Uncle Peter's Visit

A visit from an uncle is a great excuse to set out on an adventure. And if mom just happens to follow along behind with her new toy, well, that's fine too. We enjoyed some nice weather while Peter was here (70's one day) Don't hate us...just move south y'all!

JM's Birthday Party

Last week JM turned 5!!! Can you believe it?? I sure can't. He's getting so big. Next year he'll be in kindergarten! Goodness.
We celebrated his birthday at a local restaurant that he likes after church last Sunday. Uncle Peter was in town from Ohio and made it that much more special. He asked for a Batman cake and batman toys. Target had a great Black Friday sale on the Batcave so he was really happy.Happy Birthday Little Man! We love you very much!

Cause we can Always Use more Sugar

On Friday at the grocery store I saw a really cute gingerbread kit. JM and Little Peanut thought it would be a good idea for us to make it and I agreed.
Saturday morning we put it together with AJ. Grasshopper was asleep on the couch during all this fun. I think they did a good job. Here are a few pictures.

What a Memory

Two years ago we went to KY to visit family for Thanksgiving. Grasshopper was three months old at the time, this was before he ever got sick. While we were there my brother shot a turkey on the farm. AJ had just turned 5 at this point. That's my brother and his son is holding the turkey.
Today we were in the store and I was picking out a roasting pan for our turkey. AJ asked what it was for and I said that I was going to roast a turkey in it on Thanksgiving.
His face light up and he gasped, "Is Uncle Michael going to shoot a turkey for us?"
I laughed and told him no.
"Then where are we going to get one?" he asked.
"I'll buy it at the store, it will already be dead."
His face fell, "Oh, I wanted to watch Uncle Michael shoot it."
I cracked up.

Happy Birthday AJ!

This past Wednesday was AJ's 7th birthday. I can't believe he's 7. It seems like yesterday that he was just a baby. sniff sniff. We didn't throw a big party this year. We usually have a big family shindig but being so far from all of them we just had cake and he opened his present from Mom and Dad.

Fall Festival

Each year our church has a Fall Festival on Halloween. Each life group is responsible for a booth. You can plan a game, food item, etc. You have to have a theme and do decorations, the whole nine yards. Our life group is fairly new and I was more than a little overwhelmed by the task seeing as we had never even been the Fall Festival. Thankfully, Jessica and Aryeh teamed up with us. I didn't even have an idea for a theme. Jessica suggested the Princess Bride and I ran with it. Part of the assignment was that our life group was supposed to be dressed up as well. Thanks to our life group for their load and loads of help and hard work. We couldn't have done it without them.
Princess Buttercup.
Hector and Aryeh getting our booth ready.
What a pretty princess.
Little Peanut helped Jessica hand out candy to everyone who came to our booth.
Knights in training.
Look who came home from the war! It's Reggie with Princess Buttercup.
Aryeh the Giant with Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR). And yes, the DPR has his glasses on over his mask.
The DPR with his knights in training.
The DPR with some little wench.
Me and Candice.
Nathan had a little to much fun with my camera. And yes, I did make my costume. And no, I didn't get a full length picture of it. Sorry.

Saturday Soccer

Today was the last game of the season and thank goodness that both of their games were at the same time.
Yes, Grasshopper has a scratch on his nose. He met the pavement nose first the other day. I have a sneaking suspicion that an older brother was involved in this meeting.

The End of An Era

Seven years ago this month I set up my first crib. AJ's due date was right around the corner and I couldn't wait for him to come. By this time I was off work because of pre-term labor and we filled our days with getting ready and putting a birthday hat on my belly. Auntie kept telling him to come out so she could kiss his face off. That's why I think he was late. He was worried about Auntie.
Since that time I have had a crib up in out house. When AJ outgrew his it was time to get it ready for JM. JM demolished that crib by knocking it over frequently. We bought a new one for Little Peanut and before she was out of it Grasshopper had arrived and had his own.
Last night we took Grasshopper's crib apart. Yesterday he wanted his blanket so he climbed into his crib and back out again. That's the sign, no more crib, it's time for a big boy bed. It was the end of an era here. Very sad. My babies are getting so big.
Here's a few pictures from the years. I searched and searched but couldn't find the picture of Little Peanut in her crib. So here are the boys. AJ almost seven years ago. JM. Grasshopper. Happy to be in his big boy bed. He did a good job staying in it too! It makes me a little sad to not have a baby in a crib. Now, when we don't have any more diapers I'll throw a PARTY!!!