Saturday + Fall= FESTIVAL!

The Rau Clan loves going to festivals and parades and this the other weekend, we had fun at Oktoberfest in St. Charles. We enjoyed the parade, a great lunch of beer, brats and pretzels (well, Greg & I did), and Leah had fun playing on a variety of bounch houses, got her hand painted and painted her own pumpkin. Evan decided he didn't want to participate in any of the fun stuff for kids -what a party pooper! The kids each had a short nap and then we were off again for a Lawn Olympic party. A friend of ours from Greg's work has had this party for the past 4-5 years now. This was the 1st or 2nd of which was with kids. They had some really cute games for the kids to play-potato sack race, walk with marshmallow on your spoon, lawn mower race, etc. The kids all had a great time as did we.

Ready for Halloween

We're excited about Fall and the twins are excited that next month they can go ringing doorbells for candy.

For Halloween, Evan's going to be a Pirate and Leah is going to be a Princess. At the Mother of Twins Club sale this year, I found Evan's costume for $3.50 and Greg's mom is going to sew a princess gown for Leah (so the one in the picture is just a dress up outfit we already have). We have had Evan's costume for about a month and a half now and last week was the first time Evan would even try it on. He said it was scary. Let me tell you just HOW we got him to try it on...FINALLY! Greg came up with the idea to play "Trick or Treat." So, we got the costumes on and the kids went to the door, rang the doorbell and you know the rest. Well, we have played this several times since that first time. They will even play it for dry cereal or fruit :)

I am so excited we finally got Evan to try his costume on and I am a little more confident that he will put it on Halloween night! He looks so gosh darn cute!

At the Car Wash

Evan and Leah HATE going through the car wash. Our 4-Runner is absolutely filthy and really needed to be washed. So, yesterday we took the kids to Orlando's Fruit Stand and the kids and I bought some fruit and veggies while Greg washed the car behind the fruit stand. We were done before Greg was. Evan decided it was more fun to be on the outside of the car washing it instead of on the inside (of course Leah had to have her turn of washing the car as well).

Playing With The Big Kids

(should we stay or should we go?)

(finally made it out there)

I always told Greg I wish there were more kids that lived on our street. Well, my wish came true. The three kids that live across the street hardly come out to play, but they have been coming out more and more. The next door neighbors have their grandchildren over more now and they play outside often. There is also another neighbor that have their son and his two children now living with them, so those kids have been out alot lately.

Everyday the older kids are out playing, Evan and Leah immediately want to go outside to watch them and try and play with them.

In the pictures above, Leah and Evan were slowly making their way towards the street to play with the big kids. It was too cute to watch.

Just yesterday riding in the car, Leah asked me if Hannah was home. I said I didn't know. She then replied, "Mommy, I like Hannah." I said, "That's nice Leah." Then she said, "Mommy, I love Hannah. She's nice." How cute.

Festival of Nations 2010

First experience with a johnny-on-the-spot. Daddy did the honors.

Saturday we went to the Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park. This was the 5th year Greg and I have gone. I wasn't as adventurous as I would have liked to have been as far as trying a different ethnic food. I stuck with what I knew I would like-gyros and baklava! The kids didn't feel like being adventurous this time either; as they stuck with their American food- hot dogs and chips ;)

We had a great time making bracelets, funny hats, and little decorative boxes. The kids really enjoyed watching the belly dancers balance swords on their heads while they danced.

After the festival, we took some pictures in Tower Grove Park

First Day of a New School Year

This week Evan and Leah had their first day of a new "school" year at Mom's Day Out. They are now in the 3 year old room. Evan did not like the change at all-go figure. Leah did well- as expected. Little hard on me because their teacher from the 2 year classroom knew the routine of me dropping Evan off and the new teacher didn't. He gives me multiple kisses and I tell him I will be back at the end of the day, etc. and his previous teacher knew not to just grab Evan from me-only makes him more upset.

Well, the first thing the new teacher did, was grab him away from me and told me to not stick around because it only makes things worse. (I wasn't even there, but for 3 minutes! What mother just drops them off without giving a hug/kiss to their kids and telling them to have a great day?) I told her that I use to be a school teacher and I totally understand where she was coming from with not staying long- and I agree, but I needed to make him feel more comfortable with being in a new setting and with a new teacher. So, she let him give me a kiss and then proceeded to take him from me again.

I did stand out in the hallway for a couple of minutes talking to another teacher and he had already calmed down within 5 minutes of me leaving. Let's hope this school year is better.

Fun Outside

This summer has been so hot that I really haven't let the kids play outside that much. This past Sunday was pretty nice out, so we BBQ'd and let the kids swim. I had such fun watching them play with the water and each other.