Pumpkin Patch x 3

My little punkins are loving the fall pumpkin patches.

 Our first trip was to Kansas City Pumpkin Patch in Gardner with Lulu's class.  Gryffy and Mommy tagged along.

 Duck races!

 Gryffy always makes mouth movements when he does things.  It's pretty adorable.

 Cole, Lulu, Spencer and Gryffy with L's first grade teacher, Mrs. Brahl.

 L & Bree.

 Love the action hero poses.

 At some point, you just give up on normal photos.

 G was right at home.

 I have Gryffy in the mornings now that he has afternoon preschool, and I have to say that I love this special time!  One one gorgeous day, we went to Deanna Rose before school.

 Maybe because it's right by our house, or because we have so many memories here, but I just adore Deanna Rose.  And look at the creativity!  Deanna Rose knows how to do fall.

 Gryffy loved the hay bales as we waited for the hayride back.  Mommy didn't.  My allergies went hay-wire!

Gryffy's class took a field trip to Johnson Farms in Martin City, MO.  We went to this one last year as a family, and it's even better this year.  Aren't those kids darling?!

 This was my favorite new feature, a ginormous play area for the kids.

 And the old maze isn't too shabby either.

Halloween's on its way!

Minneapolis, MN

On a rare, gig-free weekend, we took a drive north on I-35.

We got to hang with Uncle Mike, who has an uber-cool loft in downtown Minneapolis.  The kids could not wait to see him--they've been asking about Uncle Mike for months (he babysat them last December on my girls' weekend while Mark had a gig).  He's kind of hard to pin down, citizen of the world that he is, so this was a treat.

 We visited the Science Museum...

 Sneaked into inviting hole-in-the-wall restaurants to escape the cold...

 And spent a little time at just-your-average shopping mall.

Our little artist took inspiration from a Spiderman DVD, and emerged from the bathroom to reveal her latest masterpiece.  NEVER get between that girl and her art.

Then we got to visit my high school best friend, Kelsey, and her sweet family at home.  It felt like a big reunion, because her Kansas relatives were there visiting, too.  (I enjoy talking to Kelsey's dad, who has a social work practice and, among many things, helps psychic kids cope with their abilities.  We always have the most fascinating conversations.)  And it was only the second time I'd seen sweet Eva, already a year old!

 Fall comes early in Minnesota.  And it's beautiful.

 Thanks for hosting us, Mike & Kelsey/David/Eva!

Gryffin's First Day

This handsome man just started preschool in October.

 He'd been waiting a long time for the Backpack Fairy's visit this year.

She brought him the Model Magic he wanted in all the colors.

Gryffin was supposed to begin preschool in September at Christ Lutheran, the school we just love.  But I knew he was a bit behind on his fine motor skills (holding crayons with proper grip, crossing the midline, etc.), and so had him tested the first two weeks instead.  He qualified for the preschool at Heartland, Lorelei's school, where there is a speech therapist and OT that visits the classroom.  When I found out he had qualified, it was very bittersweet--this meant he'd miss all his best buds in class at Christ Lutheran, but it also meant that he could be right across the hall from big sister at Heartland, and get extra help with his writing and speech, all provided by Blue Valley.  What a blessing!  And this means no more speech class--everything is done in the classroom.

 I love the way he smooches his lips and blows kisses.

 Today's Gryffin's first day, October 1st.  I walked him up to the school and dropped him off with his teacher and new friends.

 The Mamarazzi came out.  I just couldn't stop myself.  Aren't they adorable?

 Gryffy with his teacher, Miss Lisa, and paras Miss Nicole and Miss Laurie.

 I was so thrilled when I picked up my boy after class, because the first thing out of his mouth was, "I have friends, Momma."  My heart just about burst with gladness to hear that he loved his first day.  He even saw Lorelei (they are directly across the hall, their doors just feet away--I'm so, so happy about this)!  And apparently he's become really good buds with a boy named Ben, so I see some playdates in the future.  So glad you love school, Gryffindor.  Love you so much, Bubba!