New car seats

Both outgrew their seats around the same time (Malcolm at 40 lbs, Evelyn 20 lbs) so Evelyn got Malcolm's seat - turned around - and we got Malcolm a new one which should last us many years, until he is 80 lbs.

Zipping around in the new garage

New favorite

A vintage Sorry game, from Dad's days, has become a regular part of our days since we introduced it this week. Malcolm picked up on the rules quickly and he carefully plots his strategy - shown here splitting moves between two pieces with the #7 card to land on a slide. He asked us today why there is no #6 card, something neither Mom nor Dad had noticed.

Thanksgiving hike

We're thankful for five wonderful months with sweet Evelyn and big brother Malcolm.

Laughing together

This morning, I woke to the sound of wild giggling downstairs. Reading the weather page in the local paper (part of his morning routine), Malcolm noted to Dad that Hawaii is still in the 80s, and then he began to tell Dad about its volcanoes - complete with volcano sound effects and a waving of arms to show the lava coming out. Evelyn herself began to erupt in giggles, and Malcolm continued to spew lava and ash to Evelyn's delight.

Sweet smiles

Nice day for sitting outside and harvesting the final tomatoes

This is our biggest tomato harvest of the year. Eureka isn't really tomato country. In other news, Evelyn had her 4 month checkup this week - she's as healthy as can be and growing fast: 18 lbs, 2 oz and 25.25 inches!

4 happy months

Evelyn is full of new tricks. She rolls to her tummy as soon as I put her down asleep in bed on her back, and rolls to her back if I lay her on the floor to play on her tummy! She has started playing with toys, even entertaining herself in the car if Malcolm passes her something interesting. When I cook with her facing outward in the Moby wrap she reaches out to feel the textures of everything that passes her way - a mesh potato bag was a favorite today. I emptied it out and gave it to her to hold for a while. She doesn't hold onto anything for very long, and I can't bend down very well with her in the wrap to pick up things that she drops. Dad doesn't seem at all surprised when he finds the kitchen floor littered with bags, towels, and utensils when he comes home from work.

Apple pressing at Nick's party

Malcolm was enthusiastically involved in every step of the process, from the apple orchard to the jugs of juice. Evelyn watched eagerly.

Playing trains together

Pumpkin patch

Malcolm's friend carefully adjusted his pumpkin so he would have a pumpkin head in the photo.

Good morning, sister

Malcolm likes to be the first one to Evelyn when she wakes up from her nap. Here, he is trying out the Evelyn-pillow.

Autumn clips

Evelyn has lately been practicing grabbing placemats off the table and stuffing them in her mouth. Watch your cereal bowl, Dad! She entertains us with giggles and even the raspberries. In other news, she has started napping in a bed!

"Wouldn't it be nice if you had three arms, Mom - two for nursing and one for sorting beads?"

"Mom, the motorcycles didn't wake Evelyn up going down the stairs because they put their silencers on."

We note in the weather page that a storm is coming to Eureka. Malcolm suggests, "We should hunker down but don't need to evacuate, I'd say." (words he picked up reading about Texans preparing for hurricane Gustav last month)

"Mom, I want to show you something amazing. Did you know that leeks have growth rings?"

Describing to me how to get to his music lessons, Malcolm said, "turn behind Walgreens, then take a left and the road curves around to her house." (OK, so it was Longs Drugs instead of Walgreens but otherwise right on).

Malcolm has for some time enjoyed typing his ABC's in different colors on the computer, asking me to change the color between every letter. With Evelyn in my arms, this got tricky so I showed him how to select new colors with the mouse in Word himself. He finished up and wanted to save it, but I was changing a diaper or nursing so I instructed him from a distance "click on the red X in the corner, then click on Yes in the box that pops up with the yellow exclamation point." It felt odd hearing myself talking in those terms to him and even more peculiar when he pulled it off.

Sleepyheads

Bringing back some memories

We found a complete Spirograph set (vintage early 1970's) at a local rummage sale.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Luke

A kazoo serenade for you, Uncle Luke

Happy Birthday, sweet Evelyn

We celebrated Evelyn's three-month birthday and Malcolm's three months of being a big brother.

Red fuzzy friends

Sunshine

Little cowboy

Sweethearts

Balancing act

Malcolm zips around on the concrete foundation that will soon be our garage on his scooter, doing tricks as he goes.

Good Bye Oma, Opa, and Nans. We miss you.

Moonstone with Oma

Family pictures by Opa