Happy Halloween!

Introducing Ben the Zebra and Kate the "Princess Witch"....


Tonight we did a little trick or treating. The cold weather kept us from staying out very long. But, Kate inherited her mama's sweet tooth and she wasn't about to let a little cold weather keep her from filling her pumpkin with candy. She is going through an anti-picture stage so it was a little difficult to get a picture of her in that way-too-cute witch's costume.

Earlier in the week we carved pumpkins...well, all but one. That one was Kate's special pumpkin that she picked out and no one could "cut" it. She still does not like to be dirty and refused to help get the guts out of the pumpkins. Daddy even tried bribing her with (up to 3) popsicles. She stuck to her guns. She said, "No, I keep my hands fresh and clean. I NOT touch punkin!"

Later she had fun helping Daddy cut the eyes and nose out of the pumpkins. But best of all was turning out the lights and admiring the finished product.

Happy Halloween!!

Kate Goes to the Movies

Last Saturday we took Kate to see a movie (or "moobee"). Her attention span is pretty short so we weren't sure if she would be able to sit through the entire thing. But, the weather was cold and rainy and "Up" was at the dollar theater so we gave it a try. She was so excited to get there. She kept saying "I go to the show!" There were a couple parts that I think lost her attention but all in all she enjoyed it. I think it helped that balloons, one of Kate's great loves, were a main part of the movie.

6 Months!

Ben turned 6 months on the 13th. He is learning something new everyday. My favorite so far is his new babble: "mamamama". Oh, and reaching for me. I love that one too! At his appointment last Thursday Ben surprised the doctor with his strength. When laying on his back Ben can almost do a sit up. He did this several times while the doctor was trying to examine him. Ben also tried grabbing instruments out of the doctor's hand. He made the doctor giggle more than once! Ben weighed in at 17lbs. 10 oz. and measured 27 inches long.

Our little buddy is moving all over the place! His favorite mode of transportation is rolling. It just cracks me up. He gets going pretty fast sometimes. I don't remember Kate rolling as a way to get places. He must take after his Grandpa Maurer. When I was a kid Dad would say "let's roll!". So we would, from one side of the room to the other. Nowadays Kate is the only one he can get to roll with him, but it looks like Ben is practicing up!

Being able to sit up has made life easier. He has started sitting in his highchair while we eat (this makes mealtime much more enjoyable) and in his little seat in the bathtub (which makes the bathroom floor twice as wet from double the splashes). He can almost get himself into a sitting position from laying on the ground. Once he rolls to a toy he wants he'll prop himself up with one elbow and use the free hand to play. He is SO close to a sitting himself back up. It is funny to watch him get all situated to play.

As I expected, the doctor suggested I start feeding Ben cereal regularly. I had been putting it off. I'm not ready for him to grow up yet. I want him to stay my baby and in my mind babies don't eat with a spoon!! But, he needs the iron so the last couple of nights Ben has feasted on rice cereal. He really seems to like it (and hopefully doing it in the evening will help him sleep longer at night...what is with this getting up 2 - 3 times a night still!).

Today I put Ben down for his nap then went downstairs to switch the laundry. When I came back up I couldn't find Kate. After looking around I found her in Ben's crib with him. She said, "Ben was fussing so I read him a book". I love that girl to pieces.

Nothing too exciting...

We haven't been up to much lately. With football, cross-country and volleyball in full swing now Drew has been putting in some long days. So the kids and I have been spending some quiet evenings and weekends at home. Here are just a few pictures from our everyday happenings.

Since our visit to the apple orchard Kate has been really into apples. If the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is correct, this girl won't ever be sick she sometimes has 2 or 3 a day! Good thing our fridge has a door alarm on it. It goes off often as Kate tries to help herself to apples.

Here is something that NEVER happens at my house. My kids aren't ones to just fall asleep...especially when it isn't their designated nap time and they aren't in their beds (or unfortunately, my bed). But this week it happened to both of them!


Kate is a very good big sister. She's very protective of Ben. If he starts fussing she's usually the first one to his side, rubbing his arm, trying to comfort him. He gets lots of hugs and kisses from her. It is fun to see her be so loving towards him. The other day we were driving and he was babbling in his car seat. Kate says, "I wonder what he trying say." Often she says, "Mom, Ben so cute!!" I have to agree with her.


And here are just a couple more pictures from the last couple of weeks. Ben turned 6 months on the 13th! Hard to believe! More on Ben's milestones to come....

A Visit to the Apple Orchard

Sunday we spent the perfect fall afternoon at Tanner's Apple Orchard. About a week ago our sitter gave us a little newspaper advertisement for the apple orchard. Kate and I have been reading it and talking about it all week long. By the time Sunday rolled around I didn't know who was more excited - me or Kate!

Tanner's was WAY more than I had expected. They had the coolest playground for the little ones. Kate is a playground connoisseur of sorts and I'd bet she'd put this one at the top of her list (how can you beat unlimited pony rides?!).

My favorite part of the day was about two laps in on one of Kate's pony rides. She looked at me and said "Mommy, I have fun!" I had fun too, Katie. Thanks for such a great day!

5 months

Ben turned 5 months old over the weekend. Hard to believe, isn't it!



He still isn't sleeping through the night, but at least he is back to getting up only once a night. There for a couple of weeks it was four of five times a night. So once isn't too bad at all! Our growing little boy weighs in at 17lbs 4 oz. He is rolling all over the place and trying to sit up. We can get him to "sit" for a few seconds to play with a toy. Ben has found a new love...the exersaucer. He can entertain himself for quite awhile surrounded by all those new toys. It is so fun to listen to him squeal and laugh. When he smiles his mouth goes wide open.

Nothing makes Ben happier than being outside. And bath time is still a favorite activity for him. He always has his fingers, hand, and sometimes even both hands in his mouth; although it is looking like he might turn out to be a thumb sucker. He's drooling like crazy and biting on everything he can get a hold of, but no sign of a little toothers yet! Well, that about sums up our little guy....could he be any sweeter?

Goodbye Summer

We've spent the last two weekends trying to get in all our favorites of summer one last time.

The last weekend in August we went to Shelbyville. We wanted to get out on the water one last time. Even though it was a little too cool to get in, we still spent the day out in the sun and on the lake. Kate caught her first fish! She wasn't nearly as impressed as we thought she would be.

Labor Day weekend we made our annual trip down to Kentucky to visit my aunt & uncle's home. This year we had 15 people. That means lots of air mattresses! But the best part of the weekend - my Grandma Maurer came with us! It was SO much fun to have her with us (actually she was my saving grace). Ben was EXTRA fussy all weekend. I think it was a mixture of the cold he is fighting and teething. It seemed though that my grandma was the only one who could calm him down. He would be throwing an all out fit for me and within 2 minutes she would have him sleeping, time after time after time. I'm considering moving her in with us! Needless to say she spent most of the weekend rocking and both Ben & Grandma were in heaven!

The rest of us did what we do every Labor Day weekend...the boys do lots of golfing, the girls do lots of shopping. We all do lots of eating, relaxing, boating, and soaking in the last few days of summer with good company. The weekend went by way too fast and leaves me looking forward to next year.