Wordless Wednesday with Leaves

Brotherly love in the gorgeous fall weather

 

 

I voted!

After getting to the poles at 7:05 am and waiting in line for 70minutes...I did my civic duty and voted.
Brian and kids were there too; it was a family affair.

The kids did great and made many friends in the line while waiting, including talking with our neighbors, who were about 15 people ahead of us.

Jude tried to "help" me vote by attempting to write all over the ballot.  When he was denied, he wrote on my arm instead.

Here's to the future!

Halloween at the local zoo

On Sunday, I took the boys to our little local zoo for their boo fun.  The boys went as dinosaurs.  Tamlin is Buddy the T-Rex and Jude was Tiny the Pteradadon.  Tam's face did have orange make-up and a toothy grin...but with eating candy and wiping snot this mostly disappeared by the end of the two hour visit.

 

Tam did a great job of walking around and saying trick or treat to everyone.  

He loved getting candy and playing the ring toss games.

All around the zoo there were lots of big balloons to check out...

The usual exotic exhibits had the animals out for the winter...

but were filled with creepy Halloween guests

Dinosaur Train!

Jude had a continual look of amazement as he toddled around.  

We saw many exotic creatures, such as gnomes, fairies, pirates, and singing mermaids.

There was music and swing dancing.  Tamlin quickly scored a partner to dance with.  Jude was more interested in snagging some goodies from Tam's bag while he was busy.   Jude eventually found a bag of crackers to shake in his happy fist.

There was a chance to play musical instruments with a couple of drummers.  

Jude played a mean rattle and Tam grabbed a drumstick to bang out a beat on several objects.

We ended the day on the zoo playground.  It was fun to watch my little dinosaurs crawling around, sliding down, and having general sugar-filled fun.

We also are doing trick or treating at the local Mall on Halloween.  Safe, well lit, warm, and dry = the best trick-or-treating!  I can't wait to chow down on some of their chocolate loot :-)

New words

Jude's latest words...

Hot.
As in I say "Jude, this food is hot; hot food Jude".  And Jude replies "Hot, Hot, 'Ot!"


Uh-Oh.
Expressed as a mimic of his brother whenever he says this, which is fairly frequently.


And he is REALLY good at signing more when he is begging for a piece of whatever food you are eating :-)

Happy Halloween!

"ROAR!"

says our little dinosaur!

 

Have a Great Halloween!

Fall Break Week

Highlights from our mini-vacation to see family last week.
And all of this done with wicked colds all all-around, lots of snot and coughing.

Celebrated Tam's birthday early with my mom's family.  

 

There were cars and cake!

A game of flinging ants

Fun outside with cousins in the sandbox 

Jude keeping up with the big kids at Lake Shore Park.

Fed the ducks and peacocks...Jude had no fear of these birds 

(though the older kids weren't too sure about it)

Attempts at fall family photos...mostly failed.  

How do I get 2 kids to look at the camera at the same time?

Stopped for pizza and visiting Pap-pap Jim

Discovered grasshoppers, stones for jumping, and a caboose

Enjoying the fall weather with trucks and flinging of leaves

Visiting with Great-Grandmas

A day at the Pittsburgh zoo and aquarium decorated for Halloween

A final bonfire and a night full of stars

A short whirlwind tour, but we loved every minute spent with all of our family!

Hope to get the rest of the photos edited and up by next weekend.