A visit to the pumpkin patch

We spent a foggy morning at the pumpkin patch and the girls had a great time picking out their pumpkins.  Laurel managed to choose the biggest one... and she would not let anyone even think about taking it.  It sat in the garage for a week or so and everytime we walked by it she would point out that it was her pumpkin.  And she always knew exactly which one she chose. 

Many pumpkins to choose from.

Maya found hers!

 .Laurel REALLY wanted to push the wheelbarrow herself - and she was pretty successful.

Sisters hanging out around the firepit - always impossible to get a smile from both at the same time.

With mommy.

And with Daddy.

Life Goals

Last week the theme at the girls' school was "All About Me".  They have filled out questionnaires about their favorites, shared all about their families and talked about differences between themselves and their classmates and how that makes them special.  It is one of my favorite sessions and they do it in the beginning of each 'school year'.

One of the items that was talked about was... What do you want to be when you grow up?

Maya - a mommy with red hair
Laurel - a horse

Well, OK then.

Cheese!

And GO HUSKIES!

Princess Maya

This princess crown goes with us everywhere these days.  She insists on wearing it most of the time... except for school because it is not allowed.  She is so used to having it on her head that she forgets it is there and will run around looking for it :-)

 On the ferry boat

Out for lunch

Another ferry boat

And generally around the house.  This picture is the prime example of 2 and 4 year old imaginative play.  They have their four chairs set up as a car that Maya is driving.  In the back seat are their stuffed animals.  They wanted blankets on for some reason.  And they are wearing oven mitts to protect their hands while they throw cupcakes (in the net) out to the alligators.  This entire scenario was thought up on their own.

August

Catching up a bit here... the summer is winding down and we have been busy, busy trying to enjoy it as much as we can for the last month.  Here is some of our August fun.

Lopez Island camping.  Such a fun weekend with family, these kids really do enjoy the outdoors.  The girls slept great in the tent and although we were close to packing up after a rainy Sunday morning, I'm glad we stuck it out because the weather turned great. 

Looking for crabs on the beach

Painting rocks

Cousins (and self-declared King Bennett and Queen Maya)

More cousins

 

 

We spent some days at a local river. I have a lot of childhood memories hanging out at rivers; from camping riverside in the middle of nowhere to leaf boat races in Pittsburgh.  It was fun to see the girls having the same fun.  Notice who is sitting in the water... she lasted about 30 seconds before plopping right down.  The girls practiced throwing rocks and had a blast splashing around.  We didn't exactly come prepared the first time we visited, so don't judge the outfits.  I see nothing wrong with dressed tucked into rolled up leggings and undies :-)  The second time wasn't much better... but at least I brought a towel!

 

 

 



 

And a visit to Remlinger Farms with the Wallace family (my college roommate and her family).  We don't see them very often, but it is always fun to catch up and the kids have a blast together.

 

A boat ride

Moo

Laurel wouldn't join them... are we surpised by this?







Maya helped with Laurel and Bree

 

 

And a whole lot of park time.

 



S.C.

We ventured across the country once again for the Roessler family reunion.  Such a fun trip.  The girls did fantastic, traveling is becoming much easier as they get older.  This time they even successfully shared a bed.  We enjoyed a lot of beach time, family games and stories.  It was a much needed break for us all.

The trip started out with a very early flight.  The girls had fun coloring, using stickers, reading books and watching a few movies. On the way home they both slept for 3 out of the 4 hours on the last leg.

This is how we spent most mornings... playing on the beach.  ALL of the kids loved it and it was hard to keep them away.  Laurel would have spent the entire week jumping waves if it were up to her.

We had most of the beach to ourselves.

 Maya wasn't quite as excited about the waves, but she ventured out a few times.

Digging, digging, digging.  The fun never ends.

More swimming, more jumping.

We ventured to Cypress Gardens.  It was a really fun place for the kids... we started out in a Butterfly Garden with the butterflys flying all around us.

The little girls were watching out for alligators (and according to them, hippos as well).

We took a boat ride through the swamp on a lookout for alligators. 

Cousins and best buds.

Maya and Grandma on the boat.

The whole crew.

Granny Pat told a nightly story to the fourth generation.  The older kids really got into it and looked forward to it each evening.  You can see them listening and fully concentrating in the next few pictures.

 

They would talk anyone they could into reading them a story.

 

 

   Three silly naked girls.  It was fun to watch them play together now that they are getting older.  I am excited to watch their relationships grow.  We think we've already nailed their personalities... time tell us if we are right!

Games!

Snuggles!

The house had a playground, which was great when the house was filled with little ones who needed to get their pent up energy out. 

 

And we spent an afternoon playing in the fountains in downtown Charleston.

 

We couldn't ask for a better family!  Grandpa and Adam... you were missed and remain in our hearts always.