Leppin Family News

I love Halloween! But you already know that.
This year we did all of my favorite things; pumpkin farm, costume party and trick-or-treating. October is such a great month! It all really flew by so here are some of the highlights....

Lucy's first trip to Goeberts with her big sister and cousin...

It was cold!!

YaYa hugs to keep warm

Payton and Bel --

double trouble

Lucy-- always a good sport

Like mother, like daughter

These two pumpkins make me smile

so precious

sister lovies!

Pumpkin princess

Celebrating sweet Payton's second birthday on October 23rd... such a big girl!

Payton HAD to have a "pat pat" birthday cake--

Isabel was more than happy to help Payton open her gift :)

After a few years off, Mandy and Zack brought back their Halloween costume party! So fun - this year the theme was "The Kerruish Traveling Circus"-- circus attire was required.

Jason went as the "Strong Man"

and I was the "Tattooed Lady"

We were quite a pair!

The "Ringmaster" and her "Circus Monkey ;)"

Every detail of the party was super cute and well thought out-- good job Bean!

Yay! Halloween fell on a Wed. so Isabel got to enjoy her preschool party first and trick or treating at the police and fire stations before we set out in our neighborhood. All of the family came over and Jason set up a fire pit out front. It was pretty cold.... but we stayed out long enough to get some candy :)

Lu-- our lil' elephant

Trying to get both girls to take a picture together........... not really possible

with Grandma Marsha

These cousins are ready to go!

Hurry! Hurry!

Brrrrrr...

These guys are staying warm by the fire-- smart

Bel is a little excited-- or was it all of the candy she had eaten?

Lucy was not very impressed. Ready to go home and defrost.

What a great holiday-- Can't wait for next year!

Well.. I can't really even remember the last time I posted on here. That is not a very good sign considering I keep my blog as not just a way to stay in touch with family and friends-- but also as a pseudo "baby book" for Bel and Lucy. Sorry second baby... you always get the short end of the stick. I will try to stick some news about the girls in here as well as pics of all of the fun things we have been doing lately.

(Aren't these silly monkeys getting big?)

Lucy-- 8 months old and she has her first tooth! It just came in on the bottom a couple of weeks ago and she LOVES biting anything and everything she can get her mouth on. She is still a happy, good natured little dream baby. Sleeps great at night and naps twice a day. Lucy is eating all kinds of stage 2 foods but also loving her "puffs" and "Baby Mum Mums". We have tried a few finger foods-- a few veggies cut up very small and a piecee of cheese and bread. I am a freak about her choking though so I haven't given her much more to eat yet.

Lucy's hair is growing in thicker and longer and doesn't stick straight up in the back anymore.I miss that cute sprout. She is babbling more finally and I think she said "mom..mom...momm.." once or twice (maybe?!) She has also clearly said "Bob. Bob..Bob..." I don't know who he is but that was her first word. Lucy loves this series of books by Karen Katz that have "lift the flap" pictures and "Peek A Boo Baby" makes her crack up. Her big sister also cracks her up. Anything and everything Isabel does is funny to Lucy and they make a lot of noise in the back seat of the car when we go places together now. I think we are in for lots of years of noisy car rides as a family. Lucy loves to sit on her blanket and "rock out"-- any toys with music are faves. She does not seem at all interested in crawling or pulling up yet.

Isabel-- This little goof ball is really growing up. She has funny mannerisms and says things that crack us up all of the time. The other day I was giving her tomato soup at dinner and she said with a very straight face "Mom.. this soup is totally freaking me out". What?! I had to laugh but she told me that is what you should say when you really like something. Another example-- we were watching the Wizard of Oz and I explained that the munchkins were celebrating because Dorothy dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. Only I told her that the poor munchkins didn't know that there was actually another witch coming later on in the movie called the Wicked Witch of the West. With a straight face she turned to me and said "Well... why didn't the director warn them?" Seriously? I don't know where she gets this stuff. But three and a half is a very entertaining age.

Bel loves preschool and is learning a lot. She likes reading her books and has a kind little heart. She loves to snuggle, read in bed and has been having fun playing with mommy's new iPad (on loan from work). Her faves are still dress up, Barbies, and everything girly girl. However, we went to Wisconsin Dells with some friends of ours who have sons and she discovered the joys of Matchbox cars and racing. She was very impressed. Other interests include soccer (well... socializing at soccer) and "decorating" and "redecorating" her room. Which is when she takes her 5 million stuffed animals and spreads them out all over her room or around the house in odd places.

Daddy nudging Bel to get back on the soccer field ;) She loves water breaks

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year but it is also the craziest and busiest time for our family. Back to school, new schedules and routines, birthdays and holidays and lots to celebrate. The weeks seem to fly by and before you know it snow is on the ground. I have a lot of fun pictures to show so I will attach some here at the end of this post.