Peak Colors

It was a strange year for the changing colors of the trees.  We felt like some of the trees were done changing weeks ago, while others remained green.  But last weekend hands down we felt was the peak, so we were psyched to explore a new forest preserve near Donna and Emil's new house to enjoy the colors.  It was a nice sunny day, which always helps enhance the pretty yellows, reds and browns.

Donna had gone to CO to visit Jenae and Jeremy with Aunt Diane, so we visited with Emil after our hike. Unfortunately he had an accident the day before, falling on the snowblower in the garage, and sustained a pretty nasty leg wound.  We hope it heals fast!

Saturday night we had an awesome time at Val & Scott's new house in La Grange.  They officially are suburbanites after decades in the city, and it seems to suit them well.  What a fun time we always have getting the old swim group back together.

Claire's mobility seems like it is on fast forward.  Here is a video of her crawling, and the photo below is of her standing up next to that door toy.  Matt texted me this picture at work saying "I set her down for a second, then look back over and she's standing up and grinning at me."  She also had her first gymnastics class this week, which she loved.  Felt like just yesterday I was in the baby gym with the Lukers, now he's in the preschool gymnastics doing advanced moves sans-parents.  Finally, she's holding her own bottle and starting to feed herself pieces of food (other than puffs!).

Shakers

Ball pit

Luke perusing the Toys R Us catalog.  Matt asked him to circle something he'd like Santa to bring him, and at first he didn't know what to do, then he started circling everything he saw.  

Her hand and eye coordination is really improving.  She can put these guys in the Sesame St playhouse, and pick them up out of it.  

Ben Sosne showing us his bat Halloween costume.  Valerie says he's really into bats right now.  

Nathan is 6 already!

Watching their 3D TV.  They're all old enough now that the adults can talk while they play, semi-unsupervised.  Awesome!

Gold Coast Multiplex Friends Forever!  Just missing Luis and Macedawg.

Buddha belly, changing into jammies.

Luke & Mommy breakfast at Egg Harbor.  "Do you like green eggs and ham?"

Luke rode his bike during our hike, and for part of the time Matt "towed" him with the stroller

Waving is also a new skill

We saw a snake on the path.  Look at Luke's reaction.

He loved it when the snake slithered away.

Here is a video of Luke riding his bike in the forest preserve:

We had picked all the good apples from what we could reach, but were disappointed not to get all the beautiful ones on the higher branches.  So Emil invented this pole system with a hook on the end.  He would hook an apple, pull it down, and catch it with his free hand before it fell on the ground- all in one motion.  It was very impressive!

Matt trying his hand at the apple picker contraption.  It was kind of addictive.

Luke found a spot down by the stream that was addictive to him.  He loved to watch the current pull things down the stream.

He splashed himself and was cooooooold!

Meanwhile...nap time on Grandpa!

Lots of forts lately. In this picture I'm in the fort (usually laying on top of his gears set and tons of legos) looking up at Luke who's poking his head in through the "window".  Love those baby blues.  

Spumoni is so gentle around Claire.  She loves him, too, and laughs and giggles whenever she sees him.

I'll take that.