We tried to go hiking

Yes, you read that right. Sunday was a gorgeous fall day, and we wanted to do the city version of hiking (aka, Ritchey Woods). The girls were excited to show Jason the trails and once our backpack was packed, we were ready to go.

But then, we had a delay. Ok, not a delay but a road block to our hiking. Once we showed up and saw a crowded parking lot, we knew something was going on. It was the Pumpkin Festival at Ritchey Woods (I didn't even know about this fun and free event). We had a blast! From the crafts, to the games, to the pumpkin carving, to the leaves, it was a wonderful Sunday!

Does this make her a tree hugger?

Once we were done with the games, Ella was back to the craft tables.
While Laney was......

throwing a fit because really, what is a family trip without a little drama?

We love you, Windsor

Although I didn't want to write a blog post about our beloved Winds-man, I knew I wanted to get pictures of him with the kids into our final blog book. So it was best to make a post about him.

Jason & I adopted Windsor 8 years ago (about 3 weeks after buying our house) after seeing him at PetSmart. We knew we wanted a dog but weren't sure of the breed as I wanted a lap dog and Jason wanted a Frisbee dog (for the record, Jason and Windsor played frisbee like once or twice). Jason saw a picture of Windsor online and noticed that he was going to be at PetSmart through the adoption agency ARPO (Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership). We saw him and instantly fell in love with this puppy (he was about 9 months old at the time). But since he was already bigger than a lap dog I was slightly disappointed I wouldn't get my cuddly dog. Well, wouldn't you know it, he jumped into a lady's lap right as we were talking about how we wanted a lap dog. Yeah, I think he knew that he was coming home with us.

Before kids, Windsor was our kid. We took him to dog festivals, dog parks, long walks, the dog bakery to celebrate his birthday. He was our baby. Once we had kids, Windsor easily settled into his role as just the family pet (not the king of the hill anymore). He let the kids jump on him, pull his ears, dress him up, hug him, etc. He was such a good sport about it all!

Windsor tended to be in the background of almost all pics I tried to take. He loved being around the kids so it's funny to look back at the pictures and see how many pictures he made his way into. I took a ton of pictures the last morning we had him. But just as I downloaded so many cute shots of him with the kids, I hit the delete button. Darn it! Luckily I have a ton from the past but seriously, me and technology don't mix sometimes.

We miss him so much! He was such a fun, easy tempered, lovable dog and we will always cherish our memories with him.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the Windsman:

Laney playing the piano and Windsor singing along.
Winter 2007



Going on a walk with Ella
Summer 2008

Laney tugging on Windsor
Summer 2007

Ella and Windsor
December 2006

Now baby Ella and Windsor
April 2005

He loved the snow.
January 2010



Playing dress up with Windsor
2008

He especially loved catching the snowballs.
With Ella: 2009

Windsor was always wherever the kids were.
He loved the action the kids provided.
Summer 2010



Playing with Matthew.
He really did let the kids roll over top of him.
October 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grieve not, or speak of me with tears,
But laugh and talk of me as if I were
Beside you, I loved you so...... Twas heaven here with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few new members of our family

When Jason goes out of town he usually comes home with some sort of funny gift for the girls. I say funny because they are typically items from vendor shows (one year was screaming/flying monkeys and the next was the stuffed bacteria....seriously, the girls loved the bacteria).

I know what you are thinking. What could possibly top the stuffed bacteria?

Well, this year, it was:

The girls have named them both Diney.

Diney sleeps with Ella every night--even when Ella sleeps in the hallway

I think my favorite things about Diney & Diney are that the dinos were free and once the girls have lost interest in them, they can be deflated and brought out again :)

Matthew is 15 months

Last week, Matthew had his 15 month appointment. Although eating and sleeping fairly well, his day to day personality has been challenging. He can say a few words but not enough to be understood. He only does sign language after I do it so I never really know what he wants. So that leads to lots of screaming and crying. A rough combination.

