October

I love October days. I love the cold mornings and the yellow leaves that fall on River Road. I love that the afternoons are still warm enough to play at the park with just a sweatshirt on. We've been hitting the parks a lot lately. We're trying to get in all of our outdoor fun before it's too cold. Libby has started "Twinkle Toes" dance class with her friend Emma and loves it. I think what she loves most is that she has a teacher. She loves pointing out school buses, and talking about when she's big enough to chew gum and go to kindergarten. Being in class seems to suit her well. I can't wait until I can post some dance pictures, but it'll have to wait until she has a recital at the end of the month. I'm not allowed in class as I'd be a distraction, so it's a bit of a guess as to what goes on in there. That's true of all the parents, not just me. We're looking forward to Halloween, and maybe even trick-or-treating for the first time this year.

Here's a look at the last few weeks....

Peyton never passes on an opportunity to try on some shoes. She might turn out to be a little shopper.

Chicken noodle soup....

We went to Toys R Us to get a bubble machine. Yep, lazy me is DONE blowing bubbles. I can never make them fast enough and get dizzy trying. So we bought battery operated blower. I love the thing. Anyway, while we were there Candyland was five bucks, so I got Libby her first board game. I bet she sat here for two hours "playing" the game. She plays by her own rules, but anything that hold her attention for that long and I'm sold. I might even buy her a Barbie doll next.
Shane's been hunting in Eastern Oregon. He's on his way home as I write this. Nelson let him take his quad, but not before the girls had their own fun on it.
Shane's on his phone, so the girls are too. You can tell by his daughters that he's often on his phone.
This was the best. We came out of Target to a rainstorm, but even with the rain falling there was this gorgeous rainbow. Probably a first for both girls. Libby shouted, "Mom! It's a rainbow! It has yellow! That's my best color!" With so much excitement I had to get a picture.
I snuck in with my camera to get this shot of Libby so we have proof of her binky addiction. We've been trying to warm her up to the idea of giving the "binks" to the Binky Fairy when she turns three. I can assure you, she is NOT a fan of the idea. We've told her that we think the Binky Fairy will deliver her beloved binky to Amy Anderson, a dear friend of ours who's due in February with a baby girl. Libby likes the idea of sharing, but just not if it means giving up what's hers. We'll see...
Peyton loves to be where Libby is. Both girls have their own chair, but the minute we unbuckle her, Peyton slides into the spot right next to Libby. Sometimes Libby is receptive. Other times, she wants Peyton to scram. The other day I caught a sweet moment before Libby gave her the boot.
On Friday night we had pizza with our good friends Dave and Becky (Bebo) Bones. They've just moved into a new house, and the girls have lots of room to roam. Peyton was fascinated with the shape of their new dining chairs. They make for a great game of peek-a-boo, but she also got herself in a bit of trouble....

Becky isn't neglecting to help. I jumped up to rescue her, but grabbed my camera for the shot first. This isn't the first time I've taken the picture before the rescue. It probably won't be the last.
Libby celebrates an exciting third quarter of the Duck game on Saturday. Go Ducks!
dog pile!
There is nothing like squeaky clean babies, wrinkled and fresh out of the tub....

Like a Dog

This morning I had my face fixed on the screen of my computer reading a new blog that was interesting to me.  Libby walked up behind me and said, "Mom, do you want to play with me?" Not five minutes earlier I'd been watching the girls play together.  Sorting through a bin of blocks looking for the right one.  And as I watched them I noted to myself how fortunate we've been. I'm talking about enjoying time to be home together and avoiding the morning rush for the first years of their lives.  We owe so much gratitude to Shane for working so hard so I haven't had to.  His hard work will pay off for their lifetimes.  I know it's not for everyone.  It's definitely been for us.  There are moments that occur naturally in the mornings when we're still in our pajamas, eating breakfast, playing with toys left out the night before.  Today was a moment.  

I turned around and picked her up.  I said, "Yes, I want to play with you. But first I want to give you a squeeze."  I meant of course, that I wanted to freeze this moment.  We have nowhere to be.  I have nobody to answer to.  Nobody besides the two of you need me this morning.  Let's breathe that in for just a moment because a year from now I'll be standing in front of a classroom full of students who are not my babies.  I'll have to leave the two of you to get to them.  But today, that's not the case.  I buried my face in her hair and inhaled.  And then, came her reply..... "Mom, you're like a dog."  I cracked up.  I knew she meant I'd sniffed her the same way Grunden does with his wet nose.  She usually hates when he does that.  But, I prefer to think of that statement in broader terms.  I'm loyal, faithful and protective.  I live in the moment and love my girls without condition. There's a reason we call them man's best friend.  I hope I'll always be their dog.  What a compliment.

Daddy's Days Off

Peyton is a guzzler.  Loves her milk.  I actually worry that she gets most of her nutrition from bottles, because she loves the stuff, and isn't a big eater otherwise.  Here I had just finished a morning scramble.  Eggs, sausage, hash browns and cheese.  Does it get better?  Peyton threw it on the floor and grabbed her bottle. Sigh.  Grunden and I are both practicing patience in this picture....

More patience from Grunden.  Now, THAT is a good dog.
We've recently had some unbelievable weather for the Oregon Coast.  This day was about 70 degrees and no wind.  
Sandy girls.
A new haircut...
More great weather at the coast.  Here we played lakeside.  The girls were soaked, happy and exhausted.  

We spent some time on the dunes before heading down to play in the surf.  I have no pictures of playing in the waves because I can't take my eyes off of the girls for one second.  Libby, who didn't even want to walk down to the water kept saying, "Mom, I'm having so much fun!"
Heading home....

Libby uses the remote to try to make Peyton disappear.

Shane had three days off this week and we were all in heaven!  
Bottle girl.
Libby and Daddy color together.
Rough housing....
I wish you could hear her squeal!  So delighted with herself!
Future cheerleader?
Peyton's piggies.  We took pictures just before cutting them off to put in her baby book.  It's hard to do, but Peyton's hair was getting thin.  She pulls it out when she's upset and when she's sleepy.  Not the tension reliever I'd have chosen, but I guess it's better than beating her forehead on the floor...?

Cute even without pigtails.
Riding tandem.
Libby loves this pair of heels, that I haven't worn since working.  They are so loud on the floor, so I understand her fascination.
Ready for school?
Swing time at Grammy Jane's...
My mom took the bottom off of her birdhouse to remove the nest that a family of birds built in it last spring.  Libby was so curious.
New friends.  These are some finger puppets Julane bought for the girls at The High Desert Museum.  Libby loves her "turkeypine and stink".

Trouble Makin'

Libby loves to pile up pillow and blankets and get comfortable.  After dumping the whole basket of toys, this was a great spot for watching t.v.

Heading to the bathtub after painting in the driveway.
Holy Tina Turner hair....
Peek-a-boo....
Pigtails!
Aaaahhhhh green beans, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways....

Flung through the air, or worn in my hair.

But, mostly in tomorrow's underwear........


Houston, we have a problem.  Peyton spent all morning taking this stool around to assist her in getting to places she has no business being.  The kitchen countertops are a huge fascination.  I think that in her mind if she can reach it, then she can have it.
One place that's okay to climb.  I redirected her to this table after she climbed up to the counter, and got my car keys.  She knows the red button sets off the alarm and gets a BIG reaction from me.