Vacation for Mommy

About a month ago, I got the chance to run away to DC to visit with my college girlfriends. Sans-kids and sans-husband, I actually had moments when I wasn't doing anything and it felt a little odd. However, my friends kept me busy and laughing and it was glorious celebrating my friends Sheryl and Erin's birthdays. But don't expect to see pictures from that weekend here.

Ed stayed home with the kids and from the pictures he took it looks like they spent most of their time in the forest preserve.

Here the babes are in a post bath wrestle. Not the sort of thing I encourage but I believe Ed was thinking something along the lines of "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Sorry Nietzsche!







Faye sticks close to her dad the next day at the Forest Preserve. As you can see Lenny's content to head on out.




There he is in the distance going over the log in the path.



Faye and a deer freeze and stare at each other .







Lenny leads Faye carefully down a path. "Nothing but grass on either side, Faye, so be careful!"









"Look, Daddy, a deer," Lenny says . . .







"I'll chase it away with my stick!"







"Horray, back to civilization and Cherrios!!!"










"Wow, we have sticks in our yard, too?"






And dirt.










Forest Preserve Day Two: Faye conquers the branch.









And then drags it captive behind her.










Oops, getting over this log isn't easy when you're only 2 and a half feet tall.







Easy does it . . . easy does it!







Whoo! Made it to the other side!







Lenny and Faye love the rough feeling of bark.

Cold morning fun

These kids LOVE playing outside. Even now that the weather's started to get cool, they love putting on hats and mittens and running around the backyard. And of course, I love taking their pictures.

Faye runs through the back yard after her brother.









Then pauses for a quick photo op on the deck.










Here she is, Queen of the Mini-slide.










Lenny does get his chance on the mini-slide, too, though.






Faye goes down the big slide all by herself now!










Lenny and Faye actually do play together, although it's often at such high velocity that it's hard to capture them at it. Here they are inspecting the rocks around the apple tree in our back yard.



Lenny marvels at the amazing stick he's found (probably the 15th one he's picked up that morning) . . .








while Faye studies the gravel around the tree in depth.

Hair-y adventures

Okay, it's corny, but come on . . . how often do I have hair news on the babies? On October 2, Lenny got his very first hair cut. He spent most of his time flirting with his cousin who was gracious enough to come over to our house to cut his hair. She didn't take too much off, but at least it's more manageable, especially in front.

Lenny stares soulfully into Nicole's eyes.






I wish I had taken a before picture, but his hair was all the way down to his eyes before Nicole cut it.





Here's the back in the bath afterwards. It used to go all the way down past his shoulders!





Faye, on the other hand, final has enough hair for . . . PIGTAILS!!!!! And, she will actually sit still long enough for me to put them in. Boy, I love this kid.

Here the back view where you can see them better.






And here's Miss Faye, just tickled pink with her pretty little self!

Pumpkin Hunting

A couple weeks before Halloween we decided to take the kids to a pumpkin patch to search for the perfect jack-o-lanterns. Of course they enjoyed the petting zoo far more, but the best part was just getting out on a beautiful, unseasonably warm October day.

Lenny helps us look for the perfect pumpkin.










Faye is astonished to be so close to such a large goose.









Here she is trying to feed a goat.







Lenny decides to try the same trick.







Both Lenny and Faye are enthralled by the extremely large bunny.









What a generous Daddy, Faye has to share his yummy corn!

Happy Halloween!!!

You didn't think I would forget to post my babies in their super-adorable Halloween costumes, did you? We'll here they are in all their glory. Enjoy!!!

Here's Faye at her first Piotrowski Family Halloween party. Sophie and Harry sure have some great toys!








Just look at those cheeks! They can hardly be contained by the monkey hood.





Here's Lenny in his "monkey-suit!"







Lenny and Faye's cousin Tommy was a bat.










And their cousin Joey was a pumpkin. Aren't they cute???









That Sunday, we went with my Dad and Josie to Boo-at-the-Zoo at the Brookfield Zoo. Lenny was thrilled to ride the merry-go-round.








And after some initial doubt, Faye tolerated the ride as well.






Here's Faye enjoying her camel ride.










And then Lenny.










Faye and Ed wrestle a crocodile.










Then we headed over to the farm area where Lenny and Faye tried to talk some chickens into letting them into their coup. No luck there, but they gave it a good shot.




Lenny basks in the sun in the gravel next to the cows. You would think the smell would have made him bask elsewhere. You would be wrong.








Lenny hugs his Abuela after an awesome day at the zoo.

Autumn leaves

The things that are all over my lawn that is. Our street is beautiful this time of year, with all the trees turning yellow, orange and red. It's beautiful, but as October has come and gone, so have our lawn service guys so all those pretty leaves must be raked, by yours truly. Fortunately, the kids love to sit in the piles of leaves while I rake. It must be something innate in humans to roll around in the leaves. I know Lenny and Faye have never seen anyone doing this but as you can see, they jumped right in.


Faye was thrilled to be surrounded by leaves.






Lenny spent most of his time crawling through the leaves or chasing my rake.






"Watch out Lenny, I'm on the move!"







"Hey, Faye! You have leaves on your bottom."
"Really? You have some in your hair. Let me help you with that."




Bonzai!!!!!!!!







Huzzah!!!!!