November...LOTS of pictures!

So apparently I was in a picture-taking mood this month because when I looked back, I took lots.  I also started (finally) playing with Photoshop which Chris gave me LAST year for Christmas.  So before this Christmas, I figured I should learn a few things.  I have barely scratched the surface of all Photoshop has to offer and I have a lot to learn, but it was fun to start editing some pictures. 

I headed to the Baumgartners one Sunday afternoon to pick Maddie up after playing and decided to get some pictures of the kids with the last little bit of Fall color left on the trees.  They have a great big yard with pretty views so it was a nice setting.  The kids were less than interested in pictures and preferred to just climb on the rocks, but I managed to get some good shots.  Emersyn is wearing my favorite combo - her "jeggings" (denim leggings) and boots! 

These pictures are not edited.

These are the edited pictures

Mid-month we headed up to PA for my Nana's birthday and the Penn State vs. Nebraska game.  My Aunt Lorraine got us tickets, so Chris and I enjoyed a kid-free day with Lorraine and Jeff tailgating in the RV, while the girls kept my aunts Patti and Marie on their toes at my Nana's house.  They had a very busy day raking leaves, sliding down the big hill out back on trash bags, and playing with cousin Aiden.  Maddie cried when we left saying she wished she lived at Great Nana's house.  When I asked her why she said, "because I love the couch!"  Oh, it's the small things.  I hardly took any pictures, but I did get one of the great-grandkids with Great Nana on her birthday.

Bonus:  Nebraska beat Penn State so Chris was happy!



Touchdown!

Some fun in the backyard on another nice November day.  It cracked me up because both girls' outfits matched the playset they were playing on! 

The weekend before Thanksgiving we headed to Lake Anna and stayed at Dre's parents' lake house.  We did this the same weekend about 4 years ago and it was just 4 kids Marissa, Kaitlyn, Madeline, and Livia.  This time we had all 9 kids Marissa (7), Kaitlyn (5), Madeline (5), Livia (4), Siyeh and Austin (almost 2), Weston (20 months), Emersyn (17 months), and Landon (6 months)!  The kids are so good together.  There was no fighting and other than keeping the toddlers from injuring themselves and arguing with the big kids about having their 5th cookie before dinner :) all went smoothly!  We missed Paul B. who couldn't be there.  Props to Michelle for braving it solo.  But like we all say..."it takes a village"...so we all tried to help out.  Thanks again Marcoulliers/Reeds for letting us enjoy your slice of paradise!

And finally, Thanksgiving weekend.  Mary (Grandma), Samie, and I headed to a local winery the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  It was so warm and we had a good time hanging out.  The girls and I were dressed and ready for VirginiaTech to once again beat UVA that afternoon!

If we put the above picture in Em's future application to UVA, surely they would admit her right?!

 Littlest Hokie fan, already trained to watch the game seriously!

   

October Fun!

So I have not been as on top of posting, so I may as well just group all these together into one post for the month of October.  It was an interesting weather month with very warm days and as seen here, even SNOW!  Yes, the weekend before Halloween it snowed enough to stick to the green grass.  Then it warmed up a bit for trick-or-treating thank goodness.  The Baumgartners followed tradition and came to our neighborhood for the parade and trick-or-treating.  Geordie, Mary, and Andie came and held down the fort and handed out candy.  The kids were adorable, very well-behaved, and in bed before 8pm since it was a school night.  Impressive.  Earlier in the month Mary and I took the 3 cousins for portraits in their costumes.  Emmie wore Maddie's pink leopard costume and we lucked out and borrowed a matching costume for Maddie in her size.  Had to have them match while I can still get away with it!  And baby Andie had the cutest little cat costume as well.  We got some great shots, all three were very cooperative.

Some casual shots out of costume too!

Emersyn has discovered the piano and loves to sit up on the bench like a big girl.  She has become quite the ham, breaking out in a cheesy grin when the camera comes out.

 Serious face...

Sporting her Nebraska sweatsuit for game day. Which I might add is size 6-12 months and was a Christmas gift last year and still fits! 

We spent a beautiful Fall afternoon at a local pumpkin patch for some fun and pumpkin picking.  Apparently, Maddie didn't stop moving long enough for me to get a picture of her!

Here are pictures of the snow and a video of Emersyn in her gear.  She wore the winter coat, snow pants, and boots that were Maddie's at her age for the first time and they are so big on her, she had trouble moving. 

 I love the orange leaves against the white snow. 

We carved our pumpkin the next day and it still had snow on it. Unfortunately, Maddie was sick so Chris had to take over carving duties.

Halloween Night!

Weston and "Onnie" (as We-Jo calls her) have become quite the little buddies.  Michelle and I are always amazed at how much they interact for their ages.  Chris caught them walking hand in hand before the parade.  Would an arranged marriage be possible for these two? :)

Dance Party!

Oh my, should we be worried?  Maddie did a Musical Theater dance camp this summer.  Sounds benign right?  Wholesome, nothing inappropriate for a 5 year-old to pick up.  BUT, in the room next door at the dance studio was a Hip Hop dance camp with some older girls/boys.  She clearly picked up a few of their moves as this video shows.  When I asked her where she learned the moves (specifically the chest pump, body roll), she said at hip hop camp!  There is no denying this girl likes to break it down.  Anyone who has been following this blog knows that.  And of course now, little sister Emmie is joining in the dance parties now that she can walk.  Her latest move is a squat with a little twist.  All joking aside, we do have so much fun rockin' out to Kidz Bop.  Emersyn's favorite is the Kidz Bop version of Britney Spears' Till the World Ends and she will walk around with her hands up and say, "oh oh oh uh uh uh" like the song.  This particular night, we just had to get out the camera.  And I could not contain my laughter as you'll hear.  Oh, how I love my girls!