Sunbeams 1/1/12

Our first day was a success! I expected at least some tears and fears...but they went right in to their class and when I picked them up they were wearing a paper crown and I heard stories about singing songs and throwing beanbags. I only wish I could've been a fly on the wall to see it :)

Halloween 4

The Real Deal:

We didn't trick or treat too much, but we loved watching the neighborhood and giving out candy. I wish we had more people come!
Our neighbors put on a fabulous haunted carnival every year. They have several games and tons of good prizes. The kids kept wanting to play, but I felt bad because they gave us too many prizes.  Rachel earned it though because she held a real palm sized cockroach for about 30 seconds!

And of course I don't have any more pictures!

Halloween 3

Trunk or Treat:

Can you tell what we are?  Probably not, so I'll tell you...Jesse and Woody. And Ry and I are kids...we put our names on our Jesse and Woody toys just so we don't lose them :)
If you still don't know who we are...watch Toy Story

Ry is attempting to blow a bubble

I thought this was the best yarn braid ever...too bad she didn't want to wear it ever again

They loved handing out candy. I asked R if she wanted to go get more candy. She said, "no, I want to give more to the kids"

Ryan was amused by the fact that R would carefully pick out one piece of candy for each kid and A would dump a whole handful in.
The kids are the perfect holiday age and we had a great time!

Magic Words

Uncle Jeff, trying to get Adam to use his manners and ask for something politely:
Jeff: "Adam, what do you say?"
Adam: "Idunno"
Jeff: "What's the magic word?"
Adam: "Abracadabra!"

That's my boy.

12/31/11

I just read my post from last new years. I am happy to know that I was so prophetic. 2011 was really jam packed with a lot of noteworthy things, but not too many of them are happy and uplifting, so I am more than happy to move into 2012. And I am glad that all I resolved to do was sustain and maintain. I barely achieved that.
This year I'm feeling a bit more ambitious. I'm planning on being more vibrant, and more energized to live my life. I will focus on PRIORITIES. God, my husband, my children, myself. I figure I can't really go wrong with that. And I am planning on being JOYFUL about all of it.
Bring on 2012!

Halloween 2

How do you carve pumpkins with two three year olds without getting slimy or making a mess in your house? You go to Trader Joes and get a FREE pre gutted pumpkin and give the kids dull carving knives. 

I did most of it, but Rachel carved this one spot for about 5 minutes.  She would NOT  let me take the knife from her

The one and only time she has gotten her face painted, and the guy had to have a skeleton mask on. Great.

Nursery Graduation

 Today was our kids' last day of nursery at church. Starting in January, they will officially be in the Sunbeam class. (I know--how did that happen?) So today, they had a little graduation. And yes, I cried the instant I saw them.

"Okay, I'll wear this and I'll go to this thing, but I don't have to be happy about it."

"I'll do anything for a sunbeam cookie"

"Yes, I'm still wearing this."

Adam gets his certificate from the Bishop

"Oh, finally someone gave me something I can play with"

I have shy kids, but I'm so glad that I have the only kid who will sing. We could hear Adam and one other kid while the rest stared blankly during their performance