Halloween Countdown...

Como Zoo Boo: This was the third year that we went to the Zoo Boo with the Crist family.  The kids always have so much fun together.  Traditionally, we met at McDonalds for dinner beforehand... then we headed out.  It was 60 degrees out and we didn't get to Como until 6pm... it was perfect no lines, no chaos and it was still nice and warm. Friday night may just be the perfect time to go to the Zoo Boo. Favorite treats: Larabars, cheetos and mini bags of popcorn. Oh and a Tinkerbelle sighting!

Afton Trick or Treat Trail:  Gramma was in Florida so Grumpy joined us for a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the cute town of Afton.  This was the first year we have attended this event... and it was great... the beautiful weather helped too!  Favorite part: decorating their own cookies with M &Ms and candy corn.  They also loved the bounce house. Allison took a nap on Grumpy... cutest thing ever!

Pumpkin Baby!  We got this pumpkin especially for Allison to sit it!  The boys thought it was so funny that she fit right in it!

Pumpkin carving party at The Narrs: Auntie Casie always creates quite an event.   We ate lots of yummy food, drank hot apple cider and carved pumpkins with our friends!

Nathan Picked out a spider from Stella's book of stencils

and he insisted on using the knife and "helping" carve

Kowalski's Boo Bash:

It was on a Gramma Day... so mommy got up early, after working nights, and we all went to the Boo Bash.  It is always a fun event... this year Benjamin had a few opinions about what he wanted.  There was a table with soda... he said no thank you, its too spicy!  Some of their favorite treats included: Doritos, chocolate milk and Carmel corn.

This and That: October

Nathan at Preschool waiting for his class to start

They LOVE their sister!

Unfortunately we are ready for winter!

Bedtime stories with daddy

Ben LOVES his quiet afternoons of playing by himself while Nathan is at school

Daddy Rocking the Bjorn!

Comparison shopping with daddy.  It is a good thing they have two parents.... because they learn TOTALLY different things from each of us:)

Nathan's Stitches are out

They STILL love this thing!  He found this one at the YMCAs family time

Playing in the leaves!  This was on one of the many 60-70 degree sunny days!

Hanging with daddy... these boys are so lucky to have such a good role model!

Backyard leaves!

Benjamin and his tree!  My how they have both grown!

Just like daddy!

Poor Allie!

Allie hanging with the girls!

This is one fantastic dog!

Duluth!

Picture day at preschool!

The Trio!

Another BEAUTIFUL fall day at the dog park!

Making a tent out of Allie's floor gym

Beautiful Lake Elmo Park in the fall!

Godparents

Recently, Brent and I were asked to be godparents for our friends little baby (who isn't even born yet, so we don't know the gender).  We received an old fashioned letter in the mail... both Brent and I were taken by surprise... and SO HONORED.  We feel very responsible for this this little baby that we haven't even met yet!  But we got to thinking... what makes a good godparent? The decision as to who would be Nathan, Benjamin and Allison's Godparents was a pretty easy one... we are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives.... people that will love, care for and guide our children.  All of these people are part of our kids' lives and have helped us on the journey through parenthood!  

This past weekend Benjamin's godparents took him on a Godparent Date Day!  He had been looking forward to his special day for at least 2 weeks... that is a long time to a 4 year old!  The destination was a surprise for him... making it all the more fun! Benjamin was a very lucky boy... his day started by a trip to Skyzone to jump, lunch at Noodles & Company, A movie and popcorn and finally a trip to Stillwater for a walk by the river and Ice Cream!  Not only did he have a blast.... but so did Hannah and Adam... plus they got to experience Benjamin without the influence of his brother.  It is always so nice to spend time with them one on one... Hannah reported that Ben insisted on holding either her hand or Adam's the whole day!  

So as we look forward to becoming godparents ourselves we hope to bring love, support and guidance not only to our little god baby but also to his/hers parents.  We hope that we can be positive adult role models.... we aren't perfect people but we do work hard, love lots and experience life!  And hopefully God will help guide us with the rest:)

Allison 3 Months

3 months has flown by in the blink of an eye! This little peanut continues to grow and change and learn and grow!

 We haven't had this little peanut weighed but my guess is about 11 pounds!

She is in 3 month clothing and Size 1 diapers

Personality: She cracks herself up often!  She has all these facial expresions that crack us up! Most of the time she is happy and go with the flow.... just don't try and give her a pacifier!  She is awake and alert alot during the day. If she is crabby it is because she is tired or hungry!  Loud noises from her brothers don't bother her at all... but if the doorbell rings, the dog barks or something crashes down.... she gets a sad little face and cries!  Allie and Daddy are bonding and creating their own special little traditions. 

This is her Kiss Face!!!  If you say "Allie can mama have kisses" she opens her mouth just like this... she does this for daddy too!  It is amazing what a 3 month old is capable of learning and understanding. 

Getting less content to just hang out in her carseat, she wants to be out looking around or kicking around playing with toys!

Eating: She is a good, fast little eater but she does not like bottles.  This month we took a 2 week break from even trying because it was becoming a battle of the wills!  So the other night daddy was actually able to feed her 2 ounces without much of a fight... lets hope this is a turning point beacuse mommy is headed back to work this week! She usually eats every 3 hours during the day, every 2 hours in the evening and then gives us a 6-8-10 hour stretch at night. 

Sleeping: Allison continues to take at least 2 naps a day in her crib and a few in her car seat depending on what we have going on for the day! She easily transitioned to sleeping in her big girl crib. Bedtime is usually about 8pm, usually she is up between 4-6 am at some point for a feeding and then usually wakes up for the day around 7 or 8am for the day.  Sleeping through the night is always a hard thing for me... truly sleeping through the night to me means 11-12 hours... hopefully soon!  She did scare me one night when she slept from 730 pm to 745 am... yikes(she was fighting off a cold).

Allison LOVES to lay on the floor and kick around.  She is getting strong and pushing up on her arms during tummy time! She also loves to watch mobiles, listen to music and watches her brothers no matter how loud they are!

This is her beautiful new afgan from her Great Aunt Mary.  I love that she makes these for my kids... I have one from when I was a kid too!

Love Love Loves the bath tub! Getting good at splashing water all over the bathroom.

The little things: 

* This has been the month of the blow out diapers and changing clothes at least twice a day.

* She was a flower girl in Stephen and Christine's Wedding

* She smiles often

* loves to "talk" and says ahhhgooo

* loves to sit in the Bumbo chair and look around

* still likes to take a swing ride around 6pm

* Is starting to drool!

* smiles and talks to balloons that are tied to her ankle

* Is getting really blonde hair!

* Holds onto her plastic chewable keys... is starting to bring them to her mouth too!

* so close to rolling over... but hasn't quite done it

Bumbo sitting is her new favorite pass time!  I illegally put her on the counter so that she can watch me cook, pack lunches or just watch the chaos of our house!

Allison is a big fan of walks in her Bjorn! She loves to look around and often falls asleep like this!

This was at the Children's Heart Clinic!  Benjamin has a bicuspid aortic valve so Dr. Baker wanted to make sure that Allison was ok (it can be genetic), but she has a heart that is 100% normal and healthy!  Thank goodness!

She is getting good at Ahhh Goo and often has conversations with her funny looking bumble bee!

The Thumb... She found it this month!  She often sucks on her fist when she is falling asleep in her crib too... occasionally will tolerate a pacifier if mom holds it... however its not her favorite!

Our little pumpkin!

The morning of the wedding!

Flower girl!