It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...part 5

This little toy nativity set has been such a hit...

Not only does it teach the kids about the real reason for Christmas,

It saves them from playing with MY nativity figurines

(which cost a little bit more)

(Do you love the addition of the pretty ponies...?)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... part 4

Exciting news!

Santa came to visit our local grocery store, Dick's Market.

Of course, Summer wouldn't sit on his lap unless Mommy did, too.
(ugh, my face is starting to look pregnant... gotta love the chubby cheeks!)

What did we ask Santa for?...

Joshua - "_______" (just a blank stare)

Summer - "A dollhouse"

Shurelle - "new MAC makeup - for this chubby face"

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... part 3

(actual size = 2 feet)

The kids LOVE the snow - good thing we're getting more this weekend!

Joshua loves to take his gloves off, and then cry, "oowww, coooold..." when his hands freeze.

This Christmas season has been a blast with a 4 year old and a 2 year old... everything is so exciting for them...

Check back for more holiday fun around here...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... part 2

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... part 1

I'm so lucky...

I get to have breakfast with this kid every morning!

Looked who just turned 4!

Happy Birthday, Summer!

We had a wonderful time celebrating...

(click to enlarge)

lots of cake, presents, balloons, a pinata, and of course, princesses!

Tricks and Treats...

We had a wonderful Halloween

(that was celebrated so many times during October!)

A few highlights from the many activities and parties throughout the month...

(these are pancakes that are suppose to look like pumpkins!)

(a spooky/silly salad)

(a beautiful princess - at Emily's party)

(spooky "glow-in-the dark" jammies)

(all dressed up again - I lost count of how many times she wore this costume this month)

which is why she chose a different princess dress to trick-or-treat in...

Look at that handsome fireman!

(fighting over the doorbell - I'll be they rang each doorbell about 10 times each)

We hope you had a wonderful Halloween too!

A Sad Farewell...

At 18 weeks along, it's time to say GOODBYE to my skinny jeans...

And HELLO to these bad boys!

The Scariest Pumpkins You've Ever Seen...

Joshua has been sick for the past 5 days or so, so we haven't left the house much. In order to keep ourselves from getting too bored, we've been making LOTS of crafts.
Here we are painting our pumpkins...

Pretty Scary, don't ya think?

A Night of Murder, Mystery, and the Bee Gees...

This year was our turn to host the Annual Murder Mystery Night.
This was the 5th year we've done this with friends

Kari and Jeremy, and Tom and Laurel.
We had a great time boogying to disco music, enjoying wonderful food, and getting into character!

(thanks, Laurel, for the photo montage, which I am totally stealing here)

Mommy's Little Helper... Part 2

Whenever I’m not feeling well, I’ll tell Summer that my tummy hurts. No matter what she’s doing, she’ll come right over and lift up my shirt and tickle/scratch my tummy and say, “There you go, Mommy. Does that feel better now?” I have to say yes, because it is so amusing.

Mommy's Little Helper... Part 1

Well, I am 14 weeks along in this pregnancy and I am definitely feeling better. I must say that this time around has been so much more difficult than my first two pregnancies.

Summer has been such a sweetheart through it all. I must share a few examples of her cuteness. One particularly rough day, I managed to talk Summer into lying down with me for a nap. As I lay there trying to fall asleep, I was so sick to my stomach. I was complaining to Summer and she said, “I know what you need, Mommy. I’ll be right back.” She dashed off to the kitchen and I could hear her rummaging around. She came back into my bedroom with a cup of water and about 5 cookies. She said, “Here, Mommy, cookies in bed always makes me feel better.” So, we lay there and ate cookies, and you what? It actually worked. I felt a little better and we both fell asleep. When I went to make the bed later that day (before Ryan got home from work!) I found lots of crumbs – on his side of the bed!

Thanks, Summer, for taking care of Mommy.

Ahhh... The Joys of Motherhood...

On days like this, I just have to laugh or else I'll get mad...

"uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh..."

is all he had to say for himself.

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin...Part 2

Day #2...

Ahhh... the perfect S'more (for the baby, of course)

Hanging out with Dad watching "Playhouse Disney"

In the kids' happy place - the sandbox

Scaring the chipmunks away

Happy to be here.

What a fun weekend!

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's cabin...

Day #1 at the cabin...

As soon as we woke up (which was EARLY), it was "The chipmunks need breakfast!" Notice Joshua has a cookie and a flower - he kept saying, "Here chicka-munk..." in his Joshua language (which most of time only Mommy can understand ).

On a beautiful walk.. it was perfect Fall weather.

Going 4-wheelin'...

Throwing rocks in the water and laughing at the "ker-plunk" and splashes.

Summer making a "rock picnic"

Taking a break (with the favorite blue "bankie")

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for a wonderful time.

p.s. I'm officially done with the 1st trimester and am feeling SO much better.

Introducing...

"Acorn #3"

So... this is who's been making me so sick (and chubby!)

Due to arrive March 31, 2009

Recent Photo Shoot...

While Kimi was in town with cute little Jacob, we grabbed the chance to have some photos taken of the kids... what an adventure!

Here are just a few...

Summer and Joshua with Jacob.

Thanks, Whitney, for the many great pics!