Minnesota holiday, part 4

 Evie is 6 years old!

  

Evie's birthday was a low key affair.  So many of our family was under the weather and our recent trip to the cabin had sucked a lot of energy out of us.  But we did  manage to get the important parts put together.  I made a chocolate cake, as Evie requested, and Grandpa picked up a few pizzas on his last minute end-of-the-year farm errands.  Evie opened her gifts and had time just to enjoy playing with her new toys and snuggling with family (those that weren't running a fever and coughing!)

Opening up her gifts

 

Blowing out the candles

We rang in the new year with hopes of health.  New years day was spent either relaxing or packing, and we headed out on the 2nd for our long drive.  The kids were troopers, and as usual I was probably the one who complained the most.  

Christmas pictures

 Our three beautiful children

Evie

Zevon

 Guthrie

Just the girls

A rare photo of Will and I taken by our photographer, Evie.

"Christmas morning"

When there is a pastor in the family, you need to be creative about how you plan the more secular parts of the holidays.  For example, when and where does Santa come when you are traveling early Christmas morning?  And how do you get together with family to open gifts and share a meal when Christmas evening is full of services and packing for later travel? 

This year, we enjoyed a Little Christmas with our family in town on the 23rd.  Then, we got ready for Santa as we arranged for Santa to have an early delivery.   The kids found their stockings Christmas Eve morning.  The nice thing about spacing things out was that we could let each event be special on its own.  The kids didn't get overwhelmed with gifts and had time to play with and enjoy each present.  The downside is that you kind of get your days mixed up.  The kids got confused at Christmas Eve services when everyone was asking if they were excited for Santa to show up.  Evie looked at them like, "Duh! Santa showed up this morning?  What's up with you?"

Zevon and Guthrie got a sports set for Christmas.  Guthrie looks like he is planning to use his basketball for something else (notice his brother's head/target behind him).

 Evie's Barbie test drives her new car.

 Power hitter Zevon sizes up his new bat.

 Evie, Zevon and Guthrie find what Santa left for them.  Sugar and toys, what could be better!

 Chocolate goldfish!

 Mmm, sugar cereal!

 Evie finds a note from Santa.  He loved her cookies, hand decorated with sprinkles to spare.  The difference this Christmas was that she could READ the letter.  She is so smart!

Getting ready for Christmas

 Gus had the honors of placing the star at the top of the tree

Here's a selection of pictures from our Christmastime fun:

 Pointing out their favorite ornaments

 Evie as an angel in the Sunday School program.  She complained that she was an angel "again" this year, but I think she enjoys it.

 Evie is on the right in the front row.  She knew every line of every song!

Will and the kids ringing bells for the Salvation Army.  I think the boys were more interested in the automatic door in front of Albertsons than they were to ring a bell!

Evie also had her school holiday program in December, but none of my pictures came out.  Her class was dressed as penguins and I think they were the hit of the program.  Evie smiled and sang and had a blast.  Her enthusiasm shined all the way to the back row where Will, her brothers and I found seats.  She was really excited about the "surprise" at the end of one of the songs: they got to throw confetti!  How they kept kindergarteners still with confetti in their hands, I'll never know.

Thanksgiving means family time

Thanksgiving brought plenty of togetherness, and while I didn't get a picture of the yummy dinner, I did get several pictures of the kids hanging out with their extended family.  Stories and laughter were shared by all!

 Evie and Parker

Will reads a story to the younger cousins

Evie, Guthrie, Jaxyn, Parker, and Zevon cuddle up for a book

Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Bev snuggle with the grandkids

Snow fun? No fun?

 Guthrie and Zevon, enjoying the ride

So far, this winter has been warm and cold, bare and snowy.  I think it is safe to say that the kids enjoy the snowy better than anything else.  Of course, I think we spend as much time putting on hats and mittens and coats and boots and snowpants as we do actually outside playing in the snow.  But that's more of my problem than theirs.  

 She may have been born in the Pacific NW, but she loves Montana and has Minnesota in her heart.  I think the only thing better for Evie than snow is more snow.

To give an example of the extremes, this first picture is from the second week in November:

This picture is from the last week in November:

What a difference the snow makes.  Evie and Guthrie look a little confused.  It is winter, so we should be using the sleds.  But the weather isn't so cold, so the scooter makes more sense.  What to do?  I like how Guthrie had to up the danger factor by riding his scooter on the sled, with the toy lawnmower behind him. 

Halloween 2012

 Two monkeys and a butterfly waiting patiently for candy

Halloween was a low-key affair for us this year.  To make things simple, I convinced Evie to use her bluebird wings from her ballet recital this spring for a costume.  She decided to be a butterfly, and a beautiful butterfly she was.  We made some antenna to complete the outfit.  The boys, I had decided, would be Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat.  I made red t-shirts and everything.  Zevon and Guthrie decided otherwise.  They had worn their t-shirts earlier in the day at daycare for their Halloween parade.  But when they got home they would not put their thing shirts back on.  Would.  Not.  A happy halloween picture in costume was not going to happen.  So, I put their monkey hats on instead and called it good.  I had to get over the fact I spent an afternoon getting the computer to print the iron-on transfers and making it all look nice.  Oh, well.

