Autumn

Gabe's preschool class took a field trip to a pumpkin patch the first part of October.  Gemma & I went along & we all enjoyed a "hay ride" around the farm, a petting zoo, some really tall, fast & fun slides & a haunted barn, that I accidentally went into with both kids.  Luckily nothing jumped out.  It was just some scary scenes, so I just laughed at all the silly people each time Gabe asked what something was, which was every few seconds... & we quickly made our way out.

Gemma must have picked up dozens of pumpkins & carried them around before exchanging one for another.
She loved the "punkies", as she called them.   

My parents came out for a long weekend visit mid-October & we had such a wonderful time with them here.  We ate good food & talked & played.  They were so helpful & fun.  Both kids loved having Grandma & Grandpa here to give them extra attention & love.  Grandpa took Gabe to the park one morning while we all got other things done & they had a fantastic time together.  Gabe was sad when he woke up & they were gone.  After they left I told him I missed them & he said, "I miss them, too, Mom."

On the Friday of their visit, we all went to one of our favorite places to visit in the autumn: Apple Hill.  It is a region about 45 minutes southwest of Sacramento, out in the country, that has over 100 farms & orchards. And in the fall, people descend upon Apple Hill by the thousands to visit particular farms & enjoy fantastic baked goods, produce, pumpkin patches, craft markets, etc.  We have a few farms we always stop by on our visits, for fresh, hot apple cider doughnuts, apple dumplings, pies, preserves and  beautiful scenery.  I love it there!  Whenever I see a house for sale as we drive through rolling hills dappled in fall colors & turn down shaded lanes throughout the country-side, I tell Patrick we need to sell our house & move to Apple Hill!   Come visit us in the autumn & we'll take you there.  My parents loved it so much they want to come back again next year.

Thanks for visiting, Mom & Dad!!

Monster pumpkin at Boa Vista Orchards

G & G loved the pumpkin patches

Love seeing these kids with their grandparents. A rare treat!

Love, love, love this little face!

Gabe stole the spiderman mask off a scarecrow (yeah, kind of gross to think about what kind of germs came along with
the mask!) & didn't take it off for almost the whole hour we spent at Rainbow Orchards... other than when he was eating a hot doughnut!

This was Gabe's second time on the tractor & he was in heaven!  

My wonderful parents, Kathy & Reid!

Gemma raiding Grandma's wallet

Halloween

It all started with Gabriel deciding that he wanted to be Peter Pan for Halloween.  Then after a few days he got talking about how his dad was going to be Captain Hook.  Well, we couldn't just leave Gemma & I out of the thematic fun!  So, we decided to go as Tinkerbell & Tigerlily to complete the entourage.

Gabe got to wear his costume twice, as they had a Halloween celebration at his pre-school on October 30th.  Gemma & I joined him for the last half-hour & thoroughly enjoyed watching Gabe with all his little pre-school friends.  He was thrilled & "flew" everywhere.    

 I spent a few days sewing our costumes... mostly nights after the kids had gone to bed.  I really enjoy doing it, but I'd enjoy it a whole lot more if I started earlier.  There were a couple of late nights involved, which made for unpleasant mornings.  ;)

Our evening consisted of our church congregation's "Trunk or Treat," which both kids loved!  Gabe loved gathering the candy & especially chasing & wrestling the other little boys who were there.  Who knew that Peter Pan was such a tough guy!  Even against the likes of the Hulk & Buzz Lightyear! :)

We spent an hour Trick or Treating around our neighborhood afterward.  There were several neighbors we had been wanting to meet & decided this would be a good opportunity to introduce ourselves... especially in costume!  They won't recognize us when we wave to them in our plain clothes.  :)  We really didn't want Gemma to get any candy, so we didn't bring a bucket for her.  But, at each door, she started holding out her hands & saying "please," so of course, she got candy! :)

I really wanted to pull her hair up into a ponytail or pigtails.  It's finally long enough!
But, she's quick to pull them right out.

Just as Gabe envisioned it!

Gabe ran up the hill on our church grounds.  A rustic setting for a Lost Boy.  

He makes one fine Hook! 

Yes, I wish I had wiped her nose before I took this photo.  But, there aren't too many people who can look so darling,
even with snot on their face.  

I was amazed that Gemma didn't attempt to take her wings or headband off all night!  She seemed quite delighted to be Tinkerbell.  

