cuteness alert!

Last night was the "Halloween" event at church.  I can't remember what it's officially called these days.  It was fun to get the kids dressed up and Sophie had fun making things and eating sugar cookies (:

getting ready to leave for church

Sophie actually took this picture

wearing daddy's "golf" hat

 

frosting her cookie

Sophie and her friend, Emilia, making their door hangers

fun in the leaves

The one nice day we had at the cabin, we got out and raked the leaves up.  Jackson was napping and Sophie was being her usual helpful self (:  

what we're up to...

We're spending a few days at the cabin while Mike enjoys his week off between jobs.  Even though the weather isn't the best, we're enjoying our time together and loving not having all the day to day stuff to worry about.  

watching cartoons with daddy...playing in jammies

playing at the playground

bathtime in the sink...funny hair-do's...taking walks...playing dress up

new past time

Sophie has learned how to use the mouse and play some simple computer games.  It's great because it gives me a few minutes of peace when needed (:, but even more there are some great games out there that are very educational. It's been fun to watch her really catch on to it.  She also now LOVES to send emails to people and likes us to tell her what letters to type to say certain things.  Her favorite thing to type is her name which she now knows how to spell on her own (:  Not that I'm proud or anything!

 

10 months old

I'm a little late, but still wanted to document Jackson's 10 month "birthday."  Every month seems to be going faster and faster.  I can't believe he is approaching his first birthday.  Anyway, he's lots of fun these days and quite the handful.  He's into EVERYTHING...dog's dishes, trashcan, cabinets, Sophie's toys, etc.  He loves to laugh and be tickled.  He is standing on his own now for good chunks of time and has taken several steps.  When he walks holding your hand he laughs the whole time...it's pretty cute.  Sophie likes to "walk him" as she calls it but we have to remind her constantly to slow down.  He's working on some new sounds and has quite the high singing voice!  We are loving watching him grow and watching the 2 of them starting to interact.

 

our budding musician

Jackson has been enjoying the piano at his Oma's house.  As you can see, he has some talent (:

fyi...you have to click on the play "arrow" at the bottom of the video. For some reason the top one doesn't work.

sophie and goldy

Last Saturday we went to the women's basketball hoopla at the U with Oma.  The highlight for Sophie was meeting Goldy.  She was SO excited, but a little hesitant when it actually came time.  She did end up giving him a couple of high-5's and letting him hold her "baby Goldy".  It's so funny how much she likes him.  She's also VERY excited that her daddy will be working at the U in a couple of weeks.  According to Sophie, "that is SO cool!"

Goldy rocking her baby Goldy

pleading with Sophie to come say hi

getting Goldy's autograph on the poster she won

neither one of us look at our best but this is as close as we got to a picture with him

she loved the cardboard cutouts of the players

this of course was her favorite

makes her daddy proud....she LOVES football!

Sophie's friend

Many of you know Derius.  He's lived with us off and on since his sophomore year of high school (he will be 21 in a couple of weeks...yikes!).  While there were some rough times during that time, he has definitely become an important part of our family.  He now comes and stays us with every once in awhile and we've been helping figure out money, school, job, etc as much as we can.  We are SO proud of the man he is becoming.  Our kids adore him (well, Jackson likes everyone, but whatever).  Sophie tells us often, "Derius is my friend."  She asks about him...wants to know where he is, if he's coming by, if he's staying over...  It's really cute and I think the feeling is mutual (:  I was able to grab this picture the other night while Derius was eating some dinner and Sophie was having her snack.  He kept trying to take her goldfish and they were having too much fun.

some things are just not worth fighting...

We've been learning this over the past year or so as Sophie has become more and more independent. There are obviously some things that are a "no" no matter what, but really there are many things that just aren't worth it.  Like last night. We needed to take Bailey for a walk and since it seems to be winter here lately, it's cold. Sophie's been wearing her ballerina outfit regularly the past couple of days and she did NOT want to take it off to go for a walk.  Her choice then was to put warmer stuff on too or change her clothes. Here's what we came up with (:

However, Jackson still lets me do whatever I want

homecoming

This weekend was Homecoming at the U.  We look forward to this every year and have made it a tradition to go to the parade and the game.  This year they moved the parade to Friday night with a pep fest in the stadium afterwards.  We weren't sure how it was going to be but we had fun even if it did get a little late for the kids!  The Gophers won today (sorry Larkins family!) and we loved sitting outside in the cool (some would say cold) weather enjoying a good win for the Gophers.  What a great weekend!

this is how Sophie spent most of the parade

this is how Jackson spent all of the parade, except he ended up wearing my mittens because he wouldn't keep his on...

the family pic

the baton twirler was twirling a baton of fire...way cool

 at the pep fest

Jackson and I hanging out at the pep fest (the kids went in their pj's under their warm stuff...made going to bed so late a little easier!)

ready for the big game...getting bundled up!

9 month/3 year pictures

It was kind of nice that I could get Jackson and Sophie's pictures taken at the same time. I love some that we got of them, but was kind of bummed that there wasn't a great one of the 2 of them together. I guess we waited too long because they were DONE.  Anyway, here are some of my favorites of them!

apple orchard

I love fall.  It's my favorite time of the year.  One of the many things I look forward to is going to the apple orchard.  Today was chilly but gorgeous out so we headed to one with Kari and Addy (and another little girl that Kari was watching for the day).  It was so fun to watch the kids have fun and of course bring home a ton of apples.

Most of these pictures are Kari's.  While I love Kari as one of my closest friends and am so happy to be going through these motherhood times with her, I selfishly love that she takes amazing pictures of my kids (:  It was nearly impossible for me to narrow down my favorites to these, but here are some.  Many more will eventually be on facebook.  I think a couple of my own pictures made the cut too.  Thanks Kari!!!

weekend in KC

Besides going to 2 Twins games, we also just hung out with family.  Before we left we were able to stop by and see my grandpa & Jenny as well.  Then we had the LOOOONG drive home.  It took forever and a few tears were shed...just by the kids luckily!