Toddlers minds

This morning the kids were checking out the map of the US on the door and telling me which states were which. They know quite a few of the states.  A few favorites - theirs and mine: Avocadorado (Colorado); Georgia peach (Georgia, courtesy of Spike); Country Roads (West Virginia - from the John Denver song - yes they can sing that song, at least the beginning).

Later on in the afternoon, while I was making dinner, Kyle was teaching Emily how to play chess. Emily asked Kyle which one of the pieces is going to be the Mommy and Daddy and princesses after learning about the king and queen.

Sundaes on a Friday

Today we remember my dad. We started off the day with an apple pancake for breakfast. I remember having breakfast with him at Walker Brothers many times and he loved their Dutch Baby and apple pancake. I learned how to make it recently and it's quite delicious. So we honored my dad this morning with a delicious apple pancake.

We followed up gymnastics class with a picnic up at Cabrillo overlooking the city, ocean and mountains. We watched planes and boats. We heard the sea lions, planes, helicopters and people walking about. We checked out the lighthouse.  The kids love the lighthouse for the phones in there.  They always pick them up and call Daddy (there is a recording playing on them with information about the lighthouse history).  My dad always loved planes and peaceful, beautiful scenery. Cabrillo is so beautiful because you get the city, ocean, and mountains all in one place.  He would have loved it. 

And after dinner, we went out for some ice cream. He sure did love his ice cream. Whenever we would travel, he would make sure we had ice cream in each city. So we went out and had hot fudge and caramel sundaes for him.  Now to finish off the evening, I am watching Pinocchio, his favorite Disney movie, while posting this.  We love you and miss you Dad!

Conversations with a tiger and a sausage

Two conversations from this morning that were quite cute!

As I was doing Emily's hair before preschool...
Emily [holding her little plastic tiger and looking him in the eyes]: Tiger, please don't growl.  I don't like it when you growl.  It scares me. 
Sets the tiger down next to the sink, looking at her.
Emily: Tiger, remember, I told you not to growl!
pause
Emily:  Good tiger!

Kyle at breakfast, having a heart to heart with his veggie sausage...
Kyle gobbles a bite of sausage.
Kyle then picks up the sausage again, looks at it with the bite taken out of it
Kyle: Sausage, can I please put you in my belly?
pause
Kyle: Okay, good!  Ready, set, go!
CHOMP!

Boston

We had a great trip to Boston this fall to see Uncle Eric, Aunt Stephanie, Jadon & Brennan.  Uncle Adam, Aunt Daniella, Max, Papa, and Kari came in as well!  So not only did we get to see a lot of family, we also got to experience the beauty of fall foliage and moderate weather. 

Playing in the leaves at the park

Jadon & Kyle tackling Uncle Eric at the bottom of the slide

At the Boston Science Museum in the butterfly garden.  The kids correctly identified the butterfly as the Blue Morpho Butterfly.  Watching Diego sure has taught them about a wide array of animals, bugs and nature!

And Halloween in Boston.  A few years ago, Stephanie told us about Halloween in Boston on Beacon Hill and how amazing it is.  And she sure is right!  They block of the streets in the area and everyone is dressed up for the festivities.  The houses are all decorated and these are some pretty spectacular houses.  Anyhow it's a lot of fun.  As you can see, Emily and I were ladybugs (she chose our costumes) and Kyle & Jeff are monkeys (Kyle chose their costumes).