Argh, Roar and Happy Halloween!

What an adventurous past week at our crazy household! Evie and I spent the better part of an evening last week decorating pumpkins. Although she was mostly interested in "the guts" of the pumpkins, she was pretty proud to put them on our front porch and light them up! We didn't get too crazy this year with our designs, but I think Evie loved getting to help in the process!

On Halloween day, we started off with some orange oatmeal (naturally) and a party at the Chaska Community Center, followed by a visit to Uncle Scottie's office to show off our costumes. After dinner, it was "frick or freat" time, as Evie says it. She and Chad joined the Bulls for a trip around our neighborhood, while Titus and I stayed behind and ate, I mean passed out candy to our neighborhood friends. Titus' favorite choice: almond joys. Evie's fave: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

The following night, we were invited to the Hilton Halloween party downtown. Although we had our pirate and lion along, the costumes were quickly ditched in order to bounce in the bouncy house and run like crazy through the Hilton! Evie loved getting to meet Belle and eating chocolate hummus (as did her mother).

The best/saddest part of the past week was saying good-bye to our beloved neighbors and friends, The Thousands. We had a Halloween Party/Going Away Party at our house with pumpkin decorating and carmel apple stations. It was a fun way to say goodbye to some of our closest friends as they moved to Wisconsin on Tuesday.

And in other, non-Halloween related news, Titus is showing more signs of movement every day. He can take about 5-6 strides on a crawl and will cruise all around the living room walking while holding onto anything he can find. Whereas Evie seemed to have more of the ability and less of the desire to walk, Titus seems the opposite! He is all gung-ho to try it, he just hasn't quite put all of the moving pieces together yet! Go, Titus, Go!

We have been "Booed!!!"

While eating dinner last night, the doorbell rang at the Lundeen household. When Evie and Chad went to check who was there, they discovered and empty porch and found we had been "BOOED!" I had never heard of this until last night and think it is an awesome idea!

For those of you like me not in the know, being "booed" means a neighbor left a bag of homemade goodies on our front porch with a Halloween Poem and sign saying we got booed. We get to enjoy the goodies (oh, and they were good) and in return need to make our own goodies, poem, etc. to pass along to two of our unsuspecting neighbors. Once we get booed, we place the sign in our front door so the neighbors know who has and has not been "booed!" Evie and I will be making chocolate chip muffins and brownies after nap time today (her choices) to boo some other neighbors! I love fun traditions!

Poor Titus! I am starting to have a bit of sympathy for my little sister in watching what he goes through as the little brother on a daily basis! Although 99% of what occurs to him is done out of a huge love his big sister has for him, I am still not sure what he makes of things! Evie's newest favorite move is to help me get Titus up from his nap. Although this sounds sweet and harmless, let me clarify what getting him up entails. As soon as she hears a sound from his monitor, she runs into his room screaming "wake up, Titus" and immediately jumps into his crib with him (and I do mean JUMP). Most of the time, Titus quite enjoys watching this process, but other times he is still in and out of sleep and I can't help but think what an interesting way for him to be jolted into reality!

A few weekends ago, we helped usher Autumn in with a visit to Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard in Jordan. We went with our good friends, the Bulls, and loved looking at the leaves, taste testing different apples and going out on the tractor to find the trees with our favorite flavored apples. Honeycrisp and Sweet Sixteens were our top choices this year. We also enjoyed having lunch on the patio and playing in the hay! The Bulls are always troopers letting us be the fifth, sixth and seventh wheels!

We won't have to sing "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth" at Christmastime this year! Titus' teeth (yes, plural) have arrived! Within a week, his bottom two teeth have come in and we are thinking his top two are ready as well! The picture below is him showing off his new pearly whites! Also included are a few pictures of Titus being "Battey" for his Mama! Oh, I miss my maiden name during this time of year! Happy Autumn!

September Adventures for the Lundeens

Fashion Week...check! The Women's US Open Semi-Finals...check! Severs Corn Maze...check! The Great Minnesota Get Together...check! Life was crazy, busy and fun, fun, fun during the month of September at the Lundeen Household!

While Titus stayed home with his buddy Tyler Bull, Jackson and his parents took Evie to the Minnesota State Fair. The highlight for Evie: Definitely the Tower Slide (although the mini donuts took a close second)! The lowlight: the pigs (especially the smelly Mama and Daddy pigs). Those of you who have seen her near dogs are probably not overly surprised that she was not at all interested in going into the barn of life!

The weekend after Labor Day, Chad and I went to our favorite city: New York! We packed quite a bit into our short weekend there but were able to take in our first ever fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (thanks to Uncle Marc) and got to watch Serena and Wozniaki battle it out in the women's semi-finals of the US Open.

Last, but certainly not least: Severs Corn Maze! We made our annual trip to get a little agriCULTURE in the Twin Cities. Evie rode on her first pony (named Oreo...all that she seems ro remember about him is that he relieved himself during the ride). Titus enjoyed watching the crowd clap during the pig races and once again, Evie checked out the live animals at the petting zoo with extreme caution.

Titus is 9 Months

Although so many people have told me that every child is different, I of course thought "not my kids." Boy, was I wrong! Titus is such a love. He is always smiling, pretty easy-going, and as long as he can see mom at all times, completely content to just hang out. On the other hand, Evie has always been a mover and a shaker. At 6 months old, she crawled, at 7 months she climbed the stairs and at 10 months she walked (5 days later she ran). Then there is my sweet Titus.

At 9 months, he has yet to accomplish any of those feats! No crawling, no teeth, no walking, no climbing and definitely no walking. He does love to stand (while supporting himself) and can clap the second someone chimes in with a verse of "If You're Happy and You Know It." Titus loves to play with his sister too. Last night we are pretty certain he was saying "mamamamamama." And boy does he love to dance! Anytime a song or commercial is on, Titus will do his little jig. If he is laying on the floor, he will kick his legs in a rhythmic pattern. Every kid truly is different and, after months of trying, I have decided to just relax and enjoy Titus' ssslllloooowww ride!