October

Well, it's been a big month!  We've had a lot of fun activities, birthdays, parties, and a fun holiday.  Here's the gist, in a nutshell.
We spent some time at the park, soaking up the last few nice days of fall.  We went to the zoo with a few friends.  Gwen really wanted to ride the carousel, from a distance.  Once we actually got on, she hated it and was scared, so I had to sit with her on one of the benches.  She didn't mind it so much when I was with her, but if I would bring her close to a horse or animal, she would start crying.  She's a funny girl.

We carved some pumpkins...a little early this year, and by the time halloween rolled around, they were pretty squishy and rotten.  We carved with Von, Ash, Jeff and Kat.  It was such a fun time.  Dan put himself in charge of the seeds and stole them from all the pumpkins so he could make us like 100 batches of pumpkin seeds.  They actually turned out pretty good this year, which is a first. I carved a ghost, and Dan free-handed that black widow.  He's pretty talented.
Gwennie loves to "type" on my "puter" and pretend she's working.  It's adorable.  She also loves to read books with us in our bed when Dan's home in the mornings.  Every morning I go get her, and she says, "Daddy home? Read books mommy's bed"  It's really sweet, and we love the little extra snuggle time we get with her since she's so busy, her snuggles are few and far between.

We played with cousins, and friends a few times.  Gwen is really into holding hands, and loves, especially, to hold her cousin Leo's hand.  They were so cute at the park together, just walking hand in hand from slide to slide.

This angel turned 20 months.  I can't believe in just 4 months she'll be 2.  It's so crazy.  She is so sweet and we just love her to pieces.  I can't even remember what I did before I had her.  Who filled the hole in my heart that only she can?

We went to Wheeler Farm with Nat, Jack and Leo to the pumpkin patch, hay maze, and on the wagon ride, and the kids loved it! We also saw the animals, which was also a hit.

We celebrated Dan's 29th birthday for 2 days!  On Friday, the day before his birthday, he took the day off and we went to the zoo with Tom, Darby & Kids.  Gwen loved it.  After that, Darby took Gwen and Dan and I went out to dinner, and to 2 movies.  Darby kept Gwen overnight, so the next morning, on his actual birthday, we went to breakfast, and then went and got Miss.  Dan wanted birthday cookies this year, so I happily obliged. We had a little party with family and a couple close friends.  29 is old, but at least he's not 30....yet. :)

 

We hosted our annual Halloween Party.  It was a blast.  The theme this year was couples.  Von and Ash were a tooth and Tooth Fairy, Jeff and Kelsey were Napoleon Dynamite, and his girlfriend, Cory and Heather were creepy witch and china doll, Dan and I were batman and Batgirl, and Jeff and Kat were the couple from Portlandia.  Everyone did an outstanding job.  The food was great, the games were fun, and the company was the best! 

 Last, but not least, Halloween.  We stuck with the animal theme and Gwen was a penguin.  It was pretty adorable.  once again, Dan made her costume.  I will take credit for her feet though.  I made those myself. :)  She was adorable, and LOVED trick or treating.  She got the hang of it after the second house and would say "trick or treat" after they would open the door.  It was the cutest.

 All in all it was a great month and we loved being able to spend some time outside.  Gwen is getting so big and is learning so much every day.  It's so much fun to be able to do more and more with her.