Fashion Show for Grandma

Tonight we Skyped Grandma H & AJ had a little Halloween Fashion Show.
Patty has a number of costumes so I asked if we could bring them home to show G&G.
I had three but AJ was done at two.

Before winter hit yesterday AJ played in the dirt and watched "Hunter and Boys" -as AJ calls them - clean up.

Rainy day = A day of lessons

1. AJ saying her full name: Audrey Jean Hochgraber

2. Planting a evergreen in a pot - we are going to use it for AJ to decorate this X-mas.

3. Playing the piano and taking a break to give Mommy a scary look!

4. Sitting in her big girl boaster seat. (we've been placing the high chair up to the table so it's really not that big of a change - but now no more monster high chair in the way :)

5. Pull ups in the bonus room - we had to get some fresh air.

6. Daddy subtly showing/telling Mommy she has a problem.

Friday night AJ & I & the Ritchies went over the Petsinger's for Pizza Friday. AJ & Hattie played with the puppy and the "nay's".

Mommy & AJ Date Night

At the library.

Audrey just loves to lay on her "tummy" and read away. I believe this was her 5th or 6th book she did this with. She even put the books away when done "reading" out loud. I had to keep reminding her we were at the library.

And of course, just like at home Audrey loves to put together puzzles and sing 'A, B, C', 'A, B ,C' over and over and over again! Again, had to reminder of being quiet.

House Update: Electrical, Plumbing, Heating, Insulation, Windows, New Driveway, Roof - check!

Tomorrow - sheet rock and siding.

favorite snack passed down to Audrey

My favorite snack is Apple & Peanut Butter.

I cut it in half and load it with a ton of PB.

Audrey always asks for apples so today I loaded her up too.

We took another ride today.It was so strange, no leaves on trees but beautiful out!

I'm not sure if you'll notice the difference,

but a number of trees came down on Friday.

Drive home thoughts

Each day after work I drive home and think of family time, peace & quiet, what am I going to make for dinner and recently I added, "What did they get done?" to the list.

Today -

a roof, windows and a second story was completed.


On the agenda for tomorrow -

Open up the addition to the existing house.

Excavating - a few trees will be taken down in backyard to open it up. Here is a before:

And - like usual - when they dig we find more rocks.

Evening Stroll

An evening stroll with the neighbors.

We took a walk around the block and met up with some of our neighbors -

just soaking up the nice weather.

A little house update -

The opening is going to be the master bedroom window.

There will be one directly above it for a kids bedroom.

Tomorrow they are going to work on the upstairs.

The siding is off, they are getting ready to start framing up the attached garage and bonus room above. But, they are going to finish the bedroom first.

Opening will be a 6' X 2' window that will be placed above the bed.

To the left will be the master bathroom.

MEG & her CAMERA to the RESCUE!

Thanks to MEG again - Cute pics of Audrey!

We needed an updated photo of the family for the Fire & Ice program so

'Meg to the Rescue'.

Within a few minutes Meg came to our house

and we stated playing with the leaves in our backyard.
More to come - she only took a few hundred!

Who needs a sWinG SeT when you have lumber

At gymnastics we have been practicing walking and jumping on and off of the balance beam.

Audrey will be ahead of the class due to the practice we had tonight.

We even remembered to have her put her arms to the side :)

Our Pumpkin HOLDING Pumpkins

This afternoon we took a BIG trip 5 miles to the Maple Hills Orchard.

Daddy & daughter lesson for the day - "this is the tassel... the ear... the leaves...the stock, ect" Super cute. We have corn close to our house and every time we drive by AJ yells out "CORN!" (it actually sounds like "dorn!").

Audrey thought she was super girl today - she tried to pick up a number of pumpkins, so the one that she actually carried we took home - the pumpkin was 3.5 lbs.

But, before taking it home, we had to draw on it with markers and then paint it.

And, now we have a new center piece for the kitchen table.

Small town Fall Festival

A little early morning jaunt took us to Lake Park to their Annual Fall Festival.

We. . .

bought some old chairs from a church at the flea market, rode on the barrel ride, danced to a group of fiddlers, ran through the craft fair, saw some old cars, a "nayh" (or horse to the rest of us) drawn wagon, went to a few "garbage" sales as Josh calls them, ate at the local cafe, and finally went home to a long awaited nap.

Great fall morning in upper Minnesota!

Tonight we might have gotten in our last pontoon ride too!

G & G Hooch came for the day!

photo shoot with Meg

Last night we went to an old barn and Meg took a few shots of Audrey with the headbands she makes.

Meg makes a number of hair accessories, you can pick them up at

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50328405/pick-2-funky-fabric-flower-with-tulle?ref=em

THANKS MEG!

Audrey begins her Olympic training...

Thursday night was AJ's first day in gymnastics.

How much FUN!
We're so glad we have the opportunity to watch her bounce around the gym.

The other girls in the class were all at least one year older than her, but they are all great role models.

I'm not sure who had more fun in the pit, Audrey or I?

Audrey said, "ALL DONE" and threw the gloves down!

House Update:

Concrete floors and walls in, now another 7 - 10 days of waiting while it cures, and

then the FRAMING begins!!!!