Carissa is two.

Sunday best (including Wesley’s tie).

A Sunday stroll in the backyard.

Feeding her doll (poor doll).

Hanging her underwear in the closet (her idea, not mine).

Sleeping. Never so peaceful as now.

Putting Band-Aids on herself and her doll. She doesn’t like to wear Band-Aids when she actually has an owie, but considers them more like decorative accessories to be worn at her own discretion.

Putting on multiple Pull Ups. She often prefers Wesley’s to her own. She was not happy when John snapped this photo.

Helping her doll use potty.

Now that fall has started every Saturday we take Wes to BYU for Athletic Connection. It’s a program for people with Down syndrome to connect them with BYU athletes. Every week a different team comes to play with the kids and adults for an hour. Needless to say, Wes LOVES playing ball.

And Carissa? Well, she likes to watch and snack on crackers.

In September John and I heard about a local Renaissance festival happening for the first time. We’d never been to one so we decided to go and take the kids.

We started by exploring a pirate ship.

Then we watched an archery demo.

The bird demo was next. It was interesting to learn about how birds were used for hunting by kings and nobles.

Here’s a hawk…

…an owl…

…and a red eagle.

We took the kids to a calligraphy station where they got to color…

…and we had Wesley’s name written by a real calligrapher.

And what would a Renaissance festival be without funnel cake or sword fighting?

We had fun, and there were lots of things we didn’t even get to, like puppet shows and a Shakespearean performance. Maybe we’ll go back next year, too.

In September Wesley turned five.

His day started with a cupcake for breakfast. Or, more specifically, with cupcake frosting for breakfast.

Then he went to preschool with a special homemade “Today I’m 5” badge.

He came home from school with a cool crown.

His Grammy was in town and bought him a nice Thomas the Tank Engine cake. So glad I didn’t have to make one.

The frosting was ultra-blue.

Wes enjoyed the frosting best of all.

Presents! His Aunt Tara made him a cool book with pictures of his family. He loves books like that.

His Grammy gave him a water table for outside. All the kids enjoyed playing in it.

And before the night was through a box came from Grandma and Grandpa in Iowa with a train set. A kid’s dream-come-true.

Splashing

Sleeping

Playing

Time outing (Only Wes was in time out. Carissa joined him and put her giraffe in time out, too.)

Posing