Fall Leaves

 

We have a lot of hardwoods in our yard so the kids are really enjoying the leaves this fall.  They throw them in the air, ride their bikes through piles of them, and best of all, slide down into a big heap of leaves!

Who doesn't love just throwing leaves up into the air??!!!  Oh how we love this time of year!

Our little mommy loves to push her brother on the swings

Happy Halloween

 

Here's the Pinto crew this Halloween.....Bob the Builder, Little Red Riding Hood and our Little Henry Pumpkin.  This year we enjoyed a Mom's club Halloween party, a preschool trunk or treat, and trick or treating for the first time in our new neighborhood.  Mommy isn't a big fan of Halloween but I have to admit, this year was fun with the kids!

Look at the admiration in little sister's eyes...so true to form!  And look at how proud our little construction man is...also very true to form!!

And then there's sweet little Henry....smiling as always....once again, very true to form!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

 

 In mid October we visited the pumpkin patch at Kinsey Family Farms.  It was an unseasonably warm day but that was great because the kids were able to do a lot of running around, enjoying the sunshine.  The kids enjoyed finding all shapes and sizes of pumpkins.....and they enjoyed the red wagons as much or more than the pumpkins themselves!  What a fun autumn day!

Trying out the farmer's tractor

Going on a hayride

Nicholas thought these scarecrows were so funny.

Henry 8 Months Old

 Henry has become a rolling machine this month!  He seems to feel no need to crawl because he just rolls where he wants to go.  He also enjoys sitting on a blanket and playing, especially in the company of his brother and sister...he continues to be very entertained by them.  He likes to shake rattles or hit toys together to make noise.  He's quite attached to mommy these days...he's an angel for me during the day but tends to give daddy or babysitters a hard time.  He is still not sleeping well at night..likes to nurse a lot.  Up until the past week he has had very little interest in food at all...we have to trick him to get him to eat much of anything, especially fruit, but just recently he seems to be turning the corner and starting to eat a bit more...hopefully that will help with the sleeping soon!  He remains a very smiling, happy little guy.  Everywhere we go people comment to me how much he smiles...which makes us smile too!  He has started babbling a lot this month too..saying "bababa" like he's having a full conversation with you.  He has also started trying to "sing" at Mass so we are starting to frequent the cry room.  He loves to be sung too and often that will calm him if he is upset.  He's a ticklish little guy, full of rolls, whom we just want to snuggle and hug and kiss all the time.....we love you so much Henry!

Family Vacation

 

In early October we took a week long family vacation to the Isle of Palm, SC, just off the Charleston coast.  It was so nice!  The kids built sand castles and played on the beach several days.  We visited the aquarium in Charleston, we had fun picnics and dinners out, took the kids to various playgrounds, and just relaxed together as a family (well, as much as one can relax with small children :-) 

This is our best attempt at getting a picture of the three kids together smiling...a tough feet!

We stayed at Wild Dunes Resort

This was Henry's first trip to the ocean.

Notice the fist full of sand....such an innocent look but the sand was going right for the mouth right after the picture was taken!

They all liked the sand

Fun at the playground

Gracie always loves to swing

Pinto kiddo bath

Grace enjoys the good ole southern rockers

Waiting for lunch on the boardwalk

Our visit to the aquarium

Henry was a natural little beach baby!

Happy Birthday Grace!

 

We had a small family party at home to celebrate Grace's birthday.  Grandma and Grandpa were there to make it extra special.  Mommy made a "baby doll" cake since Grace just loves her babies right now.  Daddy made delicious homemade strawberry ice cream to go with it.  Grace was super excited to wear a party dress and "have a birthday party."  Happy birthday sweetheart!

Grace was super excited to get a stroller for her babies!

She was also thrilled to get baby doll clothes!

Grace 2 Years Old

On September 23, our little Gracie Grace turned 2 years old!!  Her personality has really blossomed as of late.  She is an incredibly kind, nurturing, helpful, and thoughtful little girl.  Her smile continues to light up the room and warm our hearts.  Here's some more details about you at this age, Grace:

- You have learned to jump with both feet off the ground, and now love to jump a lot!
- You enjoy riding your trike in the driveway and cul-de-sac and go quite fast using your feet on the ground, you aren't interested in using the pedals yet.
- You really like preschool so far and are an excellent student.  Every day the teachers go on and on about how good you follow directions, like to clean up, and how well mannered you are.
- You are super talkative at home but can still be quite shy when you are around people you don't know.  We've noticed you are much more confident if Nicholas is by your side.
- You imitate EVERYTHING Nicholas says and does...you adore him and love to play with him. 
- You are a fantastic big sister to Henry!  You are so naturally nurturing it amazes us.  You enjoy playing with him, and "reading" him books.  You always make sure he has what you think he needs (paci, toy, etc).  Once he was crying and I came in the room and you were sitting next to him, holding his hand and saying "It's OK Henry, Mommy will be right back."
- You really love your baby dolls right now.  You like to line them up on the couch or floor to show them books or talk to them in a special little sweet voice.  You do everything with them that mommy does with Henry.  Last week you were holding your baby's legs up "changing her diaper" and I heard you tell her "just relax baby so I can get this on."
- You like taking baths and love pouring water out of the tub!
- You have officially gotten rid of your paci.
- You love finger plays and songs with actions.  You are great at doing the actions.  You can also sing ABC's and Twinkle Little Star all by yourself.
- You finish each line of the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for us each night at prayer time.  You always remind us to say our mealtime blessing and you even say it on your own when you are having tea parties in your play kitchen.
- You love to play in your little kitchen are always seem to be throwing a birthday party or having a tea party
- You have started reciting some lines from books you know well.
- You love to carry your purse around the house and often pretend to go shopping..almost always to Costco :-)  You also insist on bringing your purse and toy keys in the car when we go places so you can "help mommy drive."
- You know most of your colors.
-  You are very helpful, you clean up your toys without being told and always like things to be in their place.
- You are really into clothes..your wardrobe and your baby's wardrobe...you love getting dressed each day and love to stand back for us to admire you and you just beam...it is so cute!

Grace, you are an absolute joy.  We are so thankful God has blessed us with you as our daughter and we cherish every moment with you!