Happy Thanksgiving 2015

We stuck around this Thanksgiving and celebrated with our friends, the Dursts and the Andersons.  We thoroughly enjoyed and engorged ourselves.  Steve and I made sure to get some serious exercise in before we went - so we didn't feel like total garbage about ourselves after we stuffed ourselves with all the good food. ;)

I made the rolls, green beans, and some pies to contribute.  I absolutely detest making pie crusts, but decided to give it a try again...they turned out in the end, but it didn't change my feelings towards them.  I made a pretty bomb apple pie, and then a pumpkin creamcheese (that I later found out - in the entire group - I was the only one who liked pumpkin pie!).

So the apple pie has a turkey on top of it - with a burned beak ;)

Ross my helper :) (With his crab pinchers)

Ross got to celebrate at preschool by having a Pow Wow

And be a pilgrim. :)

We ate in the afternoon, let the kids play while we played a fun game called Dudo with dice and then enjoyed some pie and more visiting.  
 

We forgot his glasses ;)

Rowly felt pretty cool eating off our plates

Ruby at a roll...and like three bites of turkey - don't over do it girl. ;)

Rowly and his cute friend Knox scoured for cheerios..

I'm thankful for such a wonderful family I get to be with and take care of.  I'm thankful for good friends who are generous and thoughtful.  And I'm thankful for a Savior and Heavenly Father who created this world for us to experience and be blessed with.
 

The Harvest sign - to make us Thanksgiving-y ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Month Old Rowland

Well - this kid just does NOT want to stop.  He decided to just pick up crawling - like speedy crawling - and then pulling himself up on things right after that.  He also got his first tooth about a week ago followed by a second shortly after.  He likes to scrunch his nose up and smile - showing off his no longer gumless smile.

He LOVES to eat real food - but it takes about a million years for him to eat it.  He loves mandarin oranges, bread, cheerios, mashed potatoes, rice, and pretty much every meat I've offered him (besides the baby meats - those make him cringe and spit it out).  He feels so proud of himself when he's eating the real food - smiling - even clapping for himself occasionally.  

He's been learning the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" concept and will whine out - yes you read that right - whine out - like his sister does when something gets taken away or he doesn't like something.  Then he does his scrunchy nose smile - and you think he's adorable.

He's definitely the one who's loved the Johnny Jump Up the most out of all our kids.  He loves to kick his legs and slap his arms down when he's excited, so it's hilarious in the jumper to see him jump like a foot higher when he gets excited.  

Rowly has also decided that stairs are his next challenge to overcome.  He likes to pull himself up on the first one and then will himself up the steps (in his dreams) - though he recently got up one of the steps.  Oh how I'm not a fan of baby proofing.  It will be interesting with our Christmas tree this year. ;)

Pretty sure those brown eyes can get whatever they want!

Some of Rowly's favorites:

Ross's airplane toys - particularly ones with small parts (heaven help me)
Cleaning mommy's floor for her - picking any and everything up and putting it promptly in his mouth.
Being picked up and walked around to see what's going on.
Making sure he's where the action is - especially with brother and sister.
NOT holding still while getting a bottle or a diaper change (it's torture for him)
Chewing on everything
Getting snuggled and kissed by everyone in the family

His stranger danger side is still about the same - if he's in a familiar place - he's better at handling new people, but if it's crazy and new and he doesn't see mom or dad - forget it.  Church activities often turn out in meltdowns at some point because of that.  It's rough being so cute and having people wanting to hold you all the time. ;)

He loves bathtime and splashing in the tub, and gets mad at me when I take him out.  He'll stand holding on to the side looking in trying to will himself back in all the time.  It's pretty cute.

We've also had to lower his crib because he's pulling himself up - it's like he's just decided to take off and get big.  I can't handle it!  

But we love him anyway and adore everything about him.  Happy 10 months Rowls! 

A 32nd Birthday

Funny how excited birthdays are when you're a kid, and when you get older they seem to meld together a bit more.  

It was a sweet day - a Wednesday - so I got Steve home - which is a present in an of itself!  I got to sleep in (oh beautiful sleep) and was woken up with a birthday smoothie - yum - and a fun sign my kids made for me.

I got to exercise as long as I wanted and WHEN I wanted - awesome.

Then I got to go to a cute boutique shop to pick out a present - a cute serving dish - and then didn't cook for dinner (another plus!) and had birthday cake and ice cream (made by that hot husband I'm married to).

Ruby is always wearing princess dresses these days. ;)

She REALLY wanted to blow the candles out, but didn't' want to wait for the birthday song.

I got some good help blowing these babies out.

That weekend Steve and I tried out a new restaurant for my birthday - it was called Ranchers Family Restaurant - very Lamar - the food wasn't too bad there - and I think we'd try it again actually. :)

We then also celebrated by going to Wal-mart - haha, but I did acquire a new bike which was pretty fun!

  It was a pretty fun birthday, and I'm so grateful I get to share it with my family who I want to celebrate everything with.  Happy Birthday me!

November Happenings...

Well after getting home, we decided to celebrate by getting flu shots...

Ross was pretty mad about his, but he REALLY wanted an ice cream cone, so with a pouty face, he went through with it.  He got a pretty sweet bandaid he liked afterwards too.

 

Doing good now he's got his Spiderman bandaid

Here's Rowland's before and after reactions....
 

Before - no idea what's coming...

Got the shot...

His reaction after...he pretty much yelled out, and that was it.  Haha.

