Thank You Veterans!

Thank you to all our veterans!  And especially to our favorite veteran...

We love you Grandpa!  We're so thankful for your service and your life devoted to Christ.  What a role model for your children and grandchildren.  I'm so glad God made us family!

Leaves, Shoes, and a Form

What random thoughts are flying through my head today!  First off, let me tell you that I might have set a new record.  Only 5 days after Daylight Savings began I have officially gotten all the clocks in the house changed!  How awesome!  Until I forget that I changed them and keep subtracting an hour from the time.

A few days ago we were outside playing and I noticed there were quite a few leaves in the yard.  Enough for a pile to jump in?  We tried!  I figured it was a pretty sad leaf pile, and my suspicions were confirmed when Brian came home and laughed at it!  I'm sure it's no Montana leaf pile, but you work with what you got!  Spence and Allie didn't know any better and thought it was the most awesome leaf pile ever!  They would run and jump, then push all the leaves back into the pile and go again.

Our super cool Mom raked up this rockin' pile of leaves!

 And this picture is for you, Rita and Gale.  Thank you so much for the birthday money!  These are my new sneakers!

And finally, just something I thought was somewhat odd, but was glad to do.  When Coleman started Kindergarten, birthday treats were banned.  I was a little sad because, well, that's what you do when it's your child's birthday.  You make cupcakes or cookies and send them school to share with the classmates.  But apparently childhood obesity ( which is nothing to laugh at) caused school officials to create strict nutritional guidelines that did not include birthday treats.  After getting over it, my lazy self said, "Yes!  I don't have to make cupcakes for 20 kids!"  This year, about a month before Spence's birthday, the school sent home a letter that stated store bought birthday treats would be allowed as long as you filled out a form.  I was expecting one or two lines then a signature required.  But take a look at the form!

I had to laugh, and share it.  Oh well, at least they're concerned with our children's health?  And I totally get not allowing homemade goodies.  You just never know.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  And for my loved ones in Montana, throw a snowball for us!

Happy Birthday Spence!

Today my sweet Spence turns 6 years old!

November 7, 2006 - Welcome sweet baby!

1 year old

2 years old - Pretty sure he'd gotten the nick-name Messy Marvin by this time!

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old

November 7, 2012 - Look who's six!

Excited about his birthday presents

We love you so much Spence!  Happy birthday!

Sea World

Sometimes it's fun to plan a birthday party, and sometimes it's fun just to pack up and go on a trip!  That's what we decided to do for Spence's birthday (and mine).  Sea World sounded like a fun place to go, and it definitely was!

We stayed at a hotel close to Sea World that offered a shuttle to the park. Since it's off season, the park is only open from noon to 6:00, so we got season passes so we could go Saturday, Sunday, and any other time we want until January 2014.  It was nice not to feel rushed to do everything in this trip.  But we did a lot!  Here are some of the best pictures:

Loved the elevator door in our hotel

Our hotel was very "green," including this horse sculpture made from pieces of wood

Welcome to Sea World!

Getting ready for the Shamu Express

Allie was really excited to ride the roller coaster

I thought Bert was the serious one!

One of Spence and Allie's favorite rides - notice Mommy is not on there with them!

She could not get enough of the Shamu Express

Waiting for Shamu

The day was a little too long for someone!

Shamu and his friends were so amazing!

We began our second day by posing with Shamu

Feeding dolphins on my birthday

Allie played in the water while the boys rode the bigger roller coasters

And she posed with the gang from Sesame Street!

It was definitely a memorable birthday trip for Spence and me!  Can't wait to go back again!


Sea World

Trick or Treat!

This year for Halloween the kids were a soldier, Hawkeye (one of the Avengers), and Olivia the Pig.  We set out on our candy seeking adventure at 6:00, but not many people were home or handing out candy that early!  By 6:45 the kids had gotten quite a bit of candy, so we wrapped it up at 7:00 and headed to church.  It was a fun night!

My trick-or-treaters

Borrowing his sister's ears

They're so cute when they aren't annoying the mess out of each other

Posing with Casper

Allie saw her buddy from down the street

Last Saturday night our church had its annual Fall Festival.  It was a lot of fun!

Allie enjoying the bouncey

Pony rides!

Face painting -Batman meets Hawkeye

Hangin' out in the hay

Coleman helping out with our football toss booth

Allie Says

Allie and I have lots of time for conversations, which I love!  Conversations with a three year old are rarely boring.  Here are a few things she's said this week that made me giggle.

While "writing" she looked up at me:

What's your name again? ... Mommy.

In the car on our way to various places like the zoo or the park:
Did you check the weather?

Walking past the pond:
I wish Nana was a duck.

Telling me about her Sunday School lesson:
Satan doos bad things.  God doos good things.

She's also started reminding me that she does not like Santa.  You may remember that after Christmas last year she said, "I don't like Santa!  I want Jesus to come to my house!"  Probably my favorite words out of her mouth, ever.  The other day she asked if we had to go see him.  I'm not a Santa fanatic by any means, but displayed on the shelves in my living room are 7 Christmas frames which hold pictures of the kids with Santa, starting with Coleman at 11 months old up to last year with Allie throwing her arms in the air and a look of sheer terror on her face.  It will be really hard for me to give up that tradition.  But this may be the year.  I don't want to make her stand in the vicinity of a man she doesn't like.  And Coleman figured out the whole Santa thing last year after Christmas.  I told Allie that instead of getting their picture made with Santa, maybe we could find a big, beautiful Nativity scene and take their picture in front of it.  What a great new tradition that would be!

I'm a Fan!

In the last year or two I've decided that I actually like football!  Our team, the Texans, is doing great this season, so there's a bonus!  And to add to the excitement, Coleman is back on the field for another season of flag football.  He's still got it, too!

There's Coleman as quarterback handing off the ball, and Coach Brian in the background

Running for a touchdown!

Brian and his undefeated team!

What color snow cone did Allie have?

There aren't too many girls in our league, but we have one on our team and she's really good

We're loving this fall weather and football!

Allie's New Bed

Last night Brian and Allie took apart her crib and we set up the guest bed in her room!  Um, that's another story why we no longer have a guest bed in our guest room.

What a super helper!

Spence slept with Allie for about 30 minutes, then moved back to his bed

Story time in the big girl bed!

 And here are a few more pictures from September:

The most amazing kids enjoying Paul David's 6th birthday party!

I don't know how, but she just keeps getting cuter and sweeter

My hair was getting unreasonably long...

So I chopped a little off!

Bare Bottoms

Everyone was loading up in the car this morning to leave for school (after the first bell had already rung might I add).  It wasn't until I was buckling Allie's car seat that I realized she had no underwear on.  Just a tee shirt.  Nothin' on the bottom.  And no, I did not run back in the house and get some.  We headed out anyway.

I haven't really been overwhelmed with things to do.  I guess the point of that story is that if I can't get it together enough to put underwear on my child before she walks out the door, is it any wonder you haven't heard from me in a month!  Hoping to pull it all together soon.  I actually have one or two pictures from the month of September that you might enjoy...  Hopefully before November!