Noah's Ark Parade

Last week, Addysen's preschool had a Noah's Ark parade...where they could dress up like animals and they paraded down a long hallway outside of their preschool.  Since Addysen's Halloween costume was not an animal, we made her into a butterfly for the parade.

Here she is trying not to smile (so funny how early they learn to try to do this! :-) )

Ahhh...forget that!  There's that smile! :-)

Then they went back to their classroom for a party their teachers had planned where they made their own Noah's ark snack...using blue jello for the water, celery for the ark and animal crackers to go into the boat (sticking with cream cheese).

Such a cute idea and the kids loved it!

Smiling!

Brielle gave us her first "real" smile at about 5 weeks old.  There's nothing like that smile of a newborn...and amazing how high pitched your voice gets when you see it!  Ha! :-)  The hard thing is capturing that smile right away.  I made an attempt at about 6.5 weeks and though I didn't get a smile, I had to post some of the pics I did get!

This was the first smile I captured which also was right about 6 weeks old.  Love this sweet girl!

Apple Orchard

While my parents were here, we went to an apple festival at an orchard about an hour away from where we live.  They had various activities and food and you got to pick your own apples right off the trees!  We had a great time and made if feel like it was officially the fall!

The big girls went on a hay ride with Papa and Daddy while Yia Yia and I stayed with Brielle.  Here they are waiting in line for the ride.

All ready for the ride!

The orchard is in the mountains and the views from up there were so beautiful!  We kept saying that in a couple weeks though, the colors from that view would have been unreal as the leaves were just starting to change...that whole view would be all different colors!

The girls loved apple picking!

The grown ups did too! :-)

And here's how Brielle spent the entire trip to the orchard aside from breaks to eat. :-)

We were able to go up and down the rows of the trees like this to pick the apples

My sweet Haven doll

Addysen was pretty excited when she learned she could pick an apple off the tree and eat it...just like that!

Haven got a little lift to get some of the apples that were higher on the tree :-)

This was such a fun fall activity!  This is the second year we've gone to an apple festival with Papa and Yia Yia...might have to make it an annual tradition to do with them! :-)

Papa and Yia Yia's Visit

At the beginning of October, my parents came to visit and meet Brielle for the first time. It was so wonderful having them here!

Proud Papa and Yia Yia meeting their 4th granddaughter

 Snuggles with Yia Yia

 

My parents got us a Ninja Blender when they were here...and I'm in love with it!!  It chops up anything and is going to be awesome for making baby food in a few months!  But for now, my Dad perfected the art of making frappucinos...which is now my new addiction! :-)  Num!

SO wish these grandparents lived closer to us!

Brielle got her first adjustment

Papa love!

Silly faces!

We took Yia Yia to a park we discovered since their last visit to Virginia...and it wasn't just Addysen and Haven that enjoyed the playground equipment :-)

Yia Yia with her Virginia granddaughters

Thank you Mom and Dad for being here and for all you did for us!  The girls loved the extra attention and love you gave them and I appreciated so much all the help and support you provided!!  Please come back soon!!  We love you so THAT much! :-)