Happy Halloween!

I brought the kids in this morning for trick-or-treating before taking them to day care.




Here is the family ready to head down our street and back trick-or-treating. I grew up with my mom always dressing up with us, so Matthew and I were dressed as well, myself as a witch and Matthew as a baseball player. I was very excited for trick-or-treating as it was our first time taking Ryane. We walked with our good friends and their little boy Luke, who also live on our street. "Uncle" Chuck also joined us. Off to visit all the neighbors we went. I was surprised to find out it took us a whole hour to trick-or-treat just our 3-block long street.

Here's our little stinker for his First Halloween. He was well rested after sleeping in daddy's arms during most of the trick-or-treating.

Pumpkin Carving

Nothing like getting around to carving your jack-0-lantern the night before Halloween!

Tough

Does this hairdo make Grady look tougher? :)

Pumpkin Painting

Neewollah

We went for our annual trip back to Matthew's hometown for Neewollah - such a fun family tradition. It was at Neewollah last year we announced that Grady would be joining the family. No special announcments this year! We had a good time. Friday was pretty darn cold for the kiddie parade, but Saturday warmed up very nicely to make being outside more pleasant. Here is picture overload of our weekend.

Getting ready for the kiddie parade to start on Friday. Our little princess witch turned her prince brother into a frog.

Ryane standing by her brother after the parade

Such a happy little frog

Watching the Grand Parade on Saturday on Aunt Sarah's lap

Waking up from a nap on Nana's lap to watch the parade

Taking a turn on mommy's lap

Dancing with Cousin Carson to one of the many bands

Looking down the street watching for the next band to boogie down to

Enjoying the carnival rides and games Saturday night. Had to ride the horse first...

...then the Ze-ba!

Teaching the boys how to drive.

Dancing with Aunt Sarah during the Teri Clark concert.

Playing Duck Pluck game. It took forever to pick them up, the water was running pretty fast.

Family photo time!

Ryane - 2 Year Dr. appt

I took Ryane in for her 2 year appointment yesterday. I know it is a little late, but it was easier to schedule both kids' dr. appointments at the same time.

Weight = 26.5lbs
Height = 34.5inches

In true fashion, Ryane wouldn't talk once we saw the doctor. She wouldn't repeat anything, she wouldn't point to any body parts, and she wouldn't show the doctor she could jump. Dr. Schmid just had to take my word for it I guess. Ryane's hearing also checked out perfect! That just shows me she just ignores me sometimes, it's not that she can't hear me. Wonder when her dad taught her to do that?! :)

Grady - 4 Months Old

Grady turned a big 4 months old on Sunday. He has changed so much over the past month and is doing so many more new things. Grady has become such a little smiley-pants for almost anyone and everyone. He loves to chew and suck on his fingers and hands. He is holding toys and bringing them to his mouth. Grady also lets out giggles now and then as well. Grady's favorite position is to be standing up.

I took Grady for his 4 month Dr. appt. today and he is up to 15 3/4 lbs and is 24 3/4 inches tall. He is the same height Ryane was at that age, but he has her by about 2lbs in weight. The doctor said Grady is developing perfectly. At the end, Grady was given an oral vaccine which he didn't think much of it, at the least the part that stayed in his mouth. Then, he was a stud when it came to getting his cocktail shot (3 vaccines in one). He whimpered a little, but was fine when I picked him up.

Here is his 4 month picture I took tonight. Check out those muscles! Got your tickets for the gun show? :)

Big Boy holding his own bottle.

Working on getting the whole hand in the mouth at once

Eating cereal for the first time last Wednesday

Starting to use the activity jumper mommy's friends at work bought.

Couple pictures taken on Sunday with cousin Gavin who is 2 months younger.

