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Happy Hallobirthday Fisher!  We love you.

Melissa Visits!

We spent last week living up Michigan fall with aunt Melissa visiting from the East Coast.

We spent time at the pumpkin patch (our fifth of the season) and got lost in a corn maze. .  .

We Skyped with aunt Erica in Mexico, made delicious recipes and spent lots of time trying to make sure neither of these two were in tears .  .  . 

Melissa dropped Fisher off at preschool, previewed his Halloween costume and took time to carve a pumpkin with the little man.

Here's a link to a video of Fisher pumpkin carving.  Listen closely to hear him say "carve pumpkin" in Fisher talk.  He talks a lot now.  Have I mentioned that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNRbgdIHoGE

It was such a treat to have her here all to ourselves (although we did miss Sean!). I am always sad when we part ways with any of our siblings.  Fisher loves being with them and so do we.  Come again soon!

First Smiles

Fall Colors

Spring Lake as photographed through my front door on my iPhone.  No filter .  Fall is the best.

Maybe next time the clouds reflect like a mirror on the water I should grab my real camera.  . .or at least step outside.

Pumpkin Torture

My mother and sister think the below photo is cruel.  I think keeping me up for three hours in the middle of the night is cruel.  Let's call it even.

Yes I know I'm the adult and she's the baby, but still. . .

Don't worry she still likes me.  The above picture was taken maybe 45 seconds after the pumpkin terror photo.  She is quick to forgive and (hopefully) forget.

Little Bear

Hard to believe this little bear cub is just shy of eight weeks old and weighs 11lbs.  Time flies when you are having fun!

Locals

You know you've gone local when you make the cover of the local paper.  You know you live in a small town when your neighbor drops off a hard copy because obviously you don't subscribe to a hard copy periodical in the year 2013!  And when a preschool pumpkin picking outing is worthy of 3/4 of the front page.

Note Grace Louise is also in the photo but hidden and like always hard to miss super tall Nick.  

Little lady, Big eyes

My phone is missing and with it all the photos of Grace Louise's first six weeks on earth.  Sorry little one.  And no I didn't back up!  Everyone quit asking me that . . .I never even plugged my phone into my computer.  Don't act so surprised.

Poor Gracie. . .no photos. . .typical second born.  I've been trying to make up for it by taking ipad photos.  Have you ever tried taking photos of your kid on a hayride with an iPad?  Equal parts awkward and embarrassing.  Time to whip out the real camera since I still don't have a phone.  

In the mean time ill leave you with an iPad shot of the little one with big eyes.

Indian Summer

Last swim of the season . . . October 11th!

It's a good day to be almost two when you spend your morning picking pumpkins off the vine at a local farm, your afternoon swimming in the front yard and your evening sipping cider at the cider mill down the street.  

I'm getting used to country living.

Dear Gracie

Dear Gracie,

Thanks for being the best baby ever.  I'm kind of obsessed with you.  I hope your low key disposition and resistance to tears sticks with you as you age.  No one likes a cryer.  

I never knew I needed a daughter, but now that you are here I can't imagine life without you.  I know you may find this hard to believe considering the amount of times I have forgotten you, but you are so quiet in that swing!  Sometimes you have to peep up if you want your way.  Your brother can teach you about this in the future, he has been a professional peeper since birth.

 How different you two already are. . . And yes I love you both equally.  As a probable middle child I know you are going to ask this a lot.  Remember I am a middle child too. I know what it's like to go to the zoo and not see the monkeys, even though your brother got to see the snakes and your sister the giraffes. 25 years later it still burns.  I'll always take you to see the monkeys.  

Mostly I promise to always try my best with you and not to leave you in the swing so much that you get a flat head.

Much love,

Your mom

Dapper Dudes, Cuddly Cousins & Awesome Aunts

We had a fun but exhausting visit to Chicago earlier this month.  Alison and Dylan made the trip from Seattle.  It was great to catch up with them and Fisher was obsessed with Dylan.  It gave me hope that he may one day warm to Gracie Lou- one day. . .maybe. 

Stuck

According to Fisher he is often "Stuck".  Kind of like the boy who cried wolf, I often ignore him when I hear shouts of "help, stuck, stuck" coming from the other room. Mean mom.

Alas, sometimes he really finds himself in a bind.  

Hopefully the AT&T guy in India has forgiven me for hanging up on him.  Fishy really was stuck.  I was happy to offer an assist up and a new pair of pants.  Good mom.

Birthday rewind

Happy 31st Birthday to me!

Fisher made sure my day started early.  As my friend Brooke said, "you have extra time to celebrate!".  She probably thinks my empty water glass is half full too.  I will admit we live on the northeast side of the lake and mornings are the loveliest time.  5:30am never looked so good. Ok this picture was taken about 7am, but you get the point.

I spent the morning waiting for the Best Buy guy to hang our TV.  Fun times, but worth it to finally cross that to do item off the extensive house chore list.  Fast forward to cupcakes with the little man and Gracie at a local bakery.  Delicious.  Can't miss an opportunity for cake on your birthday.  Even if it gives your already hyper almost 2 year old a sugar high.

Fisher let out off his sugar fueled energy during a late afternoon play date.  We have a park at the end of our street.  We are often playing there when Nick drives home from work in the evening.  Fisher loves the surprise of seeing his Dad's car drive by.  He generally takes off for "home" in a full sprint down the street to meet dad.  He is fast.

We then grabbed a pizza and made it to the beach for a picnic and sunset.  This was Grace's first trip to the beach.

The day finished with cake bought by Nick specifically because it matched the house.  This made me laugh.  He knows me well. Yes my house has lots if teal.  I love teal.  I think I'm in the minority with this love.  

All and all it was a beautiful fall day spent with family and friends.  What more could I want?  (trip to Europe would have been nice). Hoping 31 is the best year yet :). Maybe we'll even make it across the pond. . .