We Are Thankful

This year the girls were more ready to understand being thankful. We talked about being thankful and blessing and read some Thanksgiving books we had about giving thanks. Then I started asking them things they were thankful for and wrote them each on a piece of paper and we started making links for their "thankful chains." They started off with things like ponies, pups, cats, horses, toys, etc. But soon they started naming things like each other, the baby in mommy's belly, Jesus, bodies, family, etc. I was so happy that they may have understood what really being thankful is, even if it was just a small understanding this year. Then we talked about how all of our blessings come from our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. We hung the chains from a picture of Christ to remind them where our blessings come from. I think this will be our new Thanksgiving tradition. The girls loved doing it and tried writing their own things on the papers too. It was lots of fun and hopefully learning about our blessings stuck a little too!

Some from November

Two weeks ago Charlie and Michelle stopped by our house on their drive cross country from New York to California. They were there for three days and as you can see the girls were not happy about them leaving. We loved having them there and watching Rachel's obsession with Charlie grow. She got mad at him when we went out to eat one time for something and wouldn't talk to him until they came to an agreement that he would make her a bracelet and let her hit him with a pillow when we got home. And then she was happy again. These four made lots of necklaces and bracelets and had pillow fights that the girls really enjoyed.

Glad you guys stopped by on your way through. It was fun to see you!

While here in Texas Rachel asked Michelle to do a puzzle with her, but didn't say please. So Michelle said "what's the magic word?" To which Rachel said "abracadabra." She was laughing too hard to tell her the real "magic" word.

Colt stuffing his mouth at meal time.

Getting into trouble. I have moved the dog food a few times to hide it from him but he keeps finding it. He loves playing in the water and throwing one piece of food down the hall at a time. Trouble maker.

Some Thanksgiving crafts. We made these turkeys and then they decided that they needed some decorations on them. As usual Livy's is covered in every square inch and Rachel's has a few placed all together. Those are their artistic styles and it is like that in every picture or project they make. You can always tell whose it whose. 

Colt only weighs 3 or 4 pounds less than Rachel now. She asked me to do something for her so I asked her to hold Colt while I did it and this is what it looks like. He is as big as her! He loves playing with them when they are in the mood to play with him. He still takes their stuff and they still get mad about it but they can make him laugh more than anyone else when they play peek a boo or pretend sneeze to him. He loves it and can't get enough of it. Livy especially likes to play these games with him and a peek a boo when she hides in the closet and keeps popping out at him. They sit there for a good 10 minutes just doing it over and over.

This is the girls making turkey cookies for their class Thanksgiving party. We copied the idea from Jamie's blog and she makes these every year with her kids. They are adorable and the girls loved putting all the candy on.

It's great the way their minds think. Livy was trying to let Pebbles in and couldn't get the door so she said "Rachel, pull on me so we can open the door." So this is them trying to open it together. Team work. Love you guys.

This was the first time that the girls actually played in the prairie dog holes at the zoo. They loved them and would have stayed for a long time popping up and down.

Rachel had some fuzz between her fingers the other day and said so excitedly "Mom look, I'm growing fur between my fingers!" It was pretty funny and cute that she was so excited about it.

First real hair cut. He started out ok sitting in the little car chair.

After one minute this is what he was like the whole time. Luckily it didn't take too long. Poor guy.

All done and happy again. We had them trim the front again a bit because it was still a little too long. But in general I love it short. I was scared because I liked the shaggy look on him but after Eric gave him that bad cut in front something needed to be done because it just didn't match the back anymore. I didn't want him to look too much older yet either. He is almost a year though so I guess it was time. I like the shorter hair all around on him though.

