Iain's Getting Old

This came for him in the mail yesterday. Seriously. I mean, he is older than me, but I didn't think he was THIS old.

Shenandoah

We went to Shenandoah National Park yesterday. It was beautiful! The leaves are changing colors (really, my first time ever to see the fall leaves in such a vast expanse), the weather was gorgeous, and everyone was happy. We'll have to go again when Avery gets home from Mim's house (which, by the way, she seems to be enjoying, but I don't think she's allowed to be away from me again for more than a day until she's approximately 18). =)

While there, we were able to fend off a cute 3-year-old troll (we had to make silly faces and do silly dances to get by). Audrey also amazingly had cell phone reception in the woods and was able to arrange for the princesses to meet us later for dinner.

Here are a couple of pix. I can pretty much guarantee that this is an outfit that will follow her for the next 50 years of her life, but I didn't have much control. She insisted on her overalls (she only has them in the shorts variety) and frog boots. I told her she had to wear something underneath because it was too cold, so she chose the striped leggings with the flower shirt. I'm a smart enough mom not to argue with a happy 3-year old over clothes for a picnic! =)

Today

Audrey's class was making a book about growing up and she had to have a recent picture. Me, being a good mom, has about zero recent printed pictures (we have tons that are digitally available and even some in a frame, but none ready to go to a school project). So I took this one this morning. Quite beautiful!

Separately, Iain scored us a behind-the-scenes tour of the Capitol building today. It was really interesting. Here's a pic of us after the tour.

Avery, we love you!

Ava

So our adorable niece was here last week (oh yeah, her parents were here too). And when I say adorable, I don't mean adorable like "oh, of course, everyone's own niece is adorable." I mean adorable in the "so stinkin' cute I can't stand it" kind of way.

I'm sorry to say, though, that I only managed to take one pic of her while she was visiting (very, very lame). Here are the 3 of them watching TV.

And speaking of nieces, we're expecting 2 more in January. And I use the term "we're expecting" very loosely. It's really my sister-in-law who will endure the joy (or something like that) of delivering twin girls! We're super excited!

Funny Things

Last week, Audrey (who pretends to be Alyssa) walked into the bathroom where Avery (who Audrey pretends is Wyatt) was in the bathtub.

Audrey: "Hi. My name's Audrey. What's your name?"
Avery: "Avery."
Audrey: "No. No, you're Wyatt."
Avery: "Wyatt."
Audrey: "Well, it's nice to meet you Wyatt."

Two weeks ago:

Audrey: "Mommy, I need to go make a work call."
Me: "Okay."
Audrey: "No, I need to do it from my bedroom. But you can listen."

[Up the stairs. Audrey dials plastic phone.]

Audrey (on the phone): "Hello. Cinderella? This is Snow White. I'm the real Snow White and you and Ariel are the pretend ones. Okay? Okay. Bye."

Audrey (to me): "Okay, I'm done with my work call. I'm ready to go."

Yesterday at nap time:
[Audrey is asleep in the basement. I'm getting Avery tucked into her bed in her bedroom. She's lying down and I lie next to her on the floor.]

Avery: "I lie on floor."
Me: "No, you need to lie in your bed."
Avery: "No, floor."
Me: "No, it's much, much more comfortable in your bed."
Avery: "No, much, MUCH com-fur-bul on floor."
Me: "Okay, but you can't switch back."
Avery: "Okay."

[30 seconds later, she's sound asleep on the floor.]

Busch Gardens

On Saturday, we went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg with some great friends of ours from San Diego (they moved to this area at the same time we did).

The girls (in total, five children between the two families, ages 4, 3 1/2, 2 1/2, 2 and 5 months) had a SUPER time (except the moment when the Sesame Street characters came out ... Avery thought she was excited to meet them, until she actually saw them, at which point she wrapped her arms around my neck, buried her face in my shoulder, and didn't move until I told her that we were safely away. When Elmo came out, she was brave enough to look at him, give him a super fast high-five, and then bury her face again). Audrey rode her first roller coaster (she wasn't scared but said she didn't want to ride it again). As we were leaving, the park's "Spooktacular" was starting for Halloween. People with chainsaws. People with masks. Bushes moving. We told the girls to close their eyes.

Here are a few pix.

Runaway

I'm not posting this to try to scare any grandparents ... only to help me remember since my multiple attempts at keeping a normal journal keep failing.

Yesterday, we got home from church and all came inside. While I was fixing lunch, Audrey came in the kitchen and said "Hurry, hurry, Avery's going a long way!" So I asked "where?" and she said "I don't know. Come!" So the 3 of us ran outside, down the driveway and didn't see her anywhere. I was about to go look in the backyard, when Iain spied her at the next door neighbor's house, trying to get into their swing. So apparently, after we all came in from church, Avery decided to go back outside and take a little afternoon stroll solo. Of course, she wasn't the least bit fazed when we found her (she didn't know she was lost), though she's now been warned that if it happens again, she has a spanking in her future. And mad props to Audrey for coming to tell us! It makes my heart start racing again, even thinking about it. Anyway, lesson learned!