Hope your Halloween is DINO-mite!

Pumpkin Patch

This week I met our nanny at the pumpkin patch in Barrington. I swear she is SO brave for making the outings she does with two 1.5 year olds...it was cold, it was cloudy, and let's be honest, it wasn't the best day for the patch. But it was our last opportunity (hey, we tried before and unfortunately were in a car accident on the way so we make do with what we're given!)...

I'm not so certain how I felt about it, but the Patch had exotic animals: including a giraffe mommy and baby, zebras, African monkeys, camels, and all other types of regular and irregular petting zoo animals. A bit out of place for a pumpkin patch, but Griff LOVED it. The giraffe gave him a kiss (we were that close, right in her face). He cried when we left her barn. But we saw other animals (he ran up to each one, waved and said "HI!") and even got a little pumpkin that he later painted with our nanny as an art project.

All in all, glad we went.

This is without zoom: we were this close!

With his pumpkin

Baby 'roos

I like YAKS!

Zebras

18 Month & Family Pics

We had some professional pics taken earlier this month...I think they turned out quite well - here are a few of the highlights. :)

Stick 'em Up

Griff is loving his stickers. He likes to pick which one he wants and then asks me to put it on his belly. Before I put it on, he sticks his belly out as far as it can go and makes it as hard as possible to ensure a good stick.

Loved

Griff's not spoiled, but the past few days he's definitely received a lot of love in the mail and via drop-off. Thanks Grandma Cathy, Great-Grandma Lea, Grandma Kris, and Auntie Liz!

Some new Elmo-wear came in the mail...which he was uber-excited about and wanted to put on right away!

And a big Mickey also came for him...and he was certainly amped about that as well! :)

And don't doubt the box was also a hit.

He packed all of his Cars gear from Auntie Liz into this bag for safekeeping...

El-mOOOOOOO

Wrestling with Mickey

Happy Birthday Grandpa Tom!

This weekend we headed to Indy for a couple of big reasons: to celebrate Grandpa Tom's birthday and to meet our new niece Erin! We had a great time with everyone...Griff saved most of his kisses for tiny adorable baby Erin (for real) and he had a blast playing with Connor. We even got some pretty good pics of the family together which doesn't happen often! I've posted a few of the weekend, in absolutely random order.

"That's right, Mama, I just almost climbed OUT of the pack 'n play and then I was almost able to climb right back IN...but I'm so stinkin' cute...so who cares?"

[Seriously, it isn't going to be long...he was this close both on his attempt to get out AND his attempt to get back in]

Grandma Kris, Grandpa Tom, Erin, Connor and Griff

Cousin crash!

Loving the swing! Griff was very, very upset when we had to go inside to eat dinner. He was having such a good time in the sandbox...swing..."mowing" the lawn...and following Connor around in a general state of awe

The general "awe" I mentioned above... Griff followed Connor everywhere and was so QUIET around him...like he was afraid if he made noise, he'd miss something Connor did or said.

Another crash!

Clowning around with a mouth full of SNACK

And another mouthful...this time of birthday CAKE!

Singing to Grandpa Tom

Grandpa and his boys

Having daddy push him around in the car chasing Connor was so tough that Griff needed a beverage

Back in the cupholder and time to roll

Wrong way!

Grandma Kris got this family pic of us out and about on Friday

Cozin' Grandpa Tom

He Grew...

Overnight! I swear!

Elmo!

Griff and I were out and about yesterday picking up some necessities...when Griff "wows", points and yells "ELMO!" He saw a stuffed Elmo sitting on the shelf and was hopping up and down in the card in excitement...I asked him if he wanted Elmo to which he replied "YeaH!" while rapidly nodding his head. I honestly am not sure how he is even too aware of who Elmo even IS...other than one of his favorite songs being "Elmo's Song" (where there are no visuals of Elmo) he has only seen Elmo once (a big Elmo) at Learning Express...I don't think we've watched Sesame Street before...so it's pretty interesting to me how he sure he was that he saw ELMO and he wanted ELMO.

Here is a cute pic and video of Griff and his beloved Elmo. In his short time with us, Elmo has received quite a few Griff kisses and bear hugs. I'm definitely jealous, but I love it.

More Children's Museum Pics

Auntie Honey sent some more pictures from the Children's Museum last weekend so I thought I'd share. Griff got to spend even MORE time with her yesterday - she came over to hang out with Griff while Ben and I went to (another) wedding. I am pretty sure they had a blast and that Griff was fairly good for her, until he refused to let her put his pajama bottoms on after bathtime (quite common for him...he's very happy pants-less). THANK YOU Auntie Honey for helping us out. :)

"wowing" at lunch

New Nephew!

We are so happy to announce that we also have a new nephew! Mason Cole McElfresh was born this morning at 4:52 a.m. (EST) weighing 6 lbs, 8 oz and measuring 19 3/4 inches. We are told that mama and baby are doing well...and Eric has informed everyone that he looks just like Kayla: short with red hair! Ha!

Again, we cannot wait to meet this little cutie pie...especially Griffin. Griff has taken a very special interest in babies lately. Whenever we see one out & about he "wows", points and says "baby little, little". Well Griff is going to have a fun couple of upcoming weekends when he gets to meet both of his new cousins. They certainly are both worthy of "wows" and they are both "little!"

Congrats Kayla and Eric!