Fishing

Oct 2
One Sunday afternoon, we took the kids out to Judy's pond for some fishing.  It had been quite a while since we had gone, so the kids were thrilled!  Nora and Ethan caught a ton of little blue gill.  Judy walked Atley around the whole pond to keep her entertained!  It was such a fun evening!

Atley Jane's 2nd Birthday

September 30 was Atley's 2nd birthday!  She is such a joy!  I love watching her learn things and try new words!  She is talking more and more everyday.  She weighs about 24 lbs.  She sleeps 12+ hours a night (usually).  She loves cheese, yogurt, and most fruits and veggies.  She doesn't love meat, but will eat some.  We call her our little vegetarian (and cheese-etarian).  She loves to be around the big kids and adores her big brother!  She can peddle a tricycle like a pro, loves picking up acorns and 'walmuts' outside and trying to hula hoop.  She pretty much wants to do everything her big sister does!  She talks all the time at home, but not always "on command" around people she doesn't know.  She has the best facial expressions I've ever seen!  And she makes us laugh daily.  She loves TV (not that that's a great thing), if it's on, she's captivated.  Bubble Guppies and Paw Patrol are her favorites.
Here are some pictures from her birthday!

Last sleep as a 1 year old!

She found some presents under her bed

And like the packing material the best!

Ethan, Atley & Nora

Excitedly waiting for a donut 

Birthday donut!

She got a pretend makeup kit and loves to put on the lipstick!

We went out for Mexican and she got the birthday treatment complete with fried ice cream!

Happy Birthday Atley!  We love you so so much!

Atley's 2nd Birthday Party

We celebrated Atley's birthday in Salem on Sept 17 with lots of family and Bubble Guppies :)!  We all had a great time and Atley was well celebrated!!

Pre party Bubble Guppy coloring pages

Nora pinning the tail on Molly

Atley's turn

She got a little help :)

Ready to blow out 2 candles

Cake!

Scout, Atley, Finley, Ethan, Nora- enjoying some snacks

Present time!

She love the tissue paper more than the gifts, I think.

Except for this purse from Finley!  She loved this :).

Atley takes on the piñata.  She's got a good swing for 2 years old!

Nice swing, Ethan!  Wrong way!

Nora's turn!

Candy!!

Atley (with her purse on), Ethan and Nora

Cousins are the best!
Caleb, Grant, Finley, Atley, Ethan, Nora, Scout, Haley, Katie

School Days

Part of what I love about Nora's school is how involved parents are.  We are scheduled to help out in the classroom monthly and I really get to know the other students and parents.  Sept. 16 was my first day in her classroom.

Counting with "apple seeds"

Classroom selfie

Trying to balance during recess time

Singing songs before it's time to go

Sept. 27
I spent most of the day at Ethan's school helping out with the 2nd grade Johnny Appleseed day.  I cut dozens of apple slices for an apple taste test.  It was a lot of fun to spend the day at his school.  And I even got to take him out to lunch, just the 2 of us!

Apple taste testing

Look at that smile :)

Subway lunch date!

Sept 29
Ethan's class took a field trip to the apple orchard (the same one Nora's class went to).  I wasn't able to go, but a friend sent me this picture :).

Field Trip with Nora

Sept 15
Nora's class went to a local apple orchard last month and Atley & I tagged along.  It was a lot of fun.  The kids learned all about how apples grow, how they pick them and wash them and also how apple cider is made.  We each got to pick 4 apples to bring home and have some delicious cider and donuts!

Nora's class

Picking the apples

My girls and I!

Watching them wash the apples

Enjoying her apple treats with Callynn and Mackenzie 

Atley got some too!

Prisoner Nora

Sweet Atley girl

Some Randoms

This spring, Ethan planted some vegetable seeds.  Only 2 were big enough to transplant outside, the pepper and tomato.  After a couple days, we thought they had both died only to see a little tomato sprout a week or so later.  Fast forward through the summer, we had tomatoes!
Sept. 11

So proud of these tomatoes! (But wouldn't even taste them)

Sept. 14
I snapped this picture while we were leaving one of Ethan's football games.

Not a care in the world for Miss Atley Jane :)

Sept. 21

I worked in the concession stand after Ethan's game one day.  This is what I saw when I looked out the window as we were cleaning up :).

Waiting on mommy

 Sept. 22
Atley told me she needed to potty, and she did!  (Just a one time thing so far)

Big girl!

Sept. 22

Ethan started Cub Scouts this year and was so excited when he got his uniform!

Ready for his meeting

Sept. 25

Atley had been too quiet for too long...this is what I found.  She had gotten into my nail polish!

"Me paintin!"

Sept. 25
First cool day at the bus stop for these kiddos!