grandparent fun

We're here in Kennewick for Christmas and enjoying lots of Grandma and Grandpa fun.  The kids have watched lots of movies in Grandpa's movie room and playing on his Ipad.  (sorry kids, your parents are tech dorks and don't have any cool toys).

1st snow of the season

This was a couple of weeks ago.  We're at my parents house in Kennewick right now and I hear we're missing more snow back in ABQ.  All Kennewick has is fog!

Andrew's Rock Band

At Andrew's School Talent Show he did a duet with his buddy to Justin Bieber "Never say Never".  (Much to his brother Ryan's dismay who "hates Justin Bieber").  It was hilarious.  And very, very loud.

family pics 2011

 I love the girls looking at each other.  

 The sticks, dirt, and rocks proved to be a big hit/distraction.

We really embraced the whole living in New Mexico thing this year in our pictures.  I actually really like the spot, I think it turned out great!  Our kids individual pictures were great.  But note to self for next year...do family pictures first!  Lucy was not having it by the time we got to family pictures.  Notice she and Spence are missing in a picture.  We did get at least one good one though.  I'll save it for my Christmas card!

crazy climber

Guess what negligent mom let her 13 month old climb up on swingset?  Ryan ran into the house and said, "Mom, come quick!"  And there she was up there with the big kids laughing hysterically.  This is what happens when you are the youngest of 4 and just want to get in on the action as quick as possible.

the plane ride

My sis-in-law found us $9 flights to Denver on Southwest airlines.  $9 you say?  Really?  Yes, it was crazy just to see the $9 flight on the website.  Anyways, too good to pass up.  Between Spencer's family and us, we had 4 trips lined up between ABQ and Denver.  Our kids have all flown, but they were all too young to remember.  They were super excited to get on the plane.  

 Spencer went through security with me and got us all settled.  I didn't even bring the stroller or much entertainment since the flight is only one hour.  Just long enough to get the fun experience of riding a plane without the pain for the mom.  Spencer left just right before we should have started boarding.  

 Our flight was supposed to leave at 5:30.  At 5:00 they announced that our plane had mechanical problems and we were delayed....until 9:00!!!  Talk about wanting to cry.  Andrew did.  I kind of wanted too.  

 Luckily, when I called my sweet husband to tell him of our plight, he immediately said he would come back and help me entertain the kids.  The airport let him back through security and he brought the DVD player.  He stayed until we were all the way on the plane and taking off this time.  

 By this point I thought the kids would be so tired that it wouldn't even be the fun experience I was hoping to give them, but they were great and they LOVED it.  You would have thought we were on a roller coaster ride as we took off.  It was hilarious.  The boys sat with some nice woman who Andrew talked to the entire time.  Right after we took off, Andrew announced in his not so soft Andrew voice, "I hope we don't crash!"  (with a big smile on his face).  That got some laughs.

Mabel and Lucy did great too and Lucy was just happy to sit on my lap or the seat next to me.  Then they ran off the plane into their Grammy and Gramp's arms who were waiting at the gate for us.  We finally got in bed at almost midnight.  (just in case you are interested, it only takes 6 1/2 hours to drive to Denver.  With airport waits and drive times, it took us over 8 hours to get there)  

The airline did give us all $100 vouchers.  So....the long delay was Almost worth it.  pretty much.

Jog-a-thon

 Ryan's school had a canned food drive that ended with a jogathon, so we went and cheered him on.  

 I don't know what got into Ryan, but he was a running fool.  He ran almost the whole time.

 They got a silly band for each lap they completed, Ryan got 4 bands.  He was one of only a few 1st graders that got 4 bands.  I'd like to think it was because his loving mother came to support him.  

All tired out.

My New Baby

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what this is?

Does some scale help?

How come women get babies after birth pains and men get something that looks to me like a vile insect and gives me the shivers?

S

is it finally over???

As you can tell from the abundance of halloween posts, we had party after party this year.  So you can imagine the loot these kids had.  I let them just go for it Halloween night and was pretty liberal with their eating of the next day, but by the 3rd day after I had my probably 50th reeses peanut butter cup, I was dreading the amount of candy I alone would consume.  

My friend let me know about the Treats for Troops at a local dentist.  You bring in your halloween candy and they give you a 1$ a lb.  The kids thought it was a good idea so we went in.  I was afraid they would freak out once they dumped their candy in the big box, but they were thrilled with their money.  (Ryan and Andrew got 3$ and Mabel got 1$).  They gave the kids a cookie and goody bag with lots of free meal coupons which they were also excited about.  Ryan even said as we were driving away, "Let's do that again next year!"  Success!

Andrew's Party

 Doesn't Andrew have the most fun preschool ever?  They go all out for every party, they covered the whole school in decorations.

 I brought both girls.  Mabel had fun...Lucy wasn't so sure.  But she is a cute ladybug.

 There are all these little games for the kids to play with a prize for each game.

 And of course, Andrew's favorite part, the food.  After about 5 minutes of playing games Andrew asked where the food was.  

A Rainy Day

She liked it.

Trunk or Treat

 Princess Belle (who wore her princess high heel dress up shoes ALL night)

 Spider-Man (he will be sad if you don't comment on his muscles)

 Bat (I made the costume out of a hooded sweatshirt.  Ryan REALLY wanted to be a bat and I kept trying to change his mind so I didn't have long to make it)

 Aerobics Instructor and her student.

 Smarty Pants! ha ha ha

Mabel and I danced the night away...the boys weren't too excited about the dance.  But let me tell you that there were a lot of little girls, YW and mom's getting down on the dance floor.  We even did a flash mom dance to Thriller which we practiced at Zumba.  It was awesome.

carvin' time

 Dad ends up doing all the work.

 I don't even want to know the germs that we pass around with these vampire teeth year after year.

 Lucy is happy to be a part of the gang.

 Same pair of teeth people.

 Finished product!

Birthday celebrations

 We had a Rainbow party for our two October 19th babies.  Spencer luckily doesn't put up too much of a fuss about birthdays, he would have been fine with a big pink cake too.  

We had a Rainbow fruit platter (Spencer thought it was dorky I made him take this picture, but Lucy can't hold the tray)

 Rainbow jello, and tacos.  

 So excited!  This girl had to bat her siblings away, they kept trying to take over.

 She got lots of clothes at her mother's request :)

 I know the cake looks ghetto from the outside, because that's just how I roll...

 Mabel totally blew the candles out.

 But I think the cake looked pretty cool on the inside.  

 I knew this girl would love her some cake.

Hurray!  And for those of you interested, Lucy weighed almost 21 lbs and I don't remember her height but she was in the 50% for both.