misc pics

Here are some miscellaneous pictures I am putting together so I can get caught up.  This one of Abby is from awhile ago.  This is one of her (many) dollar store purchases.  The junk things you see in there and think, "who buys this stuff?" the answer is - Abby - and she actually uses it.  She loves this mask.  And she loves the Dollar Store. :)

 

This is one of Charlie's favorite outfits.  He loves this shirt and he loves these socks - so why not wear them together!

 

 

Ashley and Abby trying to make "foam mustaches".  Despite it really not working, attempts went on and on and on...

 

This is so typical.  Imagine a school day, Ashley without her glasses...again.  I tell her to go get them, 30 minutes later, still no Ashley, or glasses.  BUT - she has made 5 of these signs to put up around the house.

Abby notices the reward offer, hops up and comes back 30 seconds later with the glasses (hence the "found" notice written across the sign - which took the next 15 minutes). 

Charlie and Jonathan in a (rare) bath moment.

 

Matching - again! :) (yes, Jonny needs a haircut)

 

 

This is his "I am having such a hard time and I need some help" look.

 

Jonny's new seat for playing.  He is usually inside his toy box, which does allow extra room for visitors!

Still escaping...

 

If you haven't heard about the great Arctic Blast 2013 of the Northwest, well, we endured and managed to escape major damage.  Jonathan was tough enough to brave the elements for a photo op.

 

 

Jonnie's antics

I feel like a flashback to Abby when I write about Jonathan.  If I dare say, he may be giving us more of a run for our money.  He definitely keeps us entertained! (and on our toes)  He loves to get into everything, but the kitchen is possibly his favorite.  I will often feel sorry for him being "caged" all day and let him roam the kitchen with me while I make dinner.  It usually does not go well.  I am so focused and do not multi-task well, so it's often well after a disaster has been created that I will notice it.  He loves to empty the pantry, cabinets, and if I just let the fridge door close behind me as I walk away, he is inside of it before I know it.  Exhibit A:

 

He also has a really weird sense of humor with toys.  We've had this air-tivity table with all of the kids.  It shoots air out of the holes which, in turn, can make toys that you set on top of it move.  He is the first kid to try to eat the air.  Maybe he's starved?

When we went to Seattle we just put a bunch of toys in this basket and took it with us.  He seemed to be more attached to the basket than the toys.  The basket ended up in his cage and he loves to crawl in it now.  He's not so graceful getting out, but I guess that's no surprise.

 

In one of his quieter moments, here he is sitting and reading. (not common)

 

When we got the Christmas tree we had to relocate his cage.  We've had some trial and error with this.  We were smart enough to cover up the electronics, but apparently that wasn't enough.  I was tucking the kids in bed and came out to find Jonny like this:

 

 

The next day I was able to get a video of him in action:

 

So, we rearranged the gate a little, which really just delayed the inevitable.  This is his new tactic.

 

Which would eventually result in this:

 

We finally moved the toy box away from the gate so there was no room to climb.  The next time I came by I found him like this.  Maybe sulking?

 

I do not believe for a moment that he's given up. The little wheels in his big head are turning!

HBD & tree

It was another exciting birthday for the boys.  Andy is getting used to his day being filled with Ninja Turtles and Spider-man.  He is a good sport.  It was nice to have Andy home on his birthday this year.  Here is a picture of the birthday boys at breakfast. 

 

 

I made reindeer pancakes and bacon.  The whip cream that held on the eyes and nose kept mysteriously disappearing from the kids plates and had to be reapplied.  Numerous times. 

Ashley made a blueberry coffee cake.  I didn't get a picture before everyone started digging in.  It was good!!!

Jonathan got in on the action with the balloons.  Yes, I know it's not safe for babies to chew on balloons. 

 

Then, Andy went and cut down our Christmas tree!  Not your traditional field trip to cut down a tree.  We just walked across the street. (we had their permission) :)  Here is the tree before.  It was very tall!

 

Mid-process.  Much trimming took place.  We still have the pile of branches to prove it. :)

Voila!!  A little too tall still?

 

Happy #5 Charlie and #29 Andy!!

Seattle

We surprised Alli by showing up in Seattle for Thanksgiving.  Ian was in on it.  He may have incurred some trauma for having to keep that secret from her.  Nothing he won't recover from, I'm sure. ;)  Here is the video we took of us sneaking in the house and down the stairs.  We put Jonathan behind the couch where she was watching TV and, as you will see, she was quite startled when she saw him.

I momentarily felt bad for her.  I am just thankful she didn't blow out a knee or get a concussion.  That would be a Thanksgiving she would never forget!

Here is a picture of Jonathan on the table with a typical look from Alli.  Cute looks don't fool her.

This was the theme of the weekend.  It was a rare moment if Jonathan wasn't signing "more".  He would take food from anyone who cared - that number dwindled as the weekend went on.

