Newest Addition

With the arrival of a new McP June 2012 we found out we couldn't put 3 car seats in the back of the CRV, so after talking to some older and wiser people and prayer we went van shopping. Since 2012 is fast approaching car lots are trying to get rid of 2011's so after a major discount, a great trade in for the CRV and many hours in a car dealership we are now proud owners of a Swagger Wagon aka Sienna mini-van.
Molly loves the new van because she can push the button to close Riley's door and then go and open her door so I can buckle her in. I hope she, Riley and baby X love it because it will probably be what they end up learning to drive in since we won't be getting another car for a long time.
AND - Jon bought us a smore maker. He needed to spend $7 on an Amazon order to get free shipping and this was our surprise:) It works and is fun but I am still holding out for a fire pit so we can actually toast marshmallows not melt them.
Molly enjoying her treat
Not to be left out Riley got some graham cracker and chocolate.

Just in case you are wondering YES I did just casually announce we are going to be having a new baby in the family - arriving June 2012. With the loss of 2 babies we know God is in control and can't wait to see all that He has in store for us as a family of 5.

Lots happened in 22 days!

Life has been pretty busy these past few weeks. We have participated in a Volksmarch at Bragg, Jon ran the Army 10-miler in DC (no pictures somehow), we went to a corn maze, Jon hung out in the field for 2 weeks and the girls and I survived!!
I love that there are so many opportunities to do fun things on post and meet many interesting people. On the Volksmarch (which is a hike at your own speed with "lots" of people) we saw some friends and got to have some over mostly good schnitzel. While in DC for the 10-miler we got to see family and hang out with some great friends - and run into other friends at the race. Jon did awesome but I am sure glad Dave Dice decided to ride the metro at 6am with us b/c I don't know how I would have handled both girls and the many thousand people at the pentagon. Molly was kept in a diaper so we didn't have to deal with port-a-jon's!! Speaking of port-a-jon's Jon waited over 30 minutes to use one and was almost late starting the race but he ran the extra mile to the start and finished in 63 minutes just enough time for the girls to want to see dad! This weekend we went on the annual McP corn maze daze! We went back to Hubb's and it was awesome - they have added some things and it is the perfect size for our family. We enjoyed the barrel cars, bouncing pillow, slides, hayride, 2 corn mazes, and of course tot town. I think Molly most enjoyed the lemonade and corn candy while Riley most definitely loved the slide!!
Now for what grandma's really want - PICTURES!!

Riley's teeth - 2 fangs and 2 lower teeth. Molly has already learned to keep her hands out of Riley's mouth after a few bites.
Molly took a family photo for us - pretty good for 2 1/2
Riley loved the swing at the corn maze
Before we lost the bow in the maze - we didn't go back to find it.
Molly getting ready to drive. The grandpa who was driving it knew how to make some parents very nervous. I think he took the riding lawn mower to its full speed and Molly loved it and I loved watching the others mom's faces contort in terror.
Riley and I going down the slide
Molly going down the slide all by herself - she even went down the big one once.
The bouncing pillow
Molly in the cow chair - man does she look small
Riley and I enjoying our time while Molly and Jon did some sliding and bouncing.
My best family shot of the day

Here starts the Volksmarch - with a survival guide in how to:
How to make a double stroller for cheap
How to keep the entire family happy after a 5k walk in the woods
How to "march" in style
How to get bounced all around on bad roads
How to love on your sister

These last few are survival while Jon was in the field - amazed I even got a picture!
This is how Riley spent most pre and post meals while I tired to clean up and get a few things accomplished around the house. The great thing about the high chair is Molly can't get her and she can look out the window!
Granny and BertBurt let us borrow their tent since most grandkids are a few hours away now. Molly enjoys cooking and reading in it. She really enjoys having the 3 little pigs read while she is in it and the big bad wolf blowing on the tent.
Riley does not enjoy the big bad wolf sightings!!!!!

Fall Photos

This morning since it was a cool crisp 72 we decided to throw on our fall clothes and go to the park for a family photo session. The timer on the camera agreed and the batteries lasted - pictures are as good as you can expect when you take them yourself! We also grabbed a quick cache along the way.
The McP's
Riley and me
Molly and her dad - checking out the army man in the cache
A little more light
The sisters!
A little more concerned about going to the playground but willing to take a few more:)
Jon and the girls

Riley entertaining herself while Jon and Molly grabbed the cache.

Granny and BertBurt visit

My dad got to do a recruiting trip to NC and so they came down the weekend before and my mom stayed with us during his travels. While she was here I chopped off 8 inches of hair and sent it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to make wigs for cancer patients, got a pedicure and had some fun adventures with Granny and the girls!!

Molly earned a lollipop for good attitude and finishing her lunch and using the bathroom in public.
Riley found Molly's lip gloss and decided to apply it. Molly is starting to learn the valuable lesson that if she leaves things lying around they go in time out - especially when I find Riley with them.

With my biggest loser winnings and other money I got a new blender the Vitamix. So far we have made icee's, pineapple cantaloupe smoothies (not a good idea) and chocolate peanut butter. Guess which was the favorite so far:)
Since it is just fruit and ice Riley get to get some every now and then too.

Riley got some teeth to come through while Granny was here - the top one came right after she left. We now have 4 teeth showing and lots of snot to go along with them!
Sisterly love - all range of emotions going on in these 3 faces.
BertBurt's helpers - after loading the car Molly thought she got to ride along. We had a lot of tears and screaming when they pulled off without her.
Me and Riley - just because.
you can kinda see the teeth!
We had a picnic out side one night while my parents were here and about 1,000 flies came to visit so we pulled out the fly swatters. Riley hit BertBurt more than the flies.
Molly really loves Riley - sometimes a little much.
peek-a-boo
Granny and Riley
Molly helping with the flies!

Crafty Times

It has been awhile since my last post - PWOC (protestant women of Chapel) has been all consuming for the past few weeks but now we are back to our slow routine. Molly and Riley got to help me get prepared for our fall bible study kickoff where we had over 250 ladies with 77 of them being brand new - and since this year I get to be in charge of Newcomers (making them feel welcomed and loved) it has been some long days. I love PWOC because we have ladies of all ages and backgrounds and they have lived everywhere and we are all in the same situation where we move when and where the Army tells us and have to make new friends pretty fast.

I had a 50% off at JoAnn's so after a bike ride for labor day I allowed Jon and the girls the joy of walking through the store as I looked for the fabric for our Christmas PJ's. With some help from Jon and Molly we have red Mickey Mouse Christmas fabric and I will start working on the pj's. As a warm up I have borrowed an idea from a much more crafty friend and made some fall onesies for the girls. After the pj's I am going to work on a dress for the girls another crafty friend gave me a pattern for turning a men's dress shirt into a girls dress.
Fall shirts for the girls
A close up of Riley's - you can tell it has been awhile but it will have to work for now:)A close up of Molly's - I attempted a decorative stitch on the outside but after 3 failed attempts we went with a straight line. Molly was sitting next to me letting me know what I was doing wrong and wanting to push me out of the way so she could sew instead.
A snapshot of our life - Molly's cup next to the toilet, books to read on the counter, clothes thrown everywhere and jumping in on Riley's bath.
Riley goes straight to the bath many nights after dinner because even with a bib she manages to get food EVERYWHERE!! Her sister still enjoys coming behind Jon and I and getting the spots we miss with a few cups of water of the face - we keep telling Molly that one day Riley is going to start fighting back and it has begun with hair pulling - yippie:(