Here is more what it looks like on a regular day. What a cutie! He's such a good little boy and I just love him so much. All of them I just love so much and I am so happy to be their mom and get to watch all the things they do and learn each day. I feel like I am finally having my head clear a bit now. For some reason finding out I was pregnant kind of threw me for a loop and I feel like I have been walking in circles the past few weeks. I just also seem to have been very busy with church stuff and catching up on house and family stuff that needed to be done. It's amazing how getting stuff crossed off your forever to do list can help you feel better! Now my head is clearing. I'm more excited and realize it is gonna be fine. I'm so excited for the holiday season and all the fun Christmas stuff. Christmas is not ever gonna be more fun than it will the this and the next few years with all these little munchkins running around!

Counting Our Blessings

Well, this Thanksgiving we have one extra surprise blessing to count. That's right, I'm pregnant again! Surprise! Surprise not only to you to but to us too! But what a great surprise and blessing. When we first found out I was beyond shocked and it took me a little while to be okay with the idea and accept that it was even real. The baby is due June 17th and Colt will have just turned 18 months. Which is not crazy, tons of people have babies 18 months apart or closer, and lots of them on purpose, right? That is what I tell myself everyday. As grateful as I am to be having another baby I am honestly pretty nervous about how I will do it. The girls will have just turned 4 so I hope they can be a big help. We will have a whole 15 months before the girls start kindergarten with 4 kids at home. I just am scared about being able to give each child the attention they need. But I am sure that is every moms concern no matter what number child it is. I am sure it will work out fine and we are indeed so grateful to have another baby since I didn't think we were going to have anymore. Now I am loving the idea of having another tiny baby because Colt is getting so old. He will be a year in a few weeks! I will be 10 weeks on Friday. We are still debating on whether to find out the sex or not. Would be such a great surprise to wait but I don't know if I have the patience required, or the will power to say no when they ask if I want to know. I am so grateful for all of our blessings this year and for all that our Father in Heaven continues to bless us with.

Pictures of Our Past Week

I'm skipping the formal ten this week and just writing about all the pictures. Many pictures so be ready.

This is at the Woodlands Children's Museum. The girl's class went on a field trip there and they had lots of fun. I missed the few hours of quiet that I normally get on school days but it was fun to go with them and see them with their friends and exploring all the different things there.

Puppet show for Colt.

This was at our ward trunk or treat. Livy is Jessie from Toy Story and Rachel is Barbie from A Mermaid Tale. No one knew who she was so I felt bad. They kept saying "oh look it's Jessie" and nothing about the mermaid. I had to keep reminding her that maybe they never saw that movie so they didn't know who she was. So we practiced telling people who she was. They had lots of fun at the trunk or treat though. Colt was a lion, kind of. I never got him a costume so we just drew on his face and put the ears on him. Cute little lion!

The girls with their ghosts again. They didn't make it to Halloween week. But the girls loved them while they were there.

Kiddos loving each other. Can't beat it.

Colt and I having fun in the grass.

Jack-o-lanterns. Rachel went for the traditional triangle face while Livy opted for the dog face. These didn't make it to Halloween either. They molded and melted after a few days. We woke up one morning to find a puddle of pumpkin all over the table and floor.

Colt swiping some candy. He is all over the place and getting into everything. He is getting so old so quick. On Halloween night he took his first steps. I think he did 4 steps in a row. He's not that interested in walking though so he doesn't really like to try. He's so quick crawling he just likes to get down and do that.

Getting into Pebbles cage. I came into the room to find Colt laying on top of Pebbles inside of her cage. When Pebbles saw me she got up and out of the cage so by the time I got back with the camera he was getting out too.

A few days before Halloween Grammy, Poppy, Hannah, Richie and Erin all came to visit us. Mom and dad's plane from NY got cancelled so they had to take another flight the next day. And so you'd think before they left TX we would check the flight, well they had to leave the house at 5 am so we forgot to check and that flight was cancelled too! Can you believe it! It was a problem with the plane so they re-booked them on another flight at another airport with another airline and they made it just in time, barely. But the flight had a 3 hour layover and took them all day to get home. Sorry guys. But we are so glad you came! The girls are still talking about packing and going to NY to see you guys.

