Corbin turns 5

I can't believe my little Corbin turned 5 yesterday!  I don't know that I am ready to send him off to Kindergarten in the fall!

We had us a pirate party, Arrrr!  (luckily we didn't have any requests for showings on the house during the time I planned the party!

Showing off their tattoos...

We then had a treasure hunt for edible coins!

Pin the pirate flag on the ship...

This is what we had to eat...

Brownie Pirate ships...

We had Corbin's party a few days before his real birthday, but he truly believed that his party was his right of passage into his 5th year!

Corbin has definitely been a challenge this year but he also has so many great qualities I admire.  He is so gentle and loving when he wants to be, but he does NEED his wrestling time with Dad.  He is very energetic and lovable.  I still love the he twirls his hair with his fingers when get gets sleepy!

Dylan Turns 9

Turning 8 was a big milestone when Dylan was baptized.  The funny thing was the idea of him going to senior primary has felt like such a big milestone too!  I think that is just the way life is going to be around here- milestone after milestone.  

The only thing Dylan wanted to do for his birthday (February 5th) was to play a game of football- big surprise!  Luckily we were able to work around the weather and chose a 70 degree day for the occasion!  He was  in heaven...

Connor played all time QB for the game...

The game got even bigger when we picked up a few boys at the park.

I could barely pull the boys boys away from playing, even when offering them some cake and Ice cream!  Of course he asked for Utah Utes themed cake...

I have really enjoyed this last year with Dylan.  He has grown and matured so much.  Everywhere he goes people compliment his behavior and his teachers can't stop raving about him.  He even asks me often "Mom, what can I do to help you?"  What kid says that?  I am lucky to have him.  Sure he has his hard moments, but 99% of the time he is a dream!  He is super responsible about his time and about being a big brother!  I think he's pretty darn amazing!  But I am a little biased!

Christmas and More

It's been a "little" busy at our house trying to get a house ready for listing and showings, thus the long hiatus from blogging posts.  But we are thrilled that we get a chance to move back out West closer to family.  We will really miss our beloved Raleigh and friends!

Early December Dylan earned his Wolf. I think I should get a badge too!  He is an amazing kid.

Nini and Poger (Connor's parents) came to see us for Christmas- What a treat.  Here we are acting out the nativity...  Don't you have a princess on a red Donkey in your Nativity?

We enjoyed a variety of beverages for Christmas Dinner...

We enjoyed winter time swimming at Nini and Poger's Hotel.

Ashlyn just went back to school two days ago.  She has been tracked out since before Christmas.  About 6 months ago she asked to get her ears pierced.  I had her earn it but when time came, she decided she wasn't ready.  She announced she was now ready.  I was expected the worst (she can be a drama queen) but she didn't even blink an eye!  It's amazing how cleaning her ears causes her more "pain" than did the actual piercing!

Last week Raleigh had it's first "snow" storm.  Of course they were ready to shut the whole city down. (We will really miss the South!)  The ice was melted by noon but we did go out and play in what we could.  The trampoline was like a ice skating rink.

Of course Kamryn just wanted to eat it all (she loves ice).

Ashlyn and Corbin got to go to a really cool birthday party where they were "instructed" how to paint a painting.  But I am sure you can imagine how focused a room of mostly 4 year olds can be.  

Corbin is a swift painter.  Good and Done...

However, each day I learn more and more about Ashlyn's personality and how detailed oriented she can be, how much she desires to follow the rules.  I'm scared, cause I guess she is turning out more like me than I thought (except she doesn't get her sassiness from me, of course!)  She is very proud...

Thanksgiving in St. Louis

We were crazy enough to make the 14 hour drive from Raleigh to St. Louis to visit my older brother and his family who just moved there from Oklahoma.  My parents, sister, and grandma met us there. To break of the drive we stayed at a hotel and had a swimming party- a little bribery goes a long way... 

Carrie was the life of the party in the eyes of the kids.  She taught them how to play her ukulele (of course after an AMAZING performance herself- TALENT!!!)

Carrie's moto...

She even took naps with my kids...

As you can see Ashlyn idolizes her aunt, thus the matching clothes.

And is the baby whisperer...

Ashlyn never complained when Carrie did her hair- you can see why...

The kids loved playing together, Mr. Mouth was a big hit with the little ones...

 And phase 10 got played endlessly, especially by Morgan and Dylan...

And 5 month old baby Meg was a MAJOR hit with my kids.  They argued over who got to hold her.  Corbin would have taken her home if he could have...

 Then we went down town to go to the Gateway Arch...

We enjoyed the museum and learned a lot...

Waiting to go up in the arch...

In our pods...

All of us at the top...

 Looking at the city below on one side and the river and barges on the other...

And of course our 14 hour drive home we had to spice it up with some treats...

 Wishing you had a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving!  We are so grateful we had the chance to see family!  (and much, much more of course)

Bump Ahead

We are adding another little girl to our family....

Due to arrive the last week in April

Winning Season

Dylan just finished an amazing season of flag football!

As a parent you come into every season not expecting much, cause you can't.  We noticed early on that Dylan's team was mostly all...well, short compared to the other teams.  They lost their scrimmage game and also their first season game.  However, after that they found their groove, they learned to work together and pulled out victories for the rest of the season and also in their tournament game for the first place position!!!  They worked hard to get to the top!  I was so proud of them!  

Dylan was also the official, but very unofficial QB for the team.  After the first few games he struggled with this and complained to me that he wished the coach would put him in as a receiver when they played offense.  He realized how much pressure and sometimes disappointing it can be to be the QB.  But as the season continued he came to enjoy it and realized how much he was progressing.  He did an outstanding job!  I even overheard a parent from the opposing team talking to his wife who had missed the game say  "their QB was this short kid who could throw amazing!"  I'm just proud that he continued to grow even though it wasn't always easy!

This is Dylan's good buddy Johnathan.  This pair  made so many touchdowns!  They both have football blood.

Cleverly's

We love when our good friends, the Cleverly's from Boston, come to stay with us.  Luckily, they will be here to stay next month!!!  We'll practically be neighbors!

It doesn't hurt that our kids LOVE each other and can't get enough of each other! Oh and that our hubbies are Utah Utes football buddies and that Emily and I love to run together.  It's like a match made in Heaven!

Halloween

We sure had a Happy Halloween!  

Our Minion...

 Our pop star turned witch at the last minute...

 Dash...

 I tried to talk her into one of the costumes I made for Ashlyn but she was determined to be a witch...