Turkey Feathers and Tantrums

These pictures are just some random pics from our last week. Here is a dinosaur pancake I made for Morgan the other night. I thought it came out pretty perfect and thought I'd share my small triumph.
Pepper is really starting to enjoy sitting up and playing with toys that interact with her. I didn't think we had that many noisy toys, since I find them annoying and usually have them turned off or without batteries. But a friend of mine pointed out that I have a ton of toys that make noise and music. Thanks grandmas!

Last week our playgroup did some fantastic Thanksgiving themed craft projects.

The kids got to make a turkey feather hat and color a picture of a turkey. Morgan was completely distracted by the pink car (he has told people he's getting a pink bike for Christmas...I'm guessing Cody will compromise with red). Morgan was also distracted by bullying all the other poor children who are smaller than him. Ugh, some days I don't know what happened to my easy going kid.

Jack sporting Morgan's hat.

Abby and Heather

Sarah, our hostess, made the cutest little Pilgrim hats out of chocolate covered marshmallows and striped cookies turned upside down.

Morgan was a big fan.

Classic face.

Saturday morning we took Morgan and Cody to get haircuts.

We decided to let a professional do Morgan's Mohawk.

She definitely cleaned it up and fixed some of our mistakes but I don't think it is too different from our cut. Morgan was a perfect angel during his entire haircut. The lady couldn't believe how easy he was and that she could take her time and keep making changes.

After, we went to breakfast and once again he was a great little kid and sat with us and ate his muffin. I was feeling pretty great about our Saturday together, then we went to the mall to get Cody some khaki pants for his upcoming business trip.

That is when our Saturday fell apart!

I took Morgan to a bouncy castle so he could play while Cody shopped and Pepper slept. We thought he deserved a reward for being such a great kid. He had 6 minutes to play but after only a couple he tried to leave but I told him he had more time and should keep playing. I should have let him leave when he was done but I didn't want to feel like we wasted any of the $2 we spent, so I insisted he keep playing. Of course, when it came time to get out he didn't want to. I finally convinced him to get out but then he started getting upset and tried to run away. This of course got him a time out and from there he just lost his mind. Poor Cody kept hearing Morgan screaming and was trying to hurry as fast as he could. I finally hogtied Morgan into the front of the stroller that poor Pepper is trying to sleep in and started walking around. Morgan thrashed about, kicking and screaming. It didn't matter what I threatened or promised, he would not calm down. It was so humiliating, I just wanted to disappear and cry. I can usually get Morgan to calm down pretty quick and I was just so frustrated that he wouldn't listen to me at all! Finally, Cody came out with his new pants and took Morgan outside while I wandered around for a few minutes with sleeping Pepper to calm down myself.

When I got out to the car, Morgan was calm and sorry. He still got a spanking and time out when he got home but he was luckily back to his good little boy self for the rest of the day.

Sometimes I just don't know what to do with this little guy.

I tell you this mom job is not easy!

Indian Summer

This Saturday the weather was too beautiful and warm to stay inside. We didn't want to spend any money so we headed over to a local park to take a walk, play and have a picnic.

Finding a bit of beautiful color amidst the brown.
Copley Community Park is a great place to take a walk.

Pepper and I watching Morgan and Cody play on the playground.

The sun was so warm we were getting November sunburns...not really but my-o-my it was a gorgeous day!

Cody's amateur photography moment.

When Morgan was a baby he had hardly any hair but this one long hair coming out of the middle of the top of his head. Pepper seems to take after her brother but her two long hairs come out of the left side of her head. I have bizarre but cute children!

Cody finding his inner child again.

Morgan following Daddy's big boy swing example.

My favorite little lady.

I am trying to sell our jogging stroller on craigslist and Morgan decided to model it for potential buyers. It brought back memories since our very first blog post and picture included a picture of Morgan as a baby going for a jog with Cody in Central Park. Oh how times have changed and flown by!

This weekend was Stake Conference and we got a new Stake President. We had two members of the Seventy here. Our ward choir was asked to do three musical numbers for today's session. I had to get there very early and sit up in the stand the whole time. Cody was a little nervous about taking care of both kids all on his own but luckily a great friend of ours, Katy, volunteered to help him, since her hubby was also singing in the choir. Morgan and Pepper love Katy so that helped a lot! Both kids were little angels and I was so grateful for both the mommy break and the great spiritual experience. We sang a version of the "Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning" for the closing hymn and when we cut off on the final note you could feel the spirit so strong it was overwhelming. I am so grateful for my family and the gospel in our lives. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and calls faithful men and women to help guide not only His church on the earth but our individual lives. What an amazing day to be alive!

