Halloween; Mike stands up, Sonja cruises

I took Nikolas to 'Boo at the Zoo' this Halloween. They've done an amazing job at the Zoo, with keepers along the path dressed up and passing candy, but the dress-up of the entire place was really over the top. Nikolas was so amazed that he kept walking with his head turned backwards, unable to take his eyes off the costumes and transformed areas. He was mostly in wonder, not laughing and not getting scared (except of steam--I had to carry him over it).
This is Nikolas in line to get into the zoo that was controlled by police. He was excited to see a policeman, as always!
Back at our house, we had a Halloween party with the baby moms and dads:
At the end we went trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, in style, his royalty pushed by daddy:
While Sonja comfortably cruises along furnMichael is now able to pull himself up--only he is not sure how to get down, so I often hear him cry for help when he gets tired standing in the crib!
This brings back memories of what Nikolas used to do at this age (Michael sleeps in Nikolas's old crib from where he can reach the changing table and grab the diapers and onesies):
One day when I was busy with Nikolas and the babies lost their patience in their exersaucers, I decided to give them a piece of melon in a chewing mesh to distract then for a little while longer. This was the first time I used it. As soon as the babies got one each, they started vigorously sucking the melon through the plastic mesh that for literally the next 45min I didn't hear any other sound from them except for the sucking noise! What a way to calm a baby!
In the afternoons, now that the weather has become cooler and more pleasant, we often spend an hour or so in the front yard. Sonja and Michael now like to explore and especially taste the grass and fallen dry leaves. i can't leave them out of my sight for a second or I'd soon be pulling a long string of grass of a long petal with the leaf at the end from their mouths!
Here they are, analyzing the leaves:
The most fun thing to do though is to tumble togewith the sibling is the best thing yet!
Party in the front yard with another set of boy/girl twins (Malokai and Addie)--well into the night!
Here are all three at Tuija's place, playing with little Matilda:
We obviously need to buy Nikolas a baseball glove and a real baseball. Pretty good improvisation from his part for now, I have to say--a cloth octopus as a glove and a cloth baseball!
Nikolas still enjoys the swings. He is completely comfortable with the regular backless swings for older kids, but he usually chooses baby swings anyway, and he asks me to swing him as high as I can and never stop pushing!
Our cutie, ready for a walk with mommy: