Broken Camera

And yes, I am going nuts! I finally realized after months of using it and getting frustrated that the flash never worked...it clicked that it was broken! And of course...the clicking in my brain didn't happen until right before the holidays! Anyway...crossing my fingers they get it fixed by Thanksgiving and hoping to use Grandma's while they are here if it isn't. Took a few pictures the day before I mailed it off to be fixed that I will post throughout the next couple of weeks to keep my readers sane, so at least you will have a few. :)

And this is the first of a few pictures we will spread throughout the next couple of weeks...and we'll see if we can upload from my phone too...maybe! :)

Sister Weekend

One of the great things about our move to Texas is living closer to all our family, and Heather is extra lucky since she is the closest! :) It was great to get to spend some sister time together, espcially since I have hardly gotten to visit with her since all of her medical craziness over the last few months... but its looking like she is finally getting better and sure hope it keeps it up and she continues to heal more quickly :)

We had originally planned a girls weekend with Amanda too, but decided to do that one in the spring instead...and so excited for that weekend away to look forward to!

It was a much-needed break to recharge my mommy batteries. We drank margaritas, ate OUT (realized how restaurant deprived I have been lately) shopped and watched Gilmore Girls. I even got to paint my toe nails and carry a purse without snacks! (Its the little things these days!) :)

Brad seemed to survive his weekend with the kids pretty well, but got an even bigger job when Lorelei woke up sick Sunday morning. He is such a trooper and seemed so glad to get some time with them to himself all weekend, although he was quite worn out! :) Lorelei is feeling better today.

So thankful for my sister to be my company for a weekend off, and Brad to let me have one! :)

The Step

Makin can finally step up and down from the patio without holding onto something! Before this he would just use a chair to get up and sit to get down, but so glad for this moment to come. :) Climbing on things is getting more and more tempting for him, and he is almost able to get up the "rock wall" to go down his little slide himself too. Learning pretty quickly...not sure I'm ready for this guy to be a climber!

November Finally Feels Like Fall

I'm going to blame the hot weather and lack of leaves changing colors on the fact that have done zero fall crafts until now...so after realizing that, Thanksgiving has launched me into full teacher mode and I am attempting to make up for lost time.

This means this week has been filled with a trip to Hobby Lobby for brown construction paper (why don't they have normal brown in packages???) and Brad helping me with a, "What Are You Thankful For?" tree, which then needed to be laminated at Mardel so we wouldn't have to do it every year! :) Thankful lamination is very cheap and so easy to run and do at this store. Then the kids also had fun at the train table.





On another note, we are keeping with our Tuesday story time each week and loving it. We also met a new friend there (how easy it is to meet people when your daughters start talking!) and have done some play dates with them. Aubry is 5 so there is a bit of the age difference, but they still have fun together. Aubry also has a younger sister, Morgan, who is almost 2, but about the same size as Makin. :) Anyway, we decided to meet up and head to Old Navy for their winter coats half price for Lorelei and the kids had fun with the winter hats while we were shopping. They have SO many fun ones this year. And Makin will probably complain the entire time he is wearing a hat, but had to get him one that he could not take off. He gave me a pretty dirty look. Boy does he look cute in hats though. :)

Makin and I got some great time just the two of us while Lorelei took a bit of a longer nap...much needed! Daylight savings has really thrown for these two for a loop!

So thankful for having all of these toys that Lorelei got at his age for him to enjoy! He seems to have gotten the hang of going forward pretty quickly, but also mostly just walks along instead of sitting and going, so still needs some extra practice. :)










Lorelei was very excited to put her leaves on the tree for the first time. She ended up doing 4 right away. My favorite is that she is thankful for apples and then she drew an apple family of four. :)

The day or two before I asked her what she was thankful for (mind you, sitting in Makin's room, no where near any food or having these for supper) and she said, "Jesus!...and tacos!" :)

Hoping to make sure and help Lorelei really get into Thanksgiving...and less than two weeks left! And can't wait for our visit from Grandma and Grandpa!!! :)