Zoo in November

We've had a bit of a warm spell here in Akron and we are trying to take full advantage of this special gift. Today we went to the Akron Zoo with our good friends the Smedleys.
This is how poor Pepper gets to see the animals.

Morgan and Abby as penguins.

Morgan wouldn't go over the bridge until Abby went. Way to lead the way little girl!

Pepper loved Abby's daddy and couldn't stop smiling. She might also have been just super happy to get out of the stroller. Love the bottom teeth!

Sweet Abby.

The kids watching the crazy flamingos.

It was a wonderful morning!

Pepper is getting so great at sitting all by herself and I just she was too cute not to photograph.

Morgan vegging in front of the tv. Gotta love the relaxation in his face.

I love his pity smile.

Life Nowadays

Meet Robin Morgan has never been very interested in dolls or stuffed animals, no matter how many times I try to get him to play with them. He also has never really played "pretend" very much. However, recently that has all changed thanks to a broken bobble head doll we got when we went to a Cleveland Indians game. Morgan named him Robin (I think the glasses remind him of Robin from Batman) and carries him all over the house and plays with him. Morgan doesn't seem to mind at all that he has no arms (Morgan broke those off the first day we got him), is not cuddly and not really a toy. So there's a picture of my son's new best friend.

To each his own!
Last weekend Morgan decided to take advantage of Mommy sitting quietly on the couch reading a magazine and build a Mommy Mountain.

You can't tell but I have toys stuffed down my shirt and in my socks and every random article of junk sitting in the living room piled on top of me. At least I got to read the magazine!

Just some pictures of Pepper doing her thing.

Just like her brother she loves to eat everything and anything that you will feed her.

She follows Morgan's mealtime motto: keep eating as long as someone is trying to feed you.

A little musical interlude.

On Halloween day we took a little time to go to a playground.

It was chilly but the kids had a great time swinging together and playing with Daddy and Mommy.

A week or so ago we babysat Morgan's friend Jack so his parents could go on a date.

Morgan and Jack have a very love/hate relationship, so sometimes it can get a little crazy with these two but it is always pretty entertaining.

After playtime with Daddy we had a little quiet reading time and then bed. Luckily, Jack didn't mind sleeping in the pack-n-play in Morgan's bathroom. You have to get creative with small apartments!

I loved this brushing teeth moment with Daddy. And yes, Cody is brushing the side of Morgan's face with his other tooth brush. Whatever distraction works!

I think Pepper is on the verge of crawling.

This is one of her favorite positions and she is getting really good at tucking her legs under if she gets mad enough.

We have a picture of Morgan just like this at around the same age. Of course he was naked but Daddy is being a little more modest with his baby girl.

I caught Daddy and Pepper in the middle of a peek-a-boo game that was just too cute not to document for the Grandmas!

This girl has some interesting dimples but they are still mighty cute!

Oh I just love this face!

Halloween 09 Extravaganza

So Halloween is a little different here in Ohio. Most of the neighborhoods, towns, churches, etc celebrate Halloween on other days before and after Oct. 31st. I still haven't quite figured out why this is but let's just say I was so tired of Halloween related events by the time Saturday rolled around that we did absolutely nothing on the actual holiday, except watch Sleepy Hollow at night.

So here is our week leading up to Halloween and all our fun adventures. On Wednesday morning our playgroup went to Richardson Farms to pick pumpkins and apples and go on a hayride. Once again the weather was not perfect, overcast and chilly, but we had a great time and the kids loved it!

Morgan and Mallory

Hayley and Reed

They took us on a little tour of their working farm and we got to see the egg laying hens.

Apple orchards.

Saturday I made an apple pie with my pickins' and my was it good!

Honey making demonstration.

Jack had a fight with the cement floor and lost!

This kid just cracks me up!

Jack, Becky and Abby

Excited to start our hayride.

Reed, Hayley and Mallory

Venturing into the mud to pick pumpkins.

Morgan really loved helping me pick apples and the hayride.

What a great day!

That night was our ward Halloween party and Trunk-or-Treat.

Abby, Jack and Morgan

Cody had to work late so I had to be a lone farmer but we were glad Daddy was able to join us for some of the fun.

Jen, Pepper, Wade and me

Heather, PJ and Jack

Becky, Ben, Cody and Pepper

The results of our pumpkin carving.

My cat.

Cody hard at work.

I thought Cody's turned out awesome!

On Thursday morning I hosted another playgroup to paint the pumpkins we had picked.

Morgan, Abby and Jack had a great time and are quite the artists!

I also made some Halloween themed sugar cookies and let the kids decorate them. We didn't have any icing so we used peanut butter and sprinkles!

