Oh no! She's moving!

I know I should be grateful - it has taken Reese this long to figure out how to move, but she is into everything and all she's doing is scooting like a wounded soldier. I'm so nervous for when she is actually crawling, climbing and walking!
She is so different from Noah. He was content as long as you were entertaining him - never explored, put things in his mouth or went where he shouldn't. Reese is so curious. She touches everything and everything goes in her mouth! I feel like I spin my wheels all day keeping her out of things or getting her in a place that is safe for her to explore. I am busy beyond belief and get absolutely nothing accomplished by the end of the day. I have never understood how people do it that have more than one little one at a time. I am tempted to empty the house and pad the floors and walls so there is nothing for her to get into. But then how would she learn? I have to keep reminding myself that it is all allowing me to continue having my giant bowl of Mint Cookie Crunch ice cream every night and not be as big as our house!

Bare

Here is one of the pictures from the obligatory "nude" photo session of Reese. Their little naked bodies are so cute - it's no wonder we all are drawn to take pictures of them. And they work so great as blackmail later in life.

The other picture is one of the few we have of Reese asleep. I am so afraid to disturb her at all when she is asleep - because it is so rare and because she wakes up very easily. I took this one however because I wanted it on record that she sleeps with a blanket over her face. As soo as you lay her down, she pulls the blanket up over her and shuts out the world. I have found her with it completely wrapped around her head before. It makes me very nervous. Thankfully we have these muslin blankets that are almost like cheesecloth so I know she can breathe.

Darth Vader and the Mermaid

We were very busy this Halloween. With two kids so spread out in ages, we had to do different activities for each one.We carved pumpkins all together. Noah di most all of the carving and did a great job. Reese just played in the pumpkin guts and loved it. She really loves textures and wants to know how everything feels. She could have played with the pumpkin for hours if we let her - I'm thinking of getting her one for Christmas, spreading out a big tarp and just letting her go to town. It would be her favorite present I'm sure. She is like a pet - more interested in the boxes and paper than in the actual toys.

Reese and I have been going to a place called My Gym. Each week we go and do dances and songs and swing and play on the equipment and have a great time. So, the day before Halloween, we attended a party held there for little kids. They had a "Funhouse" to climb through, bubbles filled with smoke, and funky things to touch. On Halloween, Noah had a friend spend the night. We all went to a party held by a friend of theirs from school, then went trick or treating and then watched Gremlins while eating tons of candy. Noah dressed as Darth Vader and this is the only picture of him with his mask on - because of course, as with all Halloween costumes, he could not see throught the eyeholes. His friend also did not wear his mask because it smashed his nose. I told them both that that is all part of the tradition - you can't have a costume that didn't bug the crap out of you by the end of the night or it wouldn't be a true Halloween experience.

Is it really fall?

Living in Tucson, sometimes makes it hard to remember that the rest of the country is actually going through seasons. As we are walking around sweating in our shorts and flip-flops, it's hard to believe that there are places not too far away where it is getting ready to snow. I absolutely love the fall and winter here - it's such a wonderful time of year - but I do miss the crisp, cold evenings and the smell of snow in the air and especially the changing leaves and fall colors. Fall here is time for flowers - purple, fuscia and yellow. I get spring fever in the fall - it's so exciting to emerge from the house after being cooped up in it for the long hot summer.

Well, to remind us of what fall is supposed to be like, we took a trip to Flagstaff, AZ for the week during "fall break". A new thing the schools have started here (and other places I'm sure) where the kids get a week off in mid-October. It's a perfect time to travel.

Flagstaff was awesome. My parents and nieces came with us and a friend of Noah's. It was great for him to have someone there to hang out with instead of it always just being us adults. We all rented a house and had a great time spending the week together. Since it was shortly before Halloween, we decorated the house with Halloween decorations and everyday the secret Halloween goblin would come and fill a treat bucket with goodies and toys for each of the kids - even Reese got stuff. They were all amazed and baffled about how the goblin got in and did that while we were gone each day.
We went to the Grand Canyon and all the kids got their junior ranger badges. We went to Sunset Crater where they got another badge. They were so proud of themselves - it's alot of work, but a fun way to learn about the parks. We also visited the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Lowell Observatory. The boys went to Meteor Crater with Grandpa one day while the girls went to the park and before we left town we dipped candles at a store downtown.