November...

In November, we visited the National Dental Museum.  I know, it sounds rather dull however, it was kind of neat!  As you may suspect, we were the only ones in the whole museum which was wonderful. The kids got to brush giant teeth, learn how to eat healthy, learn about the importance of saliva, and the damage drugs can do on your teeth.  It was neat - I think Jeff & I learned stuff as well!

They got to put on white coats and do a check up on me!

November is the big month for leaf clean-up.  This was the final big clean up I believe - just the back yard.   In all, Jeff bagged up about 150 big bags of leaves.  Sadly, since Maddy was so young I wasn't able to help (oh darn).  Abby & Ben did though - they would carry the bags to the front yard which is no small feat for 3 & 5 year olds.  (They weren't light bags either - Jeff wastes no space in there!)

We were fortunate to get to BOP (Bring On Play) in York with Jo-Jo, Carter and a few others this year.  Abby & Ben both really enjoyed the "ice skating" rink they had set up.  

They didn't even mind falling!

Election Day is exhausting - at least for Maddy!  

She LOVES her swing!

And so does Ben!

Abby's school puts together food bags for families in need in the community.  The kids get to help put the bags together.  They had the kids stack the cans of veggies - and notice Maddy sleeping in the background...

They also made Thanksgiving cards for those families.  

Abby had a small "friend" birthday party at a bowling alley. Ben came but Maddy stayed with MaMaw & PaPaw.  (Thanks MaMaw & PaPaw).  

Abby & her girlfriends posing with their duck pin bowling balls.  

Mommy posing with the birthday girl!

She had such a great time!

The whole crew!  Thanks to my friend Carrie for taking the pics of her birthday party!  

Abby & PaPaw celebrating PaPaw's birthday which is the day before Abby's!

Maddy posing with one of her furry cousins - Pudge.  

Abby's family birthday.  So cool that Carter, Bella & Maura, Liam, Seth & Anna were able to be there to celebrate with her!

Can you tell she was just a little bit excited for that gift?

Oh and she got make-up (Thanks Aunt Amy...)   No one was safe from getting painted faces that night.  (In order to protect the child getting his face painted, no names will be mentioned here).

Maddy decorating her first Christmas tree!  

Playing with the manger together. 

Who noticed the flash?  

My girls....

October!!!

The first bites of Food!  (Yum!)   She liked it and didn't even make all that much of a mess!

Abby fed her...

So did Ben....

Dressing up in our playclothes bin.  

We went to the fire station for an open house and the kids got to check out an ambulance and a fire truck.  See the jaws of life and many other things.  

Here the kids are with Sparky the Fire Dog...

Maddy sportin' The Lehman Center wear...

We had SO many leaves again, of course.  The kids really enjoyed playing in them - well Maddy didn't but the other two did.  The noise was a bit much for her I think.  

She much preferred to hang out with Daddy at a safe distance from those evil leaves!

And the swing....she loves her swing. 

We went to the Camp Eder Fall Festival.  We met Tom, Cyndi, Maura & Bella there this year.  

The kids got their faces painted...

And made candles...

Cousins...

Happy 

Halloween!

Our dragon, our butterfly, and our Masquerade Girl

So, a hurricane is coming - a REALLY big one.  So, what is the best thing to do?  Head to Cape May, New Jersey (which is where the hurricane is predicted to make landfall) and climb a light house that is right on the water!  It was windy!

But we made it!  

Then we went to the beach and picked up cool stones.  

Then, we went home and cuddled on the couch - well, some of us did.  

Maddy, enjoying her toys. 

So cute!

Bath time!  And she has bubbles on her nose!

Posing at Abby's school - fun day for all of us!

Costume #2 - a sleepy lion...

September...

So sorry!  The kids have changed so much since September!

So, we needed wall art...

So we had the kids make some!

Viola!  Please place your orders early as supplies (any and all leftover paint from our house) are limited!

Ben's first day of school!  We dropped off Abby first though so we took some sibling pictures on her walk. 

All three of them - happy and smiling!

Here we are!  The first day!

He was not hesitant at all and eagerly found his name!

We made cupcakes though since it is January, I can't remember the occasion!  So terrible!  Either way, the cupcakes were good and Ben, being Ben, loved the icing!  It's on his nose!

Movie Night!  This chair makes Maddy look so small!

Abby & Ben in their seats.  When we are having movie night there is no room for anyone else on the couch!

Doing a craft project at Lowe's.  The kids got to hammer in nails with these great kid - sized hammers. 

and in the end they had....

their very own fire trucks!

 Computers....

....are SO frustrating!

Playing on the playground at school.  

It's Fiesta day!  We had a pinata and everything!  

Abby swung...

Ben swung...

(I love this picture b/c his eyes are closed and it looks like Jeff is running away from him)

In the end, Uncle Danny broke the pinata.  But even Maddy was intrigued by it.