Summing Up...

So the last few months have been, as usual, busy.  I hadn't realized my posts had tapered off that seriously.  In order to keep caught up in time for Christmas posts next week, here's a quick tour of our fall.

October brought a visit from Scott's folks.  The boys love when their grandparents come.  We decided to take Grandpa to "the Tank Place", aka Cantigny.  For anyone who loves history, beautiful gardens, or needs a free place to take their kids to climb around, this is the place!

 Time to the see the tanks!

 Even the war museum is hands on.

 Luke got to meet a Civil War soldier.

 And see some of the guns they would have used.  Luke thought maybe he'd get to take one home.  He had to settle for a plastic one from the gift shop.

We loved having Grandma and Grandpa spend the weekend with us.

The following weekend was my birthday.  

We started the weekend off with a trip to County Line Orchard on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

 The boys LOVED the tractor rides to the different fields.

 They each picked a pumpkin

 And quickly filled up a big bag with apples right off the tree.

We finished with a ride on the Moo Moo Choo Choo.

 Scott wasn't completely sold on joining the boys on the trip but the boys had a blast.

Sunday we celebrated 7 years of marriage with Chinese Food.

Then Monday my boys started my birthday with breakfast in bed.  Then Scott sent me off to the movies with Katrina.  When I got home....

 This is what was waiting for me.

 "Welcome to our restaurant!"

I didn't think Scott knew we had china!

We had a great dinner, grilled salmon.  The boys asked me to dance to the dinner music.  And Scott got me Wicked tickets, which we will be using January 2nd!  It was the best way to turn 30.  They made me feel like a queen.

We ended October with GLOW.  Now, I want to clarify that I am NOT recycling last year's pictures, our boys just decided to wear the exact same costumes, and since Ben didn't grow much, they both fit into them.

 The Friday before Trinity had "superhero day".  Scott had dressed as "Global Guardian" so I surprised him with two sidekicks, "Longitude and Latitude".  

We move right along to Thanksgiving.  Luke had a very nice brunch at preschool.  He got to dress as a pilgrim.  Scott was testifying at court that day so Luke got dressed up again to show Daddy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We headed to St. Charles for a wonderful weekend of turkey and hanging out with family.

Luke and baby Lydia

And now we're baking cookies, wrapping presents, practicing Christmas songs, and counting down the days till CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Birthdays, Baseball, and Brothers

We've had a busy few weeks.

Luke ended his first day of school with a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Playing Daddy in air hockey.

Ha ha!  Score!

Ben's favorite...a fishing game.

Whack a Shark!

Luke's party guests.

Katrina, Luke, Tiffany, Ben, and Emily

We had a great afternoon.

On Luke's birthday he got to spend the whole afternoon with Uncle Ben and Aunt Christina who came to visit for his birthday.

Trip to the "river".

The Ben-s!

Third baseball birthday cake for the third year in the row.

Luke's gift from Mommy and Daddy...a fish tank. 

We started with two...the spotted one didn't make it.  We now have 3.  

Dora, Diego, and Jaguar.

We spent Labor Day Weekend in Germantown.

The boys had a great weekend with Grandma, Grandpa and many Aunts and Uncles.

Luke got a new Albert poster from Uncle Nate...it should fit on his wall.  We'll see...

Sunday after church we sat down to a lasagna lunch and then packed up for the BEACH!

We were soooooo excited to spend the day at the beach with the family...

Ben could hardly contain his excitement.  He slept the whole way there.

Luke got to go fishing with Daddy and Grandpa and caught a tree!

Ben spent his time trying to catch seagulls, making sand castles with Aunt Lydia, and running away from the water with Uncle Josh.  He had a blast at the beach.

And Luke braved the FREEZING cold water.

The whole day was fun although a bit chilly.

Then on Labor Day Luke went with Daddy to a Brewer/Cardinals game courtesy of Uncle Chad and Aunt Erin.  

Luke even took a few pictures himself.

When he wasn't snapping pictures he sat in front of Scott and intently watched the baseball action.

He got to see a Cardinal victory.

And it wiped him out.

Ben and I took Aunt Lydia to Monkey Joe's so Ben wouldn't feel too bad that Dad and Luke went to the game without him.  He jumped and bounced everywhere.  It was lots of fun.

Now we're into full school mode.  Sunday School has begun so it's the time of year when our little family spends our weekends at home and we have to entertain ourselves.

Like last night when the boys got into a tickle fight.

Daddy won, as usual.