Saturday, November 26, 2016

Frosty's back!

Guess who's back???

He shows up every year, usually right after Thanksgiving dinner, bearing Christmas pajamas, his book and a note to the kids.

That's right.... Frosty's back!!!!


He surprised the kids in the loft after we ate thanksgiving dinner and hung out around the fire pit for a bit. He wrote them a sweet letter thanking them for being such good kids (which they are!) and reminding them to make sure they are using kind words and respecting mom and dad (which they sometimes need reminding of!). He also asked them to pick three toys to donate to little boys and girls in need, just like he did last year. Again I was impressed that my kids jumped at this request and there was absolutely no hesitation.


And like in years past, Frosty brought the whole family a present to kick of the Christmas season! The kids and I all got Christmas pajamas, and S got Christmas socks. (It needs to be noted that S has not always appreciate Christmas pajamas in the past, since he doesn't normally wear PJ's, so Frosty and Santa thought socks might get more use!)


And, of course, when trying to get a cute picture of all the boys in their matching jammies, someone had to have a meltdown. That someone this time was R. I'm not even sure what he was upset about, but I can't help laughing when I look at these pictures!





Here's to Frosty being back and my kids being on their best behavior because of it!

Thanksgiving 2016

And.... we have another Thanksgiving down!

It's hard to believe that we are already in the holiday season for this year, but here we are! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at home with just the five of us. We slept in, had a nice breakfast and then went and let the kids play at the park and feed the ducks. (I also took a quick couple laps around the lake, in hopes of offsetting some of the Thanksgiving calories!)

Even though it was just us we still cooked a full meal, with sweet potatoes, stuffing, creamed corn, and instead of a turkey, S made tri-tip. I also made a blueberry cobbler for dessert, which the boys seemed quite fond of!

Anyway, our Thanksgiving was great, but low key. I have literally no pictures except the one below because we spent the day relaxing and enjoying one another and I never even thought to pull out my phone!

I hope everyone had an amazing day with their loved ones!

Friday, November 4, 2016

R turns three!

Can you believe that this little bundle turned 3 yesterday? Because I cannot.

Just look at that sweet baby face. He was so small, the smallest of any of our babies, but he came into this world fast and furious and our lives have been changed in the most incredible way every since.


His last night as a two year old, fast asleep.


What can I say about R? Him and I have a bond that is all our own. He is definitely a mama's boy, and I love it. He is also rough and tumble and can keep up with his older bothers and all of his friends. he often reminds me of a puppy, sweet and cuddly, yet rambunctious and always ready to play, even with the bigger dogs.

(The morning of his birthday, waiting for him to wake up for his balloon surprise!)

He charms everyone he comes in contact with. And that's not a bias mom talking, it's true. Not a day goes by where someone doesn't comment on how adorable he is. He melts hearts with his squeaky little voice and his mischievous smile. He has all my friends wrapped around his finger, and even when he acts naughty he does it in an unimaginably cute way.

(Breakfast donuts for the birthday boy!)

He is also incredibly smart. He watches his brothers and quickly figures out how he can keep up. He is friendly and kind, he always wants to play with everyone, and everywhere he goes he makes friends.

(Birthday Dinner at Humble Pie!)
He's my guy. I love all my children wholly and equally, but I think you have different bonds with each of them. L made me a mom, he is my oldest, the one I rely on. L2 taught me how much I could handle. He made me a mommy of two, and he also taught me how strong I can be, by showing me his own resilience and incredible spirit. And R is my baby. Everything he does I wonder if it will be the last time I experience that milestone, because it's always a possibility that he could be my last baby. And so I hold him a little closer and baby him a little more.

Anyway, enough gushing. He had a wonderful birthday. He got to spend the morning in school with is friends (while I ran around like a mad woman getting things finished for his big day!)  We had a wonderful dinner out as a family and then came home where he got to open all of his presents, definitely a highlight in his day!






And I'll leave you with my favorite picture. It shows him on his first birthday, second birthday and third birthday. I remember on his first birthday when I caught this face on camera, cracking up because it was so amazed and awestruck! Then he did again on his second birthday, and again on his third! I love that he still gets the same expression overtime he opens a gift!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

R starts preschool

So..... this happened yesterday:


How is it possible that this little tiny boy, who just yesterday was my little tiny baby, is starting preschool?


I have to admit, I had a harder time sending him off to school then I did with L and L2. It's just been me and him for the last year, and he's my little buddy who I do everything with! I know it's going to be amazing for him though.



And just look at those smiles! There were no tears (from him) at drop-off either. He ran right down, yelled out, "Hi Friends!" (even though he didn't know anyone yet!) and went straight to playing! He loves going, he loves having a little backpack, and he loves all his new "friends"!


Halloween 2016

Happy (late) Halloween!

We had our usual group together for trick or treating, and this year we had two Power Rangers, a jail bird, Fred Flintstone, and Bam Bam!

They're a pretty cute group, if you ask me!


Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Pumpkin Carving

We spent this last weekend getting ready for Halloween, and of course we had to carve pumpkins. This year some of our friends had a "carving party", and it was so much fun! It was perfect because the kids got to "help" carve, but were also occupied with playing with each other!



Our masterpieces:



(Her 4 year old picked the cutest little pumpkin and then carved the cutest little face in it! It was my favorite!)

The final product. I can't believe my beautiful owl didn't win the contest!


I'm just feeling so great about life lately. Now that L is in school we are really starting to feel settled in this community, we have this great group of friends, and out kids have this great group of friends. Life is good.


A Scary Moment

You know those moments, as a parent, when you watch your kid take a nasty tumble, or see blood, or hear that cry that you know means they are hurt? And your heart stops until you know they are going to be ok? Well, we had that moment times a thousand this last week, when L went out to check the mail and ran back in the house screaming and crying the a dog had bit him.


Thankfully, he's ok. But, you guys, he got bit by a dog. And I'm not saying a little dog nipped at him. Some teenagers down the street had let their pit bull get out of the house and it chased L down and got him hard on the back of his leg.  Even just writing that makes me angry, but we are so so grateful that it wasn't worse.



We had the cops out and the firemen came to check his leg. One of the punctures was really deep so they wanted us to take him in for stitches, but then urgent care decided it was best not to stitch it and instead keep it wrapped up and cleaned with antibiotic ointment, and oral antibiotics.

L is doing good now. His leg was really sore for a few days, but he took it in stride and was pretty excited to tell his friends about the fire department coming to the house and to show off his bandages.


Oh, and this is why we didn't make it out for L2's birthday dinner!!!