Lately...

Time to get back on the blog wagon that hit the road in July & didn't get very far!  ;)  The last few months have been busier than usual for us, but it was nice to get back on a schedule after a pretty care free summer with trips to Arizona & Utah, visits to the zoo & Fairtale Town, and lots of playtime at the park & swimming pools.  We finished a lot of little projects around the house that had been on my list for a while & whittled down the list significantly! Yea!!  

Gabriel had a birthday (more on that later!), got potty-trained (with a little bribery to hurry it along) & started preschool at Miss Becky's one week later... He LOVES it. He comes home with all kinds of tales about other kids in the class, especially the naughty ones! :)  He's been amazing with using the potty & has had only 3 accidents in 2 months (two were during the first week). 

First day of pre-school

Gemma has awakened to her love of shoes & clothes. If she doesn't have shoes on, she's in search of a pair.  And lately, she has been bringing me clothes, usually from her dirty clothes hamper (which just thrills me), to put on her.  On the day documented below, she had 4 layers on top & 3 on bottom.  And then she came to sit on my lap & fell asleep, layers & all.  I was a little worried she'd overheat during her nap, but was just fine.

  

Our latest trip to the zoo, just last week.  Gabe tried to scale every fence (as documented below), but was pretty good about stopping his climb once he knew I'd caught him.  Gemma made all sorts of loud growls & snarls as we made our way through the zoo.  Daddy & Gabe have taught her well.  

Gabe loves watching the River Otter's swim & wrestle!

Modeling the Hawaiian family outfits Mom & Dad Minster gave us for our birthdays last year.
My dress was a bit snug for modeling ;)

She talks & sings continually, though we understand
just a few words.  

It's a wonderful thing to look up from doing the dishes & see this
delighted face smiling at me through the window screen!  

One of Gabe's potty training rewards was his now-beloved Batman mask & cape.  He hasn't yet tired of it after almost 2 months & Gemma loves it too.  She puts it on & in her best low, husky voice says, "MA-MAN!" It's quite hilarious.  We always ask for an encore!