Our friend's dog, Thor and Rowland checking each other out.

Ruby still has to get hers since she was sick when we went in to get them.  
 

CUTE Ruby :)

Ruby also started her dance class - which she LOVES with all her heart.  Whether she listens/stays in the dance room/leaves the mirror and pictures alone or not - well - that's up for debate, but she has a VERY patient dance teacher, Miss Lea, and a LOVE for dancing.  I was so excited for her cute leotard and ballet shoes, it was pure pleasure watching her in her dance class.  She's also VERY pleased to have her own class to go to since she always has to watch big brother go to preschool, soccer, swimming, gymnastics all the time.  She's finally getting old enough to participate a little more. :)  Every time we drive by the dance studio, she always has to point it out, "There's my dance class, Mom!  There it is!"  Love her.
 

SO excited for the dance class!

Come on mom!  Let's go!

Oh my heart - LOVE LOVE LOVE

Ruby also begs Ross to dance all the time (or anyone for that matter) by extending her arm and saying, "Want to dance?"  with a huge smile on her face.  Ross gave in this time...and melted all our hearts.

 

A To Do and Done chart I made at the MOPS group I'm in.  I revamped it a bit.  The kids love it - I just have magnetic tape on the back of the laminated pictures I made myself. ;)  I have a copy of them if anyone is wanting it. ;)

Went to the annual craft show here in Lamar.  LOVED this, but it was gone by the time I went back to buy it....trying to order it now!

We've also been raking leaves (okay I've been - and then they jump in them, etc. etc. etc., and then we go inside with leaves still out everywhere because someone had a meltdown or needed the bathroom, or a snack...it's the thought that counts right?)

Putting these kids to work again! ;)

Ross had a blast with this remote control car.  He even let Ruby have a turn after lecturing her not to let it drive out onto the street. ;)

We had our first snow day - well the snow was pathetic, but the storm prevented Daddy from going to work (hooray for us!).  Instead, we snuggled inside, tried out Daddy's headlamps, and I made ratatoille for dinner (it took like 5 hours with all the chopping, blanching, roasting, slicing, and sauteing - french cooking is pretty detailed!) while we watched Ratatoille.  The dinner took so long, we ended up feeding the kids something else (they wouldn't have eaten the ratatoille anyway) and put them to bed, and then Steve and I enjoyed the fruits of my labor...funny - it was eaten in 5 minutes...worth the 5 hours of cooking?  It was DELICIOUS, but I would happily pay $12 to save me 5 hours of cooking and then dishes afterwards.  

Baby brother snuggles when it's cold :)

Ruby regularly likes to cuddle up in our huge blue blanket.

The storm... ;)

Enjoying Dad being home any chance they get - they clobber him whenever he's around. :)

Approval of the meal ;)

I even folded the napkins...if I was going to spend 5 hours cooking - I was going to dine in style!

Attempt at plating it like the movie... hahaha

 

Thoughts??? ;)

It taste DIVINE - with 7 vegetables!

Rowly's also been playing with fish lips lately and gets a kick out of it too. :)

Found out soon after - he was getting a tooth!  

Trying to get a peek at the tooth!

Made another batch of these babies for Steve's work. ;)

OH - and then he decided to get going on the crawling thing for real...which was quickly followed by pulling himself up.  This baby is on the move, and I am feeling the "three children" thing now.  

I got a make over by Ruby (invisible make-up, and she did my hair) and was armed to defend myself from bad guys and given a lesson on how to use it by Ross.

Ruby the hairdresser!

Locked and Loaded

Ross entertaining Rowland at lunch.

Random cute picture of Alex and Rowly

Made Costco soup on a cold day.  SO easy and yummy!
2 cups diced chicken (or more)
1/2 container Jacks Special Salsa
1 container mango Salsa
1 quart of chicken Broth
1/2 bag Costco frozen corn

Ross wanted a picture of a chip ;)

And soup... (that he didn't eat)

And a blue cup ;)

My fall table center piece too ;)

My redneck version placement of the Johny Jump Up - in the closet next to the kitchen - it's perfect!

This kid is a PRO jumping - he totally gets the boingy springy action down pat!

There's that tooth coming in and the second one just broke through.

LOVE those baby browns :)

More painting :)

This girl LIVES for painting.

I've accumulated a few helpers to feed Rowland - he doesn't seem to mind. :) and I have found Ross has a knack for leading the waltz. ;)

Cute helper number one!

Cute helper number 2!  LOVE that girl's eyes :)

We also went to Garden City for a youth activity since Steve is the Young Men's president.  We ended up going late and then made it to their free zoo for about 35 minutes...we did get to see lemurs and flamingos, but all the other animals were getting taken inside - so we got a bunch of pictures with statues instead, ;)  We had some dinner at Ihop, I went crazy at Hobby Lobby (90% off Halloween!!) and then came back home.  Woot woot! 

Lions were inside so Ruby hugged this one.

Turtles were sleeping - so we saw this bench instead ;)

And we saw a praying mantis

This fish were out though!

Also started a happy fuzzy and a sad fuzzy jar to fill - happy FILLED jar gets a fun time out with mom or dad, a sad FILLED jar gets something taken away.  VERY useful. :)

We also got a lovely cocktail of illnesses that everyone so generously passed around from runny noses to coughs to pink eye!!  BLAH.  I think it's finally gone now though.  Here's to wishing for a healthy winter.