Party Animals... What FUN!!

Mimi Cinda and Rory
Shandra and Braxton
Braxton... What a sweet little boy!!!
Rory and Abby sitting like big girls at the table
It's Papa's birthday!! (10-09)

Abby got caught playing with Aunt Shannie's boots
Rory made it up the steps
"I'm back again!!!"
Here comes Abby up the stairs
Papa and all three of his grandkids

Rory ready to head home. It's cold outside!!
Braxton took the liberty to dive into his cake on his birthday (10-14). He really enjoyed licking the frosting off!!
Braxton playing patty-cake with Abby and Rory. They are having soooo much fun!!
Yeah Rory!!
Abby has found some cabinets to climb.. big surprise!!


These are Braxton's toy stars that he named "McCain" and "Sarah." Too funny!! He got them from the Republican headquarters here in town. Guess who he hears about all the time!!
It's cold... Abby's bundled for the outdoors
Happy Birthday Aunt Shannie (10-16)
Do you think the whole thing will fit?
Daddy and Rory. Don't they look so much alike in this picture?

Rory going down the slide at Braxton's party
Braxton driving a submarine
Braxton's ready to skate for the first time in his new skates
Go Braxton... Go!!!!
Rory and Abby chowing down on their puffies. They are big fans of their puffies!!

There's more than one way to play with an exersaucer
Braxton got new skates from Uncle Mike, Aunt Taira, Rory and Abby
Look at his Mr. Potato Head
The jungle-gym at Braxton's party. It was soooo much fun!!
Braxton blowing out his #3 candle on his Thomas the Train cake

Rory and Abby playing at Gigi's house
Abby is done with her nap after church.. "Someone get me out of this dress!!"
What a big girl!!!
Rory's standing up all by herself!!!!
"Is someone going to pick me up?"

October is always a busy birthday month for our family. We start out the month with Grandad Hanna's (Michael's dad) birthday. Then we have Papa's birthday, Braxton's birthday and Aunt Shandra's birthday. These take place all in a two week span. Needless to say, it's been party time around here!! On Grandad Hanna's birthday, we had a chance to go to Michael's parents house for a small family get-together. It was good to see everyone. Then, for Papa, Aunt Shandra and Braxton, we had small family parties at Grandma Gigi's (my grandmother) house. Braxton then had a big birthday party for him and all of his friends. He had a wonderful Thomas the Train party at our church's playroom. They have a huge jungle-gym for the kids to play on. Braxton and about 10 of his closest friends played until they couldn't stand any longer. It was a good time. He got so many new toys and had so much fun!! It's going to be interesting trying to get the girls back on their schedule again, though. They have enjoyed partying so much this last week and don't really think that they are ready to be done with all the exciting events.

It's been an interesting week in our house (besides all of the parties). The girls, as always, have been making new discoveries. At my grandmother's house, she has a sunken living room. There are steps to get to the rest of her house from that living area. The girls have cautiously tried to figure out exactly how to manuver the steps because they have desperately wanted to explore the rest of the house. Both girls have now figured out how to quickly go up and down the steps. There's no stopping either of them now. They love to "chase" Braxton through the house. He will run from them and they will both crawl after him as fast as they can possibly go... laughing the entire way. It's so cute!! Both girls are also now pulling up on everything!! Rory figured out how to pull herself up today for the first time and she just can't seem to stop herself now!! We are so proud of her!! Abby is not only pulling up, but she is walking while still holding onto things. For instance, she will pull up on the couch and then walk the length of the couch while still holding on. At times, both girls will just let go and, of course, topple over. But, I don't think that it's going to take them very long to figure out how to start taking steps. They can already take a few steps when we hold onto their hands and help them steady themselves. It's just not going to be very long and that scares me!! It's hard to keep up with them while they are crawling. The prospect of running after two little ones who can also run really has me frightened. :) The girls have also gotten more teeth. Rory now has three teeth completely in and another one on the top trying to push its way through. Abby's bottom right tooth is pretty well in and we think that she is starting to try and cut her bottom left tooth. We've learned quickly to keep our fingers out of their mouths (although everything else goes right into their mouths). They are both talking more and more all the time. They are also getting to the point where they try to mimic things. That's just too funny!! The other day, their Great-Grandpa Brauchi put a rubber band around the end of two spoons and showed Abby how to play the spoons. She took them from him and started hitting her knee just like he had done. It was so cute!! She then proceeded to hit him in the face and chew on the spoons, but it was fun while it lasted!! Rory also throws her hands in the air when we say "yeah Rory!!" when she does something new or fun. It's too adorable!! We have so much fun with the girls and can't believe how fast they are growing!!!