Our little Monkeys!

One weekend in late October, Daddy and Mommy decided that everyone just needed to get out of the house so we picked up and drove to Pottstown to try out an indoor play center, Monkey Joes.  Gwen and Cole loved all of the inflatable slides.  Reid was very hesitant at first but did have fun running around outside of the inflatables and watching the big kids play.  I know i've said it a million times but our kids just have ENERGY.  It usually starts with Cole getting wound up and then Gwen follows.  Now Reid is at an age where he wants to run and play with the big kids but in all of their craziness the poor little guy usually gets knocked to the ground.  He really is a tough cookie and has been known to hit and scream when he is not being treated fairly.  We're thinking someday he's going to be bigger than G & C and i'm guessing he will one day give it right back to them!

Trick or Treating Halloween 2012

So we've officially moved past the time when Gwen and Cole did not realize that there was actually candy inside the candy wrappers.  This year they were super excited to go Trick or Treating and to EAT all of their goodies.  We met up with the Vasqueis Family and the Svetcov Family and the big kids had fun running up to the doors with their older friends.  Reid pooped out after a few houses so he and Daddy headed home to hand out candy.  Daddy said that Reid was overjoyed to look out the windows at all of the trick or treaters and to help hand out candy.

 Does this pose look familiar?

MMLV Halloween Party- 10/21/12

For Halloween, Cole decided he wanted to be a shark and Gwen said she wanted to be a "princess".  When I found the adorable Nemo costume, I was super excited that for once we would have a theme :)  Reid went around making kissing noises every time he saw his costume and demanded that we put it on him.  In fact, it is still hanging in the coat closet and when he sees me open the closet he still runs over to make fish noises.

 Waiting for the start of the Halloween Parade.

 Our attempt at a pic of all three kids.  The big kids thought that pulling on Reid's hat would "help" him pose for the picture.  They also enjoyed squeaking the hat.

 Hanging with the big kids

 Mummy Reid!

Reid got the hang of wrapping Mommy

Jumping ahead...A Milestone Kind of Day...

I know I'm not all caught up on the blog at this point but I had to log in to write about the day we had today, 11/29/12.  When the kids woke up this morning, REid and Gwen noticed the Elf on the Shelf who was hanging out on the picture display shelf in our foyer.  While i was pumping for a very unhappy and hungry little man, I read the kids the Elf on the Shelf book.  It was such a cool moment to see their excitement about Elfie the Elf (they named him themselves).  They ran out to the foyer to check on him often throughout the day and to tell him all about their holiday wishes.  When Reid refused to take a morning nap, we got ready and took a walk (bike ride for cole; stroller pushing for Gwen and stroller ride for REid) in the cold to burn a little energy and we ended up at the Kiss Family home for a morning playdate.  The kids had a blast and Lauren and i got to chat for a little while.  After lunch, Reid went down for his nap at 12:30 pm and slept until 2:45 pm!  This is one of the longest naps he's ever taken.  I guess i do have to mention that the other morning he napped for 2 hours in the car.  I would have been thrilled about the morning nap except he chose to do it on the snowy day when the sun was not shining so mommy sat in the car FREEZING for a good portion of the nap time.  Back to my point-- Reid's middle of the day long nap was awesome.  He also decided today that he enjoyed meat and ate more salty meat than i think my kids have ever had (sausage for breakfast; turkey lunchmeat for lunch and chicken nuggets for dinner).  As i was making dinner, i looked into the family room to check on the kids who were watching TV and noticed the REid had learned how to climb onto the ottoman.  My little risk taker was standing on the ottoman!  OH and one more fun milestone today was that Reid put together two signs.  I was tickling him and he signed "more, more, more" and then made up his own sign for "tickle".  He signed "more, more, more tickle" for at least 10 mintues while we giggled together :)

Reid at Longwood Children's Garden

Here Reid shows us his love for water at The Children's Garden.  Too bad this does not translate to him enjoying baths (The kid still refuses to sit in the bathtub!)  Oh and some random man thought Reid was so cute that he also caught him on video.

Longwood Gardens 10/20/12

Cole, Gwen, Reid and I met up with Nana and Pap at Longwood Gardens for a beautiful day of exploring while Daddy worked on painting Gwen's big girl room.  We could not have asked for a nicer fall day and as Nana always says:  "WE could not have asked for better behaved children" :)  

 Reid first discovers the fountains at The Children's Garden

 Everyone tried to catch the water as it went down the hill.

 Painting was a big hit.  Reid only tried to eat the paintbrush twice.

 Reid decided it would be fun to put his head in the fountain (see next post for video of this action!)

 Right about now Mommy was thinking:  "I sure hope Daddy did not take the bin of extra clothes out of the van" because the towels that Longwood provided were not going to help much.

 Wet drummers.

 Reid checks out a birdhouse in a case while hanging out in the treehouse.

 Our dry clothes may not be stylish but at least we're dry!

Checking out the trains.  Cole was mesmerized and spent at least 30 minutes just watching them go by.

Weis Tour- 10/19/12

Club Mom organizer, Marissa, arranged for our group to have a preschool tour of the local grocery store.  This was the first time the store was offering this activity so we just kind of went with the flow (have I ever mentioned how much easier it is to 'go with the flow' when it is just me and I don't have THREE kids in tow?).  Anyway...I did manage to stay patient and Cole, Gwen and Reid all enjoyed making cupcakes and pizza as well as visiting the lobsters and other sections of the store.  Everyone was very well behaved considering we were there for over 2 hours.  I'm thinking maybe someone should give them some feedback that two hours is about an hour too long for little dudes!

Getting ready to make the pizza :)