Happy New Year

So with the move, and two rather important holidays and birthdays, I'm a bit behind on my pictures and not to mention many other things. :) It may take me a while to get to my Christmas photos (hopefully I remembered to take some!)!
Here are the kiddies playing piano, and yes Sam's pants are on backwards. He's a fast dresser, and doesn't care how his clothes go on. ;)



I smell trouble...

Quick picture before running to save the baby! This table is no longer in the toy room. He was doing this every time I turned my back. :)

Elsie started her piano lessons with Grandma G. She really enjoys it and takes what Grandma said about practicing EVERY day very seriously. :) And here's our new dining room set! Matt and I had fun shopping for furniture those few months before moving in.

It's amazing the messes they can make in 0.3 seconds!

This dolly has recently become a member of the family. "Rachel" a.k.a. Elsie's "little sister", enjoys many meals at the table... :)

A shot of cute little Margie Sue at Jacob's birthday party.

Having a conversation with Grandma G.

Not sure what they were doing here, but I thought it was a cute photo op.!

Jacob just loves his nativity set he received from his Godmother and Godfather. Thanks Aunt Stacy! :)

Getting ready to ring in the New Year with some sparkling grape juice! I just love the look on Sam's face! We just found a clip on Youtube of the ball dropping last year. The kids didn't know the difference. They just thought their "champagne" was the coolest. :)

Happy Birthday Baby!!

Jacob is one. Can't believe it... Where did my baby go?!

All Moved In!

We are all moved in to our new home, and hopefully (God willing) it will be the last move in a LONG time!! After all, our four year old is already talking about "the next time we move..." because she thinks it's a normal thing to move 4 times in 18 months! haha We love all the space here, and hope Grandma and Grandpa D. are just as happy in their new home! Anyway, back to the picture... Who knew a hot air popcorn maker could bring so much joy! :-)




No words needed... :)

We got our tree last weekend and told the kids we'd decorate it after dinner. While making dinner I stepped in to check on them and found that they were already very busily decorating the tree.... with their TOYS! Haha....Guess they couldn't wait till after dinner. :)

Samuel doing the honors.

Oh yes, and when we actually did get around to decorating the tree, you know, with ornaments, Jacob was VERY helpful. At least he made the expereince last longer because I think we got to hang the ornaments on the bottom half of the tree at least twice. Thanks buddy! ;)

Who would be irresponsible enough to put a dish of Christmas chocolates in the reach of an almost one year old? Oops, that'd be me. He only had one bite Daddy...foil and all.

JUST kidding... When he came to me drooling brown with a big smile, I immediately did the pinky pluck and took away that baby's chocolate, foil and all. Sorry Jacob... Maybe we can put chocolate frosting on that birthday cake next week!

Here was the runner up for our Christmas cards. We lucked out this year. It only took a few snaps and we got a good one. I just told them to smile and think about chocolate. You know, the ones wrapped in foil that we keep way up high on a shelf? ;) Now the challenge will be to get our Christmas card winner in the mail (The cards, not the kids. Sorry!)!

Yes, he's wearing a Christmas stocking on each foot. Do these children have Christmas spirit or what?!

Cowboy and Girl

My cowboy and girl, and little Jake enjoying the show. :)

He's Getting Really Fast!

I uploaded this right side up... honest! The little guys is doing pretty well at keeping up with the "big kids". :)

Little Lady In Red

Boys

Your typical "mess maker".

"The boys", passing time by the river while Big Sis was at preschool...

Blinky

He reminds me of his Uncle John in this picture. :)

The tentative plan is to be out of here by the end of the month, so there's been a "little packing here, and a little packing there..." :)

Packing up the kids. ;)

We recently enjoyed a nice visit from Grandpa S.

Lots O' Halloween!

Look what I lassoed!
(*Thanks for the picture Courtney!)

Not sure why her "leaf man" looks so sad!

Pumpkin carving!

Elsie-o-lantern...

Ta Da!

Doing some monster graphs and puzzles. Thanks for the idea Aunt J.!

Happy fall leaves!

Costume parade at Grandma G.'s Halloween party.

Dancing to the Monster Mash. Go Ava! :)

Witch hat ring toss.

Ready....SET...

GO!

Jacob even had a turn...

Poor little guy, wasn't very happy when I took the donut away.

The cousin with the most ping pong balls in the cups got to throw a pie in Uncle Russell's face!

And Josie was the winner! Poor Russell!!

More fun games, thanks to Grandma G.! The kids had a great time. Thanks for putting together a fun party and for all your hard work Grandma G.!!

Elsie had a Halloween party at school. Here they were singing the Five Little Pumpkins.

Enjoying some treats...

Jacob investigating...

Sam pretending he's a preschooler.

Lined up and ready for the halloween parade.

What did they get at the end of their parade? That's right, ice cream cones outside on October 31st!

There's "surfer girl" cousin Ava!! (waving with sunglasses, not that the surfboard didn't give it away)

Headed back to school.

Ready for trick or treating!

The kids and their "friend Sarah W.'s" Mom. haha!

Little lion and one pokey little witch.




Making himself at home and helping himself to the candy bowl at the neighbors. :) We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.