Lenora's Language Round-up

Little Len is more almost 14 months, and she's chatty! Her favorite things to say are salutations. She'll say "hi!" to almost anyone or anything. Some favorite words and phrases:

Hi!
Hi Aa-ii, or A-la-ee (Hi Ally, she's good with Ls!)
Chure (picture)
Mama
Dad
Ch-ch (Chester)
Hi tay (Hi train)

She's got mostly soft constenants, so somethings I think we aren't interpreting her words well enough. When she first wakes up she just goes on and on about whatever she's been dreaming in her bed. I love her little voice.

School Days

After two years on the waiting list, Ernie finally got a call that there was a spot in the Dimensions Early Childhood program. We had to act fast, and now three mornings a week Ernie is one of Ms. Miller's class in the nature-based program.
He got to wear his Halloween costume on the first day, since it was the day after Halloween. That made it extra fun. He LOVES it so far. He has so many friends, loves playing outside, music and movement, and loves his teacher. We're so proud of him for adjusting immediately.

He posed by the front door with his back pack, which he insists you refer to as his "luggage."

Woody Pajamas

Ernie's been doing so well with his naps and following the rules, that we got him some new pajamas that look like Buzz and Woody from the Toy Story movie. The day he earned them, he wanted to try the Woody ones on right away!

Halloween! Peter Pan style.

Grandma Bonnie is amazing. Whatever Ernie can dream up, she creates with incredible precision. This year Ernie wanted to be Peter Pan, he dictated Lenora should be Tinkerbell, and Mommy would be Wendy, and Daddy, Captain Hook.

Here's Adrian Peterson holding Tink. She's chewing on Wendy's hair bow, because Mommy wearing things in her hair is just too funny.
Look at my "HANDSOME Peter Pan!"

The cast!

Captain Hook has captured poor Tinkerbell! And all Wendy's doing about it is taking a picture!

Isn't she amazing? Grandma Bonnie poses proudly.

We had to give Grandpa Denie something to make him fit in, so he's wearing a hat to look like Mr. Smee, because Ernie thought his glasses already fit the part.

Happy Halloween!

Roca Berry Farm 2010

It's worth a trip every year. Ernie really looks forward to driving the bus.
And both our children find the animals very smoochable.

Hayrack portrait!

Lenora would like a hayrack teething board for Christmas.

Ernie wasn't too involved in the pumkin selection, since he was more concerned about which tractor we would take back from the patch.

Pumpkin Carvin' 2010

A gorgeous day turned out for us to have our annual Bone-Chillin', Gut-Spillin', Pumpkin-Carvin' Par-Tay!

I'm pretty proud of my spooky brownies, even if my vampires look like their wearing Elvis wigs.

October is about SWEETS! The crew is busy at work. There's a lot on the line with pumpkin carving. We were most honored to have our judges Zoe and Thor Johnson! Welcome back to Nebraska!!! A pretty decent lineup. Awards were given for Silliest (Darrell Mohr), Scariest (Kelli Bacon, I believe?), and Most Traditional (Joel Bacon). That's right, it was a Bacon sweep. I think it was a set-up. Len posed with her foot-ghost pumpkin. Remind you of any other pictures? Maybe . . . this one from 2007?
And here's the Pumpkin Carvin' Gang!

Boo at the Zoo 2010

Friends all met for another Boo at the Zoo Excursion! We had the Erbs and the Walshes join us. That means we had Batman (Jonathan), a Red Power Ranger (Ernie), a puppy (Johanna), Belle from Beauty and the Beast (Morgan), a bear (Lenora), and a lobster (Cullen).

Our superheroes flexed their muscles for us. *Swoon*

Fall

We've been enjoying the season. How about you?

Congratulations, Grandpa Denie

Denis Hall was inducted into the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame this year! Jeremy and Amber got to attend an ah-MAYZ-ing dinner (like Top Chef, but no one had to pack their knives) where he was recognized.
We're so proud of him.

Len's First Birthday!

We had a gorgeous day for Len's first birthday party! Grandma Chris made a spice cake, and Mom made pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Grandpa Darrell made Len a stroller for her dollies. Ernie immediately took the "stroller car" for a spin.

Our neighbor Allie was very attentive to Miss L. She put up with a lot of hair pulling from the birthday girl.

Feeding frenzy.

Lenora liked her cake!

Did I mention it was beautiful? Right after sweets all went outside to enjoy the weather.

Here's Len opening a beautiful artwork by Aunt Laura.

And here's her new dolly for her stroller! She was a bit more interested in the tissue paper at the time, but she and dolly are very fond of each other alread.

Valas with the Wellses!

We met the Wells family at Vala's Pumpkin Patch! Len and Maisie were so happy to see each other again. Maisie is such a snuggler!


As soon as Ernie saw Kitt they could not WAIT to get to the train! Here they are watching it roll in.

Look at these pretty girls in their blue with their EYES!!!

The boys had as much fun on the toy trains as they did on the real one.

So did the girls!

Bunny village was just the right size for our little ladies.

Thankfully they do have tractors you can drive.

Lenora enjoyed her first ice cream as a snack! She's a smart baby, and ate it all.

We tried to recreate a pic with pumpkins we had taken of the boys back in 2008. The boys were too busy to sit still and the girls were anxious to head home. But we managed a decent one!

We love seeing our cousins!