Fall has arrived

Yes, the weather has definitely cooled down! The leaves are changing colour and it's apple picking time!!!! We went to the orchard this morning. Oliver was really excited to pick some apples so we did that and then went to the play area for a little while. The weather was beautiful and we came home with loads of apples to bake with and eat. Emily devoured the apple we had at lunchtime!!!

Last weekend we went to Duluth in Northern Minnesota and stayed at a waterpark there. Both kids enjoyed all the swimming. Emily is a complete thrill seeker and loved going down the slides with us. She was also content to lay on her back and float in the shallow water or sit on the edge of the hot tub dangling her toes in! Oliver was really brave and went down a big slide with daddy. He also enjoyed going down the smaller slides over and over again. He was pretty independent and tried doing lots of things which was great to see.

Last week Oliver went for his 4 year docs appt. He now weighs 41lbs and is 42.5 inches tall (90th centiles for both). I had prepared him for shots but in the end he only got a flu shot and will get everything he needs before starting kindergarten next year. The dentist appt comes on Wednesday but Jon will take him to that one as I have my citizenship ceremony - yes, I will be an American this week :)

On Friday we went to a really great trampolining place about 20 minutes away. It's a huge area and twice a week they have toddler time so the 5's and under get to bounce without the bigger kids for 1.5hrs. Oliver and Emily both loved it so I think it will become a regular haunt during the winter months.

OK, here all the latest pics :)

New Cars clothes from Aunty Steph. Apparently they are PJs but mummy didn't realise that ;)

Climbing the steps

Peekaboo!!

New haircuts - they both look so impressed

I swear Oliver looks more like Jon every day

Pretending to sleep on our way to Duluth

This is actual sleeping......

Oliver kept his "suitcase" on his lap the whole way to Duluth - not that he was excited or anything!

Emily liked the bed in the hotel!

Mini golf

Exploring the playground

Pretending to play the arcade games

Breakfast in the hotel room - they did do breakfast there but it was so busy we decided to do it ourselves the second morning!

This swim cover up arrived from Aunty Steph just in time for our trip!

The boys watching cartoons

Oliver showing off the necklace he made at school

Portrait of mummy by Oliver

Emily hard at work colouring

Portrait of Oliver by Oliver!

Oliver and Celia trampolining

Emily loved it too!

Trying to escape the foam pit

Oliver likes to set up picnics in the playroom - this time daddy was invited!

I was trying on lots of dresses and getting my picture taken so Oliver joined in the fashion show!

Two apples joined together :)

Yippee - an apple!

Oliver and Nico on the train

She headed directly to the swings.....

Those eyes are kinda scary Oliver!

Great pic of Oliver - Emily just looked away at the wrong time!!

"What's that wooden cow doing there mummy?"

Nico and Emily checking out the chickens

Mya and Oliver at the top of the haypile

Oliver's pretend play! I always put on a silly voice when I'm pretending to be someone else so Oliver copied me :)

Growing up

Today Oliver moved to the next class at preschool. He handled it really well - so much better than the transition from the toddler room to preschool 1. He was excited to go when he woke up this morning and excited when I picked him up later!! He especially loved the fact that some of his friends had moved into that class too which must have made it easier. Hard to believe that this time next year I'll be sending him off to kindergarten.

Yesterday was a holiday and Oliver woke up saying that he wanted to see a polar bear. So, as we didn't have any plans, we headed to Como Zoo in the morning and did just that! He did love the bear but actually fell in love with a model of a baby polar bear! Emily walked around for a good amount of time although she would have been happy just to stay and look at the ducks all day (they are the first exhibit when you walk in!). She did enjoy the aquarium as well.

We went out clothes shopping on Sunday as Oliver especially has grown. He is almost out of "toddler" clothing so we are going to the boys section rather than the infants - I think he likes that!! His feet have also grown a size since Spring and he kept saying his shoes were tight so we now have two new pairs of shoes. Emily also has her first pair of trainers and looks very grown up walking around! The time came to pick up some cosy PJs for winter as well - it's not that cold yet thank goodness but there are definite signs of autumn :)

This weekend we are heading up to Duluth in Northern Minnesota to stay at a waterpark. I have the weekend off work which is unusual so we decided to make the most of it! Hopefully we'll get to see some of the area as well as the waterpark although it may be hard dragging the kids away!

Another exciting thing is that Oliver and I are making a trip to the UK in November!! The flights are booked and we are heading over on the 1st. Jon and I decided that Emily just isn't settled enough to make such a big trip so hopefully next time we'll all be able to go. But I know Oliver is very excited to go on the airplane and see everyone again.

Sleeping beauty!

Wearing a cute new outfit sent by Nanna. As you can tell, Emily loves to wear her necklaces and the reindeer ears!

Mosquito bite under the eye :(

Outfit from Aunty Steph (those necklaces go with anything you know!)

Emily on the clock ride at Chuck e Cheese!

And the kids on the school bus (Oliver only went on because Emily did)

Out spending birthday money!!!

Oliver playing dress up at his friend Mya's house :)

I told him that I remembered a time when he couldn't even reach inside the toy box - now he can sit on top!

New clothes :)

Awwwwww, hugging the baby polar bear!

Sitting on the giraffe!! Funny, there is a sign right beside this saying no climbing but every child passing wanted to have their picture taken!

Emily playing boo at lunchtime!