G is for . . .

G is for Green - mixing blue and yellow paint makes green. This was a super fast experiment because what I really wanted were handprints to make Grandparents Day cards - which requires speed on mom's part! slip the paper on the table, smack those hands down, lift up straight, swoosh the paper away and insert a new one - all in one fluid motion!
G is for Gifts. We got a toy catalogue from a friend and both kids have already poured over it's pages.
G is for Gift from Grandma! Thanks Grandma J for getting into the G thing with a package filled with gifts - a princess puzzle for Analise, truck for Eli, and fleecy jammies for baby Mueller.G is for Green, Gold, Glitter and Green bay Packers! Also in Grandma's package were all the makings for these glittery signs. Go Pack Go!

the Guys . . . enjoying the last of the warm sunshine that November has to offer. Now that daylight savings has hit the afternoons slip away far too quickly. Let me clarify - the "outdoor" portion of the afternoon slips away. The "indoor" and dark but not quite dinner portion stretches to eternity.

Green Goo!! What was I thinking!?!?! Corn starch, water and a pinch of flour made this goopy, gluey substance absolutely great for touching, squeezing, dripping, and smearing.
While Eli got the goo all over, Analise kept fairly contained - but played with it for much longer. SO fun :)

Analise is showing my how she drew a C and made a C with her fingers. The picture is of her with chicken pox and of the "baby in your tummy" - shown by his very short arms and legs.

F is for . . .

Not too many pictures this week, although we have been enjoying all that F has to offer!

F is for Fan! This week Daniel had a few Fans as he played drums in the Tuck band. They did a really great job and surprised quite a few of their peers and maybe even themselves! At one point a number of his friends in the crowd started to chant "Mue-ller, Mue-ller." It took them doing it three different times for him to realize they were talking about him. It was pretty hillarious.

One day I took the kids to the pet store to just look at the fish (appropriate for F). It brought me back to the magical days of my childhood when we were first allowed to bike to the fish store on the corner near our house and just look around. Before I knew it I was suggesting that we pick out a fish to bring home! It started out as a 99 cent goldfish - but Analise was unwilling to accept that there were no pink goldfish and couldn't understand why we couldn't just get the $29.99 tropical pink fish in the tank next door. We compromised on a pink Beta - whom she appropriately named Pinkie. Pinkie is now living in a bowl on our dining room table and bringing all kinds of entertainment.

Here's an encore performance . . .

Halloween

The pink princess and the cowboy . . .
Free!! from the photo op ;)
"It's really cold out here, this had better be worth it . . . "
The finished products - Eli freaked out touching the "goo." Kind of funny for a guy who spends most of his time covered in it in one form or another.
Analise however didn't mind digging right in and even shared some with her brother -
First was the trick-or-treat party at Tuck. Our friends Zachy and Van got in on the photo booth.

wrangling 4 sugar loaded kids and getting them to stand still, let alone look at the same thing is darn near impossible - but it was fun!
After tricks and treats we had a fire in the fire pit at our house and a few friends came over. Analise is sharing some cider with Zachy - cheers!

E is for . . .

E is for escape! Last weekend we traveled to Portland to visit the Maine coast for a few days over the weekend. The highlights were a train ride, a boat ride, and a cafe called "Mornings in Paris" - owned and operated by a French lady. So there was a little something for everyone!
Eagerly waiting for the train to come to the station . . .

throwing rocks in the water on a little island off of Portland. We took the ferry and weren't quite sure what to expect, but after lots of walking and a stop at the market for a picnic lunch - it turned out to be worth the work.

one afternoon we drove to the lighthouse in Portland
Fish and chips for lunch at a little outdoor restaurant on the marina
E is for Elijah!

Analise with her "make-ups." This includes about 5 different chapsticks and one heart compact with sparkly eye shadow. She managed to put the eye shadow all over her forehead - just like mommy!?? She was very sparkly. She's very generous with her make-ups and shares very nicely with Eli. Eli calls them "gac" - his little work for snack . . . umm, not quite buddy.
A street in old Portland . . .
Eli found a little seat.

D is for . . .

D is for fall Day! This was a special one - out to pick pumpkins, take a hay ride, eat apples and enjoy blue sky. Pretty spectacular! This little farm has a big pumpkin patch, orchards, berry patches - everything needed to feel like a real fall day.
D for Dray horse! (OK, I had to look that one up- I admit) These Belgians pulled the hayride.
Delicious! It's so handy when you can just give them an apple and it keeps them busy all morning . . . no more bitty chopping, pureeing, . . . at least not for a few more months.


Determined . . . they're still working away at those apples

Decisions, decisions. Analise came back with about 10 pumpkins before deciding on the chosen one.
Driver. - every stick becomes a useful instrument for whacking away at a ball - or whatever else happens to be on the sidewalk.D for DOG. Grady is still around - trying to keep himself out of the way of curious kids, cleaning up the floor, harboring the occasional deer tick, and being an all around "good dog."
D for Daddy! Lately Daddy has been keeping busy when he's not in school by playing drums in the Tuck band (yeah - there's a Tuck band), getting in a few more rounds of golf before snow comes, and spending lots of time with his family - we're so lucky :)

Playing Thomas with Eli. Lately Eli has started saying Dada. Every wine glass I take out of the dishwasher gets a "dada," every time I open the refrigerator to get something the little runt grabs a beer and runs it to "dada." NO - we did not train him!! He loves his dada and nothing gets him motivated more than the prospect of playing with daddy.

D is for Dress up. Here Analise has laid out all of her outfits - complete with shoes and matching jewelry. Notice the mismatched shoes - this is on purpose and I have to talk her out of wearing them that way - we'll just stick with mismatched socks.
Dressing as a pink princess . . . As part of our D week we've been watching lots of Ballroom Dancing on youtube and she's a BIG fan. I can't get her as excited about Dolphins or Dogs but Dancing and Donuts are pretty motivating.

And a little note to baby #3 - your sister loves you! Whenever she and I sit together in the afternoon she likes to pull my shirt up and lay her head on my tummy. She waits patiently to feel you kick (and you usually comply). She tickles my tummy and says she is "tickling your back." You are already well loved and looked forward to.
Some friends over to play in the afternoon. Analise was being a punk and didn't want to turn around for a picture - but the girls were so cute! They had blankets and the tent out under the trees behind our apartment. I didn't see them for a few hours!

D is for dough. We spent a lot of time with playdough this week. For the most part Eli is over eating it - which is a relief.

C is for . . .

C is for cold! This week turned cold - and while we maybe didn't need hats, I never say no to extra accessories.
C is for cuties - here they are in their morning glory.
C is for chocolate - digging for marshmallows at the bottom of the cup
and for Cup - these are cups we made last year at the pottery place.
C for cupcakes! While I was busy making carrot cupcakes - trying to have a moment with my daughter - she was busy making her own cupcakes with playdough

C is for cut. During some particularly rough rough-housing Eli went over the arm of the leather chair and bit down on his lower lip. It was a gusher for about 10 minutes! He had a huge lip and cut on the inside.
C is for cotton ball clouds . . . who can resist tasting one
and ripping them off the page

C is for creation - this is Analise's first self-portrait. I think I'm more proud than she is!