Emmalyn's first trip to the Arboretum

While Shannon was here, we went to the Arboretum to enjoy all the fall pumpkins and flowers.  I LOVE the Arboretum.

Max fell asleep on the way there holding my hand (since I was in back sandwiched between the two car seats).  Totally melted my heart.  I am smitten by my sweet, loving son.

Bring on the pictures of cute kids and pumpkins!!!

Emmalyn was happy and ready to smile up a storm for the camera.

Maxwell however, wasn't happy...

Family pic

Attempts to get the two kids sitting together didn't go well...

Max wasn't happy by himself though.  I had to bribe him in order to get him to smile, but it worked.

His bribe was getting to take some pictures with Momma's camera.  He got one of each of the adults.

We explored the new children's garden for the first time.  We only got through a portion of it.

At one point I went to change Emmalyn and found a surprise.  A blowout.  All over her tights and dress.  Lovely.  Luckily I had some pants in the diaper bag but no socks.  The day was turning quite chilly so I figured she'd spend most of the rest of the time wrapped up in the blanket.

What is it about my kid's first visit to the arboretum and having major blowouts?!  (Read about Max's first time here.)  At least this time, I felt more capable of handling it and didn't freeze in the moment.  :)  So much for the cute, carefully planned outfit.  

Big kid

Jumping to dad was so much fun, over and over again...

Friends for almost 20 years!

Max did a great job holding on to her

My favorite

sweet big brother checking on his sister

Rosy cheeks and nose to go with those great lashes

Playing with Momma's camera one last time before we leave

On the way home, Emmalyn fell asleep holding my hand.  Sigh...perfection!

Shannon's Yearly Visit

Man, October is already a month filled with fun and it's only the second week!

Max rockin' his soccer fashion - Soccer fleece, warm up pants, tennis shoes

Doing some work at school

Emmalyn loves playing with that cute baby in the mirror

Crazy hair day at school - front view

Side view

This cutie has lots of festive Halloween attire.  These are her pumpkin pjs.

She is full on sleeping on her belly now.  She can roll over to her belly and then back to her back when swaddled.  She pushes back and somehow moves all over the crib.  

Love those cheeks

Late night (post 1 am nursing) cuddles.  She wants her hands to be touching momma too.

Boo!

Crawling all over

2 cute kids wearing Halloween shirts

My dear friend Shannon came to town for her annual visit.  I LOVE having her here for a weekend.  We ALL love having her here.  After picking her up at the airport and spending some time at the house, Peter, Shannon, and I went to casino night at work.  Casino night is the best!!!  And this year was another great year even though we walked away with far less than last year.  No big raffle prizes and I only won one of the things I bid on in the silent auction.  :(  I wasn't very on top of it this year.

Peter and Shannon were rockin' the craps table while I enjoyed some blackjack and socializing.

Brittany watched the kids while we were out.

Funny faces

The one thing we won in the silent auction was a FedEx Build A Bear Puppy.  I thought Max would like it, I didn't plan on him LOVING it.  He was so excited to open the box and pull out the bear.

He calls it his "special delivery" bear because his purple FedEx onesie says Special Delivery.

More to come on the rest of Shannon's fun visit...