Family Pictures

We decided to make a trip back to Kansas City and get our pictures taken at the same park that we took our first family pictures in 2.5 years ago. It was stressful. Elliott was being his usual crazy self and couldn't sit still. When he was sitting still he gave his cheesy, eyes closed smile. Claire just wanted to eat goldfish the whole time and we couldn't get her to look at the camera. It was like trying to grab hold of two squealing pigs all while Mark and I looked at the camera and smiled like everything was normal. Nikki somehow managed to capture some amazing photos amidst the madness!  

Halloween

Elliott was super excited to be a ninja turtle this year...even though he's never really watched the show. We picked out his costume online (yes, I do about 97% of my shopping online now) and the ninja turtle costume caught his eye right away! We threw Claire's costume together last minute. Surprisingly she sat very still when we drew her cat face on. Elliott did some trick-or-treating in the neighborhood with two of his neighbor friends, and he got mad because he couldn't keep up with the two older girls racing from house to house.

Sorry this post is so late. I figured it's about time to post October happenings now that it's the first week of December. Where did this year go?!?

Claire - 15 Months

Claire is growing up into a little girl right before our eyes. Her hair is getting long. She's talking more and more. She LOVES to color...and maybe eat the crayons, too. She fights with her brother. And her smile is so infectious. She's going to get her way a lot because she can be screaming at the top of her lungs wanting another cookie, but then she flashes that gorgeous smile...ugh, that smile!

She is finally sleeping through the night again, although now she thinks she wants to be up at the crack of dawn. She's going to be a go-getter!

September Randoms

Could my kids seriously get any goofier!?

Having fun on the new swing set.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

This whole utensil thing is hard work.

Claire - 14 Months

Claire - 14 Months 

The whole "toddler" thing doesn't suit Claire very well. She was a really good baby, aside from the massive amounts of spit-up. But now she’s walking, sort of talking, and knows exactly what she wants and when she wants it. She would spend the entire day outside if we let her, but don’t try and constrain her to a stroller…she’ll last about 10 minutes. She’s starting to say a few words including Mommy, Daddy, puppy, and Elliott. Yes, she actually says Elliott. It’s so cute! She’s starting to get a little shy and will bury her head in my shoulder when someone tries to talk to her. Her gorgeous smile makes me forget (sort of) about the fact that she still wants to get up in the middle of night a couple times a week. 

This pretty much sums up Claire's stubbornness 

But seriously, who can resist this little girl...

and her gorgeous smile!

Fun On Campus

We've been wanting to take the kids to the Iowa State campus and what better day than the day of the big Cyclone - Hawkeye football game! The weather was absolutely gorgeous and it was so much fun to be back in Ames on game day. The kids were troopers despite the extra 40 minutes it took to get to Ames because of an accident on I35. We dressed up in our Cyclone garb and got some pretty great pictures. 

Disclaimer...this is not brainwash. Our kids will have the freedom to choose any school they want. We just won't pay for it if the check doesn't say Iowa State University.  

A Toddler's View of the Refugee Crisis

I was reading the Wall Street Journal this morning when Elliott woke up and joined me for breakfast. He pointed to the picture on the front page and asked who the people in the picture were. The conversation that followed was something I had to share. I am titling this one “A Toddler’s View of the Refugee Crisis.”

Elliott – Who are those people, Mom? (pointing to the Hungarian guards)

Me – They are guards. They are making sure that those people on the other side of the fence don’t come over.

Elliott – Why?

Mom – The people over here live in Syria and there has been a very long war going on in their country. There is a lot of fighting so they want to leave and go somewhere else. They want to find a safe place. But the people over here live in Hungary and they don’t want them to come over.

Elliott – Well they should just let them come over.

Mom – It’s not that easy. I wish it were. But it’s not.

Elliott – Oh.

We ended the conversation and I didn’t really think much about it. I didn’t even expect him to comprehend it. Later this morning when we were driving in the car he saw the picture again because I had the WSJ sitting on the floor of the car.

Elliott – Hey Mom, if those people go over to Hungary will they make them fight, too?

Mom – No, honey. That’s why they want to go to Hungary. So they don’t have to fight.

Elliott – Oh. But that picture isn’t even real is it Mom? It’s just a fake picture?

Mom – I wish it weren’t real. But it is. Those are real people.

Elliott – But we can’t see them. Or hear them.

Mom – You are right. They live far far away. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real.