Fall is in the air...

It's that time of year again; the leaves are changing, it gets dark right after dinner, the mornings bring a layer of frost on the lawn, hot chocolate is a nightly craving, crock-pot stew dinners 'hit-the-spot', we put a thicker comforter on the bed (which makes it even harder to get up in the morning), our tans are fading, we are getting used to our school routines, we have the thermostat changed from AC to heat, we are breaking out our fall/winter clothes & putting away our flip-flops, we are in the mood to bake more goodies (is this the reason it's so easy to put on a 'winter-coat' every year?!), and we seem to crave watching movies cuddled up under the blankets!! It's also that time of year for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch! We were sad that we weren't able to make it to our traditional pumpkin patch in Oregon (which we've been going to for the past 7 years), but we've found a new one this year here in the Boise area, and we all had a great time. I'm sure it will be our new traditional destination, it was just perfect! We were so lucky that we had a fabulous weather day. It was 78 degree t-shirt weather while we searched for the 'perfect' pumpkins!! Here are some snapshots from our 'punkin' day!

(as usual, click on the collages to enlarge)

Dan and I would both love to live at a place like this one day.

The kids excited to get to our destination!

What's a 'punkin' patch without a corn maze?!

We took a hay ride to where the pumpkins were!

It took the kids a while to pick our their 'perfect' pumpkin!

The kids favorite part of the day was this tractor pull ride.

Showing off their prizes!

Halloween is just around the corner.....can't wait!!!

Short....but very Sweet!

We had a really enjoyable weekend spent with great company. Dan's parents drove to Boise from Illinois for a fun visit! We are lucky enough to get to see them at least once, sometimes twice a year!! This trip was shorter than usual, but we enjoyed every minute of it! The kids just can't get enough of them. They were 'wired' from the minute they got here, last Wednesday, until this morning when they drove away. They were full of jumping, laughing, screaming, dancing, wiggling, eating, playing, and eating some more!! It was really cold, wet, and rainy all weekend so we had to do indoor activities, but still managed to keep busy and have fun. Here are some of our favorite moments from our weekend together.

We spent our first day at the Discovery Center, a perfect place for a rainy day!

And the kids talked G-ma and G-pa in to taking them to Toys R Us. They each got to pick out a toy. KJ got a microscope, Jack got a Thomas music book (surprise, surprise), and Olivia got a cute my-size ballerina! Can you say, "Spoiled"?!

One of our many yummy meals!

We went to see 'CLOUDY with a chance of MEATBALLS' in 3D, we all loved it!

Olivia can't wait to see this movie!

On our lazy Sunday we played games, ate good food, watched movies and gobbled up the ice cream!

We learned a very good money saving tip, don't buy toys, just get kids a box to play in! Hours of fun for no money at all!

Drive home safe Grandma and Grandpa, and thanks for coming to visit!!!

We miss you already :(

One Year Blogiversary and 'Thriller'!!!

I am proud to say that I made it through my first year of blogging!!! I am so glad that I started this, as it has been a fun way for family and friends to get a glimpse of the happenings in our lives. I have learned that my memory isn't as sharp as I once thought. When something happens with my kids I always think, I'll NEVER forget that moment, and then tonight as I was looking through some old posts, I realized that I have already forgotten so much! Am I getting old??? Maybe it's all the lack of sleep over the past few years! At any rate, it's been fun going back through the past year's posts and 'reminiscing'! To celebrate, here is my new favorite video of Jack!! This kid never ceases to have us all laughing! It's also a tribute to the 'Great' Michael Jackson (who passed away in June) and proof that his music will continue to live on!! It's my kids favorite album right now and this is what happens every time we get to the end of the song "Thriller!" Enjoy!

(and here's another video of the kids and 'Thriller', KJ wanted to be in one too!)

Can't wait to see what the 2nd year will bring!

some firsts...

Keaton participated in his very first Kid's Fun Run Race last weekend and he did awesome!! It was a 1 mile run and he came in 6th place overall and 3rd place in his age division. He was so proud of himself for not having to stop at all during the run. Of course, we were proud of him too! It's fun to see him growing and starting to enjoy the 'big' kid activities.

at the half-way point

Headed for the finish

Dad is so proud! (Dan did a 5k as well and did great too!)

He is so proud of his ribbon! He also got a goody's gift card for placing 3rd!

