Visit with Santa

I have been MIA for a while now - rather than play "catch up", I will just start posting again.
Last week, we went to a festival of trees. There were so many pretty trees.
This one was decorated in NightHawk colors - the school colors of the school the kids attend this year.



















This one was so creative. It is tires decorated with lights around them. The business that decorated it is a Tire shop. (The kids wanted this picture for daddy - how thoughtful!)



















The visit with Santa was fun.
Caden told Santa he wanted a Hot Wheels Race Track with cars for Christmas.
Allyson told Santa she wanted a Hannah Montana doll with blond hair. (she already has a brown haired one).

Zhu Zhu Pet shopping

The kids have Zhu Zhu Pets on the top of their Christmas wish list this year.
I received a tip from Candi that Wal-Mart was going to have them featured in their Sunday ad, so I did some calling and found out that a somewhat local store had some and was going to be putting them out at 12:01 am. A friend and I ventured out on Saturday night at 11pm. (that is late for this mom!) We found out that they were giving out numbers, and there was a limit of 2 hamsters per person. Well, my friend didn't want any, but she got numbers anyway because I was trying to get some hamsters for Candi as well.
Yeah - they had 32 hamsters and we both got 2!



















What a fun adventure. I couldn't do that every week because I was sure tired the next day, but I would say it was worth it. My girlfriend (Amy) and I had some great girl time!

Sunday Dinners

Sunday dinners at Grandpa and Grandma's are always good. It usually means grandma's homemade mashed potatoes, some sort of meat (usually roast) and lots of good sides.
This past month, we had our last dinner at Grandpa and Grandma's house before they moved to the condo.
It was so nice outside, that after lunch, the kids (big and little) played outside. Allyson kicked the football with my cousin Jesse, and had fun spinning with my cousin Trent. (Caden was home sick with daddy).




















































I was even able to get a picture of Carly in her "cute outfit".

Halloween photos

Wow - it has been almost a month since I have posted. Where have we been? HERE!
just keeping busy with life.
Here are a few pictures from Halloween.
The kids didn't have school on the Friday before Halloween, so they were able to go trick or treating to the hospital with their friends. They had a great time. Since I work there, I was able to be the "guide".














Allyson and her friend from daycare - Maddie



















Here are the 3 Scooby Doo's! Braedyn, Mitchell, and Caden.



















Caden was sick (H1N1) on Saturday (Halloween) so we stayed home and just watched movies that night. He was also sick the whole next week, so we pretty much laid low and tried to get better.

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight, we carved a pumpkin. The most fun for the kids is digging out the "guts" and saving the seeds to eat later. They both do a great job. Caden digs right in and gets all dirty. Allyson is a little hesitant at first because the "guts are slimy" but soon she is digging in too.






































Here is our finished pumpkin.















Caden was so excited after taking this picture - he looked at the pumpkin and says "Mom, it's like a Jack-O-Lantern".

What we've been up to...

This past week, Allyson was sick with mom/nurse diagnosed H1N1 flu. She had fever, cough and runny nose. She was out of daycare for a week, so daddy stayed home with her in the mornings while Caden was in preschool and I went to work. Then daddy would go to work in the afternoons and me and the kids would be home. Thursday, Allyson went back to school and has been doing well since. She still has a little cough, but it gets better every day.
By the middle of the week, I had to think a little harder for things to entertain - Lite Brite was a hit - also iron beads kept us busy. I think we made 4 cats and lot of other random things.














It has been rainy and this was the view out our window one day.














The kids wanted to take a couple pictures of each other.

Winter Weather Advisory?!?

This morning, we were under a winter weather advisory, until mid morning. This is what it looked like when we stepped outside our door.
















Our drive to work was quite slushy!
The kids enjoyed the snow, and were disappointed that they couldn't make a snowman when we got home this afternoon. I was quite glad to see most of the snow gone. Now looking forward to the forcasted 70 degrees for Sunday! (We'll see!)

Trick or Treat Night

Last night was Oak Grove's Trick or Treat night.
It was really cold, but fun. We went around to all the campers and got lots of candy, then went back to Darin and Amy and Brian and Doni's campers to warm up with some chili and cinnamon rolls, and the campfire.
Caden stayed home with daddy because he has a cough, and we didn't want it to get worse.
Here are some pics of the night.
Allyson, Jace, Ava, Tyler K, Tyler D...














And Cody K as Harry Potter!



















Here is one of my favorite costumes of the night. So cute!
(it's Abby from NCIS)



















Carly, Allyson and Ava having a great time.

Pumpkinland

Thursday evening, I decided to take the kids to Pumpkinland. They were forcasting snow for Friday night and Saturday morning, and cold weather next week, so we wanted to get there.
Dana and the kids went with us.
The kids had a great time.





















































































Trying to get one "good picture" of the kids together...

Grandpa's Birthday

On October 3, we celebrated my Grandpa's 78th birthday. Happy Birthday Grandpa!
Here is a picture of some of the great grand kids with Grandpa...



















Some of the great grand daughters...
Allyson, Carly, Haley, Hannah




























My sis and my cous...

4 Wheeler Rides

Sunday afternoon, (September 27) we had dinner at Grandpa Rick and Grandma Kay's house. Grandpa Rick was just back from 3 1/2 weeks in China. We were so happy to see him back home!
The weather was beautiful so the kids begged Uncle Kyle to give 4 wheeler rides.




























Then Sam got to drive the 4 wheeler. The little kids were jealous, but enjoyed riding with Sam.

School Photos

September 10 was the date of school photos. The kids did great. This is the first time I had to get them ready and not be present when they actually snapped the pictures. I was hoping they would turn out decent. I also had to order before seeing how they turned out - so we just ordered small packages.
Here are some quick pics I got on the way to school. (in the vehicle - after dropping off some parts for daddy!)






































Well... we got them back today. They did really well - but they are school pictures.
When I get a chance, I will scan them in and post them here.

My Little Dancers

On September 8, the kids started dance class. Here they are in their uniforms all ready for their first dance class.

Calliope Village {Blog Catch Up}

On Labor Day, we met up with Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Mary and went to visit Calico (Caden's version of Calliope Village). Caden and Allyson loved looking in the buildings and seeing all the old stuff. Grandma Mary did a great job of explaining what things were used for!














In Jail!



















Petting the miniature pony.














Pretending to be in school.






































I was super impressed by this display. These are completely made out of wood.
Then the gentleman that made them showed a little more - the parts are moving and so realistic! Wow!~

Labor Day Weekend

Saturday evening, we went to watch the demolition derby. It was the first time the kids have watched a derby, so I was a little nervous to take them both by myself. (I didn't want to chase after them all night). We ended up sitting in the back of a friend's pickup (bleacher seating was all full by the time we got there - right before it started).
It worked out really well. The kids loved watching the derby. They liked seeing daddy working as an official. (he is the one in the yellow vest!)




























Sunday night, we watched the fireworks.






































Monday was the parade. We went to a friend's house to help celebrate Ava's 3rd birthday, and since they live right on the parade route, we could watch right from there. The weather was beautiful and sunny (we should have had sunscreen - but it has been so cool, that I didn't think of it).




























After the parade, we had Tinkerbell cake and the kids played on the trampoline.