Andrews Chior Concert

Well Andrew had his first 4th grade school concert and it went really well. He had some speaking parts at the very end, although because of his cold he sounded a little squeaky.

The dinner that Andrew made

I have fabulous children who really step up to the plate when I need it. Andrew was told what to make for dinner (piggies in a blanket and frozen veggies) and the rest was his idea. It was a very nice evening with a relaxing atmosphere.

Where's the Cheese?

Yesterday while I was preoccupied with other things.. Foster helped himself to the fridge. Today on the menu was cheese. When I came back to real life and discovered the cheese wrapper on the floor and empty (it was a new block), I asked Foster "where's the cheese Foster?". All he could say was "ummmm" with his finger on his chin and then he would point to somewhere in the house (every time it was a different spot). I finally found the hidden cheese under a pillow on the couch. Do they have 3 year old refrigerator locks?

Kids can fall asleep anywhere? V

So here's the story first. Abigail woke up last night at 11:30 in a frenzy that she need to use the bathroom but Andrew was in hers. I helped her to mine and then walked her back to bed. On my way to her bedroom I glanced in other bathroom and this is what I saw...

Turkey Trot

This is out of order because the pictures were taken on Ryan's phone and I am just now getting them. Anyway I am starting a new tradition for myself and Ryan to run a turkey trot wherever we are on Thanksgiving. We were inspired by Erin and Jeremy and liked it lots. Here are our before

and after.

Maybe next year we'll run?

Lilly's 8th Birthday

Well Lilly's old enough now to have a birthday weekend. She got to have Natalie over to spend the night. We put candles in her pizza but didn't think to take a picture. Live and learn. So these pictures are of her opening presents after a long fast sunday and christmas devotional.

I'm not sure what put Foster into hyperdrive that night, we had not had cake yet?

Foster's Birthday

Well Foster has made it to the ripe old age of 3. We were really busy that night and didn't plan well so Foster opened presents this morning.
A fun book

on to the next onehis very own backpack

and the very best, block as big as he is

The birthday cake was a different story

I'm not sure why the cake turned into cupcakes but anyway this is how it goes

We lit candles for Foster, problem is that he wanted to hold the cake
mom doesn't let him Foster gets mad

Foster gets his way but will not even be convinced to blow out his candles

Foster ends up on the floor distraught.

We blow out his candles. There's always year 4.

A Hike to WInd Cave

So to work off all the turkey pounds. We all went on a hike to windy cave.

We were all having a grand time enjoying nature.

Even Sampson was well behaved.
This is our last group picture, can you see who is missing in the next?
The story is that Abigail was having a good time until she let go of Grandma's hand to catch up with me. In the process she trips and falls on her hands, scraping them up and ripping a flap of skin for added drama. She screams not because it hurts but because every time she looks at her hand she see red. Us being the good parents that we are didn't think to bring a first aid kit let alone a band-aid. So after waiting a while, hoping that Abigail would calm down, so that we could continue up the mountain (which didn't ever happen) I took Abigail back to the car. I still was worried as we made our way down the trail that she would find out that all her ranting and raving were not getting her anywhere that she would wish that she was up with everyone else and then start crying about that (that never happened either). What did happen for the 45 long minutes down, was an earful of Abigail. She didn't like hiking, she didn't like rocks, she didn't like dirt. She cursed everything she could until we got to the car. Everyone we passed thought I was either torturing her or they were seasoned parents and amused with a "sorry I can't help you look on their faces". Then we got to wait for everyone to get up and come back down the mountain. We played I spy reminiscent of what the moose do in "Brother Bear", there was cactus as far as the eye could see.

Here is what it looked like from the cave

They got a bonus recital from a bagpipe

Foster even got a free ride home.

It was a good day with ups and downs but ended on a high note at In-n-Out.

So much for those turkey pounds...

Kids can fall asleep anywhere? IV

It is time again for another installment of my favorite on going post.

Tennis Lessons

Thanksgiving was fun... so much fun in fact that we forgot to take out the camera to document anything. So after the preparation were done and tennis lesson ensued. Instigated by no other than, you guessed it, Andrew. I was a party pooper but Grandma, Dad, Ben and Megan are the real Thanksgiving day troopers.

There was some tennis

also goofing off

and somehow puddles got involved

although no one will admit how it happened,

I just happened to come across this hard evidence.