Halloween 2014

Halloween was a spooktacular day.  Nelson was a pirate, I was a cat, Emily a skeleton, and Lily a pumpkin.  We enjoyed a Halloween dinner with my parents earlier in the week.  We had Witch's meatloaf, ghost mashed potatoes, and carrot goblin fingers.  On Halloween we went trick-or-treating with our friends the Green's.  Emily loved the idea of getting candy from neighbors!

Festive Fall with Nana and Grandpa

Nana and Grandpa came for a fun fall visit.  Lily and Emily loved the snuggles, giggles, stories, walks and adventures with them.  The fun began with Emily and Daddy carving pumpkins.  Emily loved the texture experience in touching the seeds and goop.  Nana and Grandpa later helped carve the pumpkins face.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a final product picture of their darling smiling faces.

We enjoyed a Target shopping trip with Nana and Grandpa.  Emily loved exploring the toy and Halloween isles with them.  Nana and Grandpa "treated" her with a some new jammies that have Elsa and Anna on them.  They are a favorite thing to wear and take much convincing to get off each morning!  However, they are a great motivator for my little bath fish to get dressed at night!

Emily was delighted to have some "face time" with Aunt Sissa.  She loves to talk to Sissa on the phone and thought it was so neat to see her face.  Emily was thrilled to show Sissa her new jammies!

Lily loved to be held, cuddled, and smiled at.  Nana was particularly good to make sweet Lily smile lots!  Lily is becoming quite alert, attentive, and engaging.  I love the way she smiles at my face and the sound of my voice.  She is a sweetheart!

Lily 3 Months

There's no tricks about it, Lily is 3 months.  She is our sweetest Halloween treat.  It has been fun to continue to see Lily's personality blossom as she grows.  As I look back at her newborn pictures, I am reminded of how TOO quickly my girls are growing.  Each day I seek to soak in each moment I have with them.  Sometimes the days are hectic, but the moments I have are special.  

Here are some highlights of Lily this past month:

• Loves to suck on her fist.  She can almost fit the whole fist in her mouth.  
• Smiles lots, especially for mommy & Emily
• Loves to observe Emily.  Emily loves to touch her head and "be soft" with her.
• Sleeps well through the night, and catnaps during the day.
• Loves snuggle with Mommy and Mommy loves to snuggle right back.
• Loves to play on her floor mat and bouncy chair.
• Hates the car!  This makes for long rides of crying.
• Enjoys the outdoors.

Piano Lessons

Most days when I teach piano or tutor, Emily has a fun play date with someone in the ward.   On Fridays though Emily gets to stay and play with my piano students while they take turns with lessons.  It is interesting to see the way Emily mimics me in so many ways, including teaching piano.  Today she wanted to sit on the piano bench and play the piano with a piano book in front of her.  To begin Emily would open the book and insist I stand to the side of her, just like I do in a piano lesson.  She would then play and sing a song, turn the page, and repeat again.  What a silly girl!  Emily is quite talented for sure with music!!

Caught Green Handed

Emily is my little gardener helper.  Our tomatoes and peppers have been producing their second round of produce after the heat of summer.  Each day Emily likes to help me water the plants and attend to the ripe pickings.  However, the other day when I wasn't looking I found Emily had filled the bucket with the green tomatoes.  Oh well, they will ripen on the counter!

Lily's Tricks and Treats

Lily is such a cute little eater.  I love watching her eat with her fist close to her face as if guarding anyone from her tasty treat.  When Lily has had a good feed, she can be a little sleepy making a darling satisfied face.  Lily also has found her fist.  She loves to suck on her right hand after eating.

I also love watching Lily sleep.  She definitely loves to snuggle with mom, and always seems to sleep longer when being held.  I love our snuggle times!

Playground Fun

With cooler fall weather, Emily, Lily, and I love to go to the park.  We love the cool breezes, rays of sunshine, and fun to be had just down the street.  Emily is becoming quite the climber.  She is learning to climb around the playground so well.  I love watching her eyes glow when she accomplishes something new and discovers a new way of fun.

The other day I found Emily under the slide in a gathered pile of wood chips.  She was throwing the wood chips in the air and giggling with delight.  Soon we will have fall leaves to do this with.