Playdough Adventures

Mommy and McCartney had the best time making playdough.  McCartney picked all the colors and learned how to mix two colors to make the one she wanted.  She's so fun and helpful. 



We have spent hours making different shapes.  Baby Bop, Barney and McCartney are pictured above.

Here's pappy, daddy, mommy, Ellie and McCartney playdough figures.

Halloween!

This is the first year McCartney showed interest in Halloween.  We asked her what she wanted to be, and  she said, "a butterfly!!" She made one cute little butterfly. 

We went to a Halloween party at McCartney's school at which she and her classmates dressed up and sang songs for the parents.  It was her first concert!  Our favorite was "I'm a little pumpkin." 

On Halloween night we went trick-or-treating with the Walters and got lots of candy!  Too much candy.  

At first she wanted to stop and eat her treat at every house, but it didn't take her long to get the knack of it. She learned to run up and say TRICK OR TREAT!, throw the candy in her bag, say THANK YOU and then head to next house.  Mommy and daddy only stole a couple of reeses cups. 

And as always, we took Halloween seriously too.  We went as the Williams sisters. 

Fall Magic

Apple Pickin' and Pumpkin Patchin'!  

We've been having so much fun introducing McCartney to the traditions of Fall.

We had a great time picking apples at Lynd's Fruit Farm in September.  That girl loves a good tractor ride.

In October, we went with our good friends, the Walters, to Leeds Farm. "I wanna feed the goat.  I wanna touch it in my hand"

Another Fall favorite is taking McCartney to the UA football games.  I wish I had some pictures because she looks so cute in her over-sized Golden Bears sweatshirt.  When we ask her what she wants to do on Friday night, she says, "I wanna see chee-eaders (cheerleaders), bears and baseball players (football players) and the band.  Friday night.  With daddy, mommy and Nana." 

Should we start planning the wedding?

We were fortunate to have an impromptu visit from the Trembley family and a playdate with William Grey.  It was so great to see them! 

I will describe McCartney and William's relationship as love-hate.

  

   Look how these two have grown since our last visit...........

Thanks for stopping to see us Jason and Liz!  We miss you!

Weekend in Topeka

We had a fun-filled (and tear-filled) weekend in Topeka when McCartney and I went home to send Emily off to Texas.  Saying goodbye to Emi was sad but we are all very excited for her.  Luckily we have at least 3 visits planned for the 1st of the year.  :-)  Here are some shots from Em's big going away party.


The Peck Family

  



Yee-haw Leo!

McCartney had so much fun in the country.  She had lots of quality time with her family and had a lot of firsts.  She took her first buggy ride with Ervin at Em's going away party.  She held a toad that Niney caught on the way to the park and searched for many toads, frogs and bugs.  She held a bunny at the Faulkner's, which she loved (so hard). 


She petted horses, goats, and visited a chicken coop with Brick and Leo at Norma's.

We had such a good visit and are always sad to leave.  When we pulled into our driveway after the long weekend, McCartney said, "I want to see Niney, Pappy, Cruz, Mango and Sadie."

Summer Highlights

It's been a really fun summer with McCartney!  We love NO SCHOOL!
Summer started with a bang with a trip to St. John with our favorite people:  Niney, Pappy, Emi, Joe, Shawn, Rae, Grayson, and yes, we were clever enough to bring a babysitter, Corrine.  It was such a great trip.

In the end of June, we were lucky to get an impromptu visit from Aunt Bean and Uncle Greg from Colorado, which is so fun and great bonding time for McCartney.  She even asked for "my Goggy" after they left.

In July, Ted and McCartney wrapped up their lake fishing season when we took the boat up to Rob's cabin in NY.  Ted dusted off the wake board and McCartney bonded with Gramps, affectionately known as Cheeemo now.

The 4th of July was a fun marathon day as usual.  We spent time with great friends and stayed up for the fireworks, which McCartney really liked.  "Fireworks in the sky!  Nana, you got fireworks?  Gramps, you got fireworks?  ROOOOOOB!  You got fireworks?"

Em and the boys came to visit when Joe had business in Marysville, OH.  We ate Popsicles and played outside.  We are trying to enjoy our time with them before they move to Texas! 

When Teddy and boys headed up the Michigan for the annual fishing trip in the middle of July Rachel and Kate headed to Ohio with Grayson and Charlie Mae.  The little girls got along so well and it was wonderful to spend some quality time with them.  McCartney was already in love with Grayson and now she also asks for Charlie my baby daily.  Yeah, we were stuck at home while the boys fished, but hey, "with friends like these...." how can you complain?

                                     

It's been a great summer.  Hopefully the last few weeks will continue with our favorite weekly activities:  playing the neighbor kids "my kids", eating junk food with grandma, "jumping" on the trampoline with Austin and Cole and dancing to the country bands at Benny's Pizza. 

 

Has it come to this?

I think this is the progression of priorities in parenthood:  bigger car, bigger camera, and now apparently, a blog.  But who wouldn't want to write about these cheeks?