Backed up to NOVEMBER!!!! WHAAAT!!!

I am more than half a year behind!!!!  I just made a book online from my blogging in Seattle, and I love it!!!!!!  I definitely want to keep this up if I can, which means more commitment from me!!!  I take lots of photos on my phone, so now to keep up with writing little bits here and there!!  My laptop is about out of battery so for tonight I shall take a break, but I would like to get back up to date on it.  I am going to try….

Clara's Royal Celebration and Will's Tough Truck Party

Clara and Will's Celebration!!!

We had a super fun birthday weekend celebration.  We decided to have Will and Clara's birthday parties together since it is such a busy time of year.  It's amazing that we had a house full of people so soon after moving here.  Thanks to all for accepting us and we are sooo lucky to have our buddies, The Bradley's, here with us!!  

We gave the kids their big gifts the morning of the party so that they had a chance to play with them before we made them share.    Clara loved her kitchen, but went right over and tried to take over the tool bench.  The drill was a big hit and the most fought over item.   Will loves his tool bench and tools!  Not quite as much as his cars and trucks though.

We had a busy day getting ready for the party.  We are so lucky that our wonderful babysitter, Jess, had decorated a ton for us!  Not sure we would have been ready without her help!  We ordered the cakes from Hy-Vee and they turned out awesome!!!  We were thrilled.  So much better than me slaving over a cake that turns out lopsided!!  Haha!

The kids did great during the party.  Everyone had some kids their own ages around, so they mostly played and did their own thing.  It was just super busy during dinner and cake.  Glad to have a basement to send the craziness to!

Clara had been staring at her cake all night and begging anyone and everyone to give her some.  As soon as we set it down in front of her she started picking off the bushes and trees and eating the frosting.  We had to stop her so we could sing Happy Birthday.  Will also started mauling his cake immediately.  There was no stopping him!

We had a wonderful night and are so happy to have some friends :)  A great celebration!

Party Morning - Clara gets a play kitchen.  Thrilled!

Party Morning - Will gets a tool bench.  Awesome!!

Clara's sooo excited because she's been begging for cake for the past 2 hours.

Digging in!

We can't wait anymore!!!!

Ella, Clara, Will and Jack!

Pure Chaos!

Fighting over the truck covered in cake!

Clara and her friend and neighbors, Emma!  Thanks for the gift!

Clara's preschool Veteran's Day Parade

Preschool Veteran's Day Parade

The preschool marched around school and celebrated our veterans.  So cute!!  

Loving Clara's smile and excitement :)

November Picnic

Had a nice little picnic out on our deck on a November weekend.  The weather was gorgeous and the kids loved it.  There were no mosquitos....although the party ended early when the yellow jackets found our PB&Js and fruit.  Enjoyed this late season special treat!

Grace and Evelyn's Gymnastics Fun Meet

 Grace and Evelyn had their first scored gymnastics meet.  They did so great.  We were soooo proud of them.  Grace had practiced with Nate and she she did really well.  Evelyn was soooooo brave.  She looked so little out there and she just tried her little heart out.  We was adorable.

Grace took 2nd place in her level and age group and Evelyn took 4th place in her level and age group.

It was an awesome experience!

  

My baby is growing up!!!!! I'm not ready!!!

Will and his big boy haircut!

Another favorite of Grace and Ella

Halloween

Here is the start of this post.  Will be adding more when I download more photos from my camera.

Halloween Superheroes

Had a great Halloween!  Kids had school parties and I worked in the lunchroom so I got to see all the hustle and bustle.  The kids had lots of energy!  

We rushed home, got changed and pictures done.  Nate got home and we went up the street to our neighborhood's chili cook off.  A really nice get together before the trick or treating.  Once it got dark we took all 4 kids to a few neighbor's houses.  Will thought it was awesome to walk up and get candy...although he wanted to eat it all right then.  I brought Will and Clara home to hand out candy (which Clara LOVED!) and Nate, Grace and Evelyn went on trick or treating for awhile longer.  

The kids got lots of yummy treats and were exhausted and fell into bed!  A great busy Halloween!!!!

Nananananananananana Bat Girl!!!!!!!

Grace

Flash is fast!!!

Clara

SUPERMAN!!!!

Will

SuperGirl Hero Princess

Evelyn

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

Soccer Girls

Grace and Evelyn loved soccer this year.  It has been great for Nate and I, too!  It's the best way for us to meet other parents!  And we get to see them every weekend.  It really helped us get to know people right of the bat.  Grace and Evelyn both lack competitiveness and stamina on the soccer field, but they have a lot of fun.  It's only mildly painful for us to watch them - ha!!!

Chiefs game with good friends!!

Girls and Boy

We've been lucky enough to have dinner with the Bradley's semi-frequently.  Here is a photo of the kids when we put a video on for them at the end of the night.  We thought it was hilarious how the girls all pile up on one couch together, and Will decided to take the big chair all by himself.  

Special Person Day - Grandma Sharon's Visit

Grace and Evelyn celebrated special person's day at school.  We invited Grandma Sharon to come down for a visit and attend this event.  The girls were so proud to have Grandma at school.  Sharon also got to drop Clara off at school with me, and we took Grace and Ev to lunch after their early dismissal.  We are so thankful for Grandma's visit.  First for special person day and also because Nate was out of town.  We loved having her here to keep us company and, as always, we were sad to have her go.  

Fall Festival

We are making an effort to attend more church activities since we are settled and hoping to be here for a very very long long time.  Our first big event was the Fall Festival.  This event was put on beautifully.  They had a bunch of bounce houses for the kids, delicious food, beer, spray tattoos, raffles and dancing.  Grace and Evelyn loved it and loved seeing their friends out in a fun atmosphere.  

Nate and I were impressed by the event and thrilled with the new parish and school!

Will and Mommy's days out

Will and I have been doing some shopping.  I'm having quite a bit of fun one-on-one with him.  I am amazed by his LOVE of trucks and all things construction.  It is a fun change from all of the princesses and Dora.  He's a wild little boy in the stores, but has been a trooper.  Thank goodness for videos on my phone to help me get things done while keeping him occupied.  I just love this little boy!

Clara's First Day of Preschool

This girl is sooooo excited to go to school!!  She is pumped.  She's been counting down the days.  I wasn't worried about her at all.  She marched right in and started playing.  When it was time to pick her up, she ran right out, smiling from ear to ear.  She really is so independent for a little 2 1/2 year old.  I forget how young she is all the time.  She's got a temper, with a very sweet side.