Halloween Tricks and Pics!

All 4 of us got in costume to go to our friends, the Zeliasz's, Halloween Party!
From L to R...

Fairy Princess Ellison, Cowboy Jonny, Pirate Erin, and Nolan went as Baby Jonathan (he wore some overalls that Jonathan wore as a baby - so happy Marcy saved them for 29 years)!

Cousin Jack the Lion and Elle the Bee getting ready to Trick or Treat

Grandma Marcy and Nolan (wearing J's baby clothes). Marcy and Nolan handed out candy to the Trick or Treaters while we were out.

Nolan smiling in his sleep!

We went Trick or Treating on Saturday in DT Cary; here is Elle after we got home with candy in her pink pumpkin pail. Don't let that face fool you, it was all an act for the camera, she was actually very proud of her accomplishment. I was very proud of her too, she said "Trick or Treat and Thank you" to everyone!

This is a special Bee pose she hopped into before we left for Trick or Treating DT.
She picked out this sucker to eat after her lunch!Here's a picture from a Halloween playdate with our friends from the Cary Mom's Group.

Close up of Noli the baby bee

(a special thanks to our friend Jackson Foley for letting us borrow the costume)

The little head piece barely fit around his chubby cheeks and under his double chin.

Elle before the playdate, not wanting to wear the full bee costume, still looking cute.

Pumpkin carving...

Jonathan's famous "BOO Pumpkin" - I think his best ever!

The Jim Matta tradition lives on!!!

Helping mommy

scooping out the slop...nice face ElleEllison picked this out at Old Navy, and Grammy Laur couldn't resist.

We took Ellison to Rainforest Cafe when Jer & Laur were last in town. We had never been before, and decided to go only for Ellison's enjoyment. Turns out everyone but Elle enjoyed it...nearly everything scared her except for "frog man" and the fish. We ended up being asked to leave as Jonathan tried to wrestle the robotic alligator and sit on frog man's lap.

Grampy and Nolan. Grampy went through every shirt he brought with him in 1 day...Nolan loves spitting up on him!

Grammy and Nolan

Story time with Dad (note Ellison sitting in Nolan's seat)

Nolan James

4th visit to Lincoln Park Zoo this year. Nolan is absent from the picture as he was taking a bath in the hippo tank.

Ellison on her favorite thing...the endangered species carousel at LPZ. Special guest appearance by Dr. Cassandra (Erin's friend).

Ellison and the fish. The last 3 times we've been to LPZ the Hippo has been swimming around the tank constantly. It's great for Ellison to see, and as previously mentioned, Nolan and the Hippo have acquired a mutual admiration for one another.

So this explains a lot regarding Nolan's relationship with the Hippo...Jonathan sat on that Hippo for about 3 1/2 hours, and then threw an absolute tantrum when we threatened to leave him at the zoo. It was embarrassing. He tried to climb the bamboo poles and hide in the hut that is above him (not pictured). The zoo politely asked that we not return again this year.

Ellison enjoying the Hippo after Jonathan was "removed"

Look who's 3 months old

Here's our happy little guy on his 3 month birthday...

Comparison pic of Elle in the same chair on her 3 month b-day!

More Noli!

Lately Nolan has been very happy and smiley! When he is not sleeping, he is either eating or smiling. He is such a good napper; loves to sleep in his car seat or just about anywhere and nap from 2-5 hours at a time. He is pretty much doing the opposite of everything his sister did at this age. He travels well, she didn't (she cried in her car seat). He sleeps anywhere, she mostly slept in our arms. He sleeps for long periods of time, she was the queen of the 30 min. nap. He goes 4-6 hours (more at night) between feedings, she would eat every 2-3 hours. He's content just hanging out in a seat/swing, she would only sit for a few minutes and then need something new. He is wearing 6 months clothes and size 2 diapers, she was just into 3 month clothes and just fitting into size 1 diapers. Elle was rolling over at 3 months and could stand holding on to us with just one hand, and Nolan just likes to sit or lay (and watch us/his sister). We love how different they are and love them for who they are...so special in their own way.

They do, however, share one characteristic, chubby legs!

Elle at 3 months rolling around

and standing

Easy go'in Nolan!

Almost a "Sunken Ship"

First a couple pictures of the kids, then the "Sunken Ship" story...

Elle riding "Ozzy" at the Long Grove Apple Fest - definitely the highlight for her

We were in Wisconsin visiting my parents during the heavy rainfall that lead to extremely dangerous flooding conditions. We (especially my mom and dad) were so worried about their pontoon boat. It held on tight even though WI River was up over 10 feet.

The rushing water was tearing out trees and pulling docks and boats down stream. The plank that usually angles down (at a 45 degree angle) was inverted...everything that used to go down was going up. We usually can't see the boat from my parent's house since it hides down low behind the river bank, but since the water was so high, we all watched it and hoped it would hold on. We explained this all to Elle and would hold her up to the window to see the boat. Upon her review she proclaimed "it's not a sunken ship yet Grampy," trying to make my dad feel better.

The back story on the "sunken ship" that makes her comment so cute is that we had recently gone on one of our monthly Pet Store loitering outings and found ourselves in the aquarium accessories isle. She was fascinated with all of the fun things that went inside a fish tank, with pirate ship decor being her favorite. I showed her that they had a hole in them and that they were "sunken ships." So cute...she never forgets anything!