After talking with Dr. Boschee, he said that his excema was so bad that Matthew might be in constant pain. He has had excema for the past two weeks but the day before his appointment it was awful. All over his back, legs, arms. As we were waiting for the doctor, my heart just broke, seeing him sit there in just a diaper with his skin all broken out and scaly. The good news to report is that after 3 doses of desinide (prescription cream) his skin is back to normal. Plus, his mood is much, much better! I guess if I was in that much pain and my skin looked so awful I would be grumpy too!

Weight: 23# 2 oz (25-30th percentile)
Height: 32" (75th percentile)

Teeth: 8 teeth... or so I think. He won't let me really take a good look but thanks to the ENT I do know he has molars coming in.
Words: Mama, Dada, Dog, Door, Choo-choo (I swear that is what he said), Nana, ball, tries to say hello when he talks on the phone (MD says he hopes for only 3 words at this stage. Matthew is speaking at least 6 good words).
Loves to: Dance (does the sprinkler dance), run, wrestle, playing outside
Foods: Waffles, milk, grapes, cheese
Toys: house phone, glass jars/lids, spatula, princess phone, play kitchen, remote
Sleeps from 6:30pm-6:30 am
Hair: Very, very blonde (definitely from Jason and his side of the family)
Naps: Two naps but not on a strict schedule (oh the third child). At daycare he only gets one nap so on the days I am home, some days it is one nap, some days two. He has learned to be flexible for sure.

Having a blast with his sis

A big hug for Dad after not seeing him for 6 days

So many controllers, so little time!

I get by with a little help from my friends

A few months back Jason told me he was going to be gone a whole week for work (Sunday-Friday night). For any mom, whether you have one child or ten, it is tough to be alone for a whole week. I was telling my friend, Kelly, how much I was dreading this week and since Kelly is in Columbus, Ohio, newly married and not employed, she said she would come visit. Yay! Then I texted our friend, Liz, and Liz said that she would come from Chicago with her son, Ryker. In a matter of 10 minutes I went from dreading Jason's trip to excited for his trip (sorry J, but I was really happy to see my girls).

Liz and Kelly came Wednesday through Friday and wow, did the time go by fast! On Thursday, Ella was gone all day on a school field trip (to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard). We decided to head out to Stoneycreek Farms on what was a beautiful day. I had never been there during the week and what a difference. There were no crowds (probably 10 people there including us) and it was all just perfect. I love fall days like this.

A silly Laney story for you......we were in the car when Ryker started talking loundly. Kelly said, "Ryker Nguyen (pronounce Win)," to get him to calm down. Laney then says, "NO, Laney Wins!" Kelly and I thought that was too funny!

Ry's first hay ride



I liked the lighting on this on.
Kelly with Laney and Ryker

Matthew was fascinated by the pumpkins
Ok, let's get serious...he was more fascinated with being able to sit in the dirt.
And that sitting in the dirt was socially acceptable.

The boys enjoying their first hay ride

Great pic of Liz and Ry





Ry wanted this one



Laney and her new pumpkin











Liz and I thought this looked like it could be a school pic





The pumpkin train



I think she liked it :)











We called this my Finesse Hair Commercial





Who is that kid diving head first into the pool filled with dirty water?



Oh, my son



Then girls joined the boys in the messy fun

Ry was loving it!

Weeeee...down the slide into the fun, dirty water

Everything is ok; I have my princess phone

This is awesome!

Then one little lady wanted to play princess and baby

Then the princess became a wrestler and the whole group dove right in

I love this picture!
I wish this was the smile she would have given on picture day.
I just got her Kindergarten pics back. Let's just say, they are so Ella!

Ry and his second mother
Ella was so excited to have Ryker come visit and hasn't stopped talking about him!

Look at these happy ladies



I asked Laney to smile to show me she was having fun

I then asked Ella to give me a smile to show she was having fun.
This is what she gave me. Niiiiiiice!

Dad, I had fun, but I am on my way home!

Liz and Kelly, thank you for coming to visit. I honestly couldn't imagine my life without you two and you have been such wonderful friends for 14 years. Thanks for helping me in my "time of need." :)