Pumpkin Carving with the Morris Family

On Saturday, October 25th, we headed to the Morris Family's home for a pumpkin carving party. We were supposed to get dressed up in our costumes, but as you'll see in a couple posts, the boys' costumes were pretty bulky, so we opted to go as Phillies fans....not to mention we were all PUMPED that they were doing so great!!! But, we couldn't resist putting Lizzie in the cutest little ladybug costume Aunt Kristen sent her. She just wore her Phillies onesie underneath and the hat, too.

Yup, she's taking steps easily when you hold onto her fingers....though still not actually crawling on hands and knees! She's still doing the inchworm thing! Too funny!



And she's got one tooth through and another making it's way, so she's discovering her tongue and finds it fun to stick it out!!!I can't remember carving pumpkins as a kid and this is the first time I've ever done it with the boys. We had such a fun time! I helped Jon, but Jake wanted to do his totally on his own. Not too shabby, guys!

Thanks, Morris Family, for a really fun night!

Introductions and 30th Birthday Bash for Kimmy and Don

Oct 18: Aunt Kristen finally gets to meet Elizabeth!!!!!!

Mommom, Aunt Kristen and Great Mommom put a shiny star garland crown on Lizzie's head and had her doing the can-can on the table! Poor Lizzie!!! She didn't seem to mind too much though! What an easy-going little baby!

Wonderful Ed and Great Mommom Dickson (Andy's mom's parents) meet Lizzie for the first time. They surprised us with a visit on their way home from a European vacation! So nice to see them and hear their funny stories about their trip...like Mommom telling Poppop to wear his shorts (the weather had been beautiful the whole trip and he had worn only his pants). Of course the day he finally wore his shorts it was like 40 degrees outside so he was freezing cold!!!
Lizzie giving her best smiles for Great Mommom

Jake in the tree at Kimmy and Don's house

Jon in the tree at Kimmy and Don's house

A family of monkeys!!!
(Andy, Jon, Kristen, and Jake in the tree)

Andy, Kristen and Kim celebrating Kimmy and Don's 30th birthdays!!! We all had a great time...though the weather was a bit chilly!!!!!

Aunt Kimmy took care of her favorite nephews, as always. They had a blast painting pumpkins and little ghost masks and just flat out making a mess!!! Every little boy's dream!

Happy Birthday Kimmy and Don and thanks for a great day!!!

Fall Fest at Fifer

Our little playgroup met at a local orchard for their Fall Fest activities. We had such a fun time! KB, I know you're missing it...and we miss you!!! Hope you got the apple cider donuts...YUM!!!

Jon riding the John Deere through the straw maze
The three of us on the hayride

Jon loved making "soybean angels" in the sandbox filled with soybeans

"Weee!!!" Down the big slide atop the straw pyramid

Visit with Gram

On Saturday, we drove out to Oley, PA near Reading to visit mt Grandmother at my Uncle Bill's house. Gram moved there this summer. It was so nice to visit with her and my aunt and uncle! I really miss seeing you, Gram!

Getting big smiles from Lizzie
Gram turns 81 on the 21st of this month, so the boys made her cards.We also framed a photo I took this summer of all Gram's great-grandchildren on my couch. She loved that! I know she really misses seeing all of them.
The boys had a blast playing baseball and football with Uncle Bill and Andy and climbing this huge dirt mountain next to my uncle's newly-constructed house.
Aunt Chris and Uncle Bill in their beautiful home
Gram and the kids

Love you, Gram!!!

Xbos with the Gebharts

Evan
Drew
Melissa, Drew, Anna, and Evan
Jon
Anna
Jake
Andy and Lizzie

On Friday evening, we took the kids to a place in Smyrna (about 20 min from here) called Xbos. It's one of those cool indoor fun places with a huge climbing structure, video games, etc. We took our friends, the Gebharts for their kids' birthday gifts. The kids had a ball. Then we all went out for pizza.

Manny

So we're all excited in the Merkle household that the Phillies are doing so well in the playoffs. Andy has been letting the boys stay up a little late and watch the first couple of innings of the games, so they've been really into it! The other day, Jon, watching so intently, asked, "who's that girl playing?" "Manny Ramirez," Andy replied. " "He looks like a girl! He's got dirty hair!" Jon giggled. We were laughing so hard! At-a-boy, Jon. Say what we're all thinking!!! ha ha!!!

Jake's quote of the day

Okay, I feel like I'm a big potty talker, but this is too funny not to post!!! So, if you've read our blog before, you'll know that we say "barney" when someone passes gas. Well, Jake was wrestling with Andy and barneyed (as he always does when they wrestle!!!) Andy said "Jake, why do you always barney on me when we wrestle! You've got to control your barneys!" To that, Jake replied, "they always play wrestle with my hiney and they always win!" We about fell our of our chairs laughing!!!