Halloween 2013

Thomas and Sam are in a dance class that the Amazing Roxanne does for free for kids in the ward.  She loves it, which works out well, because the kids love it too.  Here is a sample of the Halloween dance class (which is why some of them,including Roxanne, are dressed up.)

 Thomas decided to put on make-up.  Doesn't he look pretty?

 Sam getting ready for the school parade.  It was kind of boring, in my opinion.

Sam's teacher-she's a jelly-fish.   

 The kids carved these all by themselves!  Do you believe me?

Thomas (a knight...I know it's iffy.  He had a shirt that went with it, and a different helmet that looked more like a knight, but he didn't like them).  Sam (you can tell he's a cowboy, right?)  Sam insisted on wearing some cowboy boots I'd gotten years ago from D.I. for a costume.  They were so loud clunking around on the sidewalk, but he liked them and couldn't be dissuaded.  But I was glad when the trick-or-treating was done and my ears got a rest.  It was a great Halloween!
P.S. Thanks Christy for the cow-print pants-thingies.  I don't know if you recognize them but they're from the "Jesse" costume you let me use once (which is also what the boots were for).  I'm pretty sure I offered to give them back but you didn't want them back...at least I hope so!

Summer!

Well, I'm going to try to catch up.  Here are some pictures from the summer.

 We made a zoo trip with the Diases and Bairs.  Above:  Alexis, Thomas, Isaac climbing on the big red frogs.

 Sam, Isaac, and Thomas

 Chalk Paint

 Bowling!  The kids loved it!  

 We went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum.  That place is great for kids.  And what a great view of the bridge disappearing into the fog.

 More Discovery Museum.

I can't believe how long Thomas' hair is!  Who let it get that long?!

Still at the Discovery Museum.  Makes you wish you lived in the Bay, doesn't it (Tanya)?  (J/K Miss you!) 

Ice cream Sundays!  Sam doused his in maraschino cherry juice.  Bleh!

Thomas fell asleep coloring.  That's a first for our family I think.  He hasn't adopted Sam's sleep philosophy which seems to be "Never give in."

For the 4th we watched fireworks with friends.  It was the first time we've stayed up late with the kids to do it.  They LOVED it.  At around 8:30 Sam started commenting how it was past all of our bed times, even Mommy and Daddy.  Throughout the actual fireworks Sam said things like, "Oooooooooh.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah.  Woooooooooooow."  Thomas spent some time with his head under the blanket, but also with his above it for a good part of it too.  Afterwards he declared, "I was brave about it."  And he was.

 Cute Maddie!

 Thomas giving Sam the heimlich, apparently.  When did this happen?  I don't remember it...maybe Dave took this picture.

 Is it time for fireworks yet?  Maybe we should take more pictures to amuse ourselves.

 Cami, Brian, Claire, and Maddie.  So glad we know these people!

 The Bigelows-Lucy's parents!  (I feel like I've posted plenty of pictures of her, but none of her parents).  Before we moved here we knew that another LDS family, the Bigelows, were moving into the same building we were.  I couldn't help but imagine all the things we'd experience together and the friendship we'd form.  And guess what, I was right!  They bail us out when we lock ourselves out of our apartment (I think only once so far), and they bail us out when we have a cookie craving but no cookies.  And when Ben came home to discover me in their empty apartment borrowing chocolate chips, he just smiled and said ok when I tried to explain myself.  (I had the go-ahead from Sophie, but I'm pretty sure I looked really guilty.)  We've been really lucky to have moved here at the same time as the Reschkes, Roeders, and Bigelows.

 King Lamoni (Sam) falling to the earth (surrounded by Lamanite arms).

 Kite Festival.  It's always windy, so some genius decided to make money off of it. :)

 Braeden's birthday at Pump It Up.  (Gemma, Sam, Spencer, Braeden, Alexa)

 I'm so sad this picture is fuzzy because I think it's so cute!  Alexa and Maud.

That's it for now!

The Magical Land of Disney

One day the Bairs invited us to join them for a little trip to the Marina, and a walk on the pier.  There is just nothing cuter to me than kids holding hands.  I have no idea why Thomas and Isaac started holding hands, but as soon as they did I started taking pictures. Also, you might notice that Thomas has layers upon layers of shirts.  Thankfully, that phase has ended. :)

 Before our Michaelis cousins left us to move to the land of Cougars, we made a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory.  We miss you cousins!

 We recently got a helmet for Thomas.  To everyone's delight, it came with elbow and knee pads.  For the first day or two, these accessories were quite the hit.  I think if I saw someone else's kid wearing these, I might think they looked nerdy.  But I just think Thomas looks adorable!  I guess that's called being a mom.

For my own record, I should probably note that two weeks before we went to Disneyland, Sam and I talked about setting a goal to read some books.  Somehow we ended up setting a goal to read 100 books in the two weeks before we left to Disneyland.  He read 2 books that night, and then 7 books a day for 2 weeks.  It was a little overly-ambitious, I'll admit.  And we almost modified our goal a few days in, but we stuck with it and he did it.  The prize:  Jelly Bellies (from Costco).

The next few pictures are from the magical land of Disney.  We got to go with Dave's parents and Rachel, which was a blast.  The kids had fun.  Sam wants to go back to get the mint-chocolate-chip ice cream we had on the last night.  When we ask Thomas if he had fun, he says yes.  When we ask if he wants to go back he says no.  I think some of the rides were a little scary for him, but he loved the carousels, and the astro-blaster.

 Thomas, myself, and Dave. Don't ask me where Thomas gets his Asian eyes from.
And as a side note, I know I'm only 28, but I feel like 28 has been the year of aging.  I just don't look young anymore.  It's...strange.

 Dave and the boys soon after we got there.

 Thomas' favorite ride-the carousel.  Thomas, Me, Teresa.

 Rachel, Sam, Teresa

 Thomas met Lightning McQueen.  It's kind of funny to watch kids meet him because occasionally he would rev his engine which would usually lead to the child jumping away and/or crying.  So you know, if you think crying kids are funny, then it's funny to watch.

 Rachel and Sam riding the Radiator Springs Racing ride (is that what it's called?)  Dave saved us a 3.5 hour wait by standing in the fast-pass line for us as soon as we got to the park at 7:15 AM.  CRAZY.  Thanks to my wonderful husband.

Sam said his favorite rides were It's a Small World and the Astroblaster.  Sam also rode the Matterhorn and Splash Mountain.  He was happy after he rode the Matterhorn, though he didn't want to do it again.  But after he rode Splash Mountain, he was pretty grumpy.  But for the most part, the kid loved Disneyland.

Also, thanks to Greg, Diane, Jen, and Nicole.  It was so fun to see you all again!  We love your family and your kids, and our kids love your kids.  Thanks again!

Christmas Catch-Up

Here are a few pictures from the last while.

 Sam in Utah at Christmas time-Duck Creek.

 Sam and Thomas and a moose.

 More Duck Creek

 Sledding at Duck Creek

 Sam and Dave Snowmobiling

 This is Sam's creation of the Nativity scene.

 Thomas at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Utah.

 The guys built a snowman.

 We went to temple square one night.

 Sam dreaming of snowmobiling and trying to convince me to buy this snowmobile.

This was a while ago...but it's clearly not a Utah picture.  I can't remember what they were doing, but I just love it when kids hold hands.