Meeting Baby Calli & Pumpkin Patch

After having to wait a whole week (due to Aubrey's runny nose), Aubrey & Brooke finally got to meet baby Calli on Friday.

Aubrey giving Calli a little toy for a gift. (Aubrey LOVES presents - both giving and receiving!)

As you can see, Aubrey was really excited to meet & hold her new cousin. We almost weren't going to go that day and when I told Aubrey of the change of plans, she started to cry. So, I decided I had to make it happen. She had waited long enough!

The two little ones. They are 6 months & 1 day apart.

Aubrey was excited to see JJ as well.

After the girls meet Calli, Grandma treated us all to a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. All except Calli who stayed home with her daddy.

Last year we went to just about all of the Pumpkin Patches in the area. This year I decided to just go to my favorite one from last year. It was such a blast. It is perfectly tailored for little ones. Aubrey & JJ couldn't have had a more fun time.

First we went to the corn box. They all enjoyed it. Even Brooke did. She kept running her fingers through the corn. It must have been a new and interesting sensation.

Look at the cuties in the headlights.

Aubrey & JJ had a ball putting bean bags through the holes. They could have stayed there all afternoon - but alas there was more fun to be had!

Aubrey talked about getting to ride a pony all afternoon. I was glad that the pony was out for riding!

Lovin' the petting zoo.

She even got to hold a bunny all by herself!

Brooke also enjoyed petting the bunny.

The above picture cracks me up. Aubrey had just feed the lamb. I missed getting a pic. of that, but this is immediately afterward. She refused to feed anymore animals. I guess it grossed her out a bit!

My brave little monkey didn't have any fear on the big gunny sack slide. It was so fast it even made Grandma nervous. I had to pull her away after going down 3 times.

The whole crew on the hayride.

Aubrey & JJ got to ride all by themselves on a little animal train ride.

Then Grandma took Brooke for a ride.

This was a little bounce area. Perfect for little ones - not too bouncy!

Even a little corn tunnel is super fun for 2 year olds. They kept following each other through it over and over again. If one lagged behind the other would wait for them. It was cute seeing them play together!

They even had a mini maze for the little ones. Could this place be any more perfect for 2 year old!

More slides! Aubrey was happy that she could do these on her own.

It was such a fun afternoon. I wish we could go everyday! Thanks Grandma for taking us to the pumpkin patch!

Catch up from Last Week

A week ago Friday, I got to go to a RS Retreat. I wasn't able to spend the night - but I got to go for the evening. It was really fun. The RS did a great job planning it. While there I took a class on nails. We were taught and practiced painting flowers on each others nails. When Aubrey saw them on Saturday, she wanted flowers on her nails as well. So, Sunday morning Aubrey got a little manicure. She sat still exceptionally well for a 2 year old! I was only going to do flowers on the thumbs, but she really wanted them on "every finger".

After the manicure, she wanted to paint her storks nails, so I got her a q-tip and let her pretend.

A girl at church has worn this brown and pink dress that I really had been admiring. When I was out shopping for some fall/winter clothes for Aubrey I was so happy when I found the same dress!

Aubrey just loves the Halloween decorations. We were a little worried that they would frighten her, but most of them don't frighten her.

She especially loves the purple lights. (I think purple might be her favorite color.)

Beauty and the Beast! Aubrey has been talking about daddy's monsters for a while now. She says, "I'm not afraid of daddy's monsters - they're just pretend." She'll also go up to them and say, "Hi monster. Mommy I'm really brave."

Grandpa stopped by to say goodbye to us on Monday before he headed back home.

Brooke got her first story in Grandpa's Donald Duck voice. As you can see, she really enjoyed it.

She seems like such a big girl when I see her sitting up and playing with toys.

On Wednesday Aubrey and I decided to make some Halloween treats to take over to the Merris' since they had a new addition to the family. We decided to make a bunch to share with the rest of the family as well. Aubrey did so good decorating 24 cupcakes. I was in the kitchen frosting and didn't have to help her at all - or stop her from eating all of the cupcakes and sprinkles herself. I am so glad Aubrey likes to do crafty things with me.