The kids loved the Jack-o-Lanterns!  We still had them on our porch a few days after Halloween, waiting for garbage/green waste day.  Then one morning, they were gone!  We're wondering whose house or car got smashed! :)

I've perfected the camera angle for a self-taken photo... 

Three Years Old!

Gabriel turned 3 on the 25th.  It's still pretty astounding to me that he has become a little man with no trace of baby or toddler in him anymore.  I especially feel like he has grown up a lot in the last few months (no more diapers may have something to do with that! :).  He's using so many new words, in new ways, asking such interesting questions & even talking with different voices ;).  He's quite funny, dramatic, happy, helpful & physical (he loves wrestling & really any kind of sparring).  And he is quite good to his little sister & often asks, "Where's my Gemma?" We just enjoy him so much & feel so happy & blessed to have him!

We celebrated Gabe over several days, per Minster tradition ;).  We had some close friends/family over for dinner on the Sunday before his birthday & celebrated the 17th birthday of 2nd cousin, Tanner Sheppard, along with Gabe's.  Gabe had been talking for months about having people over for dinner out on our deck for his birthday (I think he either remembered last year or had seen pictures of last year's celebration.) A while before we even brought out the birthday cake, Gabe said, "Sing me the birthday song!" And he beamed as we obeyed.  

Both Gabe & Gemma LOVE Elmo.  This Sesame Street set has been very
popular over the past few weeks & is often visited by Darth Vader, his
Storm Troopers & other Star Wars friends.  

Gabe loves donuts, so why not a chocolate donut cake?
(Especially when I ran out of time to make the dinosaur cake I planned :)

Monday night, Gabe's birthday eve, we had a FHE where we talked about Gabe's birth & how beloved he is. Then he opened a present from Gemma: a pirate hat, patch, sword & earring.  Don't let the photo fool you, he was thrilled!

Cap'n Gabe says, "AAARRG!"

Gemma sporting the earring as Pirate Girl... also thrilled.  

I love her HUGE post-bath hair.  It's very tall & quite poofy!
(Her hair, not her head ;)

And then came Tuesday, his actual birthday...  This was a fun birthday, as it was the first year that he seemed to understand why he was getting presents & being celebrated.  We had breakfast together & Gabe opened his gifts before heading off to pre-school.  He was very pleased with his cards & gifts.  And again, he demanded the birthday song.  (When Patrick tried to change it up with another birthday tune, Gabe got upset & repeated that he wanted the birthday song!)

She's a very happy little lady... 90% of the time. 

Excited about birthday gifts... wearing his fun fireman birthday crown
from Grandma Shari

Birthday boy at pre-school... avoiding the camera.

We took Gabe & Gemma to Chucky Cheese that evening to close out the celebrations. And they both had quite the time!  They ran from ride to game to ride & we realized we had done well at choosing the right venue for unbridled 3 year old fun!

Riding a simulated roller coaster together :)

They couldn't get enough of this "Noah's Ark" & all the sounds it made.  

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!    

One Year of Miss GG

 On June 14th, our happy little Gemma Grace turned 1!  And yes, the year went by much faster than I anticipated or wanted it to & it's amazing to me that she has been with us for a whole year!  She's a very determined little girl who still smiles continually, loves to pose for photos & rarely stops moving.  She is on the go!  Still crawling at this point, but is now standing on her own & beginning to let go & take a few steps).  At her one year Dr. check-up she weighed in at 24 1/2 lbs. & 30 inches.  (She's no longer in the 99th percentile for height or weight, but is for head circumference ;)

On her birthday, we had breakfast & opened presents before heading out for a day at the Sacramento Zoo... a place that Gabe loves & Gem is starting to, as well.

Birthday glasses from Gabe

A ride on the zoo train... Gabe was in heaven!

A rare pose 

We celebrated Gemma with cousins & friends a few days earlier on Sunday evening.  Unfortunately, by the time we got to cake & candles, she wasn't a very happy gal (ie. very tired!).  

Gemma wasn't a fan of the sparkler!

She finally took one bite... but that was it!

With Perry & McKay... our Christensen cousins

After opening a few presents (including a new stroller/shopping cart), Gemma got her second wind & was the life of the party...

Patrick's Aunt Donna & Uncle Jack were visiting from Utah

Gabe & Gemma with our Christensen cousins.  We miss them already!!