The leaves are falling off the trees...aw, that's too bad.

I know, I know. You were all eagerly checking your computers daily for a thrilling update in the lives of the cutest little girls on the planet... well, here it is! I'll get better, I swear. It's overwhelming to have to pick key moments and pictures from the last 2 months- I can't believe summer is over! We kept ourselves pretty occupied with the zoo, Greenfield Village, outdoor walks and photo shoots!

I love just taking pictures of everyday events- like Evelyn showing baby Kate the moon. By the way, in case you're wondering, Katherine's legal name should be changed to "Baby Kate" since that is all we call her. A family friend joked that she will be standing at the altar someday.."baby Kate, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband..." We'll see about that, but for now it suits her perfectly! 

Evelyn enjoyed our neighborhood block party, where she got a Michigan "M" tattoo and was giddy with excitement over seeing the firetruck and meeting the fireman. She thanked them for being helpful and saving people's lives. The fireman looked extremely touched- it was a sweet moment.

 Paul has been getting in on the action too-- mostly by hanging out with Kate while I put Evelyn to bed, or the occasional bike ride with big girl. I know I've said this before, but I always knew he'd be a great dad to girls- he is proving me right! Evelyn adores him, and when he comes home from work every night she says, "Dadda, I mit (missed) you today, how was work?"

Speaking of big sister Evelyn, she is quite the little drama queen. The picture on the far left is her "I'm getting in trouble and I feel guilt" face, the upper right is her sweet and innocent, and her smile is joyful and contagious. Side note, you'll see the merry-go-round again in a later picture- it's a fan favorite at Greenfield Village, even though all the grown ups would rather take a swift kick. In the big child-rearing picture it's a pretty easy sacrifice :)

Favorite activities include bubbles, cuddling, and playing in the bouncy seat! 

Ah, Greenfield Village. A place I remember going all the time when I was growing up- and now to go back with my mom and grandma and daughters is nostalgic and, at times, surreal. 4 generations in a place that celebrates history and the contributions that generations before us have given to our modern world. Evelyn loves the train and the "put put" cars, and of course the stomach churning carousel, but just to see her in a place that was so meaningful to me and my family is incredibly fun.  She wanted to "teach" in the little schoolhouse- she sang the ABC's from the front podium. Nap time always comes too soon, when we have to pack up and leave after lunch, but we have a few more nice days coming up-- in fact, we're going tomorrow!

Left: admiring the instruments in the "music house" at Greenfield Village.       Center: Dancing to the music!                 Right: Her best Elvis impersonation. 

If you know Evelyn at ALL, you know she is OBSESSED with singing, instruments, marching bands and anything having to do music. I'm only going to say this because I'm unable to see you all rolling your eyes at me, but she is very gifted in music. Seriously. Give the girl any piece of music and she can identify what instruments are playing, who in her family plays them (daddy plays trombone, mama plays flute, uncle Pete plays tuba, grandma plays clarinet, and uncle Dan plays football. Accurate enough.). She knows the difference between a Cello and a Bass (who knew?) and she claims she wants to play the trumpet in the marching band someday. We're lucky enough to have uncle Pete in the Michigan Marching Band, and we're going to see him play the halftime show in the Big House on October 13th. She can't wait! We're also going to see the Seaholm Marching Band this Friday night at the football game- she literally shakes with excitement when we talk about it! We constantly watch shows about music and bands-- we even listen to John Phillip Sousa in the car instead of  typical "kid songs".  

Someday she will be a talented musician... however, we're not holding out for any Olympic athlete dreams...

 Activities this summer-- picking strawberries, collecting rocks (seriously, a favorite pastime- our driveway is gravel, so she picks "special rocks" (they all look the same) and puts them in her collection on the sidewalk), reading and bubble blowing. She also loves giving check-ups and has given them to everyone she knows: "heartbeat... guut. check your ears... guut. eyes, guut. blood pressure, guut. Now shots, just a pinch, don't cry!"

Kate's big news is that she's 5 months old and is starting solid foods! She has only had baby oatmeal and banana, but she grabs at the bowl, at the spoon and at my face to try to get me to go faster. She's definitely ready for solids- I'm excited to try new foods with her! Next up? Sweet potatoes! She's belly laughing now, and really likes to do her "exercises" where Ev will take her arms and move them up and down for her. Great big smiles!

 We took a little trip to the Franklin Cider Mill the other day with our BFFs Mason and May May mama (Lauren) and the kids loved it! Doughnuts, pumpkins and ducks, what is there not to love? Too many bees for my weenie daughter, though!

And then there is the only REAL fall activity-- MICHIGAN FOOTBALL! Really, any kind of football, but mostly Michigan. With uncle Dan on the team, we feel especially entitled to being crazy fans, and making sure that Evelyn knows all the words to "Hail to the Victors". Don't worry, we're getting there. She's got the tune and the fist pump down, though, that's a start! Kate's just happy to be with her sister-- every time she comes in the room, Kate lights up. It's awesome to see!

And for those of you who have made it this far, let me reward you with some of my favorite Evelyn-isms from the past 2 months:

First of all, the title-- my sensitive daughter doesn't like autumn because she feels bad for all the leaves that are falling off the trees. She'll hang her head and shake it back and forth and say, "Aw, that's too bad".

August:

After nap
"Baby Kate, are you so excited to see me?"

Coming downstairs in the morning
Ev: "woah, mama, good stepping!"
me: (laugh, look upstairs)
Ev: (looking behind her upstairs) "DID YOU HEAR THAT DADDY?"
Apparently I say that a lot...

Dinner at Gaga + Pops' house, Lions game was on
Ev (to Joe):  "no TV at dinner, Jojo!"
30 seconds later her was flipping his fork absentmindedly...
E: "JOJO! No playing with fork!"
She is my little rule follower!

Ev: "Dadda, work ok today?
Paul: "yeah, work was fine"
Ev: "Daddy, you golf today?"
BUSTED!!! :)

On the OLCC playground with Grandma
Ev: "baby Kate jealous of me"
Grandma: "what?!"
Ev: "baby Kate so jealous- me have so much fun!"

September:

When she sneezes she says "I bless you'd"

Paul: "What's the best place to be in the whole world?"
Ev: "With mama. And gaga's house"

Playing outside: "mama, I think flies like me because I'm funny"

Looking at Kate's baptism picture: "oooh, mama, baby Kate get married. She looks beautiful."

I'm amused every day by my girls-- check back soon for more!