State Fair 2011

Big Snow

Big snow means lots of bundling...

 and lots of shoveling. 

 Except Dad looks like he's the only one moving any snow around.  :)

Christmas? What Christmas?

You thought I forgot Christmas didn't you?  Well...perhaps your new year resolution should be patience!  And...ah...perhaps mine should be better blog posting.  Whoops, that backfired on me didn't it?  :)

So here we are at Christmas, and in actuality this first Christmas was back at Thanksgiving.   Down at Mom and Dad's, second Christmas at the new house.  The boys took care of decorating the tree,  

 and they may have been coerced into taking a few pictures for Mom.  This was Great Uncle Mac's green velvet chair...perfect for an old Irish man, as well as two wiggly boys.  :)

 A few more pictures taken...with smiles surprisingly not too bad!

 Let's see if we can list ages here (minus Mom and Dad because they just get to be called 'Grand' and that's good enough for the age bit for them).  Jude - 3 1/2, Navi - just exactly 1, Wyatt - 2 1/2, Aiden 5 1/2.  That's a pretty good group, and soon to be joined by two twins.  Next years picture is going to be fun!

 Navi sporting her new Christmas dress from Aunt Reece.  Note the little finger at the bottom of the page...her cousins can't get enough of her!

 Aiden and Grandma fixing Thanksgiving dinner.  

 Uncle Ankur...ahhhh...errr...hmmmm  :)

 Not a lick of snow on the ground yet, and weather warm enough to get a few photos taken outside for Christmas cards.  

 Back home, Mabel is giving us a piece of her mind.  She's talking in this picture...let me tell you, and she WILL have the final word.  Sweet Mabel.

 One morning Jude's monkey (blanket) was well past due for a washing.  Grandma had to do some convincing to get it in the wash, and even then old monkey was missed.  

 Mabel is happy now.  She got to open her Christmas present early.

 Santa came a few days early to our house.  We were up before the birds that morning as is to be expected.  

 Both boys got Lego head gear...a big hit with Jude.

 And Star Wars swords...a big hit with Daddy and Jude. Excuse me...Wes just corrected me. "Lightsabers"  :)

 It was the year of Lego for Aiden.  And actually I've been pretty surprised how well he can follow the directions and make these rather complicated objects.  Give him another year and he'll have it figured out completely!

 Just a few picture in LeMars, opening presents at Grandma Mary's house.  I was the last one to pick up the family cold, and it hit just for our trip North.  :(  The boys had tons of fun though, decorating cookies with Annie, seeing all of the Utesch family at Terry's, and opening piles of presents at Grandma Mary's!

I'd say with these kind of holidays under our belt, we are ready to welcome a new year!  :)  Merry belated Christmas everyone!

Annie has come to my rescue with piles of cookie decorating pictures.  

 Loving the extra effort.  :)

And the finished product was delicious (note the licking of lips) and beautiful!  

Thank-you Annie for the extra photos!

Snow for Aiden

This little kiddo has been DYING for snow.  He had to wait a fairly long time this year too.  With 50 degree weather in January it was looking a bit hopeless, but today he got his wish.  Woke up first thing this morning talking about shoveling.  Let me tell you about his logic and shoveling.  He knows Mom is not a fan of the snow and cold.  So he informed me this morning that, (note the quotes) "shoveling is the boys' job.  And Mom, you can stay inside, drink hot cocoa and knit."  Let me tell you, I did NOT argue.  He even got an early out today because of the snow, and the first thing he said when he came in the driveway with Grandma was, "There's enough snow to shovel!"  Came directly inside and asked me if he could shovel.  Grandma and Mom bundled him up, snow pants and all...and off he went, making good use of Grandpa Terry's made by hand wagon. 

This little guy has been doing some growing too.

Getting dressed all by himself!  Mommy is practicing her "what's wrong with this picture" game a fair amount lately.  :)  

We interrupt this program...

We interrupt this blog (and do a little jumping ahead) to share with you a big exciting event for us this morning.  Aiden and little Jude bear had their debut performance on stage.  It was unforgettable, and I can't tell you how proud this mama is!  

Now back up again if you will just a few moments before kiddos were front and center.  Sweaty hands, pounding heart...I'm afraid that was not my boys...no...that was me!  I was sure Aiden was going to get sick (he had a little upset tummy last night) and Jude would be too afraid to even come on stage (yesterday's practice didn't go so hot).  But they were both rock stars the whole performance as you can see:

Aiden got moved to the front of the choir because he did such a good job of singing at yesterday's practice!  

 Check out the bow tie...red with bolt heads...perfect for this little guy!  And thumbs up to Dad for insisting his little guys have bow ties.  

 Jude came on later in the performance as a little sheep!  His "Baa" was solid and delivered with a smile.  And bonus....he sang his song as well!  Grandma, Dad and Mom were oh so close to tears watching this little one....no joke!  :)

 And if you haven't yet had enough of these little cuties in their bow ties...here's one more classic boy shot for ya.  Cheesy grins and all!

Fall means Pumpkins and lots of Orange

I love fall!  The weather is a perfect temp, all of the beautiful leaves, the thought that ideal knitting weather is coming (never mind the fact that I actually knit all year round) and the pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins!!  And as boys get older, pumpkin hunting changes a bit.  We all each get to pick out a pumpkin that we call our own.  But instead of Wes and I carrying and pushing these little guys...they are now doing the carrying and well...pulling.  :)  Such big boys aren't they!?!

Jude wanted a picture with one of the farm cats...he got a little extra love from Jude!

 Annie and Frank joined us on our adventure again this year.  We got "lost" in the corn maze.  I think
Aiden was trying to keep us lost...making us turn the exact opposite direction of home at every chance.  And at every chance Annie was stealing squirrel corn.  Fun!

Grandma pulled Jude outside for a photo shoot with or pumpkin choices.  

 And I've been knitting a few hats here lately with the assumption that a few will get left on the playground and disappear.  Jude is modeling for me.