Our Busy Life

Olivia started 2nd grade this year! How fast it goes. She is loving her teacher and has many of her friends in her class as well - she is doing great! Next year Ethan will join her on the bus for kindergarten, but not just yet! He is back at the same preschool this year three mornings per week. There are many new kids in his class and he is making so many friends!

The preschool tradition of "run down the hill". On beautiful days like this it is a great thing. However, on cold winter days when the kids are begging to run down the hill, it is not such a great tradition!

Our kitten Rogue was spayed and front declawed. Because she would not leave her stitches alone, she had to wear the "cone of shame" for 2 weeks. It made for a good laugh every time you would see her!

Ethan started soccer this year on Friday nights. At first he was not a fan, but after his first game he suddenly loved the game. He especially enjoyed protecting the goal as either a goalie or fullback. Although his team did not win any of their games, he thought that they won every game since he was given a snack after each game and he figured that only the winning team would receive a snack.

Ethan is #2.

I don't know why they have on the boots, but cute pictures of the kids on their scooters!

We went to the Labor Day Cardinals game and sat right behind home plate - perfect for keeping the kids interested in the plays.

Ethan at McDonald's with his good friend Jack. They played for over two hours in this playland!

On a recent day off of school, I took the kids and their friends Jack and Ava to the Decatur Children's Museum and Scoville Zoo. The bubble room is always a hit with kids.

Hand and face imprints.

Ava and Olivia painting on "walls".

Rubberband name fun.

On to the zoo - the kids loved feeding the goats. It was not easy to convince them to leave this area!

Like I said...they loved the goats!

Olivia's turn with soccer - this is her third season playing and the improvement in her play is amazing! Before she would run up and down the field on the outskirts, not really going after the ball. Now she is on an all girl's team, and it seems that her confidence in her ability has increased. She will now play strategies and attack the ball. Joe loves that she has #23 since that number was very popular for all kid athletes when we were growing up!

Olivia being directed by her coach on throwing in the ball.

Olivia kicking the ball (right at me it appears!).

Ethan's preschool went on a field trip to the Apple Barn in Chatham. Here are all of the kids learning about apples and pumpkins. (Ethan is in the front row in the light blue shirt).

Ethan and his good friend Braddock.

After going to the Apple Barn (where kids are - heaven forbid - not allowed to touch the apples) we have to take the kids to Broom's Orchard in Carlinville to show them what a real orchard should be - one that you can actually pick your own apples. That is how memories are made! Here is Olivia with her golden delicious picks.

And Ethan loving the Jonathan's.

And Joe in the tree, like every year.

We filled two bags, and I know that they would have picked more but I didn't think we could eat them fast enough! But, we each managed to eat 3 apples while in the field in addition to our take home bounty!

The kids of course had to ride the ponies as well.

Aunt Rachel is pregnant with twins! A girl and a boy due in March 2012. Yay! Olivia is also making a "big belly" but Ethan wanted to be a monster instead.

Last weekend we took a trip to the St. Louis zoo with grandma and grandpa. Look out Ethan - there is a hippo behind you!

Olivia and Ethan with their favorite snake statue.

This is the reason why we went to the zoo - to see the baby elephant. Kenzi is 13 weeks old and weighs 300#. She was such a cute elephant, and it was fun to watch how protective the older elephants are of her.

Feeding time in the penguin house. You can see Olivia taking a picture as well - she has become quite the photographer lately!

All Aboard - Choo Choo! That is what the kids were able to say on the intercom at each stop on the zoo train since they sat in the very last row with grandma (in front of the conductor).

Ethan picked "Snakey" as his zoo souvenir, and wanted a picture with this snake as well.