helper

well we're finally settling in from the move and it's time to get some things on the walls.  josh is quite the handyman these days, and he has a mini-me to help!  granted, von thinks that he should hold the hammer at all times (look out!), but nonetheless, he just likes to be right by josh's side to 'help' :)

 

Thanksgiving

we have so much to be thankful for. 
even though von was a little under the weather (poor thing), we still enjoyed our thanksgiving (albeit from the couch, with plenty of pedialyte and tylenol).  just look at his preciousness....

 

big ol' jar

the new house also came with a new critter feeder - yippie, more wildlife!  

 

von wonderland

not only did von get a new house, he got a new playset!  and what a playset it is!
thanks to many long hours courtesy of pa, much muscle, and a long transport north, our little boy has the best backyard in the neighborhood.  multiple slides, swings, chalkboard, picnic table, rope ladder/rock wall .. you name it, this thing has it!
von loves his 'paygound' (as he would say) and when we're not outside using it, we're inside looking out the windows talking about it.  the cooler weather might slow keep us inside for the winter, but come spring, look out!  it's like his own little fortress :)

 

oh yes we did!

thanks to pinterest, this momma has been able to gather quite a few great ideas for mr von ...  so we had a paint party.  a shaving cream paint party.  and it was fun!  we took a muffin pan, filled it with shaving cream, then mixed in some washable (note emphasis on washable) finger paint and tada: colored foamy paint!! 

von thought painting the bathtub was pretty cool.  he did however try to eat a few handfuls (you gotta admit that the fluffiness could look rather appetizing).  we must have painted for over an hour.  oh, and cleanup was an absolute breeze - simply took the shower nozzle and sprayed down the walls/von/paint brushes and done!  hello winter activity that we will be sure to do again and again during these next few months!

an EMRY party!

emry turned 6 and had one heck of a kid party!  
she hosted fifteen of her closest friends at giggles & smiles at the pittsburgh mills mall, and ALL HAD A BLAST!  i mean, every single one of them had sweat just dripping off their cute little heads.  besides the cupcake & juice box break, there was not a moment of stillness for the full two hour party (hence the blurry photos).  i can vouch that von slept like a rock that night :)

 

HOOT HOOT

meet our barn owl ... 

the combo of rain, darkness, and our group of about ten toddlers/babies did not allow for many action shots of trick-or-treating.  but a fun time was had by all!