November (Most of)

November was one of those crazy months where you just hold on and try to survive.  We did, and actually had a good time doing it.  Mike was given the amazing opportunity of going to Israel for work, so he was gone for 19 long days.  We sure missed him while he was gone, but he got to see and do amazing things (plus, you know, work). 

The weekend before he left we took a trip up to Apple Hill.  It was surprisingly cold, but we enjoyed the scenery, the leaves, and the treats.  

 Our little Cora is quite the fun character.  She sure loves her brother Jens.  He can almost always get a smile from her.

 Happy, funny faces:

 Trying out real food.  Yum!

 Sisters!

 Last soccer game.  Jens's team finally won, and Sylvie scored a goal.  What a great way to end the season!

 I love that she still falls asleep while I hold her.  There is nothing like a sleeping baby to snuggle with.

 We sent Mike lots of pictures while he was gone.

 Sunday presents to occupy small people while parenting alone!

 Selfie for Dad

 Out for a walk/bike ride

 Sylvie is starting to write.  This says "Natalie."  I love how she makes letters into people.

 Cora sits!  We practiced with her a little and now she is a pro.

 More fun with Jens.

 Sharing the feeding responsibilities.

 So cute!

 Cora wakes up so happy.

 She is starting to get pretty wiggly in bed--sometimes she ends up facing different directions, and sometimes she gets herself stuck!

 Matching sisters.

 Keepin' it real by not picking up the floor before taking pictures.

 We kept a chain to count down to Dad's return.  It started out so long that it touched the table.

 The bouncy seat is out, the booster seat is in.  How did that happen so fast?

 Our Thanksgiving poster.  We thought of lots of good things to be grateful for.

 Bath-time baby.  She is very Michelin-esque.

 Sylvie's class put on a Thanksgiving program.  These are a monthly event.  They were pilgrims and indians, in their own costumes.  Sylvie sang very well.

 Rockin' the huge bow.  She can't help being so cute.

 Playing the piano together.

 Beauty Parlor was not such a popular game.

Next installment: going to Florida.  I am hoping to convince Mike to be a guest blogger and put up his Israel pictures soon, before he forgets everything he did!

Last week of October

We tried for family pictures on Sunday.  It was very windy and surprisingly cold out!  A couple of favorites outtakes:

Look at those chubby hands!

Have I ever mentioned that we love Halloween around here?  It really is one of the kids' favorite holidays.  They love decorating, more decorating, re-arranging the decorating, dressing up, pumpkins, and of course, the candy.  That is what we have been doing this week.

 Jens doesn't do so much Halloween inspired art anymore, but Sylvie has stepped up to take his place, so don't worry, we are well ghosted, and jack 'o lanterned.  She made several pictures like this and hung them in various places around the house using grey yarn. (from the stair rails, door knobs, drawer handles, etc.)

 She made faces and wrote the names of her most important people on these pumpkins.  Love it!

 And here is one of her cute, girlie pictures.

 We carved pumpkins on Wednesday night.  I was actually a little worried that we were going to run out of time, but we made it work.  Jens stayed home sick from school Tuesday and Wednesday, so he couldn't go to soccer practice Wednesday night which gave us just enough time to get them done for Halloween.

 Jens carved his own.  Sylvie designed hers and helped carve one of the eyes--I helped with the rest.  Her pumpkin was strangely thick and difficult to carve!

 End product:

 Pretty darn cute!

 Halloween Jens was well enough to go to school for crazy hair day. (phew!) Sylvie had a costume parade, program, and party, which Cora and I attended.  It was fun to see her class in action.  She was very pleased with her costume, which she designed and assembled mostly on her own, with just a few helps and suggestions from me. (She originally wanted to wear short sleeves and have me paint her arms, hands, neck and face pink, which I thought might be a little terrifying looking--we settled for long sleeves, gloves, and a little face paint.)

Cora was a bunny, too.  I think that convinced Sylvie to not be "Barbie," which was her original, NOT approved by Dad choice (although we both think she really meant she wanted to be a princess). 

 We had dinner and trick or treating with friends, after hopping up to El Dorado Hills to visit our friend, Wendie Day.  She made the kids special treat bags and got them some really fun sticker books.

Our little crew:

 Looking scary!!

 The loot!  Cora looks pretty happy with it.

 We got home in time to pass out candy to some big groups of kids including a bunch of people from Jens's class.  Mike and Jens joined their group and went out for another hour of trick or treating while Sylvie, Cora, and I stayed home and passed out candy.  Everyone ate lots of sweets, went to bed ridiculously late, and had a great time.

Happy Halloween!