On the farm

Savannah went on a field trip this week, and since Dad had Columbus Day off (love working for the government!), she insisted he be her chaperone. This was a true test of his love since he is usually an allergic mess around farm animals. They had a great time. She was VERY excited about riding on the bus (Ashkii said it was so bumpy, he was nearly sick!), picking a pumpkin, going on a hayride, and seeing all the animals.

Magic moments

Rachel has started giggling and using her voice - it is so sweet. I forgot how fun each phase is, and how quickly they develop. Also, we've had some requests for video of Trevor, so I asked him what he wanted to do on video, and he replied, "Play football!!" He asked me today if he can play football instead of soccer next year - I'm scared.
Please excuse the messy house - my kids have been having fun pulling out bins of Halloween decor and costumes:)

Go Navy!

Navy just won their fourth game this season. We were lucky enough to get tickets to the game two weeks ago - on the second row in the end zone. I am not a big football fan, but it was really fun - I think good seats make a huge difference. It's also fun that three members of the coaching/medical staff, including the head coach, are members of our church. So the excitement for Navy is contagious around here!!!

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The kids were really getting into it - except for Rachel,
who slept through the entire game!!

Love This Season

A very talented friend in our ward (church congregation) here has a daughter Savvy's age. We are getting to know their family, and Savannah went to their house last week. My friend decided to take these fun pics, then very nonchalantly gave me a CD a few days later, and I just had to share. I think she is so talented - just snapped these out in her backyard and house. She also took some sweet baby pics of Rachel, like the one I added to the right. Now I'm trying to come up with a talent to share with her:) I love the fall pics, Savvy (of course) loves the dress up/ballerina pics.

Discombobulated

A few Sundays ago, I was talking to an older friend at church. She was asking me how I was doing with "three" and said that when her third child was born, she was very discombobulated. "YES!" I almost shouted, "that's the perfect word!" And it is. I don't really even know how to say how I am doing right now. I feel like I am doing okay with three, but I really just feel kind of . . . discombobulated! Like I am not sure how to stay afloat and keep up with everything. A lull in activity hits, the baby is asleep, and it's like I don't know what to do with myself because I really just want to sleep, but there's dishes, laundry, piles of mail, a very cluttered house, a church lesson to prepare, phone calls to return, bills to pay . . . you know how it is. So I am still adjusting to having this new little person in my life and learning how to balance it all. We also recently started soccer and ballet again, which added another dimension. Oh, and I have had some "fun" stuff going on health-wise, but that is an entirely different post. For now, the grandparents are wanting updated pics, so here are a few recent shots and videos.







Rachel is really smiling now and starting to make cute little sounds, especially for her daddy & brother.


Savannah has decided she wants to be a Navy cheerleader when she grows up . . .



On another note, I am LOVING the fall here. It has been a perfect-weather week. Hope you are enjoying this time of year, too!

Last first day of preschool

Savvy started preschool last week and is (of course) loving it. She has been begging to go back to preschool ever since we left Virgina and she said goodbye to her first preschool. It makes me sad that this is her last year of preschool - next year she will go to full-day kindergarten! She loves to learn and to socialize, and preschool provides all that and more for her. They are learning some sign language and she is so excited to share it with us when she gets home. Trevor still remembers lots of signs he learned at that age - their minds are like little sponges. I am grateful that my kids have had such great preschool experiences so far in FL, VA, and now here. It is such a fun time of their development - so excited to learn and grow!

Rachel meets Grandma L, Daija, & Jonathan

We had another wave of visitors last week - first, Daija and Jonathan came down from Boston, then Grandma Linton joined us. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I am a little "off my game" in a lot of areas right now! We hope we didn't scare Daija and Jonathan (they are having a baby next month!) Everyone was very helpful and understanding of our chaotic household:).

Daija braiding Savvy's hair for her


Vacation wouldn't be vacation without a few
card games


Jonathan & Daija babysat Savannah one afternoon, and when we returned, she was doing cartwheels like a pro. She loved watching the gymnastic events of the Olympics. She is one determined kid - they had to tell her to rest because her arms started giving out on her.



Hooray for Navy football! Grandma, Ashkii, Trevor and Savannah were there for the first game of the season:



All the midshipmen (students at the academy) in their uniforms - always a sight to behold!


Grandma Linton was SUPER helpful to us, especially with the yard. I should have taken some before and after pics, because it really was an amazing transformation. She is a farm girl at heart and loves to work outdoors. Our neighbor commented to Trevor, "That's great that your Grandma is here helping you guys." To which he replied, "Yeah, she's a professional."

Oh, and despite her claim of not being a "baby person," she was helpful in that area as well. She and Rachel seemed to have an understanding, and she got her to sleep for us several times!


By the last day, Grandma was (finally) worn out!


Thanks for visiting us, Vicki, Daija, and Jonathan!