Daddy's little helpers...

After the first freeze a couple of weeks ago, we decided it was time to change out the summer flowers for some winter annuals....

Owen was so excited and wanted to be a part of everything...

I think digging was his favorite part....

 Ava Kate didn't care much about the flowers...

She was more concerned with the hay bale and re-arranging the pumpkins....

It was a little chilly out so us girls went inside and left the boys to the yard work!  I didn't get a picture of all their work, but they did a great job!

Pumpkins....

Both kids really enjoyed carving pumpkins this year.  Ava Kate jumped right in to help clean out the "guts"....Owen, on the other hand, took a little while to warm up to the idea of touching the gooey stuff!

playing the drums again....

After a little coaxing, Owen decided to get in on the action...with the help of a few tools!

 Owen looked through some pictures on the internet and decided on a Superman and a scary face pumpkin.  We had originally planned to let Miss Ava Kate paint a pumpkin, but she had so much fun with the "cleaning" process that she was ready for a bath and bed!

Owen was so excited about lighting the pumpkins.  He put the candle in and sat back and waited for Josh to light them.  He was jumping up and down saying "look, look"....it's the little things (that I hope we will alway remember)!!

Our two works of art all lit up...

Pumpkin Patch.....

Our annual pumpkin patch adventure....

The first stop.....Ranalli Farms

Thanks to Beema, we got a few family pics where we were all kinda looking at the camera!  Keeping both kids happy and looking at the camera is quite the chore...

Owen loved climbing on all the hay bales and re-arranging the pumpkins...

Ava Kate checking out some pumpkins her size...

pulling Little Miss around the pumpkin patch.... (since she still thinks she should be carried rather than walk)

Ava Kate quickly realized that her brother was a crazy driver and that she needed to hold on tight!!

Owen loved stacking and organizing the pumpkins...and Ava Kate loved watching his every move!

fun with daddy while Owen finalized his pumpkin selections....

love, love love this pic...

After the Ranalli Farms, we headed to the pumpkin patch at Dickey Farms.  This was our 4th annual trip to Dickey Farms but definitely the funniest for Owen thus far.

Ava Kate taking part in the pumpkin patch action.  She really liked to pat the pumpkins like they were drums...she thought it was hilarious!

Owen's favorite part was cutting all the pumpkins from the vine.  I think that's why he picked out 15+ "good" pumpkins this year.  He kept saying "Hey guys, look, I found a good one" or "Hey, I found a really good one over here...come look"!

Owen hauling ALL the pumpkins...with a little help from daddy!

And a trip to the pumpkin patch wouldn't be complete without some fun on a tractor....

Owen, of course, was trying to figure out how everything worked and Ava Kate was content to just seat and watch...

Weighing in the final three plus Ava Kate's tiny pumpkin. Owen was quite the helper and wanted to be apart of putting each pumpkin on the scale...

2011 Family Pic....

2012 Family Pic..

On the move...

Ava Kate decided to show off some of her walking skills last night while we were at Beema and Papa Joe's...

She started taking a few independent steps about a month ago, but then decided that she only wanted to walk if you were holding BOTH of her hands!  Last weekend she wanted to walk, and walk, and walk, and walk with just one hand held.  I guess all the laps around the kitchen were just training for her walking exhibition last night!  She was sooooo proud of herself and loved when everyone cheered!  

Buddy Walk 2012

The Buddy Walk, a walk to raise awareness about Down Syndrome, was on October 6th.  

We always attend this walk as a family, but this was Ava Kate's 1st experience.  She really enjoyed visiting with all girls!  

Lily and Ava Kate in deep conversation....so cute!!

A cold front came in that morning, so we were all freezing.  We tired to bundle up, but we weren't quite prepared with all our winter gear yet.  

me and Miss Isabella...

The walk kicked off around 10:30 and the rain/hail started about 10:35!!  

Owen was excited to use his own "Cars" umbrella...

Miss Ansley....

staying out of the rain....

My buddy Blake sporting his medal...

The weather didn't stop the fun....the walk and games continued with lots of excited kiddos!

family pic....

Ava Kate and Ansley snuggled up and enjoying all the attention from the TEAM girls!

Toddler Room...

Ava Kate moved to the Toddler Room at daycare on October 1st!  I was a little sad about this transition (more than I was with Owen) because it meant she was growing up and no longer our "baby" girl.  We tend to keep her in the "baby" category since she's not walking, way more cautious than Owen ever was, and prefers to be carried at all times (maybe a little spoiled).  Either way...our baby girl has moved to the BIG Girl Room!!

Here are a few pics of her first official day...

She had been spending a few hours each day in the toddler room prior to the BIG transition....so she was excited and didn't mind us leaving at all!

She loves playing on all the big kid toys.  Her teachers, Ms. Heather and Mrs. Kirsten, say that she loves climbing up these stairs to poke her head out of the window and yell/jabber at all the other kids!  Apparently she likes to be the center of attention!

One of the biggest transitions with the Toddler Room is nap time.  They go from sleeping in a crib to sleeping on a cot and from two naps a day to one!  I remember thinking " There's no way my kid will go to sleep and stay asleep on a cot" when Owen moved to this class and I thought the same thing with Miss Ava Kate....but I was wrong again!  I think she's just soooo tired with the transition to 1 nap a day, that she would sleep anywhere!  

Ava Kate is doing well in the big girl room and absolutely loves getting to go outside on the playground.  She plays hard all day and loves watching/demanding the attention of all her new friends!