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...