Harper and Drew have some news to share...

They are excited that we will be having a baby in April (26th to be exact)!

Andrew currently has named the baby "Jack-o-lantern" and sings to  my stomach frequently so the baby can her (loud and clear!). Harper has taken to assuming a baby is in everyone's stomach including her own. It's kind of hilarious the things they say, but both of them seem to be really excited and so are we!

Halloween 2014

 Carving pumpkins a few days before Halloween

 Andrew loved to pull out the "guts" of the pumpkin and Harper did once and decided it was enough for her:)

 The final result!  A "mad pumpkin" and a happy one, according to Andrew.

 Andrew in the preschool drop off line…all dressed up for his Halloween party that morning.

 My little pumpkin:)

 Ready to go trick-or-treating!

 The weather was freezing and a little rainy so we also headed to an indoor festival at my parents' church. They were working a trick or treating booth with a safari theme…needless to say, they went all out in their costumes. My dad is wearing my grandpa's leisure suit from the 70's and Harper didn't recognize him at first!

October was busy!

Continuing on with the fall festivals…the zoo is always fun while its decorated for the Halloween Party (which we went to later in October)

 Nate and I at the Palace to see the Avett Brothers.

 Continuing our Saturday tradition of hiking…Harper rides for about a mile or two and then walks the rest of the way. She's getting better at walking on the trail and is pretty quick to keep up with her brother.

 On the walk-out bridge at Bernheim Forest.

 Bernheim Forestfest that same day…peeking through the hay bale maze.

 That night we went down to the riverfront for the Riverboat Festival (it was the centennial celebration of the Bell of Louisville). All the river boats were open for touring and we walked around a few of them.

 We met up with a friend to listen to (and dance) to Pokey LaFarge and the 23 String Band.

 Harper at the zoo Halloween party in October, dressed like a flower.

 The fireman and the Power Ranger:)

 Drew had to get a picture with Woody and his favorite characters from Toy Story.

September continues

The next weekend we packed the kids up and headed to Nate's parents' house in Ohio for a long 4 day weekend. We spent the first night there and then Nate and I headed further north to Pennsylvania for my cousin Dana's wedding. 

 They got married in Ohiopyle, PA in a beautiful state park. The weather was perfect and the wedding was so pretty! Nate and I enjoyed yet another weekend away just the 2 of us this time thanks to Omi and Opaw.

 Josh and Laura, due with twins in a couple months. It was so fun to catch up with all my aunts and uncles and cousins during the wedding. The setting was gorgeous too...

 Nate had vacationed in this part of PA with his family growing up so he planned out a packed few days for us to get in as much outdoors time in as possible. We started Sunday off with a hike and then did a good 25 mile bike ride to Confluence, PA and back on the best bike trail. Ohiopyle is such a fun little backpacking town in the foothills of the Allegheny's…we had perfect mid September weather too!

 On the hike overlooking some falls.

 Crossing a bridge on the trail.

 When we got back Sunday evening the kids were excited to tell us about all the fun they had with Omi and Opaw which included a hayride at a pumpkin patch and petting zoo, playground trips and pizza. They are so lucky to have grandparents who love them so much!

 Back at home in Louisville…a little weeknight baseball practice in the backyard.

 Picking the last of the season's berries.

 I was lucky enough to get away the next weekend to Nashville for a girls' weekend with Mary, Amanda and Erin, who hosted us again. We walked up to breakfast Saturday morning to Sweet 16th Bakery (above), and spent the day just hanging out and relaxing.

 Calvin joined us and he and Julieanne had fun together too:)

 Dinner out that night…we did not try to coordinate but it sure appears that way!

 Heather met us for dinner too and it was so pretty we sat outside.

The rest of our weekends during the warmer days of fall were spent at one of the many festivals around town. The kids were at Bernheim Forest in the gardens (below)...

 And I spent a lot of time trying to prevent Harper from picking the vegetables!

 One night Nate set up a zip line for Drew and Harper…it wasn't quite as easy as he envisioned but with a little help from me and  my dad, the kids had fun!

 Cute as can be for church one morning.

 The Farmington Festival…petting a llama.

 Picture down by the old spring house.

 And in the beautiful gardens behind Farmington.