dancin' machines

It's cold outside! Now that Lila is older and doesn't put everything in her mouth, we're able to do fun new things, like this:

Elsa loved making necklaces. She made one for everyone in the family, plus a bracelet. Lila loved it for about 5 minutes, then she wanted to throw the beads off the table and watch them bounce. It was interesting to see their color schemes. Elsa used all of the colors, while Lila mostly used pink and purple.


About a month ago, Lila started going on the potty a few times a day. Then the excitement wore off and it was over. I know better than to argue with her - she'll go when she decides. Look how proud she is when she does decide to try:


Monday night was Parent Observation day at Elsa's dance class. They wore their Halloween costumes, and were able to bring a friend/sibling. I was a little nervous to bring Lila, but she did really well for being a first-timer and being so little. She was definitely into it, but didn't quite understand the way things worked. She kicked the kids next to her as everyone was practicing ballet moves, and she ran toward people as they were practicing their leaps. She totally crashed into them! Then she tried to eat a fake apple and wouldn't give it back. "NO, I want it!", she yelled. I was cringing and laughing at the same time. At one point a little girl said,"She doesn't listen!", and Elsa turned and said,"She's only two!" I love that she stuck up for her! Here's a group shot of the class. Elsa and Lila are on the bottom left, and our friend Violet is on the far right.


Lila (in the middle) standing the wrong way at the barre! Elsa is two kids toward the right in the purple dress. She kept her eye on Lila the whole time and helped lead her in the right direction.


Finally some video. Elsa and Lila are directly below the wall sconce. Lila hadn't ever heard the songs before, but she did a great job at copying the teacher and singing along!

The fun continues...

Last weekend we went spent the morning decorating Halloween cookies with friends. I didn't get too many photos that turned out, but just imagine 7 kids that look exactly like this: eyes on the cookies! Lila only ate the frosting and sprinkles off the top.


After the decorating and a little nap, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa E's house, where we celebrated Jenny's 31st birthday and took an evening boat ride. The kids both loved the ride and liked to stand at the front of the boat and look down into the shallow water.



Grandpa E and driver Lila.


Grandpa, Shane, Lila, Jenny.


It's been getting dark so early, so I have to get creative to keep the kids busy til bedtime. Last week we painted some small pumpkins and old apples. The dining room was a wreck, but the kids had a blast.

Glue, glitter, paint, markers, googly eyes... it was a free-for-all.




This week is MEA break, so we had no school. Monday Elsa had dance class, Tuesday we had a play date at Pinehaven (forgot my camera!), and Wednesday we were invited by our neighbor Mona to go with her and her daycare to Lendt's pumpkin patch for a hayride. It was a cold morning, but nice to get out. We got some more pumpkins, some gourds, and picked Indian corn out of the field. This is Elsa with our friend Gracie - she happens to go to the daycare. My camera batteries died after this, so that's it for now.

Fall Fun and a Fashion Show

I can't keep up, y'all! The weather has been too nice to sit and blog. We've been to Pinehaven 3 times, the apple orchard and Lendt's once, and numerous other parks and playdates. We've raked leaf piles, had after-dinner bonfires with s'mores, you name it. I love fall.

Tim spent last week out at The Land, as it is known. If anyone has ever doubted the existence of The Land, here's a photo.


Tim and Newton worked on tearing down the shed.


The kids were enthralled with this dead mouse. Why was it here? Is it dead? Maybe it's just sleeping. Yeah, that's it.


We went to Sunrise River orchard with Julie, Henry, and Violet.
Henry pulls the girls in the wagon.


Elsa and Violet on the tire swing.


Lendt's Pumpkin Patch. No matter how many times we visit Pinehaven, we always buy our pumpkins at Lendt's. The kids love riding in the wagon and running around the fields.



Fall leaves!



A couple weekends ago we had a shower for Auntie Jenny. I made cupcakes, and found this design idea online. They're supposed to look like babies in a sling.


Me and the mom-to-be.


Friday night Tim and I went to a wedding in St. Paul. Cheers to the happy couple, Nate and Annie! It was a beautiful day.

Tim, seriously ready to eat at the reception. A DeGidio's buffet definitely calls for bibs.




Sunday night we got a chance to see Emma as a runway model at the Rocco Altobelli Fashion Awards! She had no idea what they were going to do, but hair turned out so cool and unique, yet wearable. Some of the girls ended up with hair that was completely shaved! I wish I had the guts to do that. It looked so fun.


It looks like it's crimped, but it's actually all dye! I die.


Her fingernails had real feathers on them to go with the theme of the hair.


Me, Emma and Melinda after the show.

Happy October!

Everything is busier now that we go to school 3 times a week, but this week was extra action-packed.
Monday: Elsa started her new dance class. She absolutely loves it.


Tuesday: We went to Pinehaven farm with our friends.
The kids checked out a show with talking scarecrows. L to R: Henry, Maddy, Lila, Violet, Elsa.


Elsa, Violet, and Henry ride the off-road trikes.


That's the spirit!


Violet and Elsa pose in the troll cut-out.


Elsa and Lila in the pumpkin patch.


Wednesday: Lila had her first day of ECFE and was so proud and happy. Her favorite thing was singing songs in circle time. I thought she'd be sad when the moms left for our parent education group, but when I came back the teachers said she was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. Later in the afternoon we had our annual Halloween photo shoot. Not bad for 5 mins of cooperation!
I have a ladybug costume for her, but Lila wanted to be a witch. My friend Sheri found her costume for only $4 at a thrift store!


Elsa the princess. Her dress was $3 and the hat was $1.50!


Halloween is probably my favorite holiday. Christmas is great, but it gets overwhelming and then you have to scale back. The food, the shopping, the traveling, woah. I love it, but Halloween is so simple and always works for a good time. Just look!


Speaking of costumes, I also got this funny unicorn head/hat for only $1.50 at the thrift store.


Lila tries to see it while it's on her head.


Thursday: Elsa finally had her first Dentist appointment! Everything looked good with no cavities. I forgot my camera, but it was cute. She got to wear red sunglasses to protect her eyes from the bright dental light, and took home a princess toothbrush, bubblegum toothpaste with sparkles, and a shape stencil from the treasure chest. Treasure chest! Classic.

Friday: We took a nature walk and collected things for Elsa's school art project next week. I didn't take pictures, but this is from last week when we were outside picking mushrooms.