Halloween 2012 on November 3rd!

Well Hurricane Sandy pushed our Halloween night to November 3rd.  The Township declared that Halloween would be moved and at first I thought it was strange but I guess trick or treating in 40 degree weather without rain is better than 40 degree weather with rain!  The kids didn't seem to mind and I was glad that there was no Trick or Treating on a school night.  Enjoy the many many photos!

 I actually sewed Abby's Costume this year.  No Glue Gun!  Well, that wouldn't be entirely true because there was this one little part of trim that didn't want to stay down and the hot glue gun did the trick.  I even made the belt and quiver.

This ferocious bear was too cute for words.  I just wanted to squeeze him and kiss him all night.

 Watch out all you criminals!  Iron Man Jacob is here to save the day.  He took his super hero duties very seriously with light saber sword in hand too (see last photo)  The kids trick or treated their little hears out while the adults had little party under the heating lamp in the garage.

 This photo was taken with some of our neighbors who the kids play with all the time.

Ward Halloween Party 2012

 Jacob (Iron Man) Abby (Merida from the Disney Movie Brave) Bryson (Abby's Bear)

 It's always a good time at the Ward Halloween Party.  The kids played games and went Trunk or Treating.  We also enjoyed a Hot Dog and Chili Dinner.

 This little bear slept through the entire thing until the end when it came time for Trunk or Treating.  This baby enjoyed his first dumb dumb sucker!  He loved it!

First Day in Second Grade!

Abby picked out her very own First Day of School Outfit right down to the shoes which we embellished with rhinestones.  She told be this morning that she felt like she was wearing "teenager shoes".

 Here she is with her guy pals.  She plays in the forest behind our house with these boys (and Jacob) almost every day swinging on the vine and building fort!

Abby with her gal pals.  Do you see that line of cars?  There were 30 cars and a whole bunch of kids lined up at the bus stop and that's just for the elementary schools.

 Jacob is so sad that all his "friends" are away at school.  He keeps asking when his bus is coming.  So sad he has to wait 2 more years.

Fish Update and 6M Check UP

Well apparently Abby's little orange guppy jumped out of his bowl (I didn't know they did that!) and died while we were at Bryson's 6M check up.  RIP little orange fish, you were our favorite.

Here's what Bryson is up to:

• 17 lbs 12 oz
• 27 inches long
• He's crawling all over the place.
• He prefers to walk while holding your hands (just like Abby)
• He has 4 teeth and prefers to eat grown up food
• He can drink out of a cup perfectly and LOVES ice water
• He still won't take a bottle but we're working on it
• He gets super excited to see his Dad and super duper excited when Mommy comes in the room
• He loves the Wii remotes, the TV remote, and our cell phones ( go figure )
• He pulls himself up to standing, especially in his crib
• Loves music and has even started moving to the beat.

Gosh, this boy is so cute and fun!

Brothers, need I say more :) 

My Baby, Officially a Mom of 4!

A few months ago Abby brought home some guppy fish from school.  She had spent some time learning about them in school and got to keep the ones she had studied.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a pet person, even fish are questionable.  But when your daughter starts a question with "Well, I know you're just going to say NO!" you think twice, right?

So, we got a fish bowl and food and the works and the 2 fish have been happily living in Abby's room.  She feeds them and Andy cleans the fish bowl (I had to do it once and it was so not fun).  Anyway, Abby came to me one day and said, "Mom, I think one of my fish is pregnant!" Great, I thought, just what I need, more fish.  I quickly told her that we are NOT breeding fish and that she will have to give the fish away, take them to the river, or let the mommy fish eat them (apparently that's what guppies do...eat there own babies)  Abby was appalled at the 2nd and 3rd option. I'm such a mean mom right?

I was working in my office this morning when Abby came running down the stairs breathing so hard she could hardly speak.  I immediately thought someone was hurt!  She then said "come quick my guppy had her babies and she's going to eat them!  Jacob actually discovered the teeny tiny fish thank goodness otherwise they may have all been "breakfast".  I ran upstairs with a bowl and the net to fish out the adult guppies.  When I got to them there were 4 baby guppies left (10-15 babies are normal).  Abby is so Happy, she is now the Mommy to 4 baby and 2 adult fish.

 She is so proud!

 The 2 big fish separated from the babies

If you click on the photo (to make it bigger) you might be able to see the baby guppies, they are sooo small. They are towards the back of the bowl.

Summer Fun in Cali part 2

Going to the Family Cabin every Summer has been a yearly tradition since I was born. I have since taken my family every Summer and hope to continue the tradition!

We enjoy eating outside

Climbing on tree stumps and going on walks

We went to the lake everyday.  Bryson looks particularly awesome in his suit.

Mom and Dad celebrated 39 years of marriage while we were there.

I think every member of my family has a picture of them on this rock.  There one of me at this age that is almost identical.  Hopefully I can find it and post it.

Climbing on Rocks is always a must

The cabin got a new couch which is awesome!  If I had a picture of the old one you would understand how nice this one is.  The kids were all playing Fruit Ninja on their various i-pod, phone, etc.

Bryson is such a fun baby, I love his kisses

And finally our tradidional picture of everyone in front of the Cabin.

Summer Fun in CALI part 1

After our 6:30 AM 5hour flight to CALI the kids went directly to the pool.  They have been living in Grammy and Grandpa's pool ever since we arrived!

You'll have to click the photo to enlarge it in order to see that Jacob's floaties don't match.  That's because Grammy bought him Sail Boat floaties and then he found 1 random Spider Man Floatie in the pool toy box so Off Went the Sail Boat floatie in favor of Spider Man

 Bryson's Big Cousin "C" turned 1 and we had a pool party for him.  He is so so cute and super fun.  He thought Bryson was pretty cool too. 

Oh My sweet Jacob

Oh Jacob, my little sweet baby boy, what has happened to you?  It seems like only yesterday you were wanting to kiss and hug everything and everyone in site and now you can't get enough of wrestling and boxing and karate and you name it.  It's great when you're with Daddy and are playing but when Daddy isn't around anyone is considered an opponent.  I am really tired of hearing, MOM!  Jacob hit me!  So I saw this at the store and thought "perfect" you can take your obsessive need to hit out on a punching bag.  I remember my brother having one of these and thought,"Hmm, maybe this is something you are supposed to buy for boys so they don't beat up everything in site!  Look how happy you are :) and it worked.  I was free from having to hear the complaining from your oh so innocent sister and peace was restored.  That was until you beat the thing to death and after a few patches and repairs we had to say goodbye. 

Bryson 3 and 4 Months Old

 Bryson at 3 Months.  He is such a sweet baby and really ready to do more with his body.  He almost always has his hands in fists.

Bryson at 4 Months.  He is really Smiling a lot and talking so much.  He can roll over, scoot, and sit up for a few seconds on his own.  He is such a fun baby! He has 2 teeth already and growing way too fast. 

15.5 lbs and 26 inches long.