Progress

It has taken lots of hours and lots of helpers, but our new house is ready to move in to and our old house is packed and ready to be hauled out in the morning...Thanks to all our family and friends who have helped us and will help us...Many hands make light work (or lighter work at least)!

New locks on the front door.


Ethan's favorite job-painting.


Avery even gets in on the work.


All packed up!


Hip Hooray for Moving Day!

Mayhem

What on Earth would inspire our little family to live like this for over a week?

Well, how about this!
After a year and a half search and looking at hundreds of houses we are the proud owners of this one. We are thrilled! There's a lot to be packed and cleaned, but we'll spend the night before Thanksgiving in our new home.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

It was one of the hardest things he's ever done, but Ethan kept Bob's birthday gift a secret! I waited until Thursday to take him shopping, he only had to wait a couple days, but he really wanted to spill the beans a few times. With gentle reminders we made it all the way to the big reveal!

Ethan was thrilled to pick out and give Daddy a train car to add to his collection. Ethan loved the hobby shop...tons of trains in boxes and on display...He loved the running circus train. So did Avery, she was crying until the shop owner turned the engine and music on.

We had a few days of celebration for Bob this year. He and I went out to eat...without kids! It was really nice to have a little time to eat and peacefully talk about life...then we were off to Cousins' house to watch UP with them. It was great! Ethan had seen it in the theater and remembered lots of fun parts he liked!

On Saturday we had our little family party which turned out to be just a few games on the Wii. We were too cold from the snow for the delicious Hot Fudge Sundaes we had planned!

Finally on Sunday we had a huge party at Bob's parent's house. All 25 of us were there. It was super. We had dinner, cake and ice cream, then presents. Ethan helped Bob unwrap the train car and added a new drill to HIS birthday wish list...Daddy's drill looked way too fun not to have one.

We hope you had a great birthday Daddy! We love you!

The Lanes

Ethan learned there is another meaning for the word STRIKE this week. He knows all about a strike in baseball, but just learned the joy of the word in the game of bowling.

Cousins called and invited us to go bowling with them. It took some explaining to convince Ethan it would be fun to go to an alley and toss the ball down the lanes. He was certain cousins were coming over to play bowling on the Wii.

He had lots of help and fun...he used the bumpers, the rolling stand, guidance from expert cousins and a little beginners luck to bowl a strike.


I think his face tells just how excited he was about knocking down all the pins.

I'd forgotten how much I like bowling. I think our little family will have to go again.


Thanks to cousins and Aunt Mary for making our Monday a great one!

Down On The Farm

My Grandma turns 90 soon so we drove to Idaho to help celebrate. It was the perfect trip...we got to see lots of family,


Avery got to meet two of her great grandparents and we had time to relax and play on the farm.





Ethan loved chasing the cows and petting the horse. He was so much braver this time around. He walked right up to the horse and pet his nose.





Before leaving the farm we helped my uncle feed the cows, a childhood tradition in my family. Ethan, Avery and I rode along on the hay trailer while Bob, Amy and Ray actually tossed the hay to the cattle.




We had a great time. Everyone should have a farm experience sometime in their life!

Avery's Blessing

The Baby-Isn't she beautiful



The Dress-Hand stitched by Grandma



The Family-Surrounded in love



The New US-We are so blessed



Bob gave Avery a wonderful blessing. (She cried the entire time.) Avery looked so precious in her heirloom dress, thank you Grandma. Aunt Nancy flew in to be here for the blessing and stayed a few days. Thanks to all our family and friends that made Avery's blessing such a memorable day.

Happy Halloween

We had a wonderfully busy Halloween again this year. I love this holiday. It usually means the weather is cooler, kids are excited, and I get to partake in a little Trick or Treat Loot when ever I want.

We started a little early with Halloween this year. Ethan and I made sugar cookies on Wednesday and took them around to friends and neighbors. We love to make cookies together. Ethan loved cutting out the bats best. We also made sucker spiders for our buddies and cousins.

When we got home from our cookie delivery there was a package waiting in the mailbox for Ethan and Avery. Ethan loves to get packages (don't we all)! This one was from Gram and Papa. It was all he could do to wait until we got in the house to open his package...good thing Avery was asleep and too little to help...there may have been tears.
The goodies inside the envelope were a hit; candy corn socks for Avery, toys and treats for Ethan, candy bars for mom and dad and money for the kids to spend any way they like. Ethan decided to buy a set of cars from the Cars Movie. He loves "Light The Queen" best!Thanks Gram and Papa!

On Halloween day we donned our costumes and headed to Aunt Amy's first. Ethan had a hard time deciding what he wanted to be for Halloween. Most days he wanted to be one of Handy Manny's tools, but I wasn't sure how I would pull that off so he settled for being Bob the Builder and carrying Handy Manny's tools. He loved wearing the overalls and freely hammering anything he wanted in the name of looking authentic. Avery went as a beautiful little ballerina.

Aunt Amy hosted a great little party for the kids. There were lots of games, prizes, food and treats. Ethan was a little shy at first, but warmed up to the whole thing and hated to leave when it was time. He was a good sport and put his hands in the hidden boxes to feel the brains, ears, eyes and guts with Amy's help. He loved the doughnut on a string game...mostly for the doughnut eating part.

After leaving Amy's we hustled to the church for Trunk or Treat. We had a great turn out and passed out all our candy.
Ethan liked going from trunk to trunk and getting treats, but also loved standing by me passing out candy and encouraging brave kids to feel the brains and ears we brought from Amy's party (which helped us win a prize!).

We ended our night at Grandma and Granddad's where we watched a little football, played with a few cousins and replenished our treat box with loads of candy!

Hope your Halloween was as great as ours!