Family Pictures 2010

Ok, ok, I know we get load of photography sessions.  But it really helps when you have a talented family member at your disposal.  These are the photographs NOT chosen for our Christmas card this year.  But I LOVED them ALL!  I really don't think there is a picture I didn't like!!  thank you kathy!

If you would like to schedule a session for your Christmas card go to her site HERE.

can't resist

Ummm, really, REALLY want to win this so I can get a christmas present this year!

http://nienie-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/tamron-lens-review.html

Halloween 2010

Kams aka "Tinkerbell"

Syd aka "little chick" 

(also take special note of the baby doll she is holding.  G'ma Crouse gave it to her for her birthday present only days before, not knowing this was her halloween costume and it was a PERFECT match.)

Gracie aka "Fairy Princess" (for preschool) and "Tigger" (for Trick-or-Treating)

We took the girls to the ward Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday night and then Trick-or-Treating Sunday.  We went to a cute little neighborhood that is quite popular for Halloween (probably because it's not in the ghetto and not too scary to walk around the neighborhood).  (Also where it says "popular" please read "CROWDED".)  The girls LOVED going door to door and getting treats.  Kami's favorite part was asking permission and petting all of the dogs she could find.  We have kind of had a Halloween tradition of letting the kids eat whatever candy they want for one night and then the candy disappears (sadly, most of it is thrown or given away).  We thought it was genius, and it had worked in the past to get rid of everything so it wasn't a temptation to them or us later.  3:00AM hit and Gracie was puking chocolate (Reese's PB cups if you want to know the gory details)--YUCK (I think it's going to be quite a while before she or I can eat one of those again).  Luckily we had made it to the bathroom, although not to the toilet.  We are good parents, I tell you.  Poor Lance always ends up getting puked all over, and so then I always end up cleaning up the mess while trying to breathe through my mouth.  Good thing I love them!!  

First Day of Preschool (Round 2)

We have a girl so proud to be in the Kinder-bound class at preschool.  She LOVES going to preschool, but it wears her out.  We are lucky to be able to attend the same program as last year, as she will only be in attendance for six weeks before we move.

Sydney turns 1!

Sydney, Jack, and Ronin all turned 1 within a few weeks of each other. It seems like last week that we (Carly, Kinsey, and I) were all pregnant and delivering those babies! We decided it would be "easier" to have a combined birthday party so we could save on cost and time. Let's just say nothing is "easy" when I am involved! We added so many details, which by the way were super cute, that took a lot of time. But the plus side being we got to spend many evenings together (big plus, I LOVE these friends), and the party was a so much fun.

Seems like the theme for the moms was how many blog tutorials can you put into one party? Like those poms hanging ? I almost killed myself getting them up there. Ok, I didn't but it was a bit scary teetering on a small table.

Love the cupcake tower carly made? uber-cute!

quite simple decor overall

We had a lot of fun making the banners. I have made so many now that i am a pro!

Birthday babies on their thrones

my little princess

Jack tore his cake apart, well really he just enjoyed every bite!

proof i was there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BABIES!

and thanks to Carly and Kins for a great time!

Gracie is 4!

In case you are unaware Grace and Syd were born on the same day, Aug 3rd (also the same birthday as an aunt and cousin-kind of amazing. I wonder if it has anything to do with the new moon schedule or something). We haven't thrown a party for Gracie since her first birthday (before we moved to OR)! We had a "Berry" Fun extravaganza! All Strawberry Shortcake themed. It kind of snowballed into a big deal. We had 6 areas/rooms decorated for each of Strawberry's friends who each had an activity for the kids to do.

Ginger Snap invited them over to make gingerbread houses with candy. It was a blast!

"Eden's" house was perfect! I wonder why???

Raspberry Torte invited the kids over for some necklace making. (she runs the jewelry shop)

Huckleberry Pie had them over for fishing and bowling.

Orange Blossom had orange playdough for them, and Blueberry Muffin (who runs the library, in case you need to know) had them come and color fun strawberry shortcake character pages.

And Strawberry Shortcake herself had a cake and ice cream, and strawberry drink for all!

I loved how Gracie's banner turned out!!

Gracie picked out the castle cake online! She LOVED it.

She had this expression for every gift. Since she hasn't had a party since her first birthday she has never had the chance to open presents all on her own. She was in HEAVEN!! Thanks to all the friends who made her day so special!!

Gracie is my little sweetheart.

Grace is everything you could want in a little girl...and then some. She is very much into the girlie things, the color pink, dress-up, dolls, etc, but loves to try new games and run around (but she is not much for getting dirty). She loves reading and learning, loves playing on the computer and watching movies, and watching Avatar (the last airbender(cartoon)) with her Dad(mostly so they can snuggle). Lance likes to say that his favorite thing about her is her imagination and although it causes us to check more often for monsters (it was alligators and foxes last time) in her closet, it is pretty neat that she will go off in her own little world and then tell us in-depth, really involved stories about all the things that she does when she is playing. She has begun really playing well with Kami in the last 6 weeks and will go over an hour in their room, quietly playing together and having so much fun! It is funny to see the kinds of things that she picks up from us and really funny to have our sayings and mannerisms played back to us from a four-year-old's perspective. For instance, she has begun cracking her knuckles just like Lance does, in the exact same disgusting way. We really enjoy her at this age and love that she is so helpful with her sisters and obedient. Last night she came out of her room and said "Dad, I just need some quiet so I can go to sleep" Too funny! (Kami gave her binkie up this week and is having a hard time settling down each night). We love our Gracie girl and although we like her how she is now, we are really excited to watch her as she grows. Love you GEM!

August Randomness

Down at the Fish hatchery

showing off the teeth. (two more have grown in since then!)

meet Herman. the sturgeon. he's HUGE!

I think Syd like spaghetti. maybe.

syd's first ponytail. she ripped it out in the car on the way to church.