Thanksgiving Week

We've had a great week. We almost bought a dog like two times, but are thinking after our big Utah trip is better timing since it's only a few weeks away. We are actually excited to be in the market for our first family pet. Audrey is especially excited.

Tyler had a fun video game play date with Frankie and Kaiden. Audrey and the girl scouts went ice-skating:

All five of us got haircuts. Decided on the spot to cut some of my hair off. It feels good - and Kelly styling it always makes it look best. Love seeing her.

Ran some errands, oil changes and car washes - crossed off to-dos. Got nails done with this cutie, who always gets all funny and quiet with the nail girls. Sadly my pedicure died after our family soccer game.

Funny things I found around the house. Poor Cole - two bad Tyler meetings in a row.

Kids did a bunch of art, started a bookmark business. I have three. Five cents each is a deal! I think we sent at least ten to G-Mom. Also getting ready to make our advent calendars.

 My kids have actually been fighting quite a bit this week. Black Friday we got out of the house for bowling, which was empty and so fun. Put us all in good spirits. I even beat Adam, which never happens.

Adam and I each snuck out for a little shopping, and we went to Toppers Pizza for lunch. It was sooo good, and great atmosphere. Plus awesome coke machine. Might be my new favorite place. We were all very happy with full bellies.

This girl has been begging me for footie pajamas. Thank you Black Friday deals.

Slowly unpacking Christmas decorations, and lights outside. Kids were so excited for Grandpa Faust's trains. Kept them busy for quite some time. Now I need to get a train board made!

After a week of breaking up silly kid fights, Adam and I escaped to the movies for James Bond. Thank you babysitter in town! Today we get to hear Cole give his first talk in primary. Grateful for this vacation week. Back to the grind tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving

Now that Adam's parents have moved, it was the first time in a few years that we had Thanksgiving dinner just the five of us. It was really so nice. Some of the people I am most grateful for on the planet:

Our food was delicious, and a team effort. Adam handled the turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes. I did our cranberry sauce, green beans, stuffing. Tyler, Audrey, and Cole helped with our new favorite corn casserole (thanks Aunt Joyce), and dessert. Trader Joe's did rolls and sweet potatoes. We have tons of leftovers, and always look forward to Adam's turkey pot pies the day after.

 One of my all-time favorites, my Grandma Currie's apple crisp. With vanilla ice-cream. Mmmmmm.

This guy. Seriously!? Only wanted a granola bar.

Besides cooking and eating our day was:

Sleeping in a little

Watching the parade and football

Family soccer game in the yard

Lots of playing

Breaking up the occasional sibling fight (argh!)

Listening to Christmas music
Jenga and Go Fish
Adam actually hit Wal-Mart and snagged a good Christmas surprise for the kids.

Inside Out family movie night

The parade is nostalgic for me. Not just from watching it when I was younger, but living in New York they inflated the balloons right by the restaurant where I waited tables. Love seeing the city and daydreaming about our family spending a Thanksgiving break there one of these years, when Cole is older. It'll happen! This girl was so into the musicals, warmed my heart.

Thankful for all we have, those we love (near and far), and that we are safe and healthy. Grateful for to have spent this relaxing holiday together.

Soccer Girl

Audrey's soccer photos:

The Watermelon Smashers. Such a great group of girls and we lucked out big time with Coach Martinez. He taught them a ton!

Today was Audrey's last game of the season. She did great, and has really grown as a player. Awesome on defense, never misses the ball and completely defends her goal - totally reliable. You can tell she knows she's a good defender. She's still building her confidence on forward, but scored three goals this season. Woohoo! She loves soccer even more than last year, and will definitely play again. We loved watching her all season - Audrey is a great athlete.

Girls warming up before the game:

 With Taylor and Genevieve:

Smashers on the field ready to play:

Audrey played her good friend Kailey's team today.

 Ava, Kailey, and Audrey. All in the same class at school, too.

Job well done, Watermelon Smashers (my favorite team name so far!)

The Week

Cole went on a field trip to the local fire station. He loved it! 

Also one of the dads is a police officer and came in to talk to the preschoolers today. Cole says he "wants to be a police man" when he grows up. Today was his last day of school - all next week off for Thanksgiving.

Caught up on dentist and doctor for Cole, since turning four. Nothing like hearing "no cavities" !!! And Darth Vader makes everything easier at the doctor: 

Cole is the best patient. Probably best of all my kids. Totally cooperative and doesn't even cry when he gets shots (even when he was a baby.) He got five shots (!!!) yesterday and didn't even wimper until the last one. So brave! Maybe he should be a doctor when he grows up, actually. He's also my biggest kid - completely average at about 50% all around, and in great health!

 After the doctor met the Encino Girls for an impromptu lunch at Cafe Rio. A sprite and chips and guacamole cheered Cole up after those shots. And I had the best tortilla soup ever - it was so delicious!

