2011 Catch Up - The first Snow

We got our first (and pretty much last) snow while Grandpa and Grandma Wirick were here for Thanksgiving.  I was working while they all played out in the snow.  They had so much fun.  Grandpa pulled Logan and Sam around in a sled, and Grandma helped Jack with the snowman.  They had already played in the backyard and made the cutest snow dog family.  We used the darling snowman set that Kierste sent us a few years back.  I was most excited about that part.  Logan would not wear a hat, but look at those beautiful rosy cheeks!

2011 Catch Up - Halloween

Halloween was an extravaganza this year!  Long before Halloween, we told Logan that he got to be a chicken, and this resulted in various conversations throughout each day where Logan would say, "I be a chicken for Halloween?"  He was thrilled and excited, and has not gotten over this.  When we asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he replied, "I be a chicken for Halloween!"   When he realized that people were going to give him candy, this quickly became the happiest day of his life!

We started the Halloween fun on October 28th.  There was a carnival at Jack's school.  The kids got to dress up, and I volunteered to help at the bounce house.  It was fun.  Sam dressed up as Mario.  The store bought  mustache was too itchy, so I painted one on him.  He is easy to impress and was certain that it was amazing.  At the carnival, there were 5 or 6 other Marios and one Luigi.  I would watch Sam walk over to Luigi and just stand by him with the biggest grin ever.  He would not speak to the kid, but loved standing next to him to complete his costume.  It totally cracked me up.

Jack was dressed up as either Obi Won or Anakin depending on how he had me do his hair and what color of lightsaber he was carrying.  These boys of mine come up with the funniest things!

On the 29th, we had a trunk or treat at the church.  Tons of candy!  On the 30th we carved our pumpkins.  We didn't make it to a big pumpkin patch this year, but we got pumpkins from scouts, the carnival, and our garden.  They were very thick skinned and difficult to carve, so they turned out, how should I say this, different than I would have planned if I could control the universe of pumpkin carving.  Tyler got out the power tools and had a blast.  I spent several days cleaning up pumpkin dust.  You can see that they are very happy with the results.

On the 31st, they trick or treated their hearts out and came home with very full bags of candy.  I stayed home and passed out treats, and Logan came home half way through to get warm.

I was really glad when the Halloween Extravaganza was over.

2011 Catch Up - September/Silverwood

Jack reads a ton of hours during the school year to earn a ticket to Silverwood. This summer went by way to quickly, so we went on the very last week possible! The weather was perfect, and the kids had a blast. Sam was just too short to ride the big rides, and Logan was finally big enough to ride the little rides with his brothers. Tyler and I always divide up and one goes and rides coasters with Jack while the other stays with the kids and lets them ride the kid rides. There are a few fun ones like the log ride that we can all do together. Sam was really funny this year. He loved everything, and he would make new friends at each ride. Logan got scared a few times, but enjoyed most of it. We even ran into some friends from the ward and the kids got to ride some rides with them. By the end, Logan was completely wiped out and Sam and Logan were both zonked before we even got out of the parking lot.

Jack was a great sport - he rode all of the little kid rides with his brothers.

 This baby roller coaster was Logan's favorite.  We rode it over and over again!

 Sam and Coen getting ready to fly in the helicopter.

 Tyler trying to convince Sam that is OK that he lifted him up in front of himself, so that he got most of the water from the log ride.

 How can this be comfortable?

That's it for September - bring on October!

2011 Catch Up - September/First Day of School

Jack was an old pro and very excited for his first day of 4th grade.  His teacher is Mrs. Graybill.  She is fabulous and it has been a great year for him so far.  He has already participated in cross country and special choir.  He is getting all As, and thriving.

 I had to let the kids do a silly pose before I could get them to pose nicely.  They are such goofballs!

Sam started Kindergarten.  It was hard to believe that he had already gotten so big.  He was ready and very excited about it all.  We were thrilled to get Mrs. Sevedge who was also Jack's teacher.  She is amazing and we love her.  She loves my kids and gives them the best kindergarten experience imaginable.  In Post Falls (the city we live in), all of the kindergarten kids go to one school called the kindercenter.  It is so fun to see them every day, just as excited as the day before, with their giant backpacks flopping around on their backs.  They laugh and hug and chase each other until the doors are open.  Sam goes to the afternoon session and then rides the bus home to the elementary school.  Jack picks him up from the bus and they walk home together.  Sam is also doing great and continues to test right at the top.  He can read and write, and he does it all with a grin.

2011 Catch Up - September/Labor Day Weekend

Before I start blogging about 2012, I have to get caught up a little.  I have some great pictures and activities that I have to record - starting with a really fun visit from my parents over labor day weekend.  It was extra special because they brought Jake with them.  We had a lot of fun.  We spent time at the Spokane River (swimming), Riverfront Park in Spokane, "The Lake", and hanging out having a blast.  Here are some pictures that I love.

