Thursday, September 29, 2011

we just can't wait

Halloween might be my favorite holiday to enjoy with my kids.

Yesterday we decorated the entire house. So we're three days premature of October. So what.

Jack tried on his entire Pirate costume, complete with eyeliner mustaches and mock sword fights.

Lucy got decked out in her Ariel wig and her homemade shell headpiece.

Together they walked the neighborhood and waved to cars passing by. Then they spent the rest of the day lounging in their costumes.

IMG_3892

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

foot fetish

Sammy has a bad case of toe jam.

As in...he can't stop jamming his toes into his mouth!

He loves his tasty digits. He gnaws on them until they are a drooly mess. They keep him entertained on the floor for at least a 1/2 hour.

His eye hand coordination is still developing, so the best part about his foot fetish is watching him FINALLY grab hold of a foot and then with the force, speed and intesity of say, me putting a cupcake to my mouth, he shoves that foot in like it's the most tasty delicatessen around.

People say he has his mom's flexibility. At any rate, I think it's pretty cute!


IMG_3 <a href=IMG_3731
toes
IMG_3742

Monday, September 12, 2011

beachy keen

I'm all over the place with my blogging these days. So much to document, so little time.

I still have more of our Idaho vacation to blog, I still have more of my brother's wedding, and then everything in between.

Oh well. One day.

These are some pictures from our wedding trip to Southern California.
It was short and jam packed with wedding to-dos, but we did manage to squeak in a day at the beach. I never tire of the beach and neither do my kids. It's better than Disneyland! (except for there's no corn dogs or churros.)

lucytoes
IMG_3347

This is baby Maren. I think she is the most beautiful thing around. She was very unsure of the sand!
maren2
maren1
IMG_3354

Carter and Lucy....best buds.
carterlucy

Hunter, the eyelash master.
3414bw
huntersand

Grandpa Jay giving free rides.
IMG_3404

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Lucy's Day

Tuesday just became a day to celebrate in Lucy's world.

Because Tuesday is now the day we have preschool/playgroup with all of her friends!

I don't know about other families, but in ours sometimes it feels like Jack (the oldest) gets all the fun!

He goes to school.
He gets invited to birthday parties.
He is on a soccer team.
He gets a booster seat instead of a car seat.
He sings in the primary programs.
He's loosing his teeth and gets visited by the tooth fairy.

Finally it is Lucy's turn to have something special ALL to herself!

She is on cloud 9 when she wakes up and hears that it's a PRESCHOOL day! I am on cloud 9 when I see these 6 cuties all together! What a darling group!

When they came over to our house last time, Lucy said she wanted to learn about COLORS.

We sorted colors, played with playdough, made fruit loop necklaces, painted a color wheel, and ate delicious fruit from each color of the rainbow.

And of course we saved time for dressing up and playing house.

Note: It was really hilarious to watch Jack amongst all these girls. He was a typical boy running around trying to get attention in his batman outfit by scaring the girls. He loved it, too!

preschool1
IMG_3533
IMG_3521
3559bw
preschool2
IMG_3544
IMG_3508
IMG_3550

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Idaho - On the trails

One of my favorite days in McCall was this day.

We took a nature stroll around some of the most gorgeous scenery I've seen.

Along the way, we were treated to deer sightings, multiple snake encounters, and also some unidentifiable creatures/trolls hiding underneath the bridges.

It was fun to be together.
I love to see my kids enjoying their cousins.

IMG_2035IMG_2060
hike4
IMG_2057
hike2
IMG_2054
hike3
2059bw
hike1
IMG_2121
IMG_2086
hike5
IMG_2115
IMG_2061
IMG_2052

Friday, September 9, 2011

hanging by a thread.

wiggle
jiggle
tug and pull.

That's what he's been up to for the last month.

Until finally, one day, dad gave it the ole heave ho and it came right out.


loosetooth

I suggested we make a pillow for the toothfairy to put his earnings.

I made the mistake of letting him look online for pillow ideas.
He liked the monster one.

I obliged.
But my sewing machine HATES me.
I knew I should have used hot glue. I am friends with hot glue, NOT sewing.

but it doesn't matter because he loves it.

loosetooth1

This last picture was his idea...an action shot of him waiting anxiously for the toothfairy's arrival.
IMG_3504

...just another sign that he's growing up too fast!

4+ months and going strong...

jammer. jams. jammy.

Those are his nicknames.
I think it's interesting how some nicknames stick.

We started calling him Sammer Jammer and now we have every variation.

Sam is 4+ months now and we are so IN LOVE!

I am already that mom who's memory is a little foggy when it comes to remembering what my other two were doing at this age, but I swear he is the most giggly! He has the BEST laugh, particularly when you kiss or blow or growl on his neck! He loves it! Plus he's super ticklish!

Here's Sam showing off his moves. He can roll over from front to back, but not visa versa.
He drools a lot!
He spits up even more.

And he smiles at me like I'm his girlfriend!
I'm still getting butterflies.

samrolls
IMG_3678

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Idaho - On the Sand

Most of our days at the reunion were spent at the beach along the shore of the lake.

I'm convinced that sand is the best entertainment around. Then when you get home it's equally as entertaining to find sand in very unusual places on your children.

The kids built castles, dug holes, swam, lounged in the raft, had water fights, soaked up some sun, and enjoyed time together.


1443c

The younger cousins made a train and slid down the dirt/sand hill.
Hence...sand in strange places.
sandsliding
1437c
sand1

The babies, Shafer and Sammy, mesmerized by the striped towel shade structure that Troy built.
sand5

Jack participating in the "big kid" water fight.
1478bw
waterfight

Drip castles
IMG_1970
sand6
sand3
IMG_1619
1447bw

Yasmin NOT AMUSED by her uncle Troy's antics!
troytease
1975bw
sand4
IMG_1923
sand2

The girls looking mighty cheeky.