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I chaperoned Molly's class field trip to Clark's Elioak Farm this week. The kids started off the morning with a hay ride, keeping an eye out for silly-faced trees. Molly must have spotted one!

The hay ride ended at the Pumpkin Patch. All the pumpkins were the perfect size for preschoolers.

Molly picked up at least 4 pumpkins stating, "No, that's too heavy" before she settled on one.

Our tour guide brought out several animals for the kids to pet. Molly is always hesitant to pet animals, but she took a chance with this baby chick.

If petting the baby chick was a stretch for Molly, feeding the goats was definitely out. However, her classmates had a fun time handing out the snacks.

The line up.

Cinderella and her Prince(ss)

What could they be saying…Molly: "What was your favorite part?" Taryn: "Hmmm, let me think about that…"

And finally…16 bumps on a log!

As the season has changed, we've had more indoor play. Leah's jamming and dancing, with the hat on backwards and Molly's boots on the wrong feet. Note that this was not staged at all, but rather just what Leah decided to do (which is why the hat is pulled down so far).

Foam stickers provide lots of fun and creative stories.

So, Leah joined in as well.

After the stickers were applied, the girls moved from the table to the counter to draw in some more details.

Molly's really enjoying her science kit. It clearly takes a lot of concentration when mixing colors in a petri dish using droppers.

Since Leah hit the big two year mark recently, we decided to have a little photo shoot around Lake Elkhorn. It was a bit shorter than we intended as we underestimated how much sun was left in the day, but fun regardless.

Molly had a haircut at the same time as Leah. Here she is sporting her new look.

Walking hand in hand

Leah, on a bridge

The girls decided the bridge was excellent for dancing. Not excellent for looking at the camera, but excellent for dancing.

Who's over there? They must be very entertaining!

Molly, Queen of the Rock! Leah? Not so sure.

Now that Molly's four, she's old enough to join the Cherub Choir at church (consisting of preschool, kindergarten, and first grade kids). Today was her first performance, and I even got to join in accompanying them on guitar. There's quite a few kids, so I recommend watching in HD to see them a bit better.

While I was at the grocery store on Sunday, the girls had some fun playtime with Daddy. First, a bit of coloring. Molly decided that she needed to finish coloring her Sunday school paper.

Then some dancing. Maracas are fun, especially if you can dance around an alphabet mat with one.

And then smiles from behind the couch,

and from hiding under a blanket. Surprise!

Molly's preschool had a Back to School picnic at Hammond Park for all the kids and their families. As soon as we got there, Leah was ready to take a spin on the playground (Molly too).

Leah loved going down this big slide, and after several runs she managed to build up enough static electricity to create this hairstyle.

There were also organized games, including this sponge race. It was a relay in which players would fill a sponge with water, then race down to another bucket to fill. Molly loved it.

Leah joined in the fun as well.

Why play on the playground when you can have fun in the water fountain?

I don't think they're here to quench their thirst.

Our family was going in three different directions the morning of Leah's party. Chad played a tennis tournament that weekend, including an early morning match before the party. Uncle J tagged along to watch and be our event photographer.

At the same time, Molly had her first Fall ballet class. So, Aunt 'Chelle, Emmie and G'Mom took her. Here Molly is showing how she leaves class by demonstrating her curtsy.

That evening, G'Mom and Grampa watched all three girls so that the parents could have a night out. The girls enjoyed reading with Grampa before Leah went to bed.

A Sunday afternoon photo op.

Hold on girls!

While Molly was at preschool on Monday, the littlest girls had playtime at the playground.

The train is a good place to sit and talk it out with G'Mom.

Just Leah and her mom.

Emmie and Molly had fun helping G'Mom bake cookies. Though, all Molly really wanted to do was lick the spoon!

A good rainy day activity? Swimming, or swinging, in the hotel pool.

A told B, and B told C
“I'll meet you at the house
for Leah's party!”

“Whee!” said D to E F G
“Are you coming to see
the coconut tree?”

Chicka chicka boom boom!
Will there be enough room?
We'll find out when you RSVP!

When Leah consistently started choosing Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for a bedtime story, I knew it would be the perfect theme for her 2nd birthday. The party started with making Boom Boom shakers. It takes a lot of concentration to fill a shaker with beads.

The kids then sat for a reading of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and used their shakers to go boom boom!

To the surprise of many, I did not make the cake this time. Chad convinced me to focus on the rest of the party prep and have it made by Oh What a Cake. It was great decision and a great cake.

The basic story of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is about the alphabet climbing to the top of the coconut tree. So, naturally we had to have one present.

Thanks for inspiring silly ways to play with balloons, Uncle J!

Leah was so excited for the birthday song that she even sang it to herself!

To fully appreciate the taste of the cake, Leah thought it necessary to close her eyes. Though, when you do that you must open your mouth as wide as you can to make sure it gets in.

Who needs a fork? Icing, finger, tongue.

Then it was present time and the kids were definitely present.

Leah's very into baby dolls right now. This one came with a bottle, which was a big hit.

She also enjoyed reading a fun, new book.

And as a party favor, guests left with colorful alphabet cookies.

Skit skat skoodle doot.
Flip flop flee.
Thanks for coming
To Leah’s party!

Leah turned 2 on the 16th, so we celebrated with cupcakes from the new Kupcakes & Co.

Two candles can be tough. It helps to call in some reinforcements.

She had singing birthday calls,

practiced tearing open gifts, a skill necessary for her party,

then played with some of her new toys.

Happy birthday big girl!

Routine is a wonderful thing and with the beginning of a new school year, we are back in the swing of it. Molly's now in the 4-year-old class at preschool, and of course still loving it. Her class is mostly the same kids (14 out of 18) as last year.

Yea for the first day of school!

And for those of you who are a bit nostalgic, here is Molly's first day of school last year. I can't believe how much older she looks!