The first group is from Riverfront Park.  The kids love this place.  There was a food festival going on the weekend we were there, so the boys got free slinkys from one of the vendors.  They then spent the whole time at the red wagon posing with the slinkys and begging me to take pictures.  The park also has this great old Carrousel that only cost $1, plus you can grab rings as you go around.  We also rode the gondola over the river, and watched an iMax show about elephants. 

On to the beach!  Jake wanted to swim in the lake and go fishing, so we made this trip a "2-fer".  The double stroller came in handy to pack everything down to the lake.

This is why you need to come visit us in the summer.  The lakes are gorgeous and warm enough to swim in.  The boys dared Tyler and I to jump off the pier and we did.  We spent the rest of the trip jumping off with the boys and swimming in with them.  Logan loves the water is totally fearless.  It was really good that we had 4 adults to keep track of him.  We met an extra little boy (green shorts) that hung out with Jack and Jake the whole time.  We really played hard with a water balls, tonka trucks, tubes, kick boards, swimming, fishing, climbing, and FUN!

Out another hotel window

Out of town again.  This is the view from my hotel window.  Can you guess where I am?  I am in sunny Yuma Arizona.  I am spending a week here going to meetings on the Marine base.  It is in the 70s, but there is a cool wind, so it doesn't feel as warm as I expected.  Still a lot warmer than what I left.  My Aunt and Uncle (Sandra, Don) are here, so we are going to meet up for dinner later tonight.  I am looking forward to seeing them.  I talked to the boys yesterday and they were doing great.  Logan is staying with the Taggarts during the day and is always excited to go to "My Kate's house!"  Good news is that he knows that when it is time to go to the Taggarts, he has to wear pants.  Hopefully he remembers to keep his clothes on!  Sam and Jack are going to the GAP program at their schools.  Jack loved it and Sam said that no one was mean to him.  I am scheduled to get home on Friday, but I am going to try to get home Thursday night.  Somehow, this whole Christmas thing needs to happen.  I really need an assistant!

A week of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year.  First of all, I took a week of vacation time - and I actually didn't work during my vacation.  A new world record for me!  Tyler had the brilliant idea of taking me away for a few days, just the two of us.  Sadly we have never done this since Jack was born.  That is 9 1/2 years folks.  His parents were coming for Thanksgiving and were happy to watch the kids overnight so we could run away.  We stayed at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane and enjoyed some great meals, fun shopping, a movie, and some much needed non-kid time.  It was all Tyler's idea and it was amazing!  I even got to play around on pinterest and find some ideas for my Thanksgiving table.  We also went grocery shopping (a luxury without kids) to get all of the Thanksgiving fixin's.

When we got back, it was time to start cooking.  Judy (Tyler's mom) and Jack were great helpers.  Jack wanted to do it all, so he made cranberry sauce, dips, helped with stuffing, sweet potatoes and rolls.  When we were done cooking, Jack also helped me with my centerpiece, boxes, and place cards.  Judy also helped with food prep and Steve (Tyler's dad) helped gather up chairs and get stuff ready for the big day.  While Tyler was not working, he was on Logan duty (full time job).

Thanksgiving morning was stress free as I finished up the prep until the sink clogged and overflowed.  Tyler and Steve fixed it up fast and it only put be behind a little bit.  Our friends the Rahlfs came for dinner.  They have three kids and another on the way.  Ashley brought the most beautiful rainbow jello that I have ever seen and it was so yummy.  Seriously people, I can't make regular jello, so I was VERY impressed.  The food turned out great, and it was just a wonderful meal with family and friends.  Everyone cleaned up dishes and let me take a rest - very nice.  I looked through some ads to see if there was any reason to get up early the next morning.  Answer - NO.

Later that evening we had the 9th annual Wirick pie night.  This Tyler's favorite tradition that we started while we were living in Nebraska (law school days).  He got so excited that he posted it on facebook.  I was a little worried that we would not have enough room for everyone, but it turned out great.  In attendance were the Rahlfs, Wiricks, Taggarts, Olsens, Nick (attorney from Tyler's office) and girlfriend, Zobels, Calkins.  That makes 16 adults and 21 kids.  I think there about 15 pies plus other goodies.  We sent the kids to play in the basement and had a great time visiting.  The pie was awesome, and I was exhausted!

On Friday, I spent the day putting up my Christmas decorations, we ran a few errands/shopped a little, and we got a babysitter so that the grown ups could go to dinner out at the Cedars.  The Wirick's left Saturday morning and Tyler and I spend Saturday cleaning up the pine needles in the yard left by the last storm and hanging Christmas lights.

Here are some pics of he Thanksgiving festivities (I forgot to take pictures of people, my focus was definitely getting it all ready to go.  The people were cute too :) )...

Too bad I had to go back to work on Monday.