Word to your cuz

Since I've been off of work I've been trying to get around to a few things that we don't normally get to do that are fun for the kids.  So we headed down to Brown County on a perfect fall day.  The kids and I had lunch with Danny.  Then we headed over to Michael and Jenni's.  Josiah loves playing with Eli.  It's fun because he doesn't have really many boys to play with and they play well together.  Erin and Eddy were able to come over and hang out too.  I was able to hold the little cutester for a while.

 Cody, Lillian, Josiah, Eddy, Eli

 watching Tom and Jerry

 Giving good bye hugs

It was a beautiful fall day.  As the rain front rolled in the leaves were blowing like crazy and the way they were coming off the trees were magical.  The light specks are all the leaves. 

In the next 3 sets of pictures I took mom's card and uploaded some of the 777 pictures off of her camera. Anna and I call her Paparazzi because she takes such an obscene amount of pictures.  Only to never do anything with them.  She takes wonderful pictures!  Someday I'm going to go and get the 2000 pictures of my kids and print off  some shots.

My only cousin on the Reilly side, Mark, married Bren this July.  They had an absolutely gorgeous wedding!  So now there's one more cousin and hopefully more little cousins will follow :)

 Daniel & Nicole, Grant, Jessica, Mark, Bren, Anna, Jeff, Darby & David

(Daniel and David are Mark's 2 other cousins)

Beautiful! 

Mark and Christine

Such a cute picture of Mark and Grandpa George.

At the end of July the Collier family came to visit from Colorado.  It was so fun to have family around.  I did blog about this back in July, but here's the picture that Paparazzi was able to capture.

Congratulations to the Collier family as they just welcomed a little brother, Enoch, on Oct. 12th.

Lillian, Josiah, Dove, Sophia, Jensen, Hope

Weewa watched the kids while Anna took me to get my car the other day and, once again, she took some super cute pictures.  I was lucky to get my hands on this set the day they were taken.

It seems like in no time they will all be the same size

Work or play

 I had the kids dressed up for pictures at the salon.  They weren't cooperating there so I just told the photographer not to worry about it and then I brought them to Weewa's.  We had a super fun day taking some pictures and then literally playing and "working".

 I was sooo bummed.  My camera settings were wrong and so I think what could've been the best pictures they've had together didn't quite turn out.

 making pouty bubbles

 My lovies!

One of the best feelings in the whole world!

 I love this silly girl.  She was pushing on my face and just being rotten.

 I saw this pink chair in mom's barn and had to take advantage.

 No, that isn't Crocodile Dundee... it's Pawpa!

 Lillian loved the skid steer.  She rode for quite a while.

It took Jojo a long time to warm up to the thought of even getting on the thing.

He thinks everything is cooler from a distance.

walking through the "Jungle" as Josiah calls it.

She mimicked every move Pawpa made.  So cute.  Have I ever mentioned how much she loves him?  Some how she missed the full blown "Weewa Effect"  and is under "Pawpa's spell"

Coming back for more?

So this cat's name is Sam.  Sam has been such a good and patient kitty.  Many times I wonder if he was dropped on his head as a baby.  He's been visiting us about once a day or two.  He is soooo sweet.  He purrs even when he is being held only by his neck, under the bed covers, or in jumpball position between the kids.  

"Life is good while....

 watching toons with the kids

 taking a high speed "stroll"

 nuzzled  by Jojo

or lounging on the countertop."

(my favorite picture.   I really questioned his mental state when I saw this taking place)

I'm trying to get these posts in while I have time and before I have a new subject to post on.  Speaking of as of Oct 5.  I was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced.  We are headed off to Jacob and Emily's wedding this weekend.  We aren't very worried though.  I was progressed early with the other kids and they were on time and late.  Wednesday was my last day of work and I felt like a kid going on Christmas break.  Hopefully I'll get some one on one time with the kids before #3.  Also, still taking suggestions for girl names.

Pretty Ears

June Bug had been so excited to get Lillian's ear pierced.  So I decided for her birthday I would finally take the plunge.  Now I always thought I would get my little girl's ears pierced when she was a baby like my mom did when I was a baby.  When it came down to it I always had a reason why it wasn't the right time.  For one thing it's crazy how strongly people feel on the subject of ear piercing.  As with most things in parenting, I don't have a really strong opinion on what the "right" thing to do is.  I could see the pros and cons both ways.  The only thing I knew from my experience is that I don't remember the pain of getting mine done,  don't remember the fear or having to make that decision as a "X" year old.  So with some encouragement from my Grandma or maybe it was the challenge that she thought I would back out, we decided to get it done.   It wasn't that bad and I'm happy that this is a gift she'll have from her great grandma for the rest of her life.  Or maybe Lillian will hate me for the rest of her life for having her subjected to the pain at such a young age and stripping her of the right to choose what holes to put in her body.  Although I'm sure someday it'll be me begging her not to put in anymore holes. 

She sat like such a big girl.

This was serious business

The moment before

 during the middle of the act

all over.  

"Let's look at your pretty earrings in the mirror"

 Oh wait! I forgot to tell them that she is a complete drama queen when she looks in the mirror.  So the floods gates opened wide... just for a minute, then stopped as quickly as they began...

 .... because she got a sucker!  All better.

 Walking through the mall happily with June Bug.

I must admit it wasn't as bad as I expected.  I really wanted to take her to an actual tattoo/piercer.  It's worse when I take her to get her shots.  Then she does the "silent scream" before the real tears come.  This was super quick and the holes were nicely placed on her ears.

Riley Park

On Lillian's actual birthday we took her to the park to play... and take pictures.  I bought these outfits for them awhile ago and had their pictures taken at Target.  The only one I purchased was the one of Josiah crying while Lillian was laughing her head off.   We had such a good time.  We are able to make it over to Riley park about once a month.  They have fun on the playground except I'm constantly worried that they are going to end up in the creek.  Enjoy the pics of my big 2 year old, Lillian, and the always cute, Josiah.