More October Photos

Gone for Awhile

Well, I went back to work a few days after my last post. I've been there about 5 months, some days have been good and some have been bad, but all have been busy.

I'm moving on to a new job at the same place starting the 30th. I'll be working on a different floor with some really nice people, I got a slight raise and I'll be working in promotions again. Hopefully things will be less stressful and I'll post more often.

Here are some photos from Halloween, that is if any of you are still out there and still check this thing. Let me know if you do and you saw this. It will let me know if I have any motivation whatsoever to keep it going.

How tall this Fall?

With the treat pails mommy made for them.

With the neighbors on the porch just before going trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating. I love this photo of them peeking in the door.

Playing in the Sprinkler

The kids wanted to get out the sprinkler and play in the yard earlier this week. It was funny for two reasons -1) they chose a cloudy day and 2) they both are somewhat scared of the sprinkler! Here are pics from that day -- they are pretty funny.

Running from the sprinkler

Running

Really running

Finally playing in the sprinkler

Trying to get up the nerve to run at the sprinkler again

Adjusting the sprinkler

Last Day of School

The last day of school has come and gone. Conall will be entering first grade next year. For an end of the year gift for his teacher, Ms. Dorman, he gave her an echinacea plant.
At the beginning of the year Conall argued with Ms. Dorman about the name of the coneflower plant they were planting in the Kindergarten garden. He kept telling her it wasn't a coneflower, it was an echinacea plant. She didn't believe him and kept correcting him. Later in the day, she looked it up and realized that echinacea is another name for the coneflower plant. She was amazed that he knew such a big word and had him repeat it for other adults when they visited the classroom. I think she got quite a kick out of it! So, we gave her an echinacea plant for her end of the year gift. She told Conall that she was going to name it "Conall' which he thinks is really funny!

Conall, Ms. Dorman and "Conall" the echinacea plant

Bicycle Washing

Conall convinced Caitlin to help him wash his bicycle one day last week. They even got paper towels and were wiping it down -- a boy after his Pop Pop's heart!

You can see Conall is bossing Caitlin in this one.

Boy Fishing Day

While Caitlin and I enjoyed a girlie day of shopping and playing at Na Na's, the boys went fishing at Petit Jean Mountain at Cedar Falls. Conall was so excited that he was up at 5:30 a.m. ready to go! It took a little longer to get daddy out of bed and all of us ready to go!

At the bait shop and ready to fish!

We woke Caitlin up, put her in the car, and headed to the bait shop to get worms. From there, we went to Na Na's, where Po Po was waiting with his truck and the fishing equipment. The boys headed off to Petit Jean and had a great day. Apparently, Conall even caught two catfish at once! They also caught Bluegills and a Pumpkinseed fish.

Such a happy boy!

I believe Conall named these rocks, but you'd have to ask daddy what he named them

The boys came home later in the day, exhausted, but happy. Even Conall was speechless for part of the hike back up the mountain, and then, the ride home.

Po Po and Conall fishing

Conall with a fish on the line

Po Po throwing the fish back

Girlie Day With Na Na

The boys went fishing yesterday, so Caitlin and I had a fun girlie day with Na Na. Caitlin played in the wading pool at Na Na's, went shopping, played a few board games, played with blocks, watched a couple of Dora movies and then, when Conall got back from fishing, played in the wading pool again.

Playing in the pool

Watching the rain during a downpour

Playing "Hi Ho! Cherry-O" with Na Na

Caitlin made up her own rules -- she wanted all of the cherries on the tree

Watching Dora with Na Na

Princess Ballerina and Saying Goodbye

Caitlin's new best friend, and our next door neighbor, Natalie, and her family moved this weekend. Both Conall and Caitlin cried when they left. We have exchanged phone numbers and have promised to stay in touch and get the kids together for play dates.
While they were packing the cars for the last time, Natalie and Jay came to play with Caitlin and Conall. Natalie played dress up with Caitlin, dressing her as a princess ballerina. Then, she taught Caitlin how to pirouette.

Hanging Out With Pop Pop

Making cookies with Pop Pop -- Conall's special thing to do with his grandpa

Caitlin "I want to help too" and then she went over and pushed Conall off the stool

Sitting in Pop Pop's chair

"Cheese" and making cookies again

Helping  Pop Pop with the computer

Conall "helping" with the computer

Kindergarten Graduation

I can't believe that my little boy is old enough to be starting first grade next year! His school had Kindergarten graduation today and he was so excited that he got up before 6 a.m. He has been climbing the walls ever since!
They did several song performances and then each child, all 80 of them, got their "diploma". Caitlin only had one potty trip and lasted through about 40 of them before Na Na took her outside to play. I think that's pretty good for a 3 year old.
Still, I can't believe Conall is here. I mean, my baby can read, write and spell now (no more spelling things out so that he doesn't know what we're talking about)! Not to mention all of the other things he's mastered, some much easier to accomplish than others.
Lately, I've just been happy to see him get into a wading pool or sprinkler barefoot -- no socks or water shoes! That is a major thing for him. The small things like that seem so big and you feel every moment of them and then, bam, they are graduating from Kindergarten. Wow! The past six years really have gone by fast.

Getting his "diploma" with his teacher

Waiting to be Served

Every night (or lunch when Conall is home) Inkspot jumps up in Conall's chair at dinnertime. We think he figures Conall is his best bet for getting table scraps, but Inkspot has persisted whether or not he gets food. Inkspot isn't willing to pass up the opportunity despite all of our best efforts to discourage him.  Of course, Conall thinks it is funny, which is probably why he continues to do it!

Want a carrot?

"Can't you do better than a carrot? I am soooo not interested."

Waiting to be served ...

Sibling Fun

Riding tigers in the living room.

Falling off tigers ...

Conall and Caitlin have gotten along really well lately and have played well together (now that I've said this, I'm sure it will change). Conall has even been a super sweet big brother and played dress up with Caitlin -- they have worn wings and played like they were fairies from Tinker Bell.

Playing Tinker Bell fairies