Family Photos 2014

Our dear friend, Corinne, took our family photos this year.  We picked a date and went for it even though it was freezing cold.  You'll notice our little red noses and rosy cheeks.  The kids did awesome but that could be because we bribed them with marshmallows.  We did what we needed to do to get some cute photos.  Enjoy!

These two are best of friends and do everything together.  I hope it stays that way forever.

Olliebug at 2 1/2 years old.
He is full of energy and naughtiness.  He has the best expressions and kisses.

Spencer at 4 1/2 years old.
He is full of energy and questions.  He has the best competitive nature and snuggles.

Eleanor at 8 months old.
She is full of movement and giggles.  She has the best waves and tongue kisses.

Letter I

For the letter I we spotlighted our niece, Scout, who wants to be an Indian when she grows up.  We made headbands and paper Indians.  The boys did awesome coloring, cutting, and gluing.  

Halloween

I'm trying to catch up on posts so here's Halloween over a month late.  Like previous years we made the costumes by hand.  I have to give Casey a shout out on Spencer's costume.  Besides the shirt he made the whole plane.  Pretty amazing, right?  Ollie is our little monster and has been forever so it was suiting when he asked to me a monster.  And, Eleanor just screamed penguin when I was thinking of costume.  Oh, and, I ended up as an 8 ball.  I hadn't planned on dressing up but all morning Spencer kept asking me about my costume.  I told him I would surprise him when I picked him up from school.  I only had 30 minutes and that's what I came up with.  Oh, and Casey was a bag of Taki's.  All his students love to eat them.  He tossed out bags of Taki's during the school costume parade.  Hands down he was everyones favorite.  

Carving Pumpkins

This year we carved pumpkins at a friends house.  The kids were running around crazy while the parents were busy carving so I don't have any pictures to share.  That night we set them outside on the porch and lit the candles.  The boys loved it.  Eleanor....not so much.  If you can see we carved Eleanor's pumpkin with a sad face and tears because she's really fussy.  I thought it was very fitting that she was crying during the photos.  We love that girl!

Eleanor is 7 months old

Our dear Eleanor is 7 months old.  Well, actually close to 8 months as I type this, but for these pictures she's 7 months.  She is crawling all over the place as well as pulling herself up on furniture to walk around stuff.  She got her bottom front teeth in at the same time.  Wasn't easy for me but once I saw two at the same time I could understand.  She is still fussy but I've come to realize that she probably always will be.  I like to tell people that she has a sensitive soul.  She likes all my attention which I gladly give to her.  She likes her brothers and tries to mimic them.  She has Oliver's roar/growl down pretty good.  And she loves eating food even though it makes her break out in a rash.  We might have to take her to an allergist down the road but for now I'm taking good notes on what happens with each food item.  I love watching her grow and can't wait to see what she will do next.  

 If you look close enough you can see her bottom teeth

Colorado Trip - children's museum

On our third day we visited the Denver Children's Museum with Cassie and her kids.  We were worried that her oldest, Justin, wouldn't enjoy it.  Boy were we wrong!  They had enough rooms with activities for all ages that no one left bored.  We spent a few hours there and probably could have spent a few more.  I guess there's always next time.  Oh, and, I may or may not have lost one of my children.  Let's just say I was relieved when I heard over the intercom that the little boy with a monster t-shirt and light brown hair could be found in the ball area.  He was only gone for maybe 3 minutes but I did panic.  I hate that feeling and now know how my parents felt when I was lost for hours at a race in Spokane, WA.  Worst feeling ever!  Anyway, when the museum closed we let the kids play outside at the playground until it got too dark and cold.  We said our goodbyes and went to stay with the Curtis'.  It cut an hour off our trip home the next day.  We can't wait to visit Colorado again.

 Caleb taking charge in the firetruck

 Meet our firefighters - Spencer, Justin, Jessica, Caleb & Eleanor

 Eleanor on hose duty

Spencer jumping so the balls would shoot up through the tubes

Mommy and Eleanor

As the balls got sent through tubes they would pile up in a bucket.  Every so often they would come down.  The kids loved laying on the ground and letting the balls fall on them. 

Safety first, right Cassie? 

The bubble room was awesome!

smoke filled bubbles

Casey and Cassie

The kids inside a bubble

Jessica the scientist

Oliver found the art room and went to town.  He must not have read the rules about only painting on the paper. 

Cassie and I with all our little ones.

Colorado Trip - pumpkin patch

We spent fall break in Colorado with the Scussel's (my sister) and Curtis' (Casey's sister).  Of coarse we wish we would have had more time, but we made the most of it.  The first day we just hung around my sisters house and let the kids play. (no pictures were taken)

On the second day we met up with Mike and Harper and visited a pumpkin patch.  Poor Aymee had to work and missed out.  The pumpkin patch was amazing.  It had a few corn mazes, a long snake tunnel, a petting zoo, a tire hill, a pumpkin shooting area, a wagon ride, a rope swing, and of coarse a pumpkin patch.  We spent a couple hours there.