Lack of money definitely helps with creativity!

Morgan showing off their work.

On Thursday afternoon our apartment complex had a little Halloween party for the kids at the clubhouse. Morgan got to decorate yet another pumpkin and play some fun games.

I thought Pepper looked like a pumpkin colored Batman in this picture.

After the party, Jack, Heather and PJ came over so we could take the boys Trick-or-Treating around our complex. It was a lot of fun but very tiring since our complex is pretty big and each building has three floors and no elevators. Also, not every apartment was participating so you had to hunt through each building looking for orange signs on doors. The boys really loved knocking on doors but usually chickened out when it came time to say "trick or treat." Luckily, they usually managed to say "thank you." Heather and I completely forgot to take any pictures of our boys out and about but here I am showing off Morgan's spoils.

My dried cherry/apple pie heading into the oven.

I still don't have a pie crust shield so I have to use tin foil, well the foil squished my nice edges and kept one side from browning. Besides those aesthetic downfalls the pie came out great and was very yummy. I love pie season and can't wait to start making more!

So Happy Halloween everyone...I'm still tired!

Pepperoni at 6 1/2 months

On Tuesday I took Pepper for her 6 mos check up. Nevermind that she is more like 6 1/2 mos; we got a little off schedule. However, here are some updates on her life.

She is just itching to crawl and move. If you lay her on her back she instantly flips over and does a huge push up. Yesterday she got mad and started scooting herself backwards. She has also started to tuck her knees under her so I think it is just a matter of time before she is mobile!

Crazy, crazy, crazy!

On the day she turned 6 mos her first tooth popped through and two days later the other bottom tooth joined in. This new development has made life a little unhappy for the last couple weeks, with her grumpiness and the fact that she is now trying to bite off my nipples (sorry if that is too graphic but I am in serious pain!).

This girl just makes me laugh and smile everyday!
Oh and thanks everyone for your sleep advice. I am happy to report that our little sleeping angel has returned and we are all peaceful once again. It helps a lot when they can breath through their nose!

Pepper is really starting to discover toys, especially her brother's instruments, much to Morgan's dismay. Poor kid will have some serious adjusting to do once she starts moving.
To give her stats Pepper is now 17.9 lbs and over 27 ins long.
She is shorter and skinnier than Morgan was at this age.
The doctor said she is just perfect and to keep doing what we're doing. He was impressed with her ability to sit by herself and how well she pushes her head up. He said to start baby proofing again soon!
So that is our little Peppermint and we are just so blessed to have her in our lives.
She is definitely sugar and spice and everything nice!

Fall Fun

Last Friday night Morgan's Little Gym had a Halloween Party.Morgan went as a punk rocker from the 80's.
Ever since we bought the purple hair spray on Monday he has been obsessively talking about his "blue hair." He told everyone he met all week about it and was very cooperative while I was getting him ready.

I guess all it takes to make this kid happy is a little color on his head!

After the initial photo shoot I could not convince him to put the jacket back on but at least his hoodie has skulls on it so that helped.

Pepper was a pumpkin, thanks to Jill's hand-me-down costume.

Got to love free!

Morgan was on the go from the moment we arrived.

You may notice Batman is in the background. Well, later Morgan saw a kid dressed like Robin and became obsessed with finding Batman. Luckily, Robin was more than happy to help so the two of them spent a lot of time running around looking for this kid who, of course, had already left. Morgan is still talking about Robin and saying "Where's Batman?"

The night was an open invitation so Morgan's friend David came as a bumblebee.
And Jack came as a very cool pirate.

Even though it was past Pepper's bedtime she did surprisingly well and just hung out in our arms the whole time.

On Saturday morning we went with Laura to a local park and took some amazing family pictures. I don't have any yet but I can't wait to post them. Pepper looked just like a porcelain doll!

On Sunday afternoon we decided to carve our pumpkins.

Morgan had a great time helping me clean it out and then spent the rest of the time coloring on the newspaper and trying to play with the little tools from the carving kit.

Such a handsome helper!

It was a really thick pumpkin and kind of complicated cat design. I was so tired by the end of it but I hope it will be worth it when we buy some candles.

After the pumpkins, we decided to to take a walk around our complex and capture how beautiful the leaves are around here.

I know it's a little out of focus but I just love her eyes in this picture!

And yes, she is just wearing pink tights but they kind of work like leggings.

Morgan made some friends with the neighbor kids who were nice enough to let him play in their car.

I REALLY love fall!

Pepper was done with all the picture taking! She also has a cold now, on top of the teething madness. Poor little baby is just miserable!

I love fall colors!

(Please ignore the fact that I look like I'm pregnant in this picture, I assure you I am not!)