A Little Christmas Cheer

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

It's A Birthday PArrrty!

Ethan was thrilled to get to have a kids birthday party. This was the first year we've had a kids party separate from the family party. He thought long and hard about what kind of party to have and after changing his mind a couple of times he chose a Pirate Party!

We had a great time coming up with party favors, games and decorations. Each pirate went home with a pirate bandanna, eye patch, sword, compass, telescope, and gold coins.

We gave every one the bandanna as they arrived, but they had to earn the rest.

Pinning the eye patch on the pirate won you an eye patch of course.






We fished for the compass and telescope.




And the treasure hunt got them a sword and gold coins.





We ate pirate cupcakes and drank ocean water.


Ethan had a blast with his friends and is already talking about his next birthday.

MISSING

I'm back blogging some of the great things we were up to when I went missing this Fall...Check out the latest MISSING POST here.

A Double Birthday

Bob and Ethan had a double family birthday party this year. We split the difference:one week after and one week before. Ethan was thrilled to have 2 parties, a mom and dad-cousins one and a kids one.

We had a great dinner followed by birthday cake and candles. When did my little guy earn 4 candles on his cake?


Bob and Ethan received lots of fun gifts. The iPhone4, Cabela's Gift Card,

Building blocks





Nerf Target Gun







and Toy Story 3 Chutes and Ladders ...just to name a few.He loved playing with all his new toys and of course cousins!

Happy Birthday boys!

A Little Snow

Over the last 2 weeks we've gotten a little more than a little snow. It seemed to snow for 2 days straight one weekend and the shoveling went on and on. Bob started to think about snow blowers for Christmas while Ethan made the most of it...

After seeing just how much fun big brother was having Avery decided she needed to get bundled up and enjoy a ride. First double with big brother...


Then a solo run...She loved it.







Daddy made the day complete with a piggy back run. It made the work of shoveling much more enjoyable and hey, we hadn't even left the driveway!

We Are Thankful

We had a great Thanksgiving this year, just a few of us at Bob's parents' house. Ethan and I made the party favors, felt and sucker turkeys and beautiful fall leaf sugar cookies. The table was beautifully set, the food was wonderful and the company great.

Ethan decided he would eat the turkey leg, and eat he did. I was impressed by how much he ate. We said he looked a lot like a viking...he ate even more after that.

We are so thankful for so many things...our house, our neighbors, our friends and our families! Hope your Thanksgiving was as amazing as ours.

Growing Up

Ethan has really grown up lately. He's a real thinker and talks about so many grown up things. He's thoughtful and a big helper.

The other day he decided he wanted to eat lunch and couldn't wait for mama to finish helping Avery...so he made his lunch all by himself. I was so proud...a little sad my boy is getting so old, but proud nonetheless.

He'll be 4 next week!! Can you believe it?

Fall Zoo Trip

Bob and I took advantage of a fabulous fall day on Friday with a trip to the local zoo. We packed a lunch and headed out for a great adventure.

Ethan was so excited as he remembered so many of the fun things to do and see at the zoo. He talked nonstop the whole way there. Avery was just a couple of months old last time she went so she was in for a surprise.

It was a perfect day, not too warm, not too cold and not too crowded. We were treated to lots of big animal activity since the weather was perfect for getting out and moving around. Avery oohed and ahhed at just about everything and Ethan ran from place to place leading the way for us all.

Avery was smitten with the monkeys and the Meercats. She chatted with them and squealed with delight every time they ran by her.




The leopard was a real thrill. He paced back and forth in front of us. Ethan was mesmerized by his spots.


The kids got to ride on the carousel. Ethan just had to ride the snake on the log again this year. Avery chose the Ape, but wasn't too sure about riding any of them. She stayed on the whole time, but kept a keen eye on me. Ethan of course LOVED his snake ride.

The kids each had a little money from a Halloween package and chose to spend it on a souvenir from the zoo. Ethan had a very hard time choosing. He liked so many things. He finally decided on a leopard mask and has been "so happy" with his choice. Avery on the other hand chose very quickly. Daddy showed her many different things she could choose, but she lovingly cuddled her stuffed Meercat all through the store. Thanks Gram and Papa for the spending money!

