Felix discovers zerburts!

A great joy in life!

Our sick buggy

Little Levi was knocked down by a wicked cold this week. Yesterday he came out to my office and told me he was going to rest. I asked if he would like me to tuck him in and he replied "No thanks Mama. I have it handled." I went inside to check on him 30 min later and he had tucked himself and baby Poppy in bed and they both looked snug as a bug.  Precious. All grown up yet still such a baby!

Our AMAZING dog walker JODY

Jody has been our dog walker from the moment we moved to LA.  There are many fabulous things about Jody, one of which he leaves us notes EVERYDAY after his daily walks w/ Hank. They are a highlight of our day and today's note took the cake!

The boys are getting big!

The boys are both getting so big I can hardly believe it!

 Typical trip to the grocery store w/ Mama

Felix 17 months!

Levi waiting patiently for his hot chocolate at our mama/ son breakfast

 

Hot Chocolate arrives...all smiles!

Aaaaannnnddd...Action!

We had no idea Felix could do a somersault until now!

A Fall day in LA

We woke up to a proper Fall day that allowed us to dress in pants, long sleeves, and socks (a much needed change). We spent most of our family walk playing in the leaves!

Followed by a trip to the local pumpkin patch in the Palisades with Ava and Frankie!

The little pumpkins were the perfect size for Felix to chuck around like baseballs!

Levi, pondering how Frankie and he are going to get all their pumpkins home since we walked to the patch!

Negotiating with John about how many pumpkins they can each bring home!

By the afternoon, the sun was full out, and it was 78 degrees at the beach. We hit our old 'Hank Hill' for some bike riding and tree climbing.

Levi LOVED visiting his old climbing tree; he still talks about how he misses it.

Babymoon #3

Mom offered to extend her visit, so John and I could take  "Babymoon" in prep for #3's arrival in Dec. We spent 2 nights at the Ojai Valley Inn (uh-mazing) and 1 night in Santa Barbara. While in Ojai, we hit the spa, read, enjoyed meals without monkeys climbing all over us and with the ability to complete our sentences with each other. It was heavenly! 

Once we arrived in Santa Barbara we immediately hit the cinema to see Argo, which was absolutely brilliant. After, we had a relaxing, casual dinner and did some window-shopping. It felt like the old days pre-LHG and FWG. Although, after a few days, we were eager to get back to the chaos and admiration of the boys. 

31 weeks pregnant!

The view from our room at Ojai Valley Inn

Morning Loves

Hanky's always the 1st one to get morning loves by each of us!

A different Generation

Neither John nor I keep kids apps on our iPhones, but our children (particularly Levi) LOVE taking photos and making movies. We don't let the boys play w/ our phones often, but when they do, I'm amazed and how tech-savvy their generation is becoming. 

Fifi turns 4!

Levi's new friend (crush), Fiona, turned 4 this week and had a 'Spooky' Halloween party.  Fifi and Levi bonded the 1st day at school as she's a bit of a tomboy, free-spirited, and BUSY.

Video and interviews by 'Dada'

Decorating carmel apples

Levi and his buddy Garland

JWG & LHG Austin trip...Nee-heigh!

JWG and Levi went to Austin to see his Godfather, "Mikey!", the third in JWG & Michael's trio, Chris,  and Levi's Godmother, Sarah. They then drove to Houston for a visit w/ Granddad and Granny Franny.

A goodnight video from the first night. Excited?

Chris & "Mikey!"

Levi immediately attached to Chris, which means that Chris got to read The Little Train That Could right after he read...The Little Train That Could. Immediately after he finished, he got to read...The Little Engine That Could. A relationship is solidified...

Texas fire ants discovered...

Meeting Sara's horse, Grandor. Levi was both amazed and a bit fearful, a good combo of characteristics

"Mikey!" treated Levi to his forst Motorcross race. Levi wants to now race motorcycles. Sigh. 

Levi was over-the-moon in anticipation of seeing his Godmother, Sarah. And, the event delivered in spades for him. He spent the morning racing around the park w/ her, playing "trains to Seattle," chasing imaginary bears, and telling her misc. stories.  

"Houston, we have an All-seeing Eye necklace from Granddad & Granny Franny's trip to Turkey"

October weather didn't keep Levi out of Granddad's pool. Instead, he would jump in, do a couple of laps, then race inside to soak in a hot bath before returning to the pool. He did this for...hours.

We spent the day with Uncle Jimmy and Granddad, riding trains, having a Mexican lunch, playing "pin-the-spider-hands," and building train tracks. 

A Texas tradition: evening BBQ

After dinner, a horse visited Levi with gifts

Levi teaching Granddad how to walk like a flamingo

Spotted at the Houston airport: a statue of a cow in a spacesuit, holding a TX flag. You saw it here...

After 5 very full, fun days, Levi sleeps soundly on the plane ride home