Painting

MaKena got paints for her birthday.  She loves to do arts and crafts so I thought paint would be a good gift for the birthday girl!  After Sunday school MaKena dug out her new paints and painted Lane and I a picture.  I do have to say she is a very talented artist!  We've had the paint out several times since and Lane, Jacob and I have all painted pictures with MaKena.  The paint was a perfect present!

Decorating for Christmas

After the birthday party celebration the kids and I set up the Christmas decorations.  Both kids really enjoy helping set up the Christmas tree and the window clings.  I enjoy watching them get so excited about decorating.  It reminds me of when I was younger.  I dug out the Christmas music and we made a night of it.  With all the help I get, it only takes a couple hours and we are all ready for Christmas.  I wish got the same amount of help when I have to take it all down!  

MaKena and Jacob hanging the window clings.

The kids helping me set the tree up.

I love this picture of MaKena.  I love her cheesy grin!

Jacob reaching high to get the ornament in the right spot!

Birthday party!

I'm back!!  Sorry for the lack of updates the last 3 months.  To be honest, its been extremely difficult to sit down at the computer after spending a full day at work in front of the computer.  I've got several post in the works so check back frequently.  We're going all the way back to the beginning of December!! 

On Saturday, December 1st we celebrated Jacob's 12th birthday and MaKena's 5th birthday.  I still can't believe my children are that old.  Where has the time gone?  The kids had a good party. Unfortunately they had to compete with the Bison playoff game that was on in the background!  My kids were spoiled by all their aunts and uncles and grandparents.  They are loved, that's for sure!  The kids opened gifts  together and then we headed upstairs to sing happy birthday and have some cake an ice cream.  It was a great party and we were glad so many of our family members could come help us celebrate with the kids.

MaKena and Jacob before opening their gifts.

MaKena with her new shirt and sweatshirt from Nana and Papa.

Jacob with his new sweatshirt from Nana and Papa.

Jacob with his new Bison shirt.

And a Twins sweatshirt!

Reading a Birthday card to MaKena.

More fun gifts from the family!

The kids getting ready to blow the candles out.

No boyfriends or girlfriends!

A little game and a slumber party

On Saturday, November 3rd Lonnie and Ardis stopped over for a little visit.  While they were over the kids got out the game Jenga and started playing.  This is the first time MaKena has played Jenga and it was funny watching her try to play.  She didn't really understand the concept but knew she didn't want to knock the tower down.  I bet she hit the table half a dozen times within the first 5 minutes of the game.  I think the kids played 2 or 3 games and MaKena knocked it over every time!  She didn't care, she still had fun. Later that night the kids decided to have a slumber party in the basement.  I'm sure they stayed up way past their bed time but we didn't care, they were having fun!

 

 

MaKena carefully placing the block on top.

MaKena trying to find a wiggly one.

Jacob placing his block on top.

Sound asleep!

Halloween

On Halloween we stopped up to visit Great Grandma Vivian and get some goodies!  She was so excited to see us!  Grandma Kathy was there too and had a little treat bag for the kids.  After a brief visit we headed home and did a little trick-or-treating around our neighborhood.  I seriously think the kids got enough candy to last them a year!  It was a nice night out and the kids had a lot of fun.  After we walked our block we headed over to Brad and Anita's house for a quick visit and then off to Nana and Papa's house.  The kids got loaded up with more candy from both stops.  MaKena was getting a little tired and crabby so we called it a night.  

 

 

 

Grandma Vivian and MaKena

Jacob, Grandma Vivian and MaKena

Karisa, Jacob, Grandma Vivian and MaKena.  (Jason and Jerene were visiting Grandma with the girls while we were there.)

Jacob, Grandma Kathy and MaKena.

Jacob and MaKena with our pumpkins. 

Jacob with his pumpkin.

MaKena with her pumpkin.

Jacob, Jess and MaKena out trick-or-treating.

Jacob, Lane and MaKena out trick-or-treating

Jacob and MaKena running to a house to ring the doorbell.

Jacob and MaKena with the neighbor kids (Andy as the mummy, Josh as a Ninja and Lindsey as Strawberry Short Cake.)

Jacob and MaKena with Skyla and Jackson (our old daycare lady's kids).

Carving Pumpkins

Monday before Halloween we brought the pumpkins inside and got to work carving them.  Jacob dug in no problem but MaKena was hesitant.  Eventually she got her hands dirty and realized it was a lot of fun!  Once we got all the gunk out of the pumpkins the kids each picked a picture out of our pumpkin carving book and Lane and I went to work.  The pumpkins turned out really cool but for some reason I didn't take a good picture of end product.  Oops.  Oh well, maybe I'll remember next year.

 

 

Jacob, Lane and MaKena cleaning the pumpkins out.

Digging out the pumpkins.

MaKena trying to tell us why she didn't want to clean her pumpkin out.

Jacob cleaning the seeds out of his pumpkin.

Jacob trying to show MaKena the stuff inside the pumpkin isn't that bad!

Finally digging in!

Singing in Church

The Sunday before Halloween the kids got to wear their Halloween costumes to Sunday school to go Trunk or Treating in the parking lot.  They got loaded up with enough candy to keep the sugared up for a week!  After Sunday school they all had to sing at the 10:30 church service in the Halloween costumes.  MaKena thought it was fun singing in her costume.

 

 

 

Jacob is in the back row next to the girl in the white shirt and the boy in the red shirt.

MaKena in her Little Mermaid costume (blue and purple).

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday, October 20th I ran my 3rd 10k in the FM Mini Marathon.  It was a chilly morning but a good day for a run.  When I was about 5 miles into the run I looked up and noticed a kid holding a sign that said Go Mom! and I thought that's cute.  When I got closer I realized it was Jacob.  Lane, MaKena and Jacob were sitting on the corner of Veterans Blvd and 32nd Ave to cheer me on.  It was the highlight of my run!  They gave me a little extra boost the last mile!!  I ended up getting a personal best.  They must be my good luck charms.

 

Later that day Lane and I took the kids to a pumpkin patch just north of town.  Brec, Isabel, Alexis and Brandon came with us.  We had a lot of fun playing games, petting the animals, picking out pumpkins and going through a corn maze.  After a couple hours at the pumpkin patch we were all ready to call it a day.  But not before we got some good pictures!  It was a fun filled day!

 

Me in the grey long sleeve MSUM shirt and black shorts.

I think this is when I finally realized it was Lane, Jacob and MaKena at the corner!

At Dakota Carriage Pumpkin Patch. Back row: Jacob, Brandon and MaKena. Front row: Alexis and Isabel.

Jacob, Brandon, MaKena, Alexis and Isabel

Brandon, Jacob and MaKena

MaKena and Jacob

Jacob and Brandon

MaKena and Jacob

Isabel and Alexis

Brandon, Isabel, Alexis, Jacob and MaKena

Jacob, Brandon, Alexis, MaKena and Isabel

Brandon, MaKena, Alexis, Isabel and Jacob

Isabel and MaKena got to ride up front when we took a horse ride out to the pumpkin patch.  MaKena was in 7th Heaven!

Finding the perfect pumpkin.

Alexis, Brandon and Jacob found theirs!

MaKena found hers!

Alexis going through the corn maze.