September and October

Another full couple of months have whizzed by. In September my family came to visit and we did some fun things, mostly Carli's favorite activities. Some highlights were:
* visiting the American Girl doll store
* picking out the girliest big girl bike imaginable
* shopping with my sister
* visiting Bass Pro Shop aka "The Animal Store"

We were able to bless Janie with family here, which made us really happy.

Our first family of four picture.

So grateful for our family who traveled a long way to be part of the special day.

Janie (like Carli) wore a dress I made from the job I had while I was pregnant with Carli.

Logan's parents came the week after the blessing. Some highlights were similar, but here are some others:
* a ride on the trolley downtown
* a visit to the trains
After they left, my brother and his family came to visit. Our highlights with them included:
* Cousins!
* Trip to the museum
* The state fair
* Six Flags (in which I did not partake, but enjoyed time with the kids much more.)
Wish I'd gotten pictures, hopefully I can get some from my sister in-law.
Last week we went to the pumpkin patch with playgroup. Carli so thoroughly enjoyed it that she begged daily to go back with Daddy. I mean, who wouldn't love finding The Little Einsteins and Strawberry Shortcake just your size?!

 Carli was afraid of the bounce houses when I went with her, but her Daddy brings out the fearlessness in her, so here she is going down the slide

 Daddy and Carli on the hayride.

 Carli so thrilled to have all of us on the hayride together. (That's her new thing, we have to do EVERYTHING together.

Me and my girls. Do you know how fun it is to say that?!

Even though life is busy, we love it!

In the mind of an almost-3-year-old

A few things Carli has said lately. I love that I'm getting such fun glimpses into her thoughts and personality.

* I was talking to my brother on the phone when he was visiting, trying to make plans to get together. I had given Carli a chocolate chip cookie before I called. I guess I wasn't saying the things she wanted me to say, because she shoved the last bite of cookie in front of my eyes and said, "Here, you have the cookie, I'll talk to Uncle Jason."

* At dinner we were telling Carli that Janie will make sounds before she can talk. For example, babababa, mamamama, dadadada, etc. I was teasing with Logan and asked Carli, "Do you think Janie will say mamamama or dadadada first?" Without skipping a beat she said, "I think she'll say Carli Carli Carli."

* Today I was changing Janie's diaper on my bed, and as always, Carli was helping. Carli was looking at a pencil drawing of Logan and me from a picture that was taken when we'd been married about a year. In this distant, matter-of-fact voice she said, "That picture was when Mommy and Daddy were vivacious." (I always tell her that she's vivacious, but I can only imagine how she put that thought together.)