Happy Birthday Daddy/Chris!

Chris is in China for 2 weeks for work right now and the trip fell right over his birthday - bummer :( The boys are missing daddy like crazy. Andy especially is always asking "where's daddy?" "when is he coming home?" - in July he wasn't doing that as much, so at 3 1/2 he is getting to the point where he is much more aware. Jack just points to pictures and Chris's car and says "dadadada". Anyways, Chris, we love you and miss you! Happy Birthday hugs to you :)

The boys getting some good "chase and tackle" time in with daddy last week
Jack kept putting the fireman helmet on - it was really cute

Big ice cream cake... Andy helped blow out the candles :)

Baking some cookies for daddy...Andy helped with everything. Mixing, cutting out, frosting, sprinkles, and eating them... On a hike on Friday afternoon.

Getting some fresh air before his flight leaves the next morning, and is enroute for about 24 hours :(

The boys had fun taking Chris to the airport on Saturday morning. They got to see his plane and check out all of the exciting things the Appleton airport has to offer.

Happy Birthday to the best daddy ever, Love Andy and Jack!!!

Pumpkin Patch and Zoo time

Grandma and Grandpa Graham came up for a visit last weekend to help keep us entertained once Chris left for China on Saturday morning. We braved the VERY cold weather on Saturday and went out to a pumpkin patch. The boys had fun - Andy more than Jack (Jack did not really enjoy the cold) We did get lots of good pumpkins and Andy really loved climbing on the hay bale maze with Grandpa. I think he would have done it all day if we would have let him - especially if it had been warmer out! We also went for a hike on Sunday and took a trip to the zoo on Monday. Trying to squeeze in as much outdoor weather stuff as we can before winter!

Jack and I on the wagon ride out to get the pumpkins.

Grandma and Andy finding some Indian Corn. Andy liked getting "lost" in the field.

All bundled up, ready to head back!

Climbing on the hay bales. Andy would slide down them, run around in the maze and then climb back up on top of them.

Jack trying to have fun in the cold...

Grandma and Grandpa Graham came to watch Andy's last soccer game. He did pretty well, but was ready to get inside the warm van when practice was over. It had to be in the 30's with the wind chill easily...

When we were at the zoo, we saw lots of animals very close up. It wasn't that busy and the animals were posing for us... here's Jack a little too close for comfort! Andy refused to stand that close to the tiger - probably smart!

Jack peeking around a sign in the Big Cat Building

Riding the milk truck in the play area

Andy on the playground outside at the zoo

Jack going down a slide with some snacks in hand

Night-night!

Out for a hike - with some energy here. The big hills of this hike tired the boys out. They were ready to be carried after about a mile... too bad it was a 2.3 mile hike... they are only 3 and 1 though, so we'll cut them some slack :)

All the cousins together

In the beginning of October, Ryan, Marianne, and Ben were in Delafield visiting so we took the trip down too. It had been since fourth of July that we saw Ben and he had changed so much! He and Jack were running around together and enjoying seeing what mischief that they could get into. Andy especially liked playing with his Aunt Marianne and Aunt Karissa - as usual :) Once they are around, he's no longer interested in doing anything with me... but that's okay! Chris and I also competed in a 5K trail run at Lapham Peak. I placed second in my age group, and was happy with that. We played some board and card games with Brad, Karissa, Ryan, and Marianne. We're looking forward to seeing everyone again in Door County and are glad that we don't have to wait another 3 months to see Benjamin.

Jack and Ben playing with some fall decorations... the dried gourds aren't too heavy (or breakable) thank goodness

Jack with his Great Grandpa Dickson - multitasking with a caterpillar ride, drinking his milk, AND showing off a toy.

Ben and Jack playing at the train table - so seriously!

Andy, playing some loud music with his drum Silly guy! I'm looking forward to when the age gap between the boys doesn't seem quite as big. Poor Andy has to either play with the "babies" or the adults.

Ben and I - I can't wait until he thinks I'm fun Aunt Jenny (hopefully!), like Andy adores his aunts and uncles.

The boys on their leather chair - we've been taking pictures of this pose since they were tiny. We'll have to compare them soon!

Uncle Ryan playing with the toys with Andy and Jack

Okay, this picture is probably not exhibiting really safe behavior, but they were supervised by 2 adults! Enjoying a short treadmill walk :)

Yum, breakfast!

Out for a neighborhood walk

Great Grandma Dickson and Jack - Jack loved this catalog that had dog products in it - he was looking at all of the dog pictures.

Andy relaxing with Great Grandma Dickson

Aunt Marianne giving Jack a little ride in the push cart :)

Grandma Graham and Ben together

Grandma Reinsel Visits!

These next few posts are going to be out of order a bit, I'm trying to catch up...I'm taking advantage of the free computer time since Chris is in China right now :) Last week, Grandma Reinsel came up to visit for a couple of days. We had lots of fun! Grandma watched Andy at his swim lesson on Tuesday night and then we picked up an ice cream cake on the way home for an early celebration of Chris's birthday. On Wednesday, we went to the children's museum which is always entertaining. Then, we had a very nice lunch out at Red Robin, where the boys ate lots of food, were well-behaved, and really enjoyed their balloons for the rest of the afternoon!

The kid's museum was not busy at first, so Andy took advantage of the time driving the crane (his favorite part). Grandma and Jack are in the background admiring his work.

Here's Jack at the water play area. Jack did not want to have arts & crafts time with Grandma and Andy, so we explored other areas...

Out at lunch, ready for food. I've gotten in the habit of ordering the boys' food right when we sit down... the less time sitting at the table waiting the better!

At the kid's museum, in the control tower... I was still hanging out in the airplane, getting told where to land, I guess.

It was a great visit, Andy and Jack had lots of fun just playing at home with Grandma too. Riley and Bailey got along well, which was a plus!