Up and Running!

A big Thank You to Graham's friend Dan for fixing my laptop:) I am so happy to have my own computer working again!! You will hopefully be hearing a lot more from me now! Thanks again Dan!

Apple Picking Fun

Daddy & Payton being silly Mommy & Payton sitting with Scarecrow


Checking out the pumpkins

Payton driving the tractor
Trying to get the high ones
Daddy & Payton on the hayride
Picking Mommy's favorite kind, yellow delicious
"Here you go Mommy"
Tasting one of his apples

Putting the picked apples in the bag

Yummy...eating a fresh baked apple donut
"Look at my face"

This morning we went on our annual apple picking adventure to Honey Hill Apple Orchard in Waterman, Illinois. We always have a great time going there! They have animals you can pet, a hayride out to the orchard, pumpkins/apples to pick, lots of apple treats, and the best donuts ever! Payton loved it this year even more than last. He had his first apple off the tree and ate it like a big boy, not cut into slices! All the excitement today has left him wired! I put him down for his nap at 1:00 (normal time) and he just stopped talking at 2:30! Yikes. We are hoping for a Bears win tonight to end our great day!

Toshiba, Belkin, ComCast Oh My....

Payton at playgroup (notice the messy face-I think he had like 5 donuts) Sneak peak of the Halloween costume (thanks Grandpa Al & Gaia)

Yummy...Cake!



Jolie & Payton

Emmett

Let me start this post by saying "I HATE COMPUTERS, INTERNET, and all that it includes". OK, with that said, we have obviously had some internet/computer issues which has left me sad and crying without my daily blogging. I have it rigged that Graham's computer now works but mine is still trashed:( One is better than nothing, right?

We have been pretty busy lately with playgroup and a birthday celebration for my sister. We also had the big children's resale that Graham and I go to twice a year this past weekend which is always tons of fun. I love getting a new wardrobe for Payton for so cheap:) I have become a bit obsessed with these resales and may be going to another one this weekend and one more next weekend. I hope I don't spend more than I would have if I went and bought the clothes new.

On Sunday, I had playgroup in the morning and it was so nice to see everyone again. Its been a while for me since we have been so busy lately. This was the first playgroup that us ladies could actually sit and have a conversation while the kids played nicely in the basement and the babies just slept:) It was nice!

After playgroup we went to my parent's house for a birthday celebration for my sister. While Tom watched the kids nap, the girls went shoe shopping and stopped by Old Navy too! We went to Ted Montana's for dinner and had some yummy bison burgers! Payton even like them:)

This year has started out just as busy as the rest. Graham works too hard but I suppose it is expected being a first year teacher and all. I am exhausted from chasing Payton everywhere but my 5am workouts are helping me to be less tired. Payton is doing great. He loves his daycare and has been experimenting more with potty training. He wakes up dry every morning and goes right to the potty. The rest of the day is a bit harder to get him to go but he is trying more and that is a step in the right direction. I am hoping by Thanksgiving to get him in underwear. We'll see!

Rain, Rain Go Away

That was the theme for the weekend for us as it probably was for everyone else too! Thanks to Hurricane Ike and some other tropical storm, we got drenched this weekend. Fortunately, we had no water in our basement but many of my friends did and were home from work bailing out their basements today. Payton and I were so sick of being in the house that we braved the rain and ran a few errands and even made it to the mall just to play at an indoor playground:)

Today my obsession with weather (Graham thinks its more than an obsession) led me to travel into downtown Naperville during rush hour:) I just HAD to see what the papers and the people were saying about the DuPage river flooding the downtown area. WOW, was it cool to see that the river had swallowed Centennial Beach completely and was rushing super fast over the beautiful covered bridges that are along the riverwalk. I was so bummed that I had forgotten my camera because it was definitely a sight that will be talked about for many many years!

Baby Oliver!

Francesca, Emily, Me & Oliver Oliver (Isn't he so cute?)

Here are a few pictures of Oliver John. Oliver is my friend Emily's newest addition and was so cute and cuddly! Almost made me want another:)

Emma Turns One!

Alyssa and Emma the day of her birthday party Look at all of those gifts

Payton playing with Frankie the cat The birthday girl

Getting ready to blow out the candles Alyssa, Emma & Andy
Yummy Cake!
This is my FAVORITE picture
Payton eating cake too!

The worst part of eating all that cake is getting cleaned up! Opening gifts
Playing with her bunny from Great Grandma & Grandpa Brown
Using her new sippee cup from Aunt Kristy
On Saturday we went to Emma's 1st birthday party! I can't believe she is already one! Time really flies. We had a great time watching her eat her cake and open her gifts. I think she enjoyed everything she got and couldn't wait to play with it all!

See you in December!

Looking at the airplane taking off Look at those beautiful eyes


The family at Clow Airport Grandpa Al, Gaia & Payton
Don't they look like they are holding hands?
Gaia & Payton on the swing
A rare picture of the two of us

Today was our last day with Gaia and Grandpa Al so we took them out to eat breakfast at Charlie's Restaurant. Charlie's is a restaurant that is attached to Clow International Airport in Bolingbrook. Payton loves to eat and watch the planes take off and land. After breakfast we headed over to Phillips Park Zoo, which is a smaller zoo but free and it is located in Montgomery, ten minutes from our house. They also have a great park there that we spent the rest of the morning playing at. I think Payton is really going to miss having Gaia and Grandpa Al around to play with! We can't wait to visit you guys in December!!