leaf rain

Thursday Neil was raking the back yard when we came home from the store , and Mitchell begged and cried, literally, to go and rake with daddy. So after the crying fit, Neil graciously took Mitchell outside even though he was really finished raking! Who can resist a pile of leaves? And what mommy can resist pictures of their cuties playing in them? I was slow at getting the camera ready so by the time I could get a picture, Mitchell had lost interest. I had to bribe him with candy to go back to the leaf pile and throw leaves so I could get a picture! All the while Mark was lying in the middle of the floor crying because it was time for him to eat! The question is, "Was it worth it?" Of course! Crying babies and candy bribes are a normal part of every day. My philosophy? A little crying won't hurt anyone and we would have eaten candy anyway, so why not get a cute picture? Oh! and Neil was quite dismayed after working so hard to clear the lawn for it to be completely covered again by Sunday! Such is Alabama in the fall! We love seeing the trees change colors and the leaves fall. We even love the really loud sound of nuts falling and rolling down our roof! Ah Nuts!!!

fall fun playtime

We spent some good quality time outside today! The weather was great, in the mid 80's, so as soon as we parked the car in the garage from picking Mitchell up from school we went straight outside. We did not even go inside to unload our things! I was trying to think of something new to post so I got out the camera and decided to share our afternoon! Aren't they cute? Mark went for his first ride on the scooter today. I held him on it and pushed him. The picture is not a correct representation of the ride! While Mark rested in the car seat he decided to try some acrobatics. Mitchell and I had to run over and rescue him several times from falling out! Of course the afternoon would not have been complete without a few wagon rides down the driveway. Mitchell was the rider and I was the puller. He made me sit in the wagon and as a kind gesture tried to pull me too, but needless to say it was a very short ride! Ahh, someday soon he will be bigger than me, and then I can ride!

a visit to GiGi's

Last weekend we went to visit GiGi (AKA Lucile, Neil's grandma) and had a great time! Mitchell helped her pick spinach in her back yard garden, and Mark was just glad to be included. We do have a pic of Mark smiling while being held by GiGi but she was not looking! I chose to let GiGi look pretty instead of Mark. GiGi's wagon was a hit. Mitchell and Ian loved riding and begged any adult they found to pull them! They also loved swinging and playing in the yard, but they had to watch out for Pepper's droppings! Ian is Neil's cousin Edward and Alicia's son. He is 4 months younger than Mitchell. They get along well! They played chase and tackle in the house and then stopped and sang a few songs for us! It was really cute. Neil and Edward are just one month apart, so it is neat that they also have kids close in age! They are expecting another son in February so Mark will have a playmate too! Pepper is the newest addition to Lucile's household. She is a one month old Siberian Husky! Lucile and James take care of her, but she lives at Lucile's house. I have included their 1st "family" picture together!

Mark and Mommy

Just Mark and I having fun with the camera!