Pumpkin Patch

         

This little girl was getting sick of pictures . . . . hence the grumpy face.  But then she busted out these model pics.  Haha . . . . I love these!

And I love her in her skinny jeans . . . . especially at the farm:)  

Happy Birthday Dan!!

Last night, on Dan’s actual birthday, we went to an adults only Halloween costume party (which was tons of fun – we even won Best Costume with our Walmart outfits again:) so we didn’t really have any time to open presents after Dan got home from work.  And then Dan had to work again today, so the girls were really anxious for him to open his presents when he finally got home at 2:45.  Lisa sent him an awesome package filled with the most delicious German chocolates and candy.  Thanks Lisa!  (From me too, everything we’ve tried so far is to die for!)  Dan’s parents sent a nice sweater and tie, and the girls and I got him some Dad’s Root Beer and mugs that he can keep in the freezer so he can always enjoy a nice cold beer . . . . haha.  And he got his iPhone a couple of weeks ago, which I was planning on getting him for his birthday anyway, so I made him take a picture with it!  Anyway, we had a fun Saturday afternoon.  After presents, we went to a pumpkin patch, and then out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse (to use Dan’s free birthday appetizer).  Then we ended the night with a little shopping and errand running.  It was a great day!  Happy Birthday Dan.  We love you so much!!

Halloween FHE

We were excited to put on our Halloween FHE for our new friends in Reno!   We first got the idea from Dan’s sister, and did it in Ohio.  And now it is a fun tradition!  Dan started off the night by taking the kids on a Witch Hunt while the adults worked on their Halloween Trivia Quiz we made up.  And no sharing answers!  A prize went to the winner.

Then we did Halloween Bingo and the Mummy Wrap game.  Wrap your mummy and they have to be the first to hop to the other side of the room!  

Which of course turned into total chaos with toilet paper flying everywhere!!!

Until Dan yelled, “Everyone throw your toilet paper on Vickie!”  Too funny.

The last activity was a candy hunt in the backyard.  We have the perfect backyard for hiding Halloween candy and fun little Halloween toys everywhere, so the kids really loved this.  We told everyone to bring a flashlight and candy bag for collecting their treasures.  Here’s a picture right before the big release!

And of course some yummy treats to end the activity with!

Thanks to all our friends who came!  Until next year . . . .

Annie’s School Picture

 

I put some cute clothes on her, fixed her hair, gave her the order form, told her to smile, sent her off, and then hoped for the best.  And it actually turned out pretty cute! 

First Food

James was about a week shy of 6 months when we first fed him solid food.  Definitely later than the girls.  We fed Annie food the day she turned 4 months (we were anxious first time parents), and Leah was almost 5 months when she started.  I always love feeding babies baby food, it’s just that it throws in a few more extra steps in the already busy mornings and evenings.  So, maybe I was putting it off for selfish reasons.  I knew the baby would love food, and finally, I couldn’t resist this cute little face any longer:

What’s that you said, Mom?  Something about food?  What is it?  I want some.  You think I’ll like it?  Well, give me some and let’s find out.  I want to try it.  All those kinds you’re talking about.  Quit just talking about it, and let me try some.  Is it that stuff you guys put in your mouths?  I stare at it and wish I could have some.  I sometimes even make chewing sounds and lick my lips so you’ll know I want some.  But you never give me any.  Pleeeeeease can I try it?

Is this it?  Finally!  Ok, I’m excited.  I’m concentrating.  I hope I like it!

I think I do like it!  I’m so happy!  So happy in fact, that I don’t even know what to do with my hand.  I think I’ll just leave it up like this the whole time you feed me.

Mmmmmm, I LOVE it! 

Mom, you’re not going fast enough.  I have to eat my bib in between bites.

This is so fun!

  

Ok, now I’m stuffed.  No more, Mom.

First foods – rice cereal and applesauce (what I always feed my babies first:)  This was actually the second time we fed him.  The first time we recorded on our video camera.  These pictures were taken September 25, 2010.

Coyote Lake

July 24, 1010 – Boating at Coyote Lake, California

We hadn’t been boating in a long time, in fact, this was our kids’ first time.  They were so excited!  Jeff recently brought Katherine’s Dad’s boat back to Saratoga with him, and he was anxious to take it out.  Russ and Julie’s family came too, so they brought the MasterCraft.  It was a perfect day on the lake . . . . we really need to do this more often.     

Leah was really excited to try out the tube . . . . Annie, not as much.  But we figured Annie would give it a try after she saw how much fun Leah had on it.  Leah looked so cute out there on the tube with Dan.  The boat started to go and she was loving it. 

Then all of a sudden, the tube hit an unexpected wave, and Dan and little Leah went flying through the air.  She landed in the water and burst into tears.  She wasn’t hurt, just never expected to be launched from her safe little tube like that.  And of course, she wanted to be done.  She had stopped crying by the time the boat came around to get them, but she still had her pouty look.  She does this look when she’s sad about something and she’s trying not to cry. . . . I’m actually glad we got a picture of it, because I think it’s kind of cute, and it’s probably something I would have forgotten if I hadn’t ever gotten a picture of it.  She presses her lips together, which cause her cheeks to poof out and then of course the look in her big brown eyes just says it all. 

And then somehow, I’m still not even sure how it happened, we convinced Annie to take a turn.  I think we told her that the boat would go really slow and we would make sure she wouldn’t fall in the water like Leah. 

And so the boat started up and unfortunately it went a little too slow, and the nose of the tube started to dig into the water, and before we knew it, Dan and Annie were face planted into the lake.  Great.  She managed to give a smile for the camera, but didn’t want to look at that tube again.

She did love this thing though!  Yay for the water wienie!  haha

Jeff and Halle on the tube . . . . this was a successful run. 

This Weekend

We spent this past weekend in California visiting my family.  Thanks to Dan’s 4-day weekend off of work (he seriously has the best schedule) and the fact that we’re only a 4 hour drive from my family (which still is long, but compared to the travel time and cost from Ohio, we’re loving it!), a long weekend visiting them is totally doable.  And we had a few good reasons to go – my brother, Jeff, was blessing this little guy:

                                                   Ryan Jeffrey Cole – born August 6, 2010

And actually, it was the first time we’ve seen their baby.  He is as cute and sweet as everyone was telling us.  It was also Halle’s 3rd birthday and they had a family party for her on Saturday, so it was so fun to be there for that as well.  We didn’t take very many pictures of the weekend, but here is one of a few of us after church on Sunday:

Those are Katherine’s parents and her little sister, Megan, in the picture with us.  They live in Fresno, only 3 hours away.  So, yeah, it was a great weekend, and we’re just so happy that we are closer to family so we can attend events like this.  And of course there was swimming, playing with cousins, eating at Fresh Choice, going to YogurtLand, and lots of shopping.  In fact, I did some serious damage at PBKids . . . I finally got the girls new bedding!  Now we just need to buy Leah a new mattress so we can get her into a big girl bed (she’s still in a toddler bed).  I’m so excited . . . . that will be our project for Thursday (Dan has it off).