Catch up time

I apologize for my lack of posting lately, it just seems like the time flies by, I only missed two months worth, don't be hatin'. To make everyone happy, we are having one large post that will hopefully catch me up, maybe for the next two months. (oops did I actually type that????)

Hard to believe that this was Christmas 2007 (Elizabeth had just gotten done crying because she didn't want to stand on the chair or something silly like that) Look how "Betty Crocker" I am with all the homemade cookies. And the messy kitchen.

And here we are Christmas 2008. Pillsbury pre cut and bake cookies. And the messy kitchen, you just can't see it because I was smarter this year and just zoomed in a little more. Never say that this isn't an educational blog. Oh what a difference a year makes. Wait a minute, look at Josiah's clothes, they almost match! I must really like blue stripes.


Speaking of cookies, here is our very own cookie monster and lion. Or "tootie monster" as Josiah says. I love having a coworker that is done having kids and gives me all her outgrown Halloween costumes. My kids love it even more.


MY LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING UP!!! LOOK at this coloring! She worked so hard on this one, and even signed her name.


The Artist and her assistant.

Here come the Christmas photos. Here is Elizabeth with her Leapster princess game. She is so funny as she loves it, but gets bored with it once she has it figured out, so I tell her to go onto the next level, and she simply says "no, thank you." This reminds me I need to shop on Ebay to get a new game before our next trip to visit NW Iowa. Oh, I also need to shop for a new touch lamp. And a new crock pot. Man are we hard on appliances!!

Here is our little man, he was more impressed with carrying around his present.

I hope this is the only photo of them drinking on the Internet. Ever.

So Grandma got these adorable robes for the girls for Christmas. I think it was the gift of the year. Josiah was mad that he couldn't be in the picture, and the Luke was mad that we made him get in the picture with the girls. I am not posting it so I can use it as ammunition at Luke's wedding someday.

Here is the whole crowd. My, how fast they have grown!! No more babies here. Please forgive Josiah's bare feet, he REALLY doesn't like socks and shoes. Ok, I am off to shop on Ebay before I forget. See you in 2 months. Oops, I typed that AGAIN!!! SORRY!

Birthday party - round 4, the end, I promise

OK, I could post lot of pictures with Elizabeth opening presents, but let's face it, I am almost caught up, and as you can tell, Josiah thought that he was getting left out. So here is the final picture from that night.
Elizabeth's new digital camera, I just learned you have to be careful and excercise censorship as you never know what pictures your daughter will take when you are no looking. That is all I am going to say about that.

Josiah thought he needed his time in the spotlight too.

Birthday Party - round 3

The Mc Donald's birthday party

Another tradition we are starting with our kids is to let them chose the restaurant for thier birthday supper. Elizabeth chose Mc Donald's, and she wanted to take Addi. No surprises there :)

Chad let Elizabeth open her present before we ate, while it kept them happy while we waited for the food, it was a struggle for the girls to understand that we needed to eat when the food did arrive.
I don't even have to explain this picture.

Birthday party - round 2

Again, sorry for the late posting, but I figure as long as I get it caught up, that is the point. Here is my parents with Elizabeth, grandma and papa.

Here is Chad's parent's with Elizabeth, nana and grandpa.

Opening presents and actually sharing nicely with Kaden.

Her haul for the day.

It was a great day - thanks everyone for the gifts. Elizabeth is the reigning Candyland champ, anyone want to challenge her?

The cake