We enjoyed a warm day for trick-or-treating.  We took the kids around the block, and that was about all the boys wanted.  We taught them to say 'trick-or-treat' but at each door, Zevon would just say "Please?" and Guthrie would grab the candy and run. 

 Evie testing out her wings

Trick OR treat?  Hmmmm....

 Evie pointing out her jack-o-lantern (far right).  She designed it, scooped out the guts, and let me do the cutting.  Will and I did our own pumpkin carving with some 'help' from the boys.

 Guthrie: "Put the candy in here and no one gets hurt."  

Zevon: "Candy, please? Please? Candy? Please?"

Weeks later, the boys now will now wear their Halloween shirts.  Will caught a picture with his iPad.  At least I have proof that these would have been awesome costumes.  Thankfully I didn't spend days on the shirts.  Note, next year I will NOT be making elaborate costumes.

Thing 1 Zevon, Thing 2 Guthrie

October challenges

The month of October brought lots of new exciting challenges. 

Evie took a month a swimming lessons at the Y and she loved it!  She can really swim now.  I was amazed at how she developed into a real swimmer over the month.  Evie loves the water, but before then most of her 'swimming' involved her face underwater while she walked along the bottom of the pool.  Not so any more!  She can swim with a front crawl and a backstroke, as well as float on her belly and her back, all in water 5 feet deep.  Evie is very proud of herself and can't wait to take another round of lessons after Christmas. 

 Evie waiting to jump in! 

Speaking of lessons at the Y, I'm now considering enrolling my boys in some lessons.  No, not just swimming lessons but perhaps dance lessons!  One day, Evie brought the boys upstairs and they decided to play dress up.  They all came downstairs ready to dance in their dresses and tutus.  I've always said that I want my children to have well-rounded childhoods.  So here is the proof that there is no such thing as 'boy' toys or 'girl' toys in my house.  Zevon and Guthrie really love these tutus.  In fact, the day these pictures were taken, Guthrie didn't even want to take his off for snack and was upset when he realized he couldn't fit in his chair with the tutu on.  Zevon loves to borrow Evie's uke and pretend to play guitar while his sister and brother dance.  Perhaps I have a performing troupe on my hands!

 Guthrie (notice the heart bracelet, too)

 Zevon with his 'guitar'

Zevon, Evie and Guthrie, for your entertainment!

My new exciting challenge was taking my first teaching job.  I took a long term subbing assignment for a chemistry teacher in the area.  It was hard for all of us, but rewarding too.  I enjoyed the chance to use my teaching degree (finally!), especially in my area of expertise.  The boys spent their days in a wonderful daycare and did so well there.  They came home talking a lot more and I think even slept better due to all the activity during the day.  They couldn't rely just on their parents' ability to read their minds or their sister to talk for them.  As a result, their language has exploded.  Unfortunately, 'Mine!' and 'No!' and especially the combination 'No! Mine!' are their favorites.  We are thankful to have found such a great place for them.  Unfortunately (for me, good for the teacher I subbed for), my assignment came to an end and I'll be back to my usual stay-at-home mom gig.  I do miss my boys and spending more time with my kids in general so its okay.  But now we know how adaptable our family can be to changing situations.

Odds and ends from the summer

 Picnic in the backyard

 Tickling the ivories

 Trying on Daddy's shoes...

...and Mommy's shoes!

I'm so tough, I eat rocks for snacks!

Whoa! Where did the time go?

We've been busy, if you haven't been able to tell from the lack of posts!  Evie started school and it seems like we haven't stopped moving since.  Lots has happened and I'll try to catch us up before the end of the year.  Let's wrap up the summer first...

Zevon, Guthrie, and Evie at the Pictograph Caves

On labor day, we took a little trip as a family to see Pictograph Caves state park, not too far from home.  It was really the first real hike we have taken with the boys (without restraining them in a carrier or a stroller).  The path, while totally safe for normal people, is totally dangerous for adventurous exploring two year olds who don't yet know their limits.  Thankfully, there were no skinned knees or broken arms.

Looking up at the main cave

Evie and Guthrie sprinting up the trail.  Zevon decided to take the scenic view from his dad's shoulders.

 Tour guide Evie pointing out the pictures.  Will is just trying to stop the boys from killing themselves.

View of a pictograph inside the cave

 Evie and her mom in front of Ghost Cave.

 View of inside of Ghost Cave.  Supposedly, strange things appear in photos when people take pictures of this cave, but I don't see anything odd.

We explored the caves and Evie had fun pointing out all the paintings.  The view was beautiful and we had a nice day to do our little hike.  We enjoyed a snack and headed home in time for nap (or non-nap as the case was).  You would think with all that climbing and running that our kids would be tired.  Nope!  Just two very tired parents.

Later that afternoon we went to a Mustangs baseball game.  The kids loved watching the game for about an inning, and then we ran around the stadium and ate giant pretzels.  Not a bad way to spend our last day of summer!

Boys snacking and watching some baseball.  Yes, you can tell from their red faces that it was really hot.  Poor little guys were melting!