Busy October

Lame title, but I am so behind on updating and it is all about this crazy month we have had in our 4, 3 and 1 year old worlds:)
The first week of October both Turner and John Burke had field trips in the same week.  Very fun and very exhausting!

Turner and his buddy H - we went hiking at Ruffner Mountain with all the 4 year olds from his school. It was a beautiful day, and Turner LOVES to hike, so we had a ball!  Also, he indulged his current map obsession, as seen here.  And - because he is a giver - he told every single child that walked up to go and grab a map.  Apparently he is not the only child obsessed with maps/guides...sort of stressed out the  Ruffner employees.  We always make an impression:)

This was a picture of his class on top of Turtle Rock - it appears he had taken the climb very seriously

Then on Friday, John Burke and I headed to Old Baker Farm/pumpkin patch.  It was a dream day for him.  I was excited because it was my first field trip with him - I rarely get alone time with the boys.  They are usually a package deal.  We were able to pet animals (he can still recall exactly - a goat, a rabbit and a chick) and we saw cows, pigs, geese.  His favorite things!

Running around with his boo, Read

Picking out pumpkins with his new friend Judah. 

 John Burke took the pumpkin process very very seriously.  Literally (Now I know why John Burke has been throwing "literally" in conversation lately...hmmm.  Except he says things like "I literally just ordered pancakes"...we are working on context).  Anyway, literally, we have no less than 11 pumpkins on our front porch right now.  2 from this trip to the pumpkin patch, 2 from The Great Pumpkin Patch and then 7 from an out of control visit to a local church pumpkin patch.  My fault for indulging.  Also, since John Burke is a detail guy, I tried to stack those really cool shaped pumpkins in light green and orange that look all fancy.  Every time I walk outside they are unstacked, sitting next to each other and I get rebuked from him for even trying.  He makes me crazy but he cracks me up.

The Mountain Brook Baptist pumpkin patch - in a moment of insanity, I thought it would be cute to take them (and our friend Read) and let them help me pick bigger pumpkins than the tiny ones John Burke and I brought back.  We got in the car with 2 typical big pumpkins, 2 Auburn painted pumpkins and a white, light green and light orange...an attempt to add sophistication:)  

The Great Pumpkin Patch - our final patch visit.  We are nothing if not festive this month:)

Turner was asking to go to the pumpkin patch because John Burke was bragging about it incessantly.  And I had never taken Collins before, so Columbus Day we headed with our friends H and J (and their mom) to this super fun pumpkin patch!  We jumped on the jumpies and did a hayride and they spent a WHILE playing in dirt.

And my little animal lovers got to ride a horse for the first time.  Collins actually got a turn too, but it was short-lived and undocumented because of the crying and whining.

We fully enjoyed the Great Pumpkin Patch!

The second week of October, our church put on its second annual "Family Camp" at Alpine in Mentone, AL.  It is a beautiful camp and the weather was incredible!

This wildcat/Miss Independent didn't make the trip with us to Camp.  She got to stay back with Gigi and Pop Pop.  I may be heartless, but it was nice to enjoy the boys without our little princess...and we picked her up just 24 hours later!

We stayed in cabins and got to hang with several of our great friends from church and get to know more.  We had a bunch of free time to play and run and canoe - it was fabulous!  

Oh, and golf cart rides with 12 other kids:)

John Burke and one of his favorite girls, Martha Ann

Taking a break from running and playing with our bud Brooks

Such a fun time with our family and church body

We left family camp a night early to head to Opelika to surprise Heath's dad for his 60th birthday.  I wish I had taken a picture of the boys giving Pap the birthday card they made for him.  They spent almost a whole hour coloring in the carefully plotted bubble letters.  I am loving that they are both into drawing and coloring (except for the experimenting I am finding on front door, windows, bathroom and staircase and playroom walls).  It is the first time John Burke has sat still for any extended period of time, and he is actually (also a word he loves to throw in conversation - ashally) a talented little artist!  

The men played golf all morning on Sunday, so we were able to play by the gorgeous pool and splash pad.  In the middle of October!  Then, we headed to downtown Opelika and ate at a cute coffee shop and delicious popsicle place.  Quick but fun time to celebrate our Pap (even though I didn't get a picture with him)!

Then, last weekend we headed to my cousin Caylen's wedding in Orange Beach.  

The original Starr 5 

My mom with her adorable sister Barbara, the mother of the bride

Our favorite girl Kina came with us and kept these 6 weasels in the condo while we were able to go child-free to the wedding.  So nice!

All the cousins except Chloe, who stayed back in Birmingham

So much fun family time for the kids...and the adults.  Lindsey and I experienced our first trip to the Flora-Bama.  How have we lived this long without visiting?

Don't worry - Derek went too, but had actually been before so he didn't get documented

Whew!  So much fun and travel this month.  We are tired, but wouldn't trade it.  We even stayed home this weekend and rested for the big week of Halloween ahead!  Happy October...we have adequately celebrated it:)

These Three

We had a wonderful end to summer and have LOVED the start of school and Fall!!  Look at these turkeys on their first day of school:

Annual chair picture - Turner is in 4K, John Burke 3K and Collins is in MDO

And outside - they are getting so big!

Turner with his sweet teachers, Jenny and Jennifer

Turner is seeming really old to me.  He will be 5 in December, and he definitely looks like it!  He is so tall, and lately is so curious.  He has always struggled with listening - to me, teachers, etc.  But he seems to be paying attention this year.  He is picking up on details from his favorite tv shows (example - the other day he explained all about a sperm whale.  I didn't have the heart to start in on the inappropriateness..he was so excited)  But he also seems to really be listening at school to songs and stories and even how to start writing his letters.  The teacher in me got really excited about seeing his little handwriting for the first time.

