Abby's 5th Birthday

Abby is 5!  This year she got to have her first party with friends.  She decided on a craft party at Michael's, where we made Halloween handprint t-shirts (with the exception of James, who refused to put paint on his hand).  She collected crayons, markers and coloring books to donate to Children's Hospital.  We also took a trip to Build-A-Bear where she and James each got to make their own bear.  Oh, and then there were presents.  

Ainsely, Abby and Mia with painted shirts

Nicole was our special guest party helper

The girls played ring around the rosy while they waited for their shirts to dry

Kids, shirts and cupcakes

Ainsely, Abby &  Mia

The crew (minus David, who was a little shy)

At Build-A-Bear: Those stuffing machines are pretty loud.

Preparing their bears' hearts

Cupcake time with the birthday crown

Tasty

Abby shows off her new bear, and one of her favorite gifts, "tall black shiny boots with heels"

Firsts

Clare's first pigtail, Abby's first Mooney game, and James' first day without an "official" nap...

This pigtail lasted about 5 minutes

Abby & Nicole

Papa, Abby, & Nana

Abby with Aunt Molly and Aunt Kara in their work gear

The  "unofficial" nap

Shenot's Farm 2010

Fun times were had by all at our annual trip to Shenot's Farm for pumpkins.  We started off eating apples on the hayride to the pumpkin patch.  Then we looked for pumpkins and tried to get some family pictures (at least Abby looked at the camera!).  We finished with a trip to the market and a few trips down the hay slide.  A beautiful day, and lots of fun!

James enjoys his apple while looking confused

Clare shares one with Daddy

Abby is chewing and talking at the same time

Searching

James picked the first pumpkin he saw and proceeded to stomp around the patch with a grumpy look on his face.

I was rather impressed that Abby could carry such a large pumpkin.

Kids with mom, take 3

Kids with dad, take 2

Family picture (at least we are all visible)

Random fun

Some of the silliness captured on camera!

James with many (but not all) of his cars

Clare, looking sweet in Abby's first birthday dress

Taking a ride on the Notre Dame blanket...a special treat from dad

Sitting on the hay bale at Frankie's house

James is 3!

Believe it or not, the little man is 3 already.  

James opens the coveted yellow Mustang before breakfast

Pancakes with frosting, a birthday specialty

James and his car cake

It was Daddy's birthday, too!

Clare with Great Grandma Mruczkowski

Clare, Nana and Abby

James, being goofy, with Grandma

The end of summer

TV Time with daddy

Summer kept us quite busy this year, but we still had some time to relax.  Here are some of our favorite shots from the end of the season.

Ready for the ND opener.  Abby took her job as cheerleader very seriously.

Clare, being cute

Twins, for a trip to the mall

Tea party with Nana

Abby's first day of school

The kids and Mom before the St. Kilian 5K