Time to Move in Together?

We mentioned a few weeks ago about a bunk bed for the girls, and since then Natalie has been super gung-ho on thinking about sleeping in the same room with her sister. Since Nicole is still in a crib, it would be a little while before she would even be over into a toddler bed, much less would we try a regular bed. So, now the questions as to when to move them together would happen. Natalie is moving her sleeping bag into Nicole's room during nap time to nap together. How sweet it is! I know my sister would have hated to share a room with me--Natalie is actually pushing for it! Maybe we would just change Natalie to a twin bed and put the toddler bed in there to see what would happen. Hopefully, the enthusiasm wouldn't run out after a couple of weeks.

Rainy Day Cookie Day

We'll see if blogger recognizes this post as it hasn't the past 3! Here's Bam-Bam as she has enough hair to get into one ponytail but doesn't have the patience to have two yet. We made cookies today as it was very rainy and we needed to do something fun!

We made a lot of mess...Natalie loved playing in the flour. I should have refrigerated the dough but didn't hae enough time. The cookies turned out really tasty though, if messy!

Nicole cried and she did get a cookie. Natalie would never have been allowed that much sugar at her age, but I guess you let the 2nd one have more! She didn't eat all of it anyway!

The decorated pumpkins!

Cakes, Water, Leaves, and the Elephant Jungle

Kind of a big conglomeration of all the activities the past week! Mimi and Poppa came and we celebrated Poppa's birthday (a little late) but had a great time celebrating! Natalie helped Poppa blow out the candles!
We then tried to determine why our dishwasher is leaking the way it is...it is spraying out the vent. This was a way to watch the dishwasher work without the door. The kids had a blast watching it, and I hope we can fix it! That was the un-fun part of the weekend!

We then went to soccer game (they are almost over, I can't believe it!). Grandma & Grandpa then took us to the elephant jungle (the zoo). Natalie loved it, but so did Nicole (her first trip there). During the summer we went without Nicole because of her nap schedule, but this time she enjoyed coming too.

I think her favorite was the elephant. She loves to hold the little Fisher Price toy now and try to make elephant sounds (or make Mommy make ones!).

Grandpa, Natalie, Woody, Nicole, and me at the giraffes!

Grandma showing the girls the exhibits.

Oh, no! Are they going to let them out of the zoo or not???

We then went last night to a scavenger hunt with our church. We were hunting leaves for the younger kids. Here are the two flowers!

Me and the sweeties!

The girls in the gazebo where I have pictures from Natalie when she was 6 months old.

A great week and weekend!

Picnic

After what seemed like a week of rain, we took the opportunity Monday to go outside after picking Natalie up from school and do an impromptu picnic. It was a lot of fun and great to see the sunshine!

Playing frisbee, ball, and hide and seek were the main sources of fun for Natalie. Nicole just liked being out of her seat for a meal. She was constantly on the go!

Mischevious

Nicole has been fast and mischevious lately! She has managed to dump out a whole cannister of oatmeal and a whole box of pasta on the floor while I am trying to prepare dinner. She also tries to do little acts like stand on top of the rocking horse instead of sitting, getting behind the furniture to tinker with electrical cords, pulling the items off the table after it is set, and generally leave the house like a tornado has gone through. Ahh, she is definitely a true toddler now!! It will take a lot of grace to get through!

Natalie Sayings

Lately, I have noticed myself laughing quite a bit at things that Natalie says. She has such an imagination! And, she does enjoy talking too.

Driving down the road with my parents and Nicole, Natalie announces, "Listen everyone, I have something to say. I am from the elephant jungle." Don't know quite where that one came from, but she also has started stories with, "Remember when I was in the elephant jungle..." I guess she likes elephants and jungles!

We were playing outside and Natalie had her wheelbarrow like a shopping cart. She was putting dirt and leaves in the wheelbarrow. I asked her why she didn't put in some pinecones. She replied quickly, "I can't put any in because they are not on sale." Oh, well, I know where that came from! I guess I have tried to be quite the bargain shopper at the grocery!

I know there are more but I will have to post later when I remember the stories...

Nicole is also trying to talk. She is making sounds to mimic words we say. It won't be long before she gives us some stories!

Apple Farm 2009

Wow, the 3rd year at the apple farm! The first year was Woody, Natalie, Mimi, Poppa, and me. Natalie was small but still had a great time. The next year was Grandma, Grandpa, and Natalie with Natalie's schoolmates. We were not able to go because Nicole was so small and Woody was working. But, those pictures were great and she had a blast. She was excited to go back this year and she enjoyed riding the bus there. We were blessed that the rain held off (we weren't so sure!). Here she is exiting the bus with her teacher, Mrs. Hodge.
She probably loved the bus about as much as the rest. We went on a hayride first, then they dropped us off in the orchard to pick apples. Nicole and Natalie liked the hayride, and Natalie enjoyed picking apples. There were a good many apples there.

She then picked out her pumpkin. It was a great selection this year!

She then spent most of the time on the playground there. They really enjoyed the innertube bouncing and the tube tunnels the best. Natalie went through the animal farm, but really didn't stay long because of the smell from the animals. I guess she won't be a farmer anytime soon! A nose like her Momma's!

Didn't get the photo I wanted (Nicole wouldn't smile, she wanted a nap!), but they still look sweet.

We'll see how they look next year I guess!

Take a blower, add toilet paper and some stage fright...

Woody, Natalie, and I went to our church's new family worship program Sunday night. Nicole was blissfully in the nursery during this time. Natalie was all excited about them calling families up to the front for different activities. The first one was taking paper shapes and making either a church or a house out of them as a family. She liked this and kept eagerly raising her hand. The leader did not choose us, and the activity ended. Then, we went on to sing and other parts of the service. Then, the leader stated that the ones with a balloon under their chair were selected for a "slightly messy" game. As Woody will blame me for picking out our seats, I think he thinks I chose the chair for him with the balloon under it! We were now up in front of everyone, "competing" against another family for this game. Natalie was initially excited. They then gave us a couple more audience members since it was just the 3 of us. The rules were explained: Woody was given an electric blower with a roll of toilet paper attached to the end. He was to blow the paper off with the blower as fast as possible while the audience helped us gather it to wrap around Natalie. So, he began blowing at the right time. Natalie then held on to my leg like she wanted to disappear into the floor. But, we managed to get her somewhat wrapped with paper until the TP stopped flowing. I wish I had a camera or someone had gotten a few pictures! I know it is a memory I won't forget but Natalie probably will!