While Aubrey was decorating she told me that she wanted to take one to the Ghost and the Mummy to share one. So, we took one back and she tried to hand it to them.

And then, of course, Aubrey had to enjoy the fruits of her labor.

All of Aubrey's creations. She lovingly placed every single ghost.

Mommy had to do some as well. Here are my creepy creations.

Daddy snuggling with his girls.

Every Fall Jeff has the scouts over to learn how to start a fire in our garden area. This year Aubrey was thrilled to get to participate with the Scouts.

After she saw the scouts eat their hot dogs in a bun, she was determined to do the same.

Here is the fire that Jeff and the scouts made.

We'll miss you Grandma Bagley

My sweet Grandma Minnie Bagley passed away very peacefully in the middle of the night last night. She was truly one of the kindest and most loving women that I knew. Whenever you were near her you knew that she loved you unconditionally. She spent her whole life in the service of her children, husband, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, neighbors and the Lord. She was selfless and kind. She was a happy lady and always fun to be around. She had a beautiful voice, was the perfect homemaker and the best Grandma on the planet. Her children adore her, so she must have also been the most wonderful mother. All who knew her couldn't help but love her. Grandma you will truly be missed!

When I heard about her passing this morning, I couldn't help but picture the meeting between her and Grandpa up in heaven. I bet Grandpa Bagley was just soooooo excited. I can just see his great big grin as he excitedly welcomed Grandma back home. I am sure he missed her so much this past year. I know that they are both very happy to be back together in heaven.

A visit to the hospital lobby

There is a new hospital rule that no one under the age of 14 can visit the rooms. I don't know if it is just our hospital or nationwide. Anyway, I get that they are trying to protect patients from the swine flu. But, it's also very disappointing to mother's who are in the hospital and can't see their kids. The kids can however come to the lobby. So, when my sister Cindy had her baby on the 10th, the only way she could see her son JJ, is if she met him in the lobby. So this is her just hours after she gave birth, all dressed up in the lobby visiting with her son. (I'm sure glad that wasn't the rule 6 months ago!)

The morning of baby Calli's birth, I told Aubrey that baby Calli would be coming out of Aunt Cindy's tummy today. She was very excited about it and spent some time in the morning drawing pictures and "writing" letters to her. She wrote (scribbles while reciting what she is writing) "Baby Calli, will you be my friend." We went on with our day and waited for the phone call that Calli had arrived. We hadn't talked about it since the morning. Aubrey was eating lunch at the table and then suddenly said, "Ohh something's coming out." So I asked her what was coming out. She said, "Baby Calli's coming out of Aunt Cindy's tummy. I'm so excited!" This happened right around noon. Well a little while later we got the call that Calli was born. And guess when she was born - 12:01 pm! Aubrey called it!

I then went to the hospital and didn't tell Aubrey where I was going, because she would be disappointed that she couldn't meet Calli also. When I got back home I was showing Jeff pictures of her. Aubrey came over, so I let her see the pictures of Calli too. She got such excited eyes and then said, "Baby Calli came out. Hurray - Let's go!" I thought it was so sweet how excited she was! I had to explain that she would get to meet her in a few days after they left the hospital. Unfortunately, Aubrey got a runny nose then and so we had to wait a week before she finally got to meet her. (Pictures on that in a future post.)

Later, I took Brooke & Aubrey to the hospital lobby so they could see Grandma & Grandpa & Aunt Cindy & JJ.

The lobby has a cute little play area with babies and a changing table.

Aubrey very much enjoyed changing the babies diapers.

Here she is showing Grandma that she changed the diaper.

I had to get some pictures of Brooke in this cute outfit that my friend Rachel gave her. I've had to wait 6 months for it to fit her. But it was worth the wait!