On Saturday we went to a nursery to see Santa's spare reindeers.  And a camel.  Maybe they fly too.  Here is a cute family picture.  A good one for the Christmas card!! (not as good as last year though with a brand new baby Jonathan.  That would have turned some heads)

Here is said camel.

 

And Santa's back-up reindeer.  I think his name was Jingle. 

 

The kids got to help set up the tree.  This is becoming a fun tradition as well.  Alli and Ian are very patient with all of the "help".  Looks straight, Ian. :)

Decorations, galore.

Jonny found the stuffed snowman.

More decorations.  Good thing it was a big tree!

Charlie found the Santa hat.

And made Jonny wear it.  Not so much appreciated.  See Alli's look of compassion.  Case closed. 

Denver - Boys turn

If I haven't mentioned it before, we have been spoiled this year with trips to Denver.  I could really get used to this!!  We got the cheap tickets again which required another 3:45am departure from our house.  The trip definitely had a different feel to it from the beginning.  We had quite the adventure before we even got on the train.  I'll spare you the details, but just say this may have been the last "middle of the night" adventure solo. :)  Charlie was quite pleased with everything though.  He is easy to please, even at 4am.

 

Jonathan wasn't quite sure though.

The main point of the trip was for the boys to have some quality time with mom.  We learned that quality time is very different with boys ages 1 and 4 than with girls ages 7 and 10.  :)

Charlie did love getting most of the attention.  He had to fight off Jonathan for the putting game, but he didn't have to negotiate with the girls for movie choices which was huge.

 

Jonathan may look laid back here, but I failed to capture pictures of him un-alphabetizing the CDs, crawling up the stairs, attempting to crawl down the stairs, and generally thinking everything within reach was fair game.

 

 

Since we were there so close to Charlie's birthday, Grandpa John and Grandma Marge took him out to celebrate. He was on cloud nine.

 

 

Yes, he shared the sundae.

 

 

Charlie was re-introduced to the game of war and could not get enough of it.  Dad and Marge were troopers.  At one point, they had a game that lasted HOURS.  Marge had to wear sunglasses because the sun was so bright.  They should have switched ends of the field to take away Charlie's advantage. 

 

 

Jonathan found some rest on Grandpa's lap with a remote.  Funny how the feeling of control can occupy him for so long.  (Jonathan, that is.) :)

 

 

On the way out of town we were able to stop by the Ellers and see Laurel and the girls.  Charlie loved getting cousin time to himself. 

 

Laurel and Karis in a rare moment of rest for Karis.  She is a lot like Abby and they will have some adventures together, I'm sure, in their lives.

Keelyn and Charlie - making a game out of a tape measure.  I think Keelyn did most of the pulling.  Works great on hardwood floors. :)

 

Dad played guard on the stairs.  Someone had to be the bad guy.

As much as we missed the girls and Andy, it went by too fast and there was so much more we would have loved to do.  Guess we'll just have to go back. :)

Ash Piano

Here is the video from Ashley's recital in November. I paid her $1 to curtsey instead of bow at the end. Fastest buck she ever made. 

Halloween 2013

Top of our list for Halloween was our annual trip to KKD for our free donut.  This year Jonny counted for a person!! 

 

I was excited to eat his free donut, but he had another plan in mind. 

 

I thought he would at least share it.  He was a little possessive though.  Wonder who he gets that from.   

I especially like how he gathered all of the donut pieces into a little pile in the corner of the tray.  He also avoided making eye contact.

Even sister got the cold shoulder.

Abby was done first, surprise, surprise.

Charlie was last and didn't eat all of his.  Yes, I can always count on him for leftovers.

 

Ashley - the queen of slow and steady.

 

Yes, he ate it all, and yes, his sugar high time bomb was ticking.

He began with a frantic search for more.  Fortunately, we were able to get out of the store and home to place him in the safe confines of his crib before he erupted.

Here is a picture of the kids' pumpkins.  You can guess whose is whose.  Jack-o-lantern, ninja turtle, cat, owl.

It seemed to be an animal themed year.  Here is the dragon. 

 

And the owl.

 

Please admire the costume.  It was the only one I had to make and I finished it just before midnight the night before Halloween.  Procrastination. 

The cat.  This is the 3rd year for this costume.  Considering we paid zero for it (except the hat this year), it's probably one of my favorite costumes.  I am not retiring it yet! 

 

And the donut eating monkey.

 

 

This is the trick-or-treating group from the neighborhood.

Sofie and Ashley were matching owls.  Michelle got all of the material and cut out the pieces, all I had to do was take her leftovers and copy what she did.  That's as creative as I get.

The cats.  Charlie had taken his costume off at this point, so I guess he decided to be a cat.

 

One of my favorite parts of the evening is watching the kids (girls) sort their loot.  The chaos turns to order as they sort by type, flavor, size, whatever.

 

Candy taxonomy at its best!

 

A disadvantage to sorting though is that they notice when their "big Kit Kat is missing."  Just a hypothetical.  Not sure who would have taken it. :)