6 Years

I thought I would take a small break from daily life updates, and post a short bit about a very special occasion - our 6 year wedding anniversary!  Even though 6 IS my favorite number, this particular anniversary traditionally does not quite receive the fanfare of the other multiple-of-5 anniversaries, but nonetheless, still exciting for us!

It's hard for both of us to believe that we have already been married for 6 years - the time has gone by so fast!  We can look back and remember so many great memories already and LOTS of laughing, namely at the expense of our differences.  We can (vaguely) remember sitting in our house on Sweetgum and pondering what movie to watch, or what magazine/books to reads, or even where to go for the weekend.  Fast forward a few years and the decisions have centered around who gets what sippy cup, when should we give the kids a bath, and whose turn it is to read bedtime stories.

Even though our anniversary is actually November 19th, we were able to get away for a few nights and celebrate early, thanks to my parents for watching the kids!  We spent some time in Indy doing some shopping and relaxing, then headed to Brown County (my first time!), on yet again another gorgeous fall weekend!  We just missed the leaves on the trees by 1 week or so, but we still enjoyed the time away - getting to sleep in (a rare treat!), eat at restaurants that had neither a kid menu nor a playground, read books, take in an IU basketball game, and just have some time to ourselves.  It was a great way to celebrate our marriage!

We have been so blessed throughout our marriage and thankful to God for all the wonderful things/people/situations He has brought into our lives, and we are eagerly anticipating what else He may have in store for us!

Dinner out while on our Honeymoon, Nov 2005

Still smiling 6 years later! (not quite as tan...)

 

Halloween

Although I'm over a week behind, I of course did not want to waste too much time in posting our Halloween pictures this year!  We actually were able to get the kids dressed and ready to go trick-or-treating with relatively no issues.  Jane is very much into dressing up these days so the concept of dressing up AND getting treats really set her over the edge!  Luke was a little more passive about the whole program, however, he impressed both Evan and I by keeping his "hood" on longer than we both expected. 

So...here they are - our little Dorothy (plus Toto in tow) and Cowardly Lion!

This was the 9th time I tried to take this picture - again, having to instruct her to keep her hand on something so she doesn't come charging at me

She very much loved that Toto had a matching ribbon like her.  Jane was portraying "80's style" Dorothy with her side-ponytail.  (The other pigtail was hidden in the back - did I mention I was a bit rushed?!)

Full ensemble here - ruby red slippers and all

A first glimpse of our cowardly lion...

True to character, Jane is trying to protect the Cowardly Lion, although something in his face looks more similar to "Back off, lady...."

Although blurry, this picture is my favorite of him!  He actually walked really well in the huge "paws"

Luke was over the hood by the time we got to Grandma and Papa's house, but this picture is still so cute!

How adorable is this picture?!

Papa finally agreed to open a chocolate mint for Jane, and this was exactly how excited she was about it!

Fall Fun

We have been enjoying a very full and festive fall so far!  We had a lot of weekends here in Rochester in September and October and took full advantage of it by taking the kids on a bunch of outings!  Each one turned out better than the last and it's exciting for us to see our kids enjoying things outside of the house.  Here are some of the things, with accompanying pictures of course, we have been up to!

Chuck E Cheese's:
We hadn't originally planned to go, however, the day we had picked to go to a Fall Festival in a town nearby ended up being a torrential downpour, so we re-routed ourselves down to Chuck E Cheese's and were SO glad we did!  I hadn't been there in awhile (ok, more like since I was 9) and both Evan and I were impressed with how clean, fun, and enjoyable it was!  Both kids absolutely loved it, particularly all the motorized "rides" and all the other kids running around.  We will definitely go back during the winter doldrums...

Although timid at first, Jane went all in with the hug for Chuck.

I know they're not looking at the camera, but I thought this was so cute.  I couldn't compete with the lighted buttons and sirens in this car.

Undoubtedly Jane's favorite "ride" the whole day. She lovers Barney.

Luke really figured out all the ins and outs of this car - and he was only 8 months old here!

Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo:
We have heard so many great things about the FWCZ, that on an unusually warm (near 80!) and sunny day, we decided to finally take the kids to the zoo, after we had talked about doing it all summer!  We could not believe how wonderful this zoo was and how great the kids did!  They have a lot of animals, as well as some rides, a petting zoo, a station for feeding ducks/fish/etc.  We actually stayed there almost 4 hours and I don't think either child complained once.  We are so thankful to have a nice zoo nearby and are eager for it to open back up next Spring!

Jane and I pretending we're "camping" at the zoo.  She was more interested in the popcorn stand than obtaining the perfect picture.

I love this picture of Jane.  Evan let her take her sandals off and splash around in the fountain (this was a permissable activity, not illegal).  I think she just embodies a little girl in this picture.

Still not looking at the camera, but love this picture anyway.

Thistleberry Farm Pumpkin Patch:
This was such a fun outing for us!  We didn't get to do a pumpkin patch last year, and I really wanted to do one this year.  Luckily, we found one (thanks for our friend Ashley F. for the suggestion) that was only about 30 minutes away and it was wonderful!  I don't think they lacked for anything you could possibly want/imagine from a pumpkin patch - they had a huge, homemade slide, large trampoline-esque thingy, tricycle course, 3 different corn mazes, pony rides, hay rides, "cow" rides, pigs, and of course, pumpkins!  It was a beautiful day (slightly chilly) and we had a great time!

Luke was stationary in his stroller a majority of the time, but didn't complain at all

This trike was a bit big for her, physically.  Mentally - she overpowered it again and again.

Jane and I wanted to see just how many different shades of pink we could get in one shot...

"Cow" rides - the kids LOVED these!

Neither kid looking at camera, but still think this is a great one

I included this picture of look for the background - look at all the activities on this HUGE farm!

Jane loved her first pony ride.  She knew exactly where to place her hands and how to sit on the pony.  She even let go to give daddy a little wave!

She liked the bigger pumpkins initially....

...but we did settle on one just her size.  She loved picking out pumpkins for everyone. (How about that Donald Trump hair?!  We just pulled off her hat, I promise...)

Although we don't have any pictures to account for the trip, we did enjoy a jaunt down to Indianapolis to take the kids to the Children's Museum!  I am forever amazed at that place and can't wait to go back again.  Both kids loved being there, particularly the Barbie exhibit (Jane) and the Playscapes area that has things to do for kids of all ages.  Luke loved rolling and playing around in the section designated for his age group, and had a special affinity for pressing a button that made a wall light up.  I think he pressed it nearly 284 times. 

All in all - we have been busy creating memories and enjoying quality time with our kids!