December

December was a very full and fun month! 

We went to a craft day at the church where the kids made gifts for friends and family. I helped with one of the stations, so Hunter sat in the stroller and watched for almost two hours. He was pretty good. Every once in a while I'd hand him a different toy or a snack. Finally, Auntie Di rescued him. The other boys visited the different stations with their friends and were also very good! (I really do have very well behaved children! They are such a blessing!)

Hunter hanging out with Remi at the church craft day

We had so much snow this winter. The boys really did enjoy playing in it...that is when it was actually warm enough to go outside.

In the snow fort with daddy (notice the neon colored gun). I think they may have used all the snow in the yard to make it.

Listening to the movie on the headphones like a big boy

We have seen quite a lot of wildlife out the back windows of our house. Mostly in the field behind us. There is a squirrel that lives in the tree behind us. He runs back and forth all the time between the walnut tree, where he gets the nuts, and the other tree where he lives. The boys call him their pet squirrel.

Squirrel watching

So cute!

I got to go to both John and Noah's class Christmas parties. Hunter tagged along to John's too.

Snack time!

Making an ornament

Noah's class decorated Mrs. Ruchte (They also painted Grinch faces on the boys and did Cindy Lou Who hair on the girls. It was pretty cute!)

Mrs. Ruchte sending the class off with a sweet Christmas blessing

One weekend, Greg took Noah and John to the farm for a little hunting. Hunter and I stayed home so we got invited to the Gilbert Christmas. We are so blessed to be adopted into such a great family. 

Hunter opening his present (Or watching someone else do it for him...he wasn't quite sure what to do at first. It didn't take him long to figure it out though!)

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home. It was nice to just relax and enjoy the boys. On Christmas Eve, we went to church and then to dinner. Christmas Day, the boys spent nearly the entire day like this...

...putting together Legos.

We did find time for a few other things too.

Reading the Christmas story

Enjoying a few presents.

"Helping Hunter."

The day after Christmas, we went to Poppy and MiMi's to celebrate. Auntie Judy and Uncle Harry were in Texas, so we FaceTimed them.

FaceTiming (notice John's hat he made from pipe cleaners.)

Showing Auntie Judy his new toy (which she got him)

FaceTiming Auntie Kim who also couldn't make it.

We also got to go visit my friend from junior high who was also home visiting her family for Christmas. She has two boys.

Boys! (Pardon Hunter's bare legs... He fell in some water outside.)

Eryn and I with the boys (minus one who was sleeping)

Then we were off to Grandpa and Grandma's to celebrate. Greg has a very large family and Christmas this year was the first time in 10 years that everyone had been together at the same time. We took lots of pictures. 

You know how it's hard to get a good picture with all the kids? Greg was the problem this time. He got a leg cramp as we were trying to take the picture. 

Silly daddy!

Grandpa and Grandma with the grandkids

The whole family

John and Hunter wrestling Uncle Matt (I think he was trying to catch a little nap?? Not the right spot for that...)

Every year there is a pageant by the grandkids. This year, Noah was the drummer boy, Hunter was baby Jesus, and John was a lamb. They were all very cute!

The drummer boy

A fussy baby Jesus (Baby Jesus and Mary did ride in on a donkey.)

A zoned out lamb.

A night out for New Year's Eve.

You Never Know What He'll Say (or Do)

Greg and I went to the Cardinals game quite some time ago. The give-aways were harmonicas. Noah calls them "fur-monicas." John calls them "remonica." Noah was playing his and said, "Catchy, isn't it?"  

During Vacation Bible Camp, Noah tripped over his friend Canon's legs. Noah turned around and said, "Let's sit crisscross applesauce so that doesn't happen."

One afternoon, there was this strange sound. It sounded like a speaker was going out. I turned everything off, but the sound didn't go away. Hours later, I somehow found a vibrating teether under chair. The chair was sitting on it and it had been vibrating all that time...

John calls nectarines con-nectarines. I think it's very cute when any of the boys mispronounce something. Noah however feels the need to correct John.

A few times recently, I fixed cauliflower for dinner. I tried a few different ways. No one liked it (except me). The biggest kid of all (Greg) started a chant, "No more cauliflower! We want broccoli." (At least they were asking for an acceptable substitute!)

The boys were supposed to be picking up. John says "Noah is playing." Noah says "No I'm not. I'm just testing it." 

John says "What's it smell like in here?" Me: "Banana chips?" John: "No, I think I tootied."

John says something. When you ask him to repeat it, he says I don't know.

Noah says "skin" milk makes you have more skin.

We were at Greg's parents. Noah, Hunter, and I were sleeping in a room together. I whispered for Noah to be quiet because I didn't want Hunter to get up yet. Hunter then said, "shhhhhh,"

November

Just having a snack with Poppy.

Celebrating Poppy's Birthday with some Shakespeare's Pizza

Watching the deer in the field

Checking out the barn at Grandpa's

Just clownin' around.

So sweet (too bad mommy hasn't mastered the art of lighting yet!)

I'm too cute!

Pondering

21 Months

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving Program

With buddy, Champ

Check out my cool feather!

Noah crafting at his Thanksgiving Party

First Starbucks. Loved it! (and made a huge mess!)

Mmmmm!

I know I am so cute!

Giddy-up!

October

Noah's class studied the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah early in the year. To wrap up the week, they had a surprise birth party to celebrate the kids. It was very sweet. Mrs. Ruchte asked all the parents to send in a baby picture and special note to each of the kids. She also invited anyone who was able to come. (It also happened to be Cardinals spirit day.)

At the party

Mrs. Ruchte telling the kids how special they were

In looking through all the soccer pictures, almost every picture has these two on the ball. 

Buddies

Celebrating the season

Getting his trophy and a special playing card from Coach Phillip

Sadly, we did not make it to pumpkin patch this year. We tried, but the rain and school and work just seemed to keep us away. We just went to the local produce stand so we at least had some pumpkin pictures...and some pumpkins.

By the wagon

In front of the cornstalk horse (and it's raining again...)

If you can't get them all to look at the camera, why not choose one where no one it looking at the camera!?

We had a "few" friends over on Halloween for chili before trick or treating.

Truman the Tiger, Stegosaurus (John requested a stegosaurus, not just a dinosaur), and Monkey

The awesome pumpkins daddy and the boys carved.