This is Halloween, This is Halloween

Happy Halloween!

This year Brynlee dressed up as Sally Skellington from The Nightmare before Christmas. And Jace and Spence were Lego Batman and Lego Hulk. And honestly, I ran out of time (our world has been busy, busy lately) so Marlee went with costume Plan B and she wore a dinosaur costume out of the bottom of the Halloween tote and I wore some Disneyland Minnie Mouse ears and declared it Halloween success. Three completed costumes out of five ain’t bad, right? Right.

Hope your Halloween was chocolate covered. I can’t believe it’s November! Sheesh.

Team USofA

It’s raining. It’s becoming an expected afternoon ritual around these parts. Rain, rain and more rain. I think Idaho is confused. But the rainy change of weather has forced us to slow down a bit this week. It’s been a very welcomed change of pace actually. Aside from a much needed grocery store run, gymnastics and Jace’s Kindergarten screening I don’t think we’ve left the house. It’s so not typical of me, but it’s given us time to recharge and relax. We needed that.  

I can’t believe it’s the fourteenth of August. Thirteen measly days and school starts up again. Shesh. And Jace is going to Kindergarten! It’s such a different experience and feeling for me than it was when we were in this same place with Brynlee. Jace is ready, and I'm more comfortable with what is to come. I’ve been here before – and I survived. We were reminiscing at dinner last night about when Brynlee went to her Kindergarten screening. She fought tears, and hid her face, and grabbed on to my arm for dear life. Jace actually ended up going into her screening with her because she wasn’t feeling brave enough to do it herself. He sat next to her and held her hand and gave her courage. Jace, on the other hand, marched right in there. He wasn’t shy, or hesitant, and certainly didn’t need my encouraging words to boost his confidence. He seems so much bigger and older than Brynlee did in that stage of life. And I guess he is. He turns six next month. I can’t believe it! I’ve got my fingers crossed that he and his little buddy, Kyle, get to be in the same Kindergarten class though. I think that was one of the hardest things when I sent Brynlee to Kindergarten. She didn’t know anybody in her class prior to school, and meeting new people has always been fairly intimidating and overwhelming for my kiddos.

I think I’m still going to try and post my capturing summer pictures even though the last one I posted was on June 15, and it is now August 14. Oops. Lame that I didn’t keep up on it. I’d hoped to do better but I think, for the most part, I still took pictures every day. I just never got around to actually posting them. But for the sake of journaling I think I’ll still take the time to complete it. Just for me. 

But first a few pictures from the 4^th of July. Because I never posted any of those either. And because it’s one of my favorite holidays. And because it’s raining. And because the kids have friends over, and Marlee’s asleep, and it’s either post 4^th of July pictures or do the dishes. And I certainly don’t want to do the dishes.

you should have seen her inhale that cotton candy.  it was quite impressive.

the loot. an absolute favorite thing about the 4th of july party in my parents town.

it was so, so hot at the parade. there was about 2 inches of shade right in that corner. we all squished for refuge from the sun.

my kids learn all of their bad behavior from uncle jake!

i bet your insanely jealous of our smashing good looks.

jake let the kids take turn starting the fireworks. my favorite part was watching how fast they would run away after starting it.

also, notice brynlee's shoes. jace lost his at the firework show earlier that evening, so they would switch brynlee's back and forth while starting the fireworks. But seriously, how do you lose your shoes while watching fireworks? #takestalent

This Decmeber

Baby it's cold outside.

Decorating our 2013 Gingerbread house.

I'm not entirely sure what to say about this picture.

Toddler selfies. 

One of many.

She's a fool for my phone's camera. 

My favorite is when she accidentally changes the setting to video camera. 

They are so fun {and a little bit nauseating} to watch.

Also, I think that word is so lame. Selfie.

The Nativity.

Created by Brynlee.

Oh Christmas Tree.

Gingerbread men for the Christmas Tree in the toy room. 

Marlee ate at least half of every single cookie on the tree.

Money for the "giving jar"

Requesting roller blades.

Jace asked for superheroes.

Not a bit surprising.

It's been his requested gift every single year since he was old enough to talk.

Shopping for angel tree gifts.

December 16th. Post surgery. 

Kate came to hang out, and help out.
She was our lifesaver during surgery week.
This time she brought a big ol'drink.

Marlee thought she owned it.

I take that back ... she did crack a smile during her Christmas Program.

Pajama Day at school.

Plus, Santa showed up.

It's a good day to be a preschooler.

We scrape the sidewalks.

Jace scrapes the trampoline.

And then he comes inside and asks if I will make him cookies for all his hard work.

Snowman in the making.

Ta-da. All done.

They used cherry cheesecake cherries for the face. 

Just like Spencer and I did way back when in 2001.

Great minds think alike.

Or desperate snowman makers use cherries.

Or something.

Marlee thinks she belongs there on top of that table.

And she's such a permanent feature up there, I'm starting to feel that is where she belongs too.

My neck patient was getting a little stir crazy.

#mustgetoutside.

#needfreshair

#itsrainingitspouring

And I sent these two out with him. Because they too were going a little stir crazy. 

Skip-Bo always reminds me of my friend, Erin.

Legos from Santa's Elves.

Christmas Eve at our house.

Opening her 2013 Christmas ornament on Christmas Eve.

This year we went with the Disneyland theme.

All I wanted was one Christmas Eve picture in their new pjs.

Just one. 

They were way to hopped up on Christmas to be inconvenienced by a picture.

Adorable little punks.

Food for Santa's reindeer.

Christmas morning.

Pink, pink and pink.

Christmas is magic.

And my boy is handsome.

And then we lounged around all day.

It really is how Christmas was meant to be spent.

For obvious reasons, I'm going to go ahead and title the next two pictures 'Jake's a dork'...

Where Chloe performs every child's favorite trick.

I remember doing this to my dad.

Over, and over, and over again.

Grandpa is the best. 

Even ask Max and Marlee.

He gives free rides.

An adios to Christmas Disco Dance Party!

It's New Years Eve and Jami is EXCITED!

New Years Eve with Brynlee, Brooke, Spongebob and Patrick.

And with that I'm off to bed. Night.