Big kids were off today for parent teacher conferences. Of course they got wonderful reports from both their teachers, and wow - I am sure impressed with their teachers this year. Both have been teaching for over 20 years and still so much passion for it. We are so lucky! Afterward we visited the book fair and went to Subway for lunch. It was nice just the three of us. Picked up Cole and now ready for a lazy afternoon - no after school activities now that fall baseball is over!

Gonna play, maybe go on a walk (gorgeous weather today), and catch up on Supergirl tonight. One of my Ladybug fams works on Supergirl and was telling me it's a great show to watch with kids, and so far he is right - we are enjoying it together. Hooray for lazy Fridays, now that baseball is over I'm hoping for many between now and the New Year.

More Cole Today

This morning I did some fast holiday shopping, then helped drive these kiddos on their field trip to Firehouse Subs. The cutest sub shop, have to take Audrey and Tyler. All decked out like a fire station, they help raise money for firehouses, too. It was a good find! The kids were so well-behaved and had a great time with the grandmas.

It's cute hearing all the kids call Cole "Cole Tait", since there are two Coles in his class.

Grilled cheese, cookies, and fancy soda machine - what's not to like. (Happy to report Cole ate a half a grilled cheese! First time!)

Best bud, Toby.

They are one adorable bunch:

Cole Is Four

Cole was born on Veteran's Day so we always get a whole day off to celebrate. It was nice, too, because soccer and cub scouts were canceled, so we got to hang out and take it slow - the four of us. Adam had to work. Our birthday boy woke up to a table full of presents. Legos, lots of Paw Patrol and Star Wars stuff:

It was so nice out, we went to the park and played with friends for an hour. Fresh air and running around!

Then Cole wanted Menchie's for lunch!

What is this face!? He got to spend a gift card from G-Mom:

We played and played all afternoon. Well, they played. I was lucky enough to get a nap (almost feeling 100% again). More Paw Patrol arrived from Grandpa Faust.

Cole had a wonderful day, and I think his favorite part was spending the whole day with Audrey and Tyler. They all played so great with his new toys together. Tyler built his Legos. Made an easy dinner, and we read books at night. It was neat to watch them.

Cole is a funny kid. Really, a great sense of humor and very silly. He's still my pickiest eater - loves his snacks. He's also my most opinionated dresser. He has to pick out his clothes (with the colder weather we are having issues with pants - he'd wear shorts every day if he could and oftentimes changes into them when he gets home.) Cole is definitely the third kid and has already learned a bunch of stuff from his brother and sister, who are his favorite people on the planet. Tuesdays and Thursdays with me are a lot of "When are Tyler and Audrey coming home?", since I'm nowhere near as fun. Cole loves school, and all the friends he has there and at primary. He's drawing well, and writing his name. Still loves his blankie and stuffed animals. Superheros, Star Wars, Paw Patrol are big favorites right now. He loves to read, do puzzles, wrestle with Adam and Tyler. We just signed him up for t-ball in the spring! Cole likes to sing, I catch him humming himself to sleep often. I'm excited to see where this year takes him. Spending my days with him is an adventure, and I know four will be a great one.

Cole's Early Birthday

First, he came home this happy from his preschool party the other day. I think they spoiled him plenty. (And he said the cupcakes were "soooo yummy in my tummy!")

Tonight was Adam's one night home by 6:30! He met us at Chuck E. Cheese for a family birthday celebration - Cole's request, and it was a great night. Lots of tokens, tickets, pizza, and more cake. (Plus always a bonus when it's not crowded.)

Love this family!

Chuck E. Cheese crazy?! Yes, he had fun.

Perfect almost four year old face:

Wish big, my sweet Cole. Let's keep celebrating tomorrow!

Catch Up

Back to life after Halloween. We sold half our candy to the dentist! Kids wanted to so I thought why not? They separated what they didn't want and sold two bags with plenty left over. 

 Monday with the girl scouts:

I think Adam is working about 13 days straight and not home before 10 or so at night. The other night they shot 'til 2am. It's fine since we're looking forward to Thanksgiving week all together. Audrey auditioned for Henry Danger. I was so proud of her. She didn't get the part, but she did great and casting wants her to keep coming back. I'd love for her and Tyler to do background with them - maybe this summer. What a cool experience.

Yesterday I started feeling achy with a sore throat. This morning I woke up and felt like death and knew I had strep. Adam worked all day, and Tyler had a baseball game I muscled through. Then the kids and I went to urgent care, got drugs (yay!), and crashed. There were a few tricky moments with them, but overall I thought this part of motherhood has gotten easier. When I used to get sick with babies and toddlers it was the worst. They still needed me so much. The kids let me sleep. We watched movies, they played and kept themselves busy. Made easy pizza for dinner and they got their own food and snacks. Felt like they knew I needed some time, and that was nice.

Here are a few baseball pics. It's been a funny season with the Sunday games and away games. We wouldn't do fall ball if that's the case again. But the good thing is its gotten Tyler ready for minors this Spring, and his coaches have been wonderful.

Now I'm baking cupcakes for our little guy to take to preschool tomorrow. Cole gets to celebrate his birthday with Grandma K, Grandma B and all his little friends. He's so excited. We're ready to celebrate our boy this week.