Andrew's First Halloween

Halloween was eventful. Our ward Harvest party started at one. We ate and the kids went trick or treating up stairs in the rooms that the different auxiliaries in the ward put on. Patrick and I were suppose to be safari guides but everyone thought we were zookeepers so eventually we decide to say we were zookeepers. Andrew was our little monkey. He even crawls like a monkey. Everyone laughed as he crawled around the room.

Andrew enjoyed his first chocolate coin.

After the ward party we ran home to clean for our trick or treat get together (luckily Lesley came to help I don't think we would have finished cleaning with out her help). We heated up the chili I made in the morning and along with what everyone brought we had a great little dinner before trick or treating.

Breyton and Arianne Showing off their costumes.

Kelsie really did not want to put on her Lion costume. She was finally persuaded to put it on right before going trick or treating.

The Trick or Treaters!

Everyone!

Andy enjoying his loot!

Andy brushing the sugar off his teeth!

After trick or treating we went to another get together at the Malden's where Andy went around steeling pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies. It was amazing that he slept that night.

The next day Andy discovered his treats again. I was resting and Patrick was playing a game. Pat said all of the sudden Andy got really quiet. Patrick looked down to see Andy covered in chocolate. He had mushed a peanut butter cup so much that he could suck the chocolate out of the wrapper. Pat let him finish it since he had managed to get so far and a picture was promptly taken. Andy does look a little guilty in this picture!

I also discovered Andy getting into the Halloween treats but he didn't get far enough to open anything. After I took a picture Andy's treats were added to the left over Halloween candy. He does not need all of the sugar! But he certainly has a sweet tooth!

Just Some Random Pitures

Andrew was crawling around the house, chewing on his pajamas. Patrick encouraged this by chasing him around the house. The both had a great time. It is funny how similar babies and puppies are. (10/27/09)

Patrick startled Andy just a bit.

Andrew pulling out the DVDs. One of his favorite things to do. (10/29/09)

Leighton's birthday Play date (10/22/09)

Andy's friend Leighton turned two and had a birthday play date. Andy had a blast with his friends and their toys.

Below is Andy riding Breyton's scooter. He loves standing on the scooter and being pushed around.

Snack time is always a good time!

Andrews first steps

On Tuesday, (October 20th) Andrew took his first steps with out support. I was talking to my mother on the phone, when I hung up Andrew persuaded me to let him hold the phone. He was standing with phone in hand a few feet away from me, when all of the sudden he move one foot and then the other walking into my arms. Being the proud mama that I am I quickly called my mother back. Andrew was kind enough to repeat his steps for Patrick and then again (after a few takes) for the camera. The video below is not the best, it actually looks as if andy is doing a graceful fall more than walking. I will try to get the other video posted....it is being difficult at the moment, I thought a better post something as my mom has been waiting.

Our Most Recent Adventure

On Monday, Andy and I packed our selves into the car (Andy was not to thrilled about this after driving so much over the weekend) and headed to New Jersey. My friend Crystal Ross just had a baby, Lillie Anna, and her parents were in town. I wanted to meet the baby and visit with Crystal and her parents. I got to hold Lillie, who is a beautiful baby. She is so small (It is hard to remember that Andy was once so little). Andrew was very fascinated by her, and laughed as Robert and Rebekah ran by him. Then Cecilia, Terry, Robert, Rebekah, Andy and I hopped into Crystal's van to go pick apples (Crystal is still suppose to be taking it easy so her and Lillie stayed home). It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for apple picking. The kids enjoyed picking apples, but I think the highlight of the day was the playground.

Andy and Rebekah chillin' in the stroller.

Robert is an expert apple picker, he kept up with with his grandpa quite well.

Rebekah posing for the picture. This may have been the only apple she picked.

Andy would not pick an apple from the tree.

He preferred the mushy one's off the ground...YUCK!

Andy following the kids to the playground on the dirt path around the orchard.

