Halloween Harvest

This Halloween we went up to Jordan and Kindra's in Longview to go out trick-or-treating with them and their family. Being Penelope's first time truly experiencing the joys of the treats it was a wonderful success. We had been talking to her the week before about trick-or-treating, and she seemed to be in shock when explained that people would give out candy if you just say trick-or-treat at their door.

Nana Gail made cousins Eden and Penelope matching fairy princess gowns.

Fairy Princess Penelope with her mighty Dragon cousin Avery.

The Braddock & Lehner Clan:
Eden (Fairy Princess #1), Penelope (Fairy Princess #2), Daphne (Ballerina), Ireland (Gypsy), Ethne (Chicken) and Avery (Dragon).

Daphne was a pretty ballerina...she spent the whole time trick-or-treating in the stroller. Training for next year, when we'll see twice the candy haul.

Our ballerina and princess girls.
This is one of the few pictures we have of Penelope actually smiling. You have no idea how hard it is to get her to smile when the camera comes out.

The whole family is in the Halloween spirit. Especially Eric Beaver and Katie Farmgirl.

4 New Holes

So, after Daphne was born I (we?) knew that we wanted to get her ears pierced. It took awhile but Jordan, my brother, convinced his wife Kindra that it was a good idea for them to get their youngest daughter, Ethne's ears pierced as well.
(She's 10 weeks younger than Daphne, can't you tell?)

They seemed so content looking at all the jewelry at Claire's before hand. Little did they know of what was to come.

The first 2 holes.
I think Daphne may be confused about why I seem to be enjoying the process. She definitely is the second child.

And Ethne with the 3rd hole, almost the 4th.
It took quite a few tries with Ethne trying to get the dots in the right spot because they couldn't see around her preciously large cheeks.

All 4 holes and aren't they so pretty.
Daphne seems to be doing great with her earings.

Pumpkin Time

Penelope was very excited about going to visit the 'Pumpkin Patch.' We tricked her and took her to a farmer's stand in Aloha. We don't think this will be one of those tricks that turns your kids against you in the long run... At least we hope not!? Daphne is still happy going anywhere. Talk about an easy kid! After picking the pumpkins out we got to carve them. Penelope just wanted to draw on the pumpkins, and Daphne wanted to eat snacks. Silly girls...

These were most of the pumpkins at the 'pumpkin patch'. It was sort of like a booth at a carnival. Much cheaper then the real thing though!

Scooping the guts out of the pumpkins might have been the best part. After that, Penelope just wanted to draw on the pumpkins.
Daphne was bored, so we let her play with the big pumpkin. She wanted to eat it. We did not let her do that. Didn't want to ruin her appetite for dinner.
We were able to convince Penelope that using a knife on the pumpkin would be more fun then a pen. And it was true! Check out the eyeball we just pulled out!!
Even though Daphne had the least to do with carving the pumpkins, she is clearly the most excited. We like her attitude. Team player.

Daphne's First Intentional Food

Daphne had her first bites of cereal a couple of weeks ago. I say her first bites of intentional food because when she was about 2 weeks old I came into the living room to find that Penelope, the sweet big sister that she is, was sharing her goldfish. To my knowledge Daphne hasn't had another other food since.

Here she is waiting in anticipation.

She did well...honestly, I think she was hoping for more goldfish.

Penelope's Second 2nd Birthday!

On Penelope's birthday we wanted to make it special so we took her on the MAX to the children's museum. Eric and I decided that she would've been just as happy riding on the train all day, but we decided to get off at our stop.

Happy wife, happy life...and momma's got her coffee so she's happy!
(We're not so sure about how Daphne is feeling here.)

Penelope loved the train!

She changed seats about a dozen times, trying them all out.

I think the water room was her favorite.

She did enjoy the dig-it room too.

"No Penelope that muffin isn't real."I guess she didn't care.

Penelope drove a Tri-Met bus as Mommy and Daphs wait to be picked up.
(Notice she's steering a little close to us and I don't think she's watching the road. I guess it's good she'll have another 14 years to practice.)

Daphne was a trooper. We think we might let her try out for Cirque De Soliel-notice her lovely C shape.

Eric's picture face.

After the musuem and train ride we headed back home for a nice nap. Then we traveled to Mt. Angel Sausage Co. for some homemade sausage, some delicious Octoberfest Beer and to meet up with our friends! Let's be honest, the latter part of Penelope's birthday fell more under the Father's Day catagory.

She enjoyed some cupcake.

As you can see, she enjoyed the cupcakes a lot!

Penelope's First 2nd Birthday!

For Penelope's birthday Eric had a great plan to have over her friends from church and there families for a BBQ. What a great idea! And then it rained, and rained, and rained! And still it worked out wonderful thanks to our gracious friends who endured being packed into our house like sardines. Thanks friends!

We made a dirt cake with worms and all!

The kids made there own individual servings with help from there parents (aka I didn't have time to make them in cute little cups).

Eric made Penelope's cake that the parents enjoyed.

Trying it out...

And yes! Success! She likes it...a lot!

Visit from Grandpa and Grandma

Grammy and Gramps came up for a visit this weekend. We had a great time. We read stories and played in the yard. Grammy got the girls matching dresses. I wonder if we'll get them to wear matching dresses in 15 years. I doubt it, which is why we do it now.

Dancing Penelope

Penelope shows off her dancing spirit. She is becoming quite the spirited girl. Maybe she's always been spirited.