didn't know just how awesome she is! She was so good with the girls (more patience than I have ever had!!). She let the girls do everything...from licking the beaters (thanks for that...especially since it was during the massive egg recall- grin), spraying the Pam into the cupcake pan, create all of the icing colors, etc. It was so much fun and messy!!

Such masterpieces... Ooey gooey yummy little cakes!

Everybody that knows me knows that I LOVE my birthday!! So, last year when I turned 30 I was pregnant so we decided not to have a party or go out (what fun would that be??). So...this year we celebrated in style! We got a limo to drive us around for an hour (hello champagne) and then drop us off downtown at the bars. We went to tons of the downtown bars and lucky us...the limo took us home too. It was so much fun! Yay for being 31!

We took a trip to AZ from Sept. 30- Oct. 10th to visit with my grandparents and to vacation with my brother, Dave, and sister n law, Jen (who live in California). We stayed at my grandparents house for 3 days in Green Valley, AZ. Lordy, it was so hot!! It was 107 degrees the entire time we were in Green Valley. Because of the time change, the kids were waking us up at 4:30am (7:30 our time) so we either went on a walk or went to park someplace to watch the sunrise over the mountains. October 3rd was my Gram's 84th birthday so we were really fortunate to be able to spend part of her birthday with her. We had a super great time visiting with them. Grandad is 94 and is absolutely incredible how he still gets around. They are both in tip top shape- kudos to them!

All of us...and I think we are all smiling...wait, Dave, is that a smile? Good enough for me!

On October 3rd, we (us, Dave and Jen) headed to Scottsdale, AZ for a week of relaxation. And, my was it relaxing! We didn't do much...swam a lot, ate a lot, played cards, etc. We all did drive down to Phoenix mid week to meet Gayle (my mom's first cousin) and her daughter Jordyn. Gayle is an equine vet so Evan and she hit it off right away and Jordyn is also 4 years old so Grace had a blast playing with her. The girls were just cute as a button! It was so nice to meet another member of my family- we have so much in common...hope we stay in touch! Jordyn has a pony so the girls both got to take rides- how exciting and certainly a treat for Grace.

Dave and Jen left Scottsdale on Friday to head home so Jen could have some time to get ready for school starting up again and we stayed until Sunday. We decided we wanted to do things outside the resort so the first stop was the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. Luckily by now, the temps are in the mid to upper 80's- quite pleasant! The Railroad Park was a lot of fun and interesting too. We got to take a train ride through the park, ride on a carousel and tour the Roald Amundsen which was used by President's Hoover, Truman and FDR.

Saturday we headed back to Phoenix to go the the Phoenix Zoo. This might have been the highlight of our trip. We were there all day and both kids were perfect! There was so much to look at and do (and we did it all)! They had lots of concrete statues for the kids to sit on, get in (turtle shell, clam shell), etc. Grace and I did a paddle boat ride and rode on a camel! Holy Moley- what a hit with G! We rode on the carousel there many times too- I think carousels are now Grace's favorite thing to do.

I almost have all of our doings caught up. Last week Evan, Holtz and I went to Bi-Water Farm in Georgetown, KY with Grace's class for a field trip. I secretly wish I was still in preschool- so much fun. Here's several pictures of the hay ride. Aren't they just adorable?

Here's Grace running from the hayride to the pumpkin patch. I don't ever recall picking pumpkins right off the vines from the pumpkin patch. What a fun and memorable thing to do-

Bi-Water had a huge area for kids to play. They had tons of wooden trains and trucks, slides, tubes to crawl through, over sized rocking horses, etc.

Here's a picture of Grace's class...minus 1. She has a total of 13 kids in her class...

At the petting zoo...

Grace with her teachers. Mrs. Prather on the left and Miss Becky on the right.

Finishing up at the pumpkin patch by letting Grace and Holtz play in the super sized pumpkins.

Thought this picture was kind-of funny... I picture him saying..."yup, this is my pumpkin."

Both kids smiling...even though they aren't both looking at the camera!

Finally here are some random miscellaneous pictures I just couldn't leave out. Holtz got his bottom center two teeth when he turned 4 months old (on the day). We kept waiting for the top two center teeth to come in but they never did. Yikes!!! Funny thing...instead of the top two middle teeth coming in, the next ones out came in so Mr. Holtz had little fangs for several weeks. Bad mommy, I had to include this...it's so funny! Thankfully, he now has his top middle teeth...bringing it to 7 teeth total (4 on top and 3 on the bottom). You might have to click on the picture to enlarge it...don't forget you can do that with all of the pics. Maybe we should dress him up to be Count Dracula for Halloween... I couldn't resist!

Holtz's first time on a bike ride in the bike trailer on Sept. 9th. He loved it and we've gone on several bike rides since. Sometimes he rides in the kid seat on the back of my bike and wears Grace's helmet- funny stuff!

Here's a picture of Holtz's first time in a shopping cart and what luck, he got to share it with Grace at Sam's Club. Grace was soooo thrilled to be in a shopping cart with him. She kept her arm around him, I think, the entire time.

This is at Lowes in the "Honk Honk Beep Beep" shopping cart. That's what Grace named the carts with the little cars in the front several years ago and it stuck. They both "drove" the entire time we were there!

Just a cute random picture...

We've nicknamed Holtz Mr. Trouble because he is in to everything. He's fast and strong too.

Grace still loves her brother. She's always loving on him like this. She'll actually get behind him and hug him and ask me, "Wouldn't this be a cute picture?" When I say yes it would be she asks me to take their picture. Ha ha...

Getting ready to watch the first Notre Dame game of the season...and of his life. Don't mind the little bit of avocado on his face. Our little leprechaun-

Oh my...Mr. Trouble with a teething buscuit. He loves to be messy-

Last but not least...some milestones! Holtz pulled himself up to stand next to furniture by himself on September 18th and started cruising...yes you heard me...he's cruising on October 12th. He ate his first table food on October 24th...carrots. Yummy! Oh, and he did his first sign language on October 8th...milk (which is where you open and close your hand like you are milking a cow). Way to go Holtz! He is now 9 months old and weighs 19.8 lbs. (in the 34th percentile) and is 29 inches long (74th percentile). Still long and lean! He now has officially outgrown his infant car seat so we had to buy another one. He has to remain rear facing for at least 3 more months so we are going to have a huge rear facing car seat for him. Good for him...bad for mommy who sits in front of him now with my knees on the dashboard.

That's all for now. I'll update the blog again soon with pictures from trick or treating. Hope you enjoyed the pics and the stories...