Robert is a great little climber!

Andy, Showing off his three pearly whites.

He loves to swing and screamed at me every time I tried to pull him out.

Andy was willing to share the swing with Rebekah, he evened clapped.

The view of the orchard from the playground.

More climbing!

Andy inspecting the pumpkins. He is becoming quite the pumpkin expert!

Everyone wanted their turn on the giant pig carved of wood. We bought our apples, pumpkins, pumpkin butter and cider doughnuts and headed back to Crystal's, with a quick stop at McDonald's to grab lunch. Andy was cranky as we walked back to the van and was strapped into the car seat...nothing a cider doughnut followed by a nap could not cure. Again it was a great day to spend with great friends!

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

This last weekend we visited Phil, Erin, Olivia, Sam, Charlie (the dog), and Elvis (the cat) in Alexandria, Virginia. We drove up on Friday night. On Saturday we slowly got ready and went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport (it is connect to the one at the Mall in D.C). It was very cool to visit. Some of the highlights were McDonald's, the Enola Gay airplane, a space shuttle, and hundreds of other airplanes and helicopters. I think Andrew will appreciate it more when he is older. Right now he hates to be strapped down to anything especially to a stroller or car seat. All he wants to do is get down and explore for himself, which he enjoyed doing for a short period, but it wasn't really a great place to let him do that for too long. He spent most of the time on Patrick's shoulders. He was in good company as Sam spent a good chunk of time on Phil's shoulders also. I didn't think to pull out my camera until all the kids were already looking tired.

Side note: I didn't get any pictures of Andrew with Charlie or Elvis this trip, but he was really funny with them. He started out following Elvis around the house trying to catch him. Then he met Charlie who is a lot bigger than Elvis and Andrew for that matter. Andy was petrified of Charlie. Every time Charlie got near Andrew would startle and then he would crawl as fast as he possibly could for safety. If Charlie licked Andrew's feet when we were carrying him Andrew would pulls his feet up and commence to climb for higher ground. This fear of Charlie then turned into a fear of Elvis too. Although Andrew liked watching both animals he kept a safe distance. He did get brave enough once to crawl up to Charlie while Charlie was laying down and touch his paw. As soon as Charlie moved his head to look at Andrew, Andrew was off to a safer distance.

Leta's Visit

Patrick just told me not to add to many pictures, but lets be honest when you have a son as cute as mine how do you choose? Okay, I have become one of "those" parents that can't stop talking about her son. Oh well!

I have not posted in a few weeks, that is my excuse for so many pictures. I also feel that the pictures from a day or an event tell the story.

What color are Andy's Eye. Patrick says brown, but I have heard others comment on how beautiful his blue or green eyes are. I say they are brown in the center and grey on the outside...which makes them hazel, I guess.

The second shelf is no longer safe!

My sister Leta came into town on September 24. I love it when she visits! She is so much fun! We ate at Serendipity's (which I highly recommend), picked apples, visited Liberty Island, watched movies, talked and talked, and ate way too many sweets. I can't wait until she can visit again!!!

Outhouse Orchards

Andy sharing his apple.

Andy thoroughly enjoyed the pumpkins, we did not buy one yet, but plan to return before Halloween to make a purchase.

Liberty Island
We took the ferry to Liberty Island. It was an experience seeing the Statue of Liberty so close. They are allowing tours in the Crown again, but it is booked until January sometime. So if you are planning to visit you might want to book you crown tour before you buy your airplane tickets. We were going to visit Ellis Island too, but we ran out of time and Andy had enough.

He was sitting on the ledge and tipped over into the grass, it probably would not have been a big deal had he not skipped his nap.

Aunt Leta is so Fun!


Andy had such a great time with his Aunt Leta. We are all missing her. How about you move in with us Leta?

The rest are just some fun pictures taken after Leta left us.

(So, I decided not to hold the pictures as ransom, if I did that I might never post again!:) I hope they were enjoyed.)