It's beginning to look a lot like... WiNteR!!

We are still squeezing in some walks! I'm finally realizing that Weston isn't a helpless baby anymore and can enjoy a few of the finer things in life, like a ride the in the push car instead of the stroller! He LOVED it. Thought he was such a big boy like his brother. And had the tightest grip on the steering wheel.

We also finally got his decals in the mail for his helmet a couple weeks ago!

 Here's Collin's indian craft. He was excited to glue about 3 feathers, then he was done with this crafting nonsense and off to play. Miss Kristen at the Family Room finished it for him (as she does most of his crafts).

 We also attempted a fingerpainting tree at home. I think I am too OCD for messy projects. All I did was pester him to not mix the colors and not get it on the table. Me = not fun parent.

 We could  not walk ANYWHERE without Collin seeing a pile of leaves, screaming for joy, then running and jumping in them. But he couldn't just jump in them, he had to kick, throw and spread them all over. Just what the neighbors wanted. He also wanted me to join him. This resulted in me losing my car keys in one particular pile at the park. Of course I didn't realize it until I we had walked all the way back to the car. And I almost didn't find them in the massive dump of fall dandruff.  I couldn't help thinking, "So THIS is what I get for playing with my child?!" But I digress...

So  Collin was more than thrilled when it was time to rake our own pile of leaves.

(Btw, the sucker upper truck must be broken because I've seen tractors driving around, scraping up everyone's leaves. Really, Buffalo?)

 Meet my new, archenemy... the squirrel. And all his squirrely friends. Yuck! I will never get used to living amongst these furry fiends. I used to think squirrels were cute. No longer. (I think it all started going downhill, when a particular toothy one, popped out of a trash can on UB campus, RIGHT NEXT TO ME. I screamed so loud, it made a small scene.)

 Well, I discovered that these nasty rodents (and maybe a rat... that is yet to be seen) gnawed their way into our garage. What were they seeking....?

....some of those dried corn things I used as fall decoration, and had stored on a shelf in the garage! I had no idea they were edible. I think the pickings must be sparse this year and the rodents are getting desperate. D. scusting. 

 We pulled in the garage yesterday and one, fat one was in there, feasting. He was scared as could be and kept running all over the place, trying to escape.

 While I ran inside to grab my camera, I told Collin to go get it! He grabbed a screwdriver and ran around, thrusting it in the air and yelling, "I get you squirrel!!" with about as much animosity as a 2 year old can muster. The way that squirrell was scurrying, you'd think he really believed him. He finally made it out of there and I've never seen a squirrel run so fast. Collin was hot on his tail until the end of the neighbors yard.

I do not like winter, but I will be glad when it comes and those critters are outta here!

 Well, it finally happened yesterday. It snowed. As upsetting as that is, I couldn't help but have a tinge of excitement in showing Collin the white flurries. Of course he immediately wanted to go outside, where he ran in circles on the driveway, shouting, "Yeaaaaaaa, snoooooowwww" and sticking his tongue out to taste it. When I asked him what it tasted like, he thought, then said, "snow." So perceptive, that one. :)

The last indication that winter is on it's way????

Well, this is a fun one.

Our annual chocolate package from (I can't even remember the company's name)!!!

It comes every November, all wrapped up in a big cardboard box, addressed to Sharon Nowicke (a previous owner of our house), thanking her for her business. Our first year, I opened it without even looked at the name on the box, assuming it was for us. With chocolate already open, before realizing the mistake, we decided it was too late to do anything else, and better just take advantage of an innocent error. :) Well, imagine our surprise when it came again the next year!! She still hadn't updated her address with these people?!? She must not really care too much for chocolate. Since the card looked mass mailed and non-personalized, we assuaged our consciences with more cocoa goodness. I mean, I didn't see taking it back to the post office as an option, really. (Are you picturing the cheesecake episode on FRIENDS? Cuz I hope you are). Anyway, four years later, we have proven ourselves as the most dishonest chocolate thiefs ever. And kinda enjoyed every bite.