It's just halloween fun!

 It took some convincing to get him in a costume, but after the first earned chocolate he was sold.

 This is the first year that Luca carved his own pumpkin completely independently. He made the spooky tree.  James wanted his pumpkin to have big goofy teeth.  Libby wanted a cheerful smile.

 Our neighborhood had a super fun party prior to the start of trick or treating.

State Fair

This is the first time I've gone to a state fair in over a decade.  My last one was in NY and I was about 10 weeks pregnant with Luca.  I had a rough time then with all the smells, and walking in the heat all day, and wasn't interested in trying new foods.  I just remember it being really exhausting. 

 This morning we went to the Maryland State Fair...and I'm so glad we did!  It's not as big as NY's fair, and is only 10 minutes from our house.  We went early, before the crowds.  The kids milked a cow and then drank chocolate milk.  We pet baby chicks.  We learned that a cow eats 100 lbs of food and drinks 60 gallons of water per day.  We ate this peach baked in layers of puff pastry and covered with soft serve vanilla ice cream.  It was divine.  We had a Dr. Pepper float and deep fried Oreos.

One of the main reasons we went is that I was talked into entering some jam in the home arts section.  We entered a pear vanilla jam and a strawberry rhubarb jam (both were made by the kids with help).  We loved walking around the home arts building and seeing all the works people entered from baked goods to photography.  

We didn't win a ribbon for our jam, but I'm so glad we entered.  It made us feel like more than spectators.  We were a part of it all.  They have big plans for next year.

First Day

 We went to visit the new school at an open house.  Libby is all legs.  James is photobombing her picture.

 The last day of summer my four sweethearts played together and built this city.  Tommy and I are going to miss them all so much!

 The first timer is very excited!

We walked to the bus stop together.  I had to plead with James to sit with Libby on the bus.  That was her biggest anxiety.

Some of our summer highlights so far

 Jonathan has a sweet 4th of July party every year.  It comes complete with great pork roast and fireworks with beautiful country views all around.  It wasn't hot, and the kids enjoyed running around and riding bikes.  Here is James with his cousin Alice.

 Jer's niece Tempi is the cutest with her watermelon.

 I think he is really handsome in red.

 We went to Hyde Park NY where we visited a Vanderbilt mansion, the Roosevelt estate, and the Culinary Institute of America.  Pictures are from the Vanderbilt gardens.  I didn't manage to get pictures inside because I was too busy trying to manage the meltdowns of my children and not disrupt the tour for any other guests.  This was the country cottage of Frederick Vanderbuilt, a railroad tycoon.  The house behind us is one of the out buildings on the property.  The exterior of the mansion was covered with scaffolding.

 Next we went to NYC.  Here we are dragging our suitcases down the streets of Soho to our hotel.

 Jer got us a fancy suite with a view.  Tommy loved to point out the new world trade center tower.  He could pick it out in pictures of the skyline and got really excited about it.  We went up to the observation deck.

After NYC we drove to Avalon New Jersey for a weekend with Becca and Jeff.  She likes to dress me up and do my hair and makeup:)

 We played a lot of paddleball.

 Some of us napped.

 Uncle Tommy looking pensive.

 We played a lot of washers.

 I had to make the couples pose by the lifeguard boats.  Tommy and Jean, and Becca and Jeff.

 This past weekend I went to Mechanicsburg for Emily's bridal shower.  It was so much fun.  The bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom all went bowling after the shower.  The highest score of the group was 78 so you can see what sort of bowlers we are!
Then the next day we went up to State College PA for my Nana and Papa's 90th birthdays and 70th wedding anniversary.  Those events all happen in the same week!
http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/article90220942.html
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 Charlie and Tommy had a few stare downs over the weekend.

 Here is Emily with her namesake.

 Also Emily with her groom, also named Jeff just to keep things confusing.

 And here we are at the reception for Nana and Papa.  They drew a big crowd of awesome people.  Everyone was so nice, smart, and interesting.  Nana and Papa are so loved in their community which makes us all so proud and happy.  We took family pictures at the Lion.  Because my Papa is a Penn State man through and through.

My pasta man

Jeremiah makes pasta from scratch almost once a week. He has the time down to 30 minutes start to finish for the noodles. The sauce takes a bit longer.

"Sit down," he told me today when I offered to help, "I've got this."

2 years

This little boy entered the world without anyone noticing...for real.  Not even his mom.  It's a funny story I could share if you haven't heard it already.  It's one of our family jokes.  He makes himself noticed now though!  He has such an expressive face and vibrant personality.  What a blessing it is to be his mom!

 And our cupcakes for dessert tonight!