Photo Catch Up

These are pictures we took at Thanksgiving with the Hirschi family. They were out taking photos for their family Christmas card, and we got to tag along. (this explains their coordinated outfits, and our clear misfit status.)

Leah, feeding herself a fruit smoothie: Utter Bliss.

Mysteriously quiet in her bedroom, I found Leah lounging on the rocking chair reading books.

Earlier this month, I was in the midst of a Christmas project, making two custom aprons for Greg to give at a gift exchange. It was great fun, and Jeremiah used the left-over pattern paper, in various shapes, and a stapler, to make himself a costume.

Then he insisted Leah needed a costume too, so he took care of that.

At first glance this is a cute picture of a three year old making a strange Mr. Potato Head. Until you learn that this is NOT a Mr. Potato Head. This is a police car....... yeah. It has "Pishoos" (the sound a gun makes, translation: shooters, or guns) to shoot the bad guys.

How can I not feel blessed this new year with these two cute and rather precocious little kids, and another one on the way?

Christmas Cheer

I have been a horrible photographer lately. But we did get a few this month.

First, this is our Christmas tree. It was delightfully A-symmetrical. This is the early season photo.

And late-season photo. Our heavy ornaments began sliding off the branches because they were so droopy. I am not a tree killer. In my defence, it was half dead when we bought it (I'm not joking, I did my best to revive it, and to prolong its life, but in the end, it succomb to death)

The kids slept in until 7:45, not bad for Christmas morning. These are before the festivities. Leah, as usual, is just happy to have her picture taken.

And Jeremiah is still tired, but happy that santa took a bite of his sugar cookie (and spit it out in the garbage because Santa can't eat that much sugar at 11 pm.)

The Aftermath:

In case you were wondering, Santa DID find the Ambulance Transformer. Jeremiah was thrilled, but added "But Santa didn't bring me a yellow car." with a sad face. PS - the yellow car was a last minute addition to the santa wish list on the day before Christmas eve. :) I love when kids do that.

Jeremiah had to build his lego sets with daddy immediately after opening gifts. Jeremiah says daddy is the best at building hellicopters.

" LOOK MOMMY! I got M&M's for BREAKFAST!"

This was a modest Christmas. both my kids and husband got modest gifts, we did not go overboard. HOW, then, did I get so spoiled this Christmas? My mom got me this pretty maternity dress. Oh wait, did I fail to mention that baby #3 is coming in June?

And Greg got me a BED! Hurray! AND he got me a strap for my ipod, AND a nice stainless steel water bottle. I was totally spoiled.

More silly pictures of the kids to come!

Darn Collectors

My son wants one thing for Christmas. He wrote it in his letter to Santa. One thing. (Ok, if you gave him the option, he would want EVERYTHING, but if you ask him to choose, there's no competition). It is a small plastic toy, no more than two inches by three inches. To Jeremiah it is "The Transformer Ambulance".

We first ran across the transformer ambulance at the local Savers, when I was looking for who knows what, and I let him hold it while I shopped. I think it used to be a McDonalds happy meal toy. I put it back before we left.

Next, my friend Kanani was watching my kids for me, and her boys have 5 I think. Happy Meal Toy, she told me. But Jeremiah was hooked. He was so distraut over having to leave her fun house that she let him take home one of the ambulance transformers until we saw them the following sunday.

He slept with that thing.

Ever since then, I have looked high and low. Every time I go to a thrift store I search, just in case. Nothing. Such a silly little thing, but so important to my three year old.

A month ago we saw it at walmart, a newer, commercialized version, and of course I thought "OOh, I have to come back and get that when Jeremiah isn't with me!"...... I haven't seen it since. I've called around to various stores. Nothing.

I am battling collectors. Silly toy collectors to swoop in and clear out the stores while us poor mothers of desperate toddlers, and stuck with nothing.

Toy collectors, Bring it ON!

Wheeler Farms and Funny Children

This is three posts in one. Like I said earlier, I'm just trying to play catch up on photo posting. This first set is us at the pumpkin patch, not nearly or remotely as fun as Linder Farms (a moment of silence for our Boise), but Jeremiah thought the tractors were cool. And the corn maze.

Next set is of Jeremiahs preschool field trip to Wheeler Farms. He totally loved feeding the geese and the ducks, and Leah squeeled at each animal she saw. That girl is an outdoor girl, I tell ya.

And of course, what preschool field trip would be complete without snacks. Fruit snacks that is. Jeremiah was in HEAVEN. you can tell because he can't even open his mouth, its so full of fruit snacks.

And, onto the funny children. Just a few funny pictures of the kids lately.

This was Jeremiah pretending to be an astronaut, I think (don't ask me where he got the idea that putting the book bag over your head and straps between your legs makes you an astronaut. But it was HILLARIOUS watching him trying to get in and out of this get-up, as I'm sure you can imagine.

And Leah is just so darn cute, I hope this picture is modest enough to be posted. If you're offended..... then I guess we can't be friends anymore. :( Sad.

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home....

Glad As I Can Be...

I don't have many whitty remarks right now, I'm just trying to catch up on picture posting. So, here are some from Jeremiah's night out mini-golfing with Greg. I'm pretty sure now this is what Jerem thinks Greg does when he goes golfing. We won't tell him that Daddy's courses don't look this cool.

Halloween 09

I've been procrastinating this post, I'm not sure why, maybe the sugar high died off a while back, maybe the costumes don't look as cool in photos as they did in real life, maybe I didn't think this post would be very exciting, BUT, here they are, photos of Halloween 2009.

First, was the 1800 Contacts Trunk or Treat and Halloween party. No one recognized Optimus Prime... funny. And Jeremiah felt like showing off his muscles.

One of the employees opted for a teepee rather than a trunk for handing out candy. She was decked to the nines in an indian costume and the kids loved it. Sorry you can't see it very well.

By the end of the night, Leah was covered in glazed doughnut, so off went her cinderella dress. It is now washed and ready for... I guess the bottom of the costume box.

We also had our ward trunk or treat and party, clearly, my camera isn't as good as Janettes (thanks for the pictures from the company party) but its the only one we have as a family. In case you need hints. I was Leah's Fairy God Mother, Leah was Cinderella (DO NOT ask this girl to wear a crown, or anything on her head or in her hair), Jeremiah was Bumblebee the Transformer, and Greg was Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots.

Alyson SAVED me at the ward party, taking care of the kids while I manned the trunk, and Greg was "right behind us" putting the finishing touches on his costume.... an hour later, he comes, looking FANTASTIC, but without Alyson, I'd have been sunk. You can see how much Leah loves her.

And since I was sure it would be hard to get a picture of Jeremiah with all his pieces on his costume on, I took some pre-party pictures.

Cardboard and Duct Tape... don't leave home without 'em.

A little spray paint and you've got instant autobot.