1 photo with 2 kids

Why is getting a photo with both my kids so hard to ask for? Well, let me tell you the main two reasons - I have a 2yr old (that's probably reason enough by itself) and a baby who can't set up on his own yet! While we were at the pumpkin patch, that was one of my main picture goals - to get that cute little fall picture of the kids together with pumpkins. You all know that one I'm talking about that just makes you go "aawwww" or "how cute!" or "that is the cutest thing I've ever seen". Well, it wasn't for trying that we got these little treasures! I'm including my thoughts/conversations at the time.

Me: Ryane, let's get a picture of you and Grady by the Big Pumpkin. You can set here (pointing the ground) and hold Grady.
Ryane: No! (running away with the 'get me outta here' look)


Later, we see a nice pretty little setup for pictures. I got Ryane all setting on the bench being cute.
Me: Hey Ryane, will you hold Grady so we can take a picture?
Ryane: Nooooooo! (getting down so it's not an option)
Me: Please Ryane? I will give you raisins! (yes I am THAT bribery mom!)
Ryane: Okay

Alright kids, look at daddy for the picture!


Oh Grady, please don't cry!


No Grady, now is not a good time to start arching your back.


Ryane, please look at your dad and try not to squeeze Grady SO hard. :)


Fine, I give up. Obviously, this picture isn't going to happen! Naptime for everyone-including me (I can wish, can't I?).


It's moments like these that I realize Ryane is truly MY child with her stubborn attitude! hee hee :)

Pumpkin Patch

We took our 2nd annual trip out the Roga Pumpkin Patch today. We had Ryane pumped up to pick out a pumpkin on our drive there, she was excited!! We arrived and she turned shy and it took her awhile to warm up to everything. There were kids running around everywhere - busy day at the patch! Grady wanted to run around as well, but we made him stay with us. :) We all had a good time and made it home with a carvable pumpkin and then Ryane picked one out for herself. She was pretty proud of it (seen in the last picture). I think we'll have to set down and paint it together.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the patch today. I have some others that are more blooperish and I'll try to share those throughout the week.

Weekend at the lake

I took the kids this weekend for some Grandma and Grandpa Pollman time! Matthew had to stay in Emporia and work by covering some ESU games with his Athletic Training skills. So, nervously, I loaded up the kids Saturday morning for our first trip out of town without their daddy. It was only an hour drive, but I was fully expecting to have to stop a couple times. We made it there with only 1 stop - yeahhh! We had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa. We took in Yates Center's fall festival as G&G were contestants in the chili contest (sadly, they didn't win). Then, we were off to their lakehouse for "camping". The weather was absolutely perfect for camping, not too hot, not too cold - perfect! Ryane had a good time exploring and seeing what she could get G&G to do for her. Yes, we came home with a few bumps and scraps, but that is what being in nature is all about! Yesterday afternoon, I loaded the kids back up to come home. A few miles out, Ryane was getting fussy so I told her we were going home (thinking it would cheer her up) and she answered in a crying pitiful whine "Noooo, Laaakkke" meaning to go back. Well, 2 seconds later I look back and she is fast asleep from exhaustion. So, I had a peaceful trip home with both kids napping. Honestly, silence is pretty boring! :)

Playing with the pretty fall flowers G&G's good friends and 'lake neighbors' gave to her


Biology lesson of the trip! Grandma saw a walking stick, or whatever they're really called, going up the house. Ryane was pretty reluctant to touch it, but had fun watching it.




Playing with Grandma's Pinwheels - fun to watch in the breeze

One of the MANY golf cart trips. Who can say no to a little cutie asking "Ride pleeeeaaaassee?" It was cute to watch the differences in my mom and dad. Mom would hold onto Ryane tightly on her rides (as seen the pic) and dad would just let her set there by herself and go slow...


Walking with G&G down the path to the lake. The leaves were starting to change colors, so pretty!


We told Ryane she could walk in the water. It was a touch cold in October. Notice Grandpa is not getting in.



Picking up little seashells. She made it home with a pocket full. Now, I just have to remember to empty the pocket before washing them...