Happy New Year!

You should've seen Charlotte & Emma's faces when they tasted this sparkling apple cider....hahah!

Em said she thought she got the most sour-est cup of them all :)

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Mexico

 ::en route

 ::walks on the beach

 ::visit to the ruins in Tulum

::lots of pool time

Happy Birthday Emma!

 Emma had her birthday earlier this month.  She invited her friends over for a groovy party.  They beaded, played Twister + pin the nose on the smiley face, and received tie dyed socks in their goodie bags.

This was a special birthday for Emma.  She turned 8 + she chose to be baptized.

Thanks to all who celebrated Emma with us.  Happy Birthday Emma!

This Boy

In the days before Cole, we'd watched a few Batman episodes.  These days, we're always watching Spiderman, Batman or The Hulk.  

This boy cracks me up.  When he first found this mask, he'd put it on and state, "I'm bad guy.  I'm bad guy.  Roar!"  Now, he runs around yelling, "I'm soup.man!"  Much better. :)  

 

Cole was excited to be a pirate this year.  It might have had something to do with the sword...

Arrrrrgh!

Happy Boo-thday!

::The kids right before trick or treating.  Maybe next year I'll get a picture with some daylight....

 ::Amanda had a royal birthday party and celebrated with some of the other princesses she knows.

 ::She fancies saying, "I'm a decade old!"  That was one quick decade.

::And she finally completed her Harry Potter collection.  Thanks to all who celebrated Amanda with us.  It was a great weekend!  

October

This October we....::met our new little nephew/cousin Dexter. He's so cute!
::disemboweled a few pumpkins. Cole + Amanda weren't that into it.
::brought Autumn to the entry. Houndstooth + plaid + wooden buttons.
::decorated for Halloween.

She Can See!

We finally got Amanda in to see the optometrist. She hasn't been able to see the board at school......which can be a problem :) So she's had a banner year-broken arm, glasses.....next up braces! Just kidding.

Bye Bye Baby Locks!

I have been ready for Cole's hair to be cut for a few months now. And I have been trying to convince Bryan to get it cut :) He liked the longer look. Turns out, after all of my convincing, all it took was one comment from the clerk at Hardware Sales about his little girl :)
Cole left the house looking like a baby, and came back looking like a big 2 year old.

Canoeing the Nooksack

Bryan has wanted to canoe as a family for awhile now. It's just been a matter of convincing me to go :)

I have never been in a canoe before. A point which was established minutes after leaving shore. I sat in the bow of a canoe with my son + my father. We spun around countless times as my dad shouted out commands-none of which I comprehended. Apparently I am lacking in canoe competency.

Paddle I knew this one.

Capsize I was hoping we didn't.

Collision happened pretty often in my canoe. The river bottom. The other canoe. Repeat.

Flatwater turns out this is my favorite kind of water.

Float Plan just follow my husband's trail for the best route down the river.

Stopping for dinner.
Cookies made this boy happy.
We were racing to get back before the sun set. It was a fun night.

Last Minute Summer

In the last week or so of good weather here in the NW, we finished up some things which were still left on our Summer To Do List.

Labor Day, we went to Lake Whatcom (without the camera). But the Saturday before that, we went out to Birch Bay.We played in the water. And collected crabs + shells.
We barbecued.
We attempted to fly a kite.
We had s'mores.
And watched the sun set.
Later that week, we canned some peaches.
And made some peach pies.
And we made another round of dolls for birthdays, baby showers + just because.

Fall Mantel

Last week, I reluctantly took down the Summer mantel. It wasn't my favorite at first, but then it kind of grew on me. Let's hope this season is the same.I attempted to bring Fall to the family room....I'm still working on it though. Right now it's more of a back to school theme. Then we'll add + subtract for Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Something new in our home is this school days collage from my mother-in-law. It's pretty cute.

Day One

Today, the first day of school found us eager, excited, and ready on time! Sadly, it also found little brother repeating, "I go bus...momma, I go bus...pease?" Thursday morning is gonna be a hard one when all three sisters board the bus :(

Happy Birthday Cole!

My baby is two years old!Cole loves Thomas the Train-among other things.
When Bryan lit the candle, Cole yelled, "Fire!"
And then he blew it out like a champ. A couple of mighty blows. And some spit :)

We were lucky to have so much of our family celebrating with us.

He loves his new Thomas the Train.
The birthday boy all ready for church.