Cookie decorating at our house (Above)
This was our recent visit to the pumpkin patch with cousins from both sides of the fam. The kids loved it, and we ran out of time and didn't end up doing the corn maize. But they got to play in the corn box (Maddy above) and jump off bales of straw (Nixon below).
So we are about 2 weeks into our POTTY TRAINING with Maddy. It actually has been going pretty well. She's only about 26 months old, and I really didn't want to start this early, but she has been showing a lot of interest. She has been doing great until the pumpkin patch. I only put diapers on her for naps and night time and other than that she is in undies. I have taken her all over the place on errands and friends' houses, and had no accidents. And then at the pumpkin patch, well, you can see we took a little step back. Thank goodness I brought another change of clothes and shoes. However, since that day we have had no accidents. Even at church and nursery.
Below: Maddy and her cousin Marren
Nixon and his cousin Bryton helped find a big one at the pumpkin patch. Thank goodness Dad is strong.
HOOD TO COAST!!!! YEA! In all honesty while I was doing it I really thought if I had the chance to do it again I would REALLY have to think about it. It was grueling starting Friday morning at 8:45 a.m. and ending Saturday at 4 p.m. We really did not get much rest. We managed to shower and stretch out in a high school gym for about 1 1/2 hours of shut eye. I need my sleep and that hour and a half just about did me in. However, after I got home at 10 p.m. that night and got a little rest, OF COURSE I would do it again if I had the chance. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I ran 3 legs of about 6 miles each. Two of those legs were rated very hard because they were very uphill. But I did it and felt great. Also, getting to know the other 5 girls in my van was so much fun. None of us really knew each other before, but we really got a long great and had such a fun time. Then I ran a half-marathon a few weeks later on the beach and that was awesome as well. I beat my personal best and enjoyed running on trails and the sand, in rain and in sun. It was great! However, I think I am taking a little break from the races for awhile.:)
This was our trip to the zoo with Chris' sister and brother-in-law. We usually go to the zoo with them once a year and the kids always love it.
Nixon in a snowcave...
Nixon really loves his Dad. He started loving me again after Dad went back to work in September.:)
Maddy has cute little pants that her grandma sewed buttons on. She loves them and hasn't pulled any of them off yet!
The kids spent a lot of time looking at the seals. Chris took this picture and I love it!
The kids loved the polar bears. They put on quite a show while we were there.
We took our cousins on several little hikes/walks this summer at a wildlife refuge near us. The kids love to see the birds and pick blackberries.
Maddy and Chris.
This is another fun excursion that we took to see Chris' aunt and uncle and cousin. Nixon and Savannah get a long great. We road bikes, went swimming, and went on walks. We love visiting them!
I had to put Chris' bday meal in here. We had Greek salad and chicken shish-kabobs, BBQ ribs, and a pumpkin cheesecake, all requested by Chris (and homemade of course). Since I am not a really huge fan of eating meat, I just ate the salad and cheesecake, but Chris loved it.
Chris worked on shelving for our garage the last couple weeks of summer. He has never really built anything and didn't have any tools, but he rocked. We bought some tools and lumber and he went crazy. He spent a lot of time designing it and obviously putting it together. His dad came and helped him several days. I am so impressed and this is not quite yet the finished product. We cleaned out closets, out from under the beds, and put everything in plastic bins. It is sooo organized and I love it. I will take updated pictures soon!
Maddy's first little french braids above and just a cute picture of Maddy.
