Fall Time

We went apple pickin' with our friends last month. The kids had a blast! They didn't pick too many apples because they took a couple bites then threw them on the ground. It was lots of fun.
They would pick a couple apples then climb up onto the wagon and then eat what they picked.

Gabe and his BFF (Seth)

They liked the wagon ride.

Can you imagine adding another munchin into this photo-op? (We find out Tuesday what we're having ... hurray!)

Matt did awesome writing birthday cards to his friends. I was pretty impressed - he was too. :)

On warm days we're outside riding bikes or swinging. I figure we're not going to have very many warm days left, so might as well take advantage of it, eh? (BTW, it's been mid-70s here lately ... unbelieveable huh.)

Here's my BEAUTIFUL piano I got for my b-day thanks to my family ... THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!

Anna and Sophia love it too. :)

Alrighty, gotta put the boys to bed. TTFN

St Louis Zoo

I have way too many good pictures to upload at this point, so I'm going to do a post on different trips/events that have happened recently. Here's Matt and Gabe at the zoo.

Anna and Sophia watching the ducks.

Guess whaaat??
We couldn't find the hippos here, but the kids were very content to just watch the fish swim around.

Sophia: Hmmm, what kind of mischeif can I get into??
Anna: Come on Sophia, I don't want to get into trouble and then go back into the stroller.

Gabe loves snakes. Although he was a little nervous to go up to this big guy.

"In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight."

Towards the end of the day the girls were getting really sleepy. Anna kept laying her head on Sophia.

Lovin' Monkeys

Matt on his warthog.

Gabe loved the zebra.

I love these shots of Sophia and Anna, I had to throw them into the mix. They were taken at my Uncle Mick and Aunt Deb's house.

So you asked for "girly" pictures...

I hope you can forgive me for not posting any captions, but I have to get to bed, and I put up as many pictures of the girls as I could. I'll try to put some more up tomorrow evening. I made sure to save the best for last.

OK, one caption...

Emerson and Anna--their first kiss. He didn't even ask us! Can you believe the nerve of this kid!?

Gabe's First Real Haircut and Third Birthday

As you probably know, Gabe has had the mop-top look going for a few years now. However, one day he started asking for a hair cut like mine (Dad's). We tried to dissuade him from it, but one day, unbeknownst to us, he took his mom's clippers and cut some of the hair off from the top of his head. We didn't know he did it, and one day we asked him why there were a few strands sticking up. He told us what he did, explaining that he wanted to have a haircut like Matt's and Dad's. So we gave in, and here's the final result.

Here it is in progress, with the hair master doing what she does best...

On the side, not only does Kathryn do awesome haircuts, but she makes amazing birthday cakes for the kids. Here's an example. (This one has a special fondant frosting which is a pain to make but looks very cool.)

For your viewing pleasure

Matt chillin in the girls floaty

Gabe and Matt had the brilliant idea of putting the bottom of the slide into the pool and then sitting in a bucket and sliding into the water. It was really funny! I'll have to have Ben upload the video I took.

The first attempt at putting Sophia's hair in pigtails. She actually kept them in! I tried Anna's hair, but she pulled it out immediately. And it's too fine to be able to get a substantial size pony.

I love this one of David and Kathy giving the girls piggy-backs. (It was so nice seeing all the family and being at camp again. It's so beautiful!)

Matthew had the hose in his hand and kept telling Gabe he wanted to show him something. Then once Gabe got close he sprayed him. Evil kid.

Anna and Sophia didn't really like the sprinklers.

Gabe playing with bubbles at Grandma Putz's house on Memorial Day. We had lots of fun!

Yes, that's ANOTHER bruise on Anna's forehead.

Please keep Anna in your prayers, she was exposed to Hand, Foot, Mouth disease and we think she's coming down with it. Pray that none of the other kids would get it and that she would get over it quickly. Thanks!

Sweet Sophia.

Another matter of prayer......my co-worker, Karen, was just diagnosed with breast cancer. It's about the size of a golf ball and they want to do chemo, but she REALLY doesn't want to. She's pretty scared right now (both her parents died from cancer). So, if you could remember her in your prayers it'd be much appreciated. She is a strong Catholic and I've talked with her a few times about how her beliefs differ from mine, but haven't had the opportunity to have a really good conversation.

I have more pictures to put up, but I need to upload them first, so I'll Lord-willing get to it soon.