This and That...

We began our month by doing our civic duty!   

 These next three pictures are funny because Caroline is getting into trouble and she LOVES it!

 "Oooh playing cards, those are great for tearing!"

 "I think I will take this one rrrriiiight here!"

 A lazy Friday morning selfie.

 This little one is standing up on E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

... And she is very happy about it.

 Wind-blown Fernie!

 "Come on Mom, let's play ball!"

 EVERY cowgirl needs a horse!

SWEET! 

 Jack is proudly wearing his shirt in support of his cousin Nomi.

 Watch out!!!

 Self declared "Dr. Pelham or Dr. Furnie" is always giving someone a check-up.  Caroline is the lucky patient today.

 

 "Hmmm who should I call today?"

 "WHAT it's Thanksgiving already?!?!?" 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I am grateful for my God who loves me so much that he sent his Son to die for me. 

I am thankful for my family who fills my heart with love and joy! 

I am thankful for friends who do life with me. 

Two little monkeys...

We have had the most fantastic weather the last few weekends!  So of course we must go to the zoo.  Jack has made great strides at the zoo, without hesitation he will feed and pet the animals!

 I don't think Fernie hesitated from day one!

 

 These two are really good buds when they get along!

I thought it would be fun to get a picture with the bears in the background...Fernie is screaming to the bears "Don't eat me!"  Jack, the good protective brother, is trying to keep his arms around her! 

 A few weeks the ago the kids and I got the opportunity to meet former US Attorney General John Ashcroft. 

 Our very serious Caroline had some smiley moment at the dinner table...Maybe I should give her ice cream more often!  HA, just kidding!

 

 

 Love the slide static.

 Fernie LOVES adventure...

 And she loves her Papa!

 Jack loves a surprise at the end of the slide.

 

Jack challenged Nana and Papa to a game of tennis.  I won't say who won!!! 

 Every once and a while the kids like me to play piano while they dance/sing/play along.  Jack took this picture of Fernie and I...guess Fernie wanted to be higher up.

 Jack was playing along on his pretend violin.

 Caroline was enjoying the music.

 As I briefly mentioned before Fernie loves adventure.  Unfortunately this love got the best of her last Thursday...Fernie and Jack were jumping on the bed, one fell off and hit HER head.  She cried for a while and then settled down after Zack held her (I was downstairs getting dinner ready).  At dinner I noticed Zack had something on his shoulder so I asked him what it was.  He had no idea, so we didn't think twice about it.  After dinner Zack took Caroline up for a bath while I cleaned up the other kids. He hollered down to me that I should check Fernie's head because he thought it might be blood on his shirt.  So I casually checked her head and there was a gigantic blood stain in her hair and when I got down to her scalp it was still bleeding a bit.  I immediately called Zack down and he promptly took her to urgent care.  About two hours later Fernie came home with one staple in her head.  Zack said she didn't cry at all.  She was able to sit on his lap the whole time. 

Thankfully Thursday's incident didn't prevent us from trick-or-treating. Jack's been begging to put on his costume for a month now!  Jack was so excited to go, Fernie wasn't sure what it was all about and Caroline was along for the ride!

 Once Fernie got the hang of it, she LOVED it.  The first words out of her mouth the next morning:  "Can we go trick-or-treating?"

 Caroline, Fernie and I came home early to hand out candy (to get out of the cold). 

 I sent this picture to my parents and titled it "caught red-handed!"

 Zack took Jack and Fernie to a Disney show, they were pumped to go!

 Even Fernie gets in on the football fun at our house.

 Jack would play football or soccer all the time!

 This is Fernie's favorite place to be...Dad's arms.

 Pure joy!

 Always time to chase Dad around the yard. 

 Hard to believe October is over and we are already into November...

F-I-V-E

One of my FAVORITE pictures! 

 One of Caroline's favorite things play with...Fernie's toys!

 When I was little my mom made me "love" toast so I thought I would make it for the kids...they LOVED it! (I just couldn't resist!)

 Jack wanted me to take a picture of his drawing and send it to Zack.  I believe his exact words were "take of picture of me and text it to Dad"!! 

 Hood-lums!

 Sibling love!

I thought this was so cute...everyone "working" on their laptops. 

 Pretty sure Jack was telling me "go long!"  We have been playing LOTS of football around here.

 Princess with style.

 Time to pick apples with Papa.

 Caroline watched while they picked.

 

 Jack turned 5 last week!! He was very excited about his birthday this year.  We offered for him to have a friend party but he just wanted to go bowling with Dad, Mom, Fernie, Caroline, Nana and Papa.  I need to enjoy every minute that he thinks Mom and Dad are cool to hang out with!!!  If you were wondering those are creature power discs from the show WildKratts.  Jack is a HUGE WildKratt fan!

 This was his expression when he saw the decorations for the first time on the morning of his birthday! 

 This little one keeps us on our toes.

It's fun to see these two play so well together...WHEN they play nice together!! 

 The morning of Jack's birthday he said to me "Mom, I have a great idea...we should go to a restaurant to celebrate my birthday".  I was on board with the idea except I knew where he wanted to go (McDonalds) and we don't like eating there so I suggested a restaurant and said he could order a special treat! (BAD parents, I know!)  Jack got to order his OWN pop, he was pretty pleased, I think a happy meal toy was quickly forgotten!

 Every birthday boy should get some pumpkin gelato!

Jack is my football buddy, he attends SCS games with me.  And good he does, sometimes I ask HIM what happened during the game!!! 

 Finally Jack's family birthday party - Bowling!!  Everyone had a GREAT time.

 Fernie got to bowl this year.  She actually did really well.

 Even Dad showed off his mad bowling skills...look at that form!

 And this sweet baby stayed on the sidelines.

 Fernie is showing Daddy she knocked TWO pins down.

 Jack "cooled" his hands each time before he bowled.

 Fernie was pretty happy she got a pink ball.

 After bowling we HAD to play in the arcade.  Fernie didn't have any tokens but she danced on this machine like she owned it!!

 

 

 It wouldn't be an arcade without a basketball game...

 Caroline was NOT a fan of the party hat.

 Nana and the birthday boy!

 

 The Cheetah Power Disc Cake and one VERY happy boy!!

 So one of Jack's birthday gifts was a magnifying glass...it made for a VERY long walk the other day!!

 

 Yesterday I took the kids for Jack's traditional Barnes and Noble cupcake.

 ...And not be left out!

 It's that time of year.  Zack had some GREAT helpers this year.

 When jumping in the leaves you should have a purple dress and sparkly shoes!

 Wheeeere's Fernie?!?!?

 Wheeeere's Jack?!?!?

 

Good thing Dad had lots of energy to finish the job!

 

I just LOVE fall!