September and the beginning of October

This is another loaded post.

As usual.

 Back in September I bought Charlotte and Ben tickets to see Disney on Ice.

He likes to take her out on dates.

 I took her last year, my mom took her last winter, and then Ben took her for a third time.

It's now a tradition.

An overpriced but fun tradition.

 I was jealous.

They did classic movies and 'It's a Small World'.

On September 29th, Jane was blessed at church.

My family was able to make it out for the week.

Then we had some close friends in our church help with the blessing.

 Jane looking dazed and confused on her way to church.

 As I looked at all of the men helping Ben with her blessing I got teary thinking about moving next summer.

These friends here in Chicago are my family and have been for almost 7 years.

 After her blessing I went into the mother's room to change her diaper and get a few pictures.

I was planning on keeping her in her dress so we could have family and friends be in pictures... until I heard an eruption in her underpants.

 She blew out into her beautiful blessing gown.

So no more pictures were taken.

Jane's first visit downtown.

We're sitting on the steps of the Art Museum where I nursed her (all covered up... no worries) while my family finished up.

 She was humiliated.

 Crossing the Chicago River.

She slept through the entire experience.

 First ride on the L train.

 Buds on the train.

 At the Field Museum.

Charlotte played hooky from preschool and I actually felt guilty.

It's the inner teacher I suppose.

 My adorable nephew Alexander.

 Thank heavens Carrie has an iPhone.

Charlotte utilized that baby well.

 I don't know what I was thinking.

I was trying to get the two cousins in a shot together.

Alex attacked.

Jane cried.

That was the end of that.

 The rest of our trip was filled with site seeing, restaurants, shopping, and squeezing the above baby.

Thank you, mi familia, for coming out for Jane's blessing.

That was my mom's 2nd trip out to see Jane in a month and my sister Carrie left her other four children with her husband =)

I'm sure he had a blast.

Harvest Festival at Charlotte's school.

 I love Charlotte's school.

It's adorable, organized, with friendly and competent teachers, and only 2 blocks from my house.

 She had to decorate a pumpkin representing our family.

We headed to Hobby Lobby where she picked Disney stickers.

Shocker.

She wrote her name on the bottom (adorable) and colored the rest.

 Jane was unimpressed with the event.

 They had popcorn and cider, wreath decorating, pumpkin carving, bowling, bag toss (huge here in the Midwest), and some other activities we didn't get around to.

Oh, and they had a Scholastic Book Fair going on (ohhh the memories from when I was a teacher) and she got her first book.

I believe it was a book about the universe, planets, and stars.

Another bath.

Jane loves them.

And I love that Charlotte does all of the work.

I just sit there as a lifeguard.

Lazy weekend morning.

All four of us headed out onto the hammock and read books.

 And these two napped.

 Oct 7th - Charlotte and Jane's first day having to wear beanies.

It seems a bit early this year.

 I came to check on Jane during her nap and I looked back to see Charlotte sneaking in behind me to check as well.

She's a doll of a big sister.

 I wish I had a closeup picture of the dress below.

One of my favorite favorite favorite (yes, I meant to write that 3 times) friends lives in Utah.

We taught together years ago.

If I could be her next door neighbor for life I'd be thrilled.

She made my girls matching Halloween dresses.

One of a few outfits Laura and Emily sent me.

 She liked it too.

 Napping together.

Yes, sometimes Jane keeps her eyes open.

Creepy.

 An outfit Emily and Laura sent Charlotte.

 A different outfit my mom sent Charlotte.

 Clearly, we are spoiled.

Side note:

Our car hit 77,777 miles while on a road trip over the weekend.

We got that car brand new 7 years ago.