It was a perfect family day! The kids were amazed at everything we saw. I'm sure another zoo trip will be in our future!


Caution: Wild Leopard escaped from local zoo!

The Happiest of Halloweens

We had a week full of Halloween celebrations. Ethan and I finally agreed on a costume and spent Monday afternoon creating a Dragon Fighter's costume. We really had a ball working on it together. He knew exactly what he wanted: a fur vest, that fur stuff on his boots, a belt, and those things like Hiccup's dad wears on his arms. (See How To Train Your Dragon for more details.) Avery lucked out and was given a fabulous Tinker Bell costume by some Disney loving friends. I think I had the cutest kids on the block!

We had 3 great Halloween parties during the week. The kids loved playing the games, winning the prizes and treats and





spending lots of time in their costumes.








On Saturday I took the kids Trick or Treating for the first time. In years past we always did trunk or treat so even Ethan had his first time. Avery practiced all afternoon, but when it came time to say trick or treat and thank you she had stage fright, but quickly warmed up to choosing her own candy and putting it in her bag. And eventually gave the sweetest smile and thank you ever. Ethan was thrilled to go on ahead of Avery and I with some friends. He loved knocking, choosing, wishing Happy Halloween then sprinting off to the next house!

The kids made out like bandits and because of the cold drizzling rain we had lots of our candy left too so we were all happy!!




Avery was sad to see the holiday end and begged to wear her costume again on Sunday afternoon...I decided to hang it in her room so she can bring it to me any time the urge hits! All you need is a little dust...pixie dust!

The Pumpkin Patch

As busy as we are and have been here at home I just had to get the kids out for a Pumpkin Patch field trip. I know you can buy perfectly good pumpkins at every grocery store, but I love to wander the field and choose my own beauty so the kids and I headed to 2 little pumpkin farms last week.

We wandered through the rows of pumpkins until we found just the right pumpkins. The kids of course loaded a huge wheelbarrow full, but I helped them narrow it down to just 6. Ethan was thrilled to show off his muscles and cart our prize pumpkins around.

After paying for our pumpkins the kids took off through the corn maze. Avery did not want to be left behind and refused to be carried so off she ran chasing her older brother. It was great, dusty, but great!


We got home just before daddy and after dinner all 4 sat down to carve a face in our picks. Ethan and Bob worked together to create the perfect scary, fanged face. Avery and I worked out a cute little sweet faced Jack O Lantern. Ethan jumped right in and wanted to clean out and carve his pumpkin. Avery on the other had wasn't too sure about all the slime she found in hers. She warmed up to and helped in the end.

Both kids are proud of their creation and I must say they look pretty good sitting on the front porch. Now we just need to carve the others before Halloween has come and gone.

Itty Bitty Football Player

We had so much fun in the spring with Itty Bitty Baseball Ethan begged to be signed up for the next Itty Bitty thing. Fall Football.

He had a great time. He loved learning all the basic football skills.

Throwing





Running







Kicking







Hiking








But his favorite part was playing flag football. He loved running the ball and scoring touchdowns. He chased the ball carrier no matter which team he was on. I loved his intensity and concentration.

I think he's an All Star.

End of an Era

In September our little family took 2 trips to my grandparents' ranches in Idaho. My grandma was quite sick and my dad had come to spend the week and take care of her.
We had a great little visit and enjoyed our time on the family dairy farm.

We took a few minutes on this trip out at my other grandparents' cattle ranch. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of the kids and I in grandpa's bean truck.

Just a week later I packed the kids in the car and headed back to the farm for the last time. Grandma peacefully passed away early one morning. While it was sad to think I was now without a living grandparent and mourn her passing, it was wonderful to spend time with cousins, aunts, uncles and so many family members.

It was fun to go through some of the things in the house and recount the many summers we spent at Grandma's. She will be missed.