The Kids

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SNOW DAY!

12/19/08-We had our first snow day! The kids wanted to go out and play in the snow sooooo bad. I think I may have to invest in some snow pants and boots because I froze my tush off out there with them. They wanted to make snowballs, but all we ended up with was snowslabs. The snow from earlier in the week was a light snow and then we ended up getting ice/rain last night. It didn't make for good snowball weather.

As you can see Ethan found a branch that he instantly bonded with. He carried it everywhere. I was glad he didn't ask to bring it in! They both started eating the snow and thought that was pretty neat. Luckily we don't have to worry about yellow snow in our yard.

It was a great time and they can't wait to do it again tomorrow!

Gingerbread House

Our very first gingerbread house. The kids liked it, but the frosting dried really fast so they had to hurry and there was a lot of candy. The kids had the most fun after I was done using the frosting. Then they had fun piping it on a cutting board. After the house was done we put it in the front window. Ethan checks on it every morning. Next year I think we'll try the gingerbread men.

My first homemade video (with the help of Nick for the music).

December 1st-I got the tree set up in the morning and then after supper Madison and Ethan decorated it. They did ALL the ornaments themselves and I didn't move a single one. Last year, I let them put the ornaments on, but then I moved them around so they were spaced better. They did a really good job and only the very top is without ornaments. Madison can reach pretty high up this year and Ethan didn't put all his ornaments on one branch.

As you can see from the photos they were so excited to do the ornaments. I was able to get a lot of great pictures because they were so hyper and acting so goofy. Afterwards they played around the tree and kept looking at it.

The last pictures are of the kids posing for the Christmas picture for our Christmas cards. They did pretty good. I didn't add the actual pose that will be sent out, but I thought you'd enjoy the outakes.

Christmas Tree

A witch, a fireman and a candy Christmas tree. The kids picked out fake candy decorations for our little tree upstairs. This tree HAD to have multi-colored lights since the one downstairs has clear ones. Of course once I was ready to take their pictures with the little tree they were in the middle of some major dress-up fun. I said it looks like a combination Halloween/Christmas picture.

Rapunzel Scarf

Movie Night

11/8/08-On my way home I purchased Kung Foo Panda. I told the kids I would pop them some popcorn and we could all watch the movie. I was inspired by Jon & Kate Plus 8. If they can do it with eight kids we can certainly manage with 2.

Anyway, the kids were really excited and loved eating the popcorn. Ethan doesn't enjoy sitting for very long watching TV, so he got a little antzy, but after a while he just went to sleep. He must have been really tired because Madi was making all kinds of noise and was hyper after the movie and he never moved. My favorite picture is of Madi being a goofball next to Ethan while he's sleeping. As usual, I fell asleep for a little while during the middle of the movie.

My new favorite sound...listening to the kids digging in the popcorn bowl and then hearing them crunch it in their mouths. There was no talking, just eating and the great feeling of us all being together as a family.

Halloween

Halloween, I'm behind as usual! Halloween night was fun. We went to Grandma Sandy's, Grandpa and Grandma Bennett, Papa Joe's with Grandma LaVon there and then to Papa Sev and Grandma Annette's house. Once we got out to the highlands we went trick-or-treating for a little bit. We still have way too much candy and that's after Madi took a lunch sack full to school for the needy. I'm guessing a lot of the rest will end up at work.

Pumpkin Carving

The kids couldn't WAIT to carve the pumpkins. Madi took one look at the inside of the pumpkin and decided that maybe we should have painted them instead. She really didn't want to put her hand in there. Ethan couldn't stop talking about the smell. Next year we may be painting instead!!

Sunwest Farms

October 18th, we headed down the road to Sunwest Farms. We had a nice time there as a family. The kids got their pumpkins, some popcorn and of course we HAD to buy some yummy caramel apples. It's not a huge place, but the kids enjoyed it. They like picking the pumpkins and Ethan kept changing his mind. He wanted his to be just right.

Nick tried to get us out of there before the kids asked to go in the bouncey house. As we were walking to the car Madi said she wanted to do the bouncey thing. Then she said pleeeease and Nick gave in (and he says I'm too easy!) After the kids were done jumping we headed home to eat the caramel apples.

Ethan's 4th Birthday!

**Hint, if you put your mouse pointer over the picture there are captions.

I'm finally getting around to getting Ethan's birthday pictures on here. Shame on me he's been 4 for almost a month. I have other pics to get on here so I figured I'd better start with his birthday.

Ethan's birthday was at DaVinci's, the Wemhoff's favorite party place now. I love not having to clean up the mess!!! Everyone was there and the kids had a blast. They all got along really well too. Ethan loved all of his presents, even if it didn't show at the party. He's an opener, throw it on the floor and on to the next one kind of guy. After we got home he wanted to play with everything. The next day we gave him his present from us...his bike. He loved it, the poor guy had been waiting for it for a while. Whenever we went to WalMart he would ask to go ride a bike.

Fun Night

We had an unexpected guest tonight...COLIN JAMES! I didn't really let the kids know so when he pulled up they were really excited. It was a lot of fun having him here. The kids get along so well whenever they are together. They were playing so hard, half the time they were coming out for a drink and then they would all need to go potty. Colin came out for a little snuggle time with Aunt Ne' and that prompted my two to come out. We were all giggling so I had Nick grab the camera. We have to seize these great moments.

R.I.P. Cheeseball

Well, our beloved pet has kicked the bucket. I pronounced him dead this afternoon after school. I had suspected and warned the kids that he wasn't "feeling well". We still have fuzzy, but who knows what will happen with that thing.

Froggy

The kids were having so much fun playing in our toy box. I had to take some pictures! I love the one of Madi's legs sticking out!

Miniature Golfing

8/19/08- Madison didn't have school, so I decided to take the kids miniature golfing for the first time. They really liked it. We went to Adventure Golf and we played both courses. If you watch the pictures it's really funny because most of the ones with Ethan are him right by the hole. He would hit the ball and then move the ball to the hole for his final stroke. Thank goodness we didn't keep score because he would have beat us, using his way of playing! There are captions on some of the pictures. If they aren't showing for you click on the caption icon on the slideshow, second from the left.

ANOTHER New Pet

Meet Cheeseball, our new caterpillar friend. We found him walking home from school yesterday. So we put him in the big wheel basket and brought him home. He's a lot more exciting than Fuzzy, our other caterpillar friend in the cacoon. Cheeseball moves around a lot, eats the leaves and climbs the little stick in the container. I guess the kids were freaking out last night because they thought he was dead. Must have been taking a snooze. I guess we'll wait and see what this one does. I'm sure you'll be on the edge of your seats waiting for an update!