They brought lots of crafts with them so they kids painted, and baked, and glued, and glittered, and all sorts of Halloween crafted. With a little help from everyone, thanks guys!

Livy picked this out for Hannah at the store a few weeks ago and was so excited to give it to her. They sure love when their Hannie comes to visit them!

Colt loved seeing everyone and watching what everyone was doing. He went right to everyone and was such a happy baby the whole time. He is obsessed with electrical outlets and even tries to plug stuff in already. He is a smart little boy. But that is just his mom speaking! I am amazed when I show him stuff how he remembers how things work after the first time and how he figures stuff out on his own. Maybe I have forgotten how much they can do when they get to be almost a year but he seems smart to me!

On Saturday Eric set up all his Halloween stuff outside. They girls loved it! They loved Halloween and all the decorations this year. Their favorite was one of those big blow up things down the block. It was a Frankenstein one but they called him "Franklinstein." And they had to go see it everyday.

Rachel hiding in Poppy's shirt from something!

Richie had to leave on Saturday morning to get back to work that afternoon. It's always fun having him around and Rachel couldn't get enough of him. She sure loved hanging out with Uncle Richie. She even made Poppy ride in a different car while Rich was here. He was definitely the favorite. Poppy got his status back when Rich left though!

Dog pile. A fun game they love to play every time we are with them.

These two were buddies this trip. Hannie loved playing with Colt and taking care of him and he loved being with her just as much. She managed to carry him around most of the time even though it was a struggle because he's kind of heavy! Come back Han! We need our babysitter again!

Erin got to stay until Monday so the girls enjoyed having her here with them and sleeping in the same room as Erin. They wouldn't go to be until she came up because they were afraid she would leave at night like everyone else did!

Silly time!

Ok, these pictures are out of order but this is Colt's long hair. Eric decided to give him a trim all by himself. And lets just say he should stick to pools! Look what he did to the poor kid. 

Good thing you are so cute Colt! Because daddy did a number on your hair. Luckily it still combs to the side so when we go out I can kind of fix it. On another note, he started shaking his head no now when he means no. It's so cute and I love that he can tell me a little what he doesn't want at least. And he plays peek a boo now where he covers his own eyes. It is the cutest thing and he has his sisters rolling when they all do it together.

On Friday we all went to the Oil Ranch. This was our first time and the kids loved it.

Feeding some goats. This one with the big horns actually bucked some little kid to the ground while we were there. He was ok so it was funny. But watch out if you go!

Grammy made it down the slide.

Livy was unsure about the pony rides. Everyone else seemed to love them.

Colt even got his first ride!

Rachel wouldn't go until she picked her own pony. She picked this mini one and then was so happy about it!

Rachel and her bud!

Train ride they all loved.

Some seriously fun swings. Rachel and Hannah had a ball on them and Eric, Richie, Erin and me all got on too! They guys pushed it so it went fast. It was really a fun swing.

Livy was more into the animals. She loved feeding them and seeing all of them. Here's the group!

I love this picture! My Halloween lovers! They are all smiling, if only Colt was in there too!

There's the little lion.

Happy Halloween!

They were so proud of themselves when they said trick or treat and thank you. And so was I.

Colt rode around in this little car and had a blast watching all the kids all over the place.

Daddy stayed and handed out candy while Erin and I went with the kids to trick or treat to a few houses near us. When we got back to our house they wanted to stay and hand out candy to all the "customers" as they called them. I think they liked this part best! They would scream and shriek in delight and yell, "there's customers!" every time some one would come up to trick or treat. They got so excited and loved handing out candy they started handing out the candy they got in their baskets too. I think when the night was done we had about 5 pieces of candy left, total from theirs and ours. Which worked out fine since I don't have to make them ration it now!

We had a great visit with everyone and it was sad to see you all go. Come back and visit again soon! Thanks everyone for all your help and all the time and love you give to our kids. They truly adore each one of you.