18 months

Hats turned 18 months on October 28th. How this happened in such seeming speed, I do not know. But what I do know is that, out of no where (at least it seems) she has moved from a baby to a toddler, who runs, chats, and knows her own mind. She is funny and feisty and sweet. She does not enjoy being manhandled by other small children, but she does enjoy a good wrestle, a cuddle with a grown up, and ice pops. It's difficult to articulate how much we love our Hatts. She is pretty amazing 

Pumpkin Painting!

Three kids, three pumpkins and some paint...

Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago we managed to fit in the pumpkin patch trolley. We've had a lot of birthday parties this past month or so, so very little free time to get this kind of thing in. Still, we managed to catch the final trolley of the pumpkin season, and in the nick of time we made it to the filed to collect a pumpkin for each of us. 

All aboard!

They're almost as big as Hatts.

And afterwards we grabbed some snacks ;)

Dates!

A couple of weeks ago I got the opportunity to take the boys on separate dates. A Friday meeting was cancelled allowing me to take Charlie out to lunch after picking him up from preschool. It was a lot of fun! We had some good chats - about the big 'Ps' (preschool, potty training, and Pokemon') until he became VERY tired and was ready to leave. 

Instead of heading home, though, we went to Camp Ellis to walk along the rocks. So much (dangerous!) fun!

Not wanting to miss out, Raf and I headed out the next day for a date ourselves. As predicted, the first half of the date involved Pokemon Go, which thankfully we played in a beautiful cemetery near our house, which happens to also host lots of Pokestops and Poke gyms!

And then, not to be out done by his little brother, Raf also wanted to head to the Camp Ellis rocks. Absolutely gorgeous places.

It's rare that we get one on one time with the boys. Richard's turn next!

Happy Autumn!

First Win!

So it happens! Another season of co-coaching Rafi's football team (1st & 2nd graders), and as with last season we needed a few games under our belt before we got that first important win! A close loss last week after a couple of big defeats meant we were coming together as a team, since half of the team are first graders and never played on a team before. So it was great to see the team put in a huge performance from the first whistle - and got the goals to win - with a few heart attacks for the coaches as the match drew to a close. It was great to see two evenly matched teams go at each other for the whole match. The photographs aren't great - but Rafi had his best match! Certainly got the legs/engine of a midfielder. Hatts providing the support on the touch lines!

7 Year Wellness Check

This sweet kiddo - over 4 feet tall and 55 pounds. A wee bit panicked as he endured two inoculations, but otherwise he seems super healthy and is indeed thriving. As I went to pick him up a little earlier from school before his appointment, the new admin assistant said how sweet he'd been when he recently read the school greeting and announcements over the loud speaker. Another admin assistant told me, 'he's one of my favorites'! 

Waiting outside the Drs yesterday... They were finishing up a peanut butter bar and Raf reminded me we couldn't take anything peanut related into the office. Clever boy. 

And here is Raf, proud as punch, in his team football photo.