This morning one of the local churches had a show on tv.  He heard the pastor say "Jesus" and he stopped, looked at me and said "Did he just say Jesus???  I know him!!"

Also, he starts a lot of his sentences with "But, hey..."  I have since caught myself saying it.  And he is very LOUD.  A lot of times I have to bring him down several octaves.  One of his teachers told me at pick up the other day that they were "working on volume" with him.  Imagine that.  Then Heath subsequently let me know that he had to go to speech therapy as a child for how loud he was.  Imagine that.

He is very affectionate.  He's always saying "I love you so much."  He is sweet, and I hope he stays like that!!  However, he and John Burke like to fight like animals...

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Here is Mr. Too Cool on his first day with his sweet teachers, Jennifer and Adrienne

John Burke is a MESS!  He is every bit of three years old, and we are all feeling it.  He is cuddly and can be sweet, but he doesn't wake up in a good mood every day like Turner does.  Attitude is his middle name.  And he has decided to give up his nap for the most part and it is wearing. me. out.  See, Turner gave up his nap before he turned 3, but he will sit quietly and still (except to steal snacks) and leave me alone!  John Burke has to be in my sight at all times, or he will color on the staircase with crayons (a couple of weeks ago) or cut his own hair (the day they worked with scissors at school).  UGHH!  We went to the Braves game, and he kept saying the field was called "Turner and John Burke" field, because his little jealous self couldn't handle the field just being Turner Field.

His teachers have told me how sweet he is.  When a friend was hurt the other day, he sat with them until they felt better.  He is kind like that...when he wants to be!  But, they also let me know they are seeing more of the whole picture of him.  They love how he cuddles up to them, but he is also bossy and just happened to get in trouble this week for leading his lunchroom table in a chant of "potty words."  That stinker.

He LOVES music and singing more than the other 2, and has also been taking private swim lessons.  Last year, he took lessons under the Swim Nazi and was swimming at age 2.  But it was a little early to stick, so I have had him with a sweet girl at our gym named Kristy.  He LOVES the uninterrupted attention, and has totally moved past his fear and is doing great in the water!!  He likes to show off - diving down in the deep end and getting 4 rings in one swoop!  I am proud of him for sure.  

I will say that one of my favorite things about John Burke is how much he loves "his baby" Collins.  They are best friends and it makes me laugh!

Which brings me to my full-fledged toddler, Collins.  Colley Wolley Doodle, Call Call, etc.  She is also a MESS.  It is making me realize Turner has been my easiest child by far!!

Here she is with 2 of her teachers, Wanda and Brittany

This little lady has NOT enjoyed the transition from baby to toddler.  Even though today she is 20 months old, so it is a little late!!!  She goes to her class 3 days a week.  They have made her wear shoes and eat lunch at the toddler table.  This little weasel has missed being held all the time and relaxing in her baby swing.  But, now that it has been a few weeks I think she is hitting her stride.  And, MAJOR NEWS!!  On September 10th, she took her first few series of independent steps.  And the next day she started WALKING!!!  Major praise!

At her 15 month appointment, I told her doctor she wasn't even pretending to show readiness for walking.  It wasn't bothering me too much, except that I knew she was several months away.  Wouldn't even put weight on her feet.  

I got her checked by her orthopedic 3 different times (since she broke her ankle in January) to rule out any bone problems.  Her pediatrician said they don't usually refer to therapy or even worry until 18 months, but she went ahead and said I could opt for therapy if we wanted to.  So, I signed up - warning Collins that she had to walk by the end of the summer.

Well, Princess did NOT enjoy therapy.  Screamed the first 4 sessions for the entire hour and refused to put weight on her feet until the 4th session.  She was so miserable that I got kicked out of each session and banished to another room so they could wrestle her into working on her walking.

Some action shots - this one was in the gate trainer.  She particularly hated this one, and would only walk to the Florida Georgia Line song "Cruise" and "Earl" by the Dixie Chicks.  Randomosity from my Iphone.  So, we played these songs over and over again as she walked the hallway of Children's.

This was more accurate of her expressions while there.  So mean.  Ipads worked momentarily, but she was NOT having it at therapy.  Luckily, her sweet therapist Lindsey pushed through it with her and showed her some tough love until the little Princess decided it was time.  About the second month of therapy Lindsey looked at me and assured me this was all about stubbornness.  It made me feel better - that was what I was assuming, but I am thinking the years ahead are not going to be beautiful as mother/daughter:)

Here she was the other day with sweet, patient Lindsey

She couldn't graduate until she walked 500 feet - so we made her get to steppin'!!

Now she is so proud of herself!  She is walking everywhere and getting stronger every day!  The boys love to watch her and help her, and it was fun to see how excited they were for her!  No more scooting on her bottom like a little monkey.  But she sure did make me wait a month past the time I set - I had informed her 18 months was her limit, and of course she pushed it to 19 and a half!!

And I have to include some cousin pictures

This weekend Lindsey and Brandon and the kids were in town, and we were able to swim one last time with Pop Pop and Uncle Derek.  They had so much fun!!

Derek with John Burke and Chloe

Collins mostly watched

What a fun grandfather and uncle!!

Fleeting sweet moments

I am loving watching these little monkeys grow up.  I see how fast time is passing and even though they are exhausting, it is a blessing and I am thankful!