Halloween 2013

 The girls were very excited about Halloween this year.  I was able to go to both of their school parties and then we hit the Monster March in downtown Buffalo where they made out like bandits!

Of course Maya had to be a monkey...she is slightly obsessed with monkeys right now!

Gabi the mermaid!  These were taken in front of Joe's office before the Monster March

With all the cousins...I forgot Jacob's pirate costume at home, so he just went as Jacob in a pumpkin shirt...oops.

We were also able to go to Diane and Splint's house for dinner and the pinata!!

We stopped at Russ & Nancy's house.  Jacob is riding Russ's (Phyllis's brother) saddle. :)

This should have been Jacob's actual costume...such a silly boy!

October Pics

Here are some pictures from October.  Besides a couple of early snowstorms, it has been a beautiful fall!

The big guy sacked out with Grammy Joyce.

The cousins' snow wall...it was them against Joe & Greer in the snowball fight that took place shortly after!

 I can't get these pictures to turn :(  We had a nice leaf collecting hike on Saturday morning on the Mentock Trail.

In early October, we went to Denver to attend the wedding of my good friend, Lisa.  Grammy Joyce came with us to help with the kiddos!  It was so nice to have her along.  We also got to go the Denver Zoo!

A couple pics from the wedding...so much fun to see old friends!

All of these people worked at O'Connell Middle School at one point...it was one of the toughest schools I've ever worked at, but the most fun because of the people I worked with!  We have ALL moved on to different schools, cities, states....but the friendships have remained strong!

Jacob...4 months old!

Jacob weighed in at 16 lbs. 4oz and was 25.5 inches.  He is a little chunk!  He can roll over onto his tummy and prefers to sleep that way now.  He gets frustrated as he cannot yet flip over the other way.  He is a very happy boy and is settling into a good routine of two 2-2.5 hour naps each day and sleeping from 7:30-7:30, waking once to eat.  Such a smiley little guy!

Gabi's 6th Birthday Party!

Gabi wanted a mermaid themed party for her birthday this year.  So, we thought it would be fitting to have it at the YMCA swimming pool!  Fun was had by all!

Amanda made this cake!  Isn't is so cool!

Swimmers having fun!

Mermaids & mermen! :)

Coloring beach balls after swimming

Random September Photos

Wow...it has been a long time since I've updated this blog.  I'll try my best to remember events that have taken place in the past 3 months or so and then really try hard to keep up with things and actually take some quality pictures with my camera and not just my phone....:)

Jacob...almost 4 months old; Gabi...almost 6!!  She is so good with him and can almost always make him smile. :)

Crazy Maya...she loves her beads and they always have to be in order and in a straight line.  If you mess with them, watch out! 

The girls enjoying cotton candy at Oktoberfest in downtown Buffalo with their buddy Tessa!

Jacob's first trip to Costco!  He loved it as much as we did! :)

Trip to Lincoln...Go Pokes!

We made the long trek to Lincoln on Labor Day weekend to see my Grandma Dorothy, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, attend the Wyoming vs. Nebraska game, and go to the Omaha Zoo!  These pictures are a little out of order, but they show how much fun the kids had on this trip!  The Zoo was a hit!  I remember going to this zoo as a kid, so it was fun to see some my kids enjoying it as well.

Maya catching a ride with Papa Gary

Gabi cooling off in a mister...it was a hot weekend!

Maya loves monkeys and was so pumped that this one was so close!

We stayed with Grandma Dorothy and definitely had a divided house for the Wyoming/Nebraska game!  Joe and I took the girls to the tailgate while my mom watched Jacob.  Joe went to the game along with Tom, Angelene, and my Dad.  Greer and Amanda were there as well.  It was a great game!  Wyoming almost won!!

Tom & Angelene

My Grandma, my Aunt & Uncle, and my cousin, Allie, and her husband, Brad

My Grandma roots for both teams!  :)

With the Grandkids!

It was a fun trip!  Everyone, even little Jacob, was a very good traveler!

First Days of School

Gabi started Kindergarten on August 27, 2013!  She was sooooo excited...especially for gym class (because she gets to wear her new shoes that she learned how to tie!!) and recess (so she can see Gio!)  I was so excited for her because I know she will do great.  I did get a little teary eyed dropping her off on the first day.  She is so confident in her self and has no problems leaving me in the dust for her buddies on the bus each morning! :) 

We decided to put Maya in Pre-K this year, so she will only be one year behind Gabi in school.  She was also very excited and yelled/sang, "I Loooovvve school!" the whole way there on the first day.  She also settled in and got right to work when she arrived in her classroom.  So glad I have two confident, independent girls and eager learners!!

Here's to a great school year!