Carving pumpkins

We had a big day today! Mer had her second skating lesson and it went very well. We talked it up all last week about how she was going to go out on the ice by herself with just the other kids and her teacher and it made a world of difference. She did wonderful today and enjoyed herself without getting too frustrated. She was able to get up and down and balance better. Eeek! She was so cute!

Tonight we carved pumpkins. Mer was so excited about this. Her help in the carving process consisted of scooping for about 10 minutes and then mom and dad did the rest. I don't remember carving pumpkins as a kid being such a chore.

So here she is digging into the pumpkin. Ewwww!

Getting into the groove.

Daddy taking Mer's cues and saying "CHEESE".

This is the aftermath.

I think they turned out pretty good. Mer picked out the bat (which I carved), I did the monster and Greg did the scary face.

Pre-Halloween Trick or Treating

Today we got dressed up in full costume and went to my office to have a little fun and to do some trick-or-treating. Mer came home with half a pumpkin full of candy already.

Tomorrow we are going to carve pumpkins and then on Sunday we are going to a Halloween party and then head home to go trick-or-treating with the neighbors. Should be a fun weekend!

Skating Lessons

Both Greg and I want Meredith to skate. Actually, play hockey. I really want to be a hockey mom. I don't care how expensive the sport is. Call us a little hasty, but we signed Meredith up for skating lessons at the ripe old age of 3. Oy.

She's in a pre-beginners class for 3 and 4 year olds. It's not a hockey class, but just a learn-to-skate class.

Her first lesson was this weekend and fortunately, the time slot we picked up only has two other kids besides Meredith in it. Parents are allowed on the ice with the pre-beginners so Greg took her out. The other two kids didn't have parents out on the ice with them. That was red flag #1. The other kids appeared to be 'older' threes or in their fours. That was red flag #2.

Needless to say, I think we would have been better off not having Daddy out on the ice with her. While the other two kids listened patiently and tried to do what the teacher was asking, my child shrieked at the top of her lungs, got frustrated, huffed and puffed, bossed Daddy around, etc. **sigh** I think next time we will be better off letting her go out on the ice with just her teacher and maybe she will behave a bit better.

When she got off the ice, she was all frustrated and kept screaming "I felled". We've been explaining to her that it takes patience and that is why her teacher was teaching her how to fall. Because you fall A LOT.

At least we've hyped it up enough that she is agreeable and somewhat excited to go back to her lessons next week.

One lesson down, seven lessons to go.

So, here she is all excited getting ready for her lesson.

Not so bad here...before all the shrieking and crying started.

This is just cute - all the 'lil ones on their butts

Doing some exercises.

Leaving the ice...not quite as happy as she looked prior to her lesson.

Beautiful fall day

We have planned on going to Emma Krumbees for quite a while now and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I can't believe the warm weather we've been having this month. I just love fall. It's my favorite time of year. We are going to get family pictures done next weekend so I'm hoping for some nice weather and some color still left.

Greg, Meredith and I met up with my friend Barb, her husband, and her two girls. This is the third year that Barb and I have taken the girls to Emma Krumbees.

Meredith was a cranky pants in the car. She kept seeing pumpkins along 169 and wanted to stop and see them. I guess she was too excited.

When we got there, she still wouldn't cheer up. I swear, I can't take a nice picture of her. Ever.

She perked up a little when she got to go on a pony ride.

And she really perked up when she got to run around with Erin.

She rode in an oil barrel train all by herself!

The girls played hide and seek in the graveyard.

She went down a giant slide.

She fed goats. Thank you to another father for giving Meredith a quarter for the corn machine...we only had dollar bills and that doesn't go far when the corn is in a quarter machine.

The girls dance and made music up on stage.

They went out to the pumpkin patch.

They were joined by Erin's little sister Sara in the orchard.

We had a fabulous time. I absolutely love Emma Krumbees. It's such a wonderful place to take small children.

Grrrrr

We went to a friend's birthday party a few weeks back and there was a face painter there. Meredith had a blast and wore herself out. I didn't have my camera at the party so I took pictures when we got home and all I could get out of here was this.

Stay tuned for another long overdue update. I have some pictures from Emma Krumbees.