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We also went up to the lake and he tried waterskiing for the first time as well! He did NOT want to do it, but once he got up, he loved it! We went with some family and friends and I think it helped to see some of the other kids trying it. (It's the best beginner ski, super wide and connected so they can't do the splits!) I asked if I could try it, but they thought I was a bit too big! I did try the Air Chair though and I am glad to say that I got up a couple of times, it was the best! It feels like you are just floating in the air, or as Troy would say, 'riding on a magic carpet!' I was glad to get one more trip to the lake in before it turns too chilly!

KJ started out in tears....

then it turned in to a laugh cause he got up...

then he was all smiles and wants to do it again soon!

Olivia and her buddies! They are so cute!!!

Here I am on the air chair! I'm not as graceful as the guys, but at least I tried, right?!

Here are some other pics I took of our day at the lake! As you can see, I was the rookie of the day! Next year I'll try to be a little bit more daring!!

(click to enlarge)

With Fall officially starting tomorrow, we officially say Good-bye to summer! It's certainly been a busy one, but has also been so much fun!

Little Olivia the Ballerina...

It's Olivia's turn to have the blog spot-light! She had her first ballet class and she was so cute, I just wanted to squeeze her! She's taking the class with her cousin and they had so much fun together. It's only a half-hour lesson which is perfect for a 2 1/2 year old's attention span. The only thing that was kind of sad was that the parents weren't allowed to watch the class. I understand why, but I was so tempted to just sneak-a-peek around the corner! I'll get to go watch a class after 6 lessons, I can't wait!! It's so much fun to have a girl....these are the moments I had always imagined having with my little girl! Now she doesn't just refer to herself as a princess, but a ballerina princess!

Jack turns 4....

I just dropped Jack off at his first day of his new preschool and he was so excited to go. I thought that while the boys were both at school I'd get this post done quickly. But I have been scrolling through all of the pictures that I have of Jack's life and I am just sitting here crying. How come time has to go so quickly?? I was going through all of the pictures of the day he was born and it just seems like yesterday. Everything about his first few days is so clear in my mind because he is such a miracle baby. Soon after he was born he was taken to the NICU because his little body was shutting down. It was the hardest and scariest thing I have ever been through. We finally learned about his MCAD and we got everything in control and I was so glad to be able to hold him again without all those IV's in his tiny little head. I am thankful every day for modern medicine! I am also thankful that I had a C-Section. I know that sounds crazy, but if I would have had a normal delivery with him, I would have been home when his health went downhill and we would have lost our precious little boy. This is a common SIDS case. I knew Jack was special right from his first appearance in to this world. I remember while I was in the hospital, I was telling my Nana that he just had a special spirit about him! We are grateful everyday for Jack's fun, spunky, rambunctious, independent, happy, crazy, hilarious personality!!! There isn't a day that goes by, that he doesn't make us crack-up about something, and he makes us think about life a little bit differently which is always a great thing. He's a BIG part of this family and just having him gone for the past couple of hours, our home is quiet and just not the same. We love having Jack around and have enjoyed every minute of the past 4 years that he has blessed our lives. Happy 4th Birthday to our cute little Jack!!!

This is the most priceless moment, the first time you get to hold your precious newborn. (Here I am crying like a baby again)

Keaton was the most proud new Big Brother I've ever seen. It's fun to see the love these boys have for each other, they are best buddies.

I hate this picture of me, but it's the only picture we have of him being held in the NICU. He was usually in his little bed, but they'd let me hold him every now and then. The Dr.'s made me leave the NICU to rest and I hated leaving my baby in there, I didn't want to miss one breath, but they knew it was for my own good and recovery. It was a long, lonely walk from the NICU to my hospital room. Let's just say those were sleepless nights. I am glad they are behind me!

This was his first picture after we were able to take out his IV's!! He was so cute!

We made it home!! This was his first picture at home!!

Jack's First Birthday!

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday @ Lake Tahoe

Jack's 4th Birthday!!!!

We had his party at his all-time favorite place....the pool! He LOVES to be in the water!



This year he is really in to Spongebob!! So, of course, he wanted a Spongebob party!

Make a wish!

His biggest accomplishment of the year.....He's potty-trained!! YAY!!

Today was his first day of Preschool!! It's such a cute place, I hope he has a great year there learning and playing!

Ready to go....

They have this little rock wall in his class, he was so excited to climb all over it!

We love our little Jack! We hope this year is just as great as the last! xoxo