It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Sitting patiently on stage during the Christmas program for Preschool.  It was nearly impossible to get close enough for a good picture.

 Watching the puppets after his program.  We all sang "I Lost My Sheep" for days after we watched the puppet show.  It was so fun!  I also enjoyed this snuggle time with my Ivan.  He surprised me when he didn't want to sit with his friends, but only wanted to be with his mommy :)

 Ready to make cookies or go back to bed?

 Loading up on decorations

 Trying to create the perfect icing color.  I am not sure if Mike or Ivan enjoyed this more.

Some of the finished cookies

BOOTS!

One Evening after a Christmas party, Ivan found my boots and asked me to take a picture of him.  I quicky grabbed my camera because it is very rare for Ivan to even look at me when I have a camera in my hand.  So, if he is going to ask me to take his picture, I am going to run for the camera before he changes his mind!  I had no idea what I was in for though.  He started doing these ridiculous poses and I could hardly compose myself.  Here are just a few of the photos I got that night.

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday

We decided to not have a big party for Ivan's 4th birthday, but to have a more low key "get together" at Chuck E Cheese.  We just don't know that it is neccessary to have a  big party every year as the kids get older, but want to make sure that we have something planned each year to make them feel special.  Little did I know, this year we would have a lot going on.  Ivan had a party at the sitter's, he took a birthday snack to school,  we had cake and presents at home and them we did Chuck E Cheese with my family.  So, our low key birthday didn't seem so low key in the end.  Every kid should have a week long birthday-Right?

Cookies for party at the sitter's house 

 Cake for our family party at home-Everett really wanted to help blow out the candles

Cake please?

 Brotherly Love

 Excited about his new Beatles shirt!

 Cars

 And the race track to go with it!

 Markers-these were a favorite of mine growing up, so I couldn't pass them up when I found them on Amazon!

 And now for the final celebration-Chuck E Cheese!

 Dino, Dinos and more Dinos!

 ROAR!!

I think he loves his new pillow pet!

Halloween 2011

Halloween just keeps getting more and more enjoyable.  It was so fun to watch both kids run up and down driveways in hopes of great candy.  The most challenging part of the night was convincing them that they do not need to eat a piece of candy after each house!  Ivan's best line was "But it doesn't have any sugar in it!"  Nice try, Ivan!

Breast Cancer Walk

We participated in the annual Breast Cancer Walk in honor of my mom and Aunt Carol.  We all look forward to this every year.  Every year we are missing a few people, mostly due to people having babies!  Marc and Kristen were missing after welcoming Wesley just a few weeks prior and Kasey was at home with her little one as well.  Hoping we are all able to make it again next year!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

I have wanted to go to Leed's farm for the last couple years, but we waited thinking the boys would not get the full experience until they were a certain age.  I have known the family that owns this farm for years.  The parents owned a farm near my grandparents farm and we saw them often while growing up.  I still remember our dog Pepper running away to their farm to eat pig food.

I am so glad that we finally went.  The kids had so much fun climbing on the hay, going down the slides, petting the animals, riding the banana train and picking out pumpkins.  Ivan really enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and I could have watched him jump for hours!  I even teared up at one point just watching him enjoy himself.  Nothing makes me happier to know that my kids are happy and that we are creating such great family memories.

At the end of the day, I looked at Mike and said "This was the best day EVER!"  It sounds silly, I know, but this day was exactly what I look forward to as a parent.