Simple Weekend

Well, I'm apparently still being taught a lesson in patience, as I continue to have big "To Do" lists each weekend, and we are lucky to get half the things done...but one thing we did get partially done was getting more of the garage organized. We had one big box that was still sitting there to unpack, and in it was the beloved slide that has been missing for nearly a year now. And this was the highlight of the weekend. Makin would just laugh and squeal in delight after going down the slide. I think it helps he can land on grass instead of boards on the balcony...or maybe its just because he's a boy. :) They had lots of fun, although now it is more working on keeping them nice to each other while they try and share it. :) We were very thankful for something old keeping them entertained this weekend! :)

The picture of the two of them we are singing "Here We Go Go Go On An Adventure" from Cat In The Hat. :)



And the time change + donut and candy at church...well lets just say Brad and I got to have a lunch date as both kids took a nap asap after getting home from church. They had a very late lunch and Makin insisted on using a fork. Lately he is big on silverware and I guess its good to let him get used to using it. Just another thing to take away for a few weeks in January...but will just deal with that when it happens. Oh and of course, sour cream was a huge it. :)




And another highlight of the weekend was realizing Makin knows many body parts! :) I mean, we have known he understands pretty much everything we are saying, but it seems like a whole other moment when you say "mouth" and they point to their mouth, etc. So far we know he knows mouth, nose, eyes, ears, feet and tummy/belly. :) And boy is it hard to quiz him when big sister likes to distract. :) Oh well!

Watchin Airplanes

"I'm just sittin right here watching airplanes. Take off, and fly..." :) Pretty sure most of our readers don't listen to country, but this song keeps going through my brain on our many afternoons spent watching airplanes. :) We are close enough to the airport we see lots of traffic in the afternoons and both kids love it. Makin especially! Lorelei and I like to talk about where they are going...usually deciding on the Disney World to see Mickey and Goofy option. :) Love spending these afternoons with them.

Happy Halloween!

A day late from Kitty and Superman! :)

Our day was not as fun-filled as I would have liked, but we did eat Halloween mac and cheese for lunch. :)



In the evening, we made up for it with lots of fun! :)


And this is what the two kiddo's looked like trick-or treating!

Funny thing about Makin's costume...I wanted him to be a lion this year, but every time I tried one on he immediately started crying and pulling the hood off. So, we had to go with something that did not go on the head. He was a very cute little Superman, but hoping next year he will be okay with some head wear! :)





We headed over to Josie's 3rd birthday party! The highlight was the face painter getting them all decked out for Halloween!

Sorry for the blurry pic, but just had to show how much Josie loves Makin. When they came by the house the other day we heard Addy yell, "Lorelei!" and then Josie followed with, "Makin!" Our little super-hero had some black marks on his forehead from Minnie Mouse giving him little nose rubs. :)

And of course, yummy cupcakes!

The group heading out to trick or treat.

The first three kids I don't know...they are neighbors, then Brynn Lee is Cinderella and we will probably have play-dates with her sometime, her mom and dad also went to Concordia and enjoy getting to visit with them too, then Noah, Lorelei, Matthew, Addy, Mia (Noah, Matthew and Mia are siblings, another friend we sort-of know, and Lorelei loves Mia when she gets to play with her) and then Josie...and guess who forgot she was holding Makin so didn't get him in the pic!? :)


Makin trick or treating...and this is about 30 seconds of him walking and that was about all the walking he did. And I did not bring a stroller. Why did I think a 1 year old would walk the whole way when it was almost his bed time? Things you learn... And the biggest thrill of the night was not the candy...it was the dogs!!! People taking their dogs trick or treating or people who had dogs in/at their house. Both kids were elated. Jenn Wormer (we now have two Jens to keep track of!) got her first real dose of Lorelei's doggie craziness and said, "Wow. I have never seen anyone love animals so much in my whole life!" :) Yep, that's our girl!

Brad stayed home and got some much needed rest after work, before later joining our neighbors on the curb passing out candy. Glad he was there to get a chance to chat with them. Apparently the kids don't make the effort to walk up the hill that is our street, so they bring the candy down to the curb! Thinking next year we may grill hot dogs while we pass out candy! :)

And of course our Lorelei quotes of the night...

As I was putting her shoes on to leave she asked why she had to wear shoes and I said my usual, "Why do you think?" And she replied, "Because we could step on glass...or rocks...or dog poop!" :)

Coughing on the drive home while enjoying a sucker...followed by, "I took too big a lick!" :)