Pumpkin Patch

I took my kids to the pumpkin patch. I think this picture sums it up nicely.

A Morning in the Life of a Superhero

0800 hours: Eat a healthy breakfast.

 0802 hours: Practice an entrancing gaze.

 0900 hours: Converse with sidekick about combatting evil. Form a plan for the rest of the day's events.

 0902 hours: Practice loopy gaze.

 0930 hours: Exercise calves and practice leaps. Also practice crazed gaze.

 1000 hours: Attend community event. Mingle with the people. Hug a bear.

 1003 hours: Run into your old friend, Woody and cheer him up because he looks sad. Compliment his hat.

 1015 hours: Listen to a story about pumpkins. Then give a presentation about proper Halloween safety.

 1040 hours: Pose for pictures with old friend, Mr. Dragon.

 1100 hours: Take clothing to Goodwill. Proceed to crawl on your hands and knees through the store while your superhero mom cringes in disgust.

1130 hours: Visit Target and bring smiles to people's faces.

1200 hours: Eat a superhero lunch of (what else?) peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, yogurt, and water.

1230 hours: Watch "Cars" while taking a breather on the couch.

1250 hours: Change into civilian clothes. Practice a stealth crawl.

 1300 hours: Nap time!

Finally Caught on Camera!

Close...

 Closer...

Almost there...

Got it!

We keep getting letters in the mail from the homeowners association about various things we need to fix or else we will get a fine. First, they sent us a few letters concerning our trash can being in plain view.

Give me a break. You can hardly see it. (I originally took this picture to show our giant dead tree which we have since removed.)

They're still sending those, but in addition to that, now they're on our case about our weeds. We know we've got weeds, it's just that Dan's been really busy w/ work stuff, I have a newborn to watch, and we're waiting until the weather gets cooler before we plant things/weed our garden. Back off, people! I wonder if one of our neighbors is complaining about us or if someone drives around slowly finding issues with each house...

Sunday Afton turned 2 months old. She gave us a present of sleeping from 9pm until 6:45 that morning. Usually she's been waking up around 5, but we think it's because she wakes up when Dan turns on the shower. Since it was Sunday, that didn't happen! Since she's been doing so well, we moved her out of our closet and into a room of her own. She woke up this morning at 6:10, ate, and is still sleeping at 9:22. Very exciting! She's started smiling more, but we haven't captured one of her big smiles yet.

But she usually looks like this:

Sam and me reading a book.

And a preview of Sam's halloween costume. He got to wear it to a party this weekend. He loves it. Sometimes he puts it on just because. He wanted me to take pictures of him in it while he ran around.

Bye for now!

Have you ever ridden a camel?

I have. My dismount left something to be desired. I think I pulled a muscle. Not only that, but apparently several people from church saw me trying to get off that thing...

In the order the pictures were taken.

First, I wanted to learn how to applique so I started by practicing on a onesie. Here's Afton modeling the finished product.

(She has a hemangioma on the top of her head. Hopefully hair will cover it!)

Sam saw me taking pictures of Afton so he wanted to show off his pumpkin.

 Mom and Dad Cheney flew out on Friday to spend the weekend with us. (Afton's blessing was on Sunday.) We went to the park and hung out, and went out to dinner on Friday. They spent Saturday w/ my brother and Sunday with us again until my dad left for a business trip. Mom left on Monday.

 Dan's parents and Dan's brother's family came late Friday. Saturday we went to the Houston Zoo. Here's Sam and Audrey.

 Looking at monkeys.

 Sam, Cecilia, Zev, and Carmen.

 Sam, Grandma and Grandpa Durst, Afton, Cecilia and Carmen before church.

 As I mentioned, Afton was blessed in church on Sunday. It was a beautiful blessing. We took pictures before church but the lighting was really bad. I didn't think it was that bad while we were taking the pictures...

Cheney family.

Durst family.

Mom and her grandbabies before she flew home.

 Mom D snuggling with Afton. After this she gave Afton a bum massage. Afton was loving it. Seriously.

 Mom and Dad Durst bought Afton a playmat. Sam got in on the action.

Sam:

His latest favorite lunch is a "peanut butter and jam sandwich." He has, on occasion, eaten 3 during one meal. (It's just one slice, folded over.)

For breakfast, he typically has Lucky Charms. He eats most of it, but leaves the last little bit when he sees that there aren't any more marshmallows left.

He likes to sleep with two stuffed animals (he calls them "fox" and "blue bear") during his naps and at night.

We've been trying to teach him to be soft with Afton. Now whenever he does something that we don't like and tell him "no" he looks at us and says, "Softly." Thinking that if he does it softly, we'll tell him it's okay. Yesterday he told us he wanted to ride his motorcycle down our flight of stairs "softly." Not gonna happen, kid.

He likes to go on walks to feed the ducks. He also really likes going to friends' houses and having friends over to play.

He watches portions of either Toy Story 2 or Cars practically every day except Sunday.

Sam likes to pick out Afton's clothes. The other day he picked this ensemble. It reminds me of my favorite Starburst flavors.

He talks nonstop and is so much fun! I love the stage he's in.

Every time we take a picture of Afton, he wants us to take one of him, too. That's how we got these:

I think he's got the prettiest blue eyes ever!

Afton:

Afton is either asleep or crying. I thought things were getting better, but she's been crying for the past 2 hours, so I guess I was wrong.

She is also quiet when she gets her diaper changed and (usually) when she takes a bath.

She likes her bath water hot, just like I do.

She likes to snuggle with Dan.

She's done a few 7-hour stretches at night, but she's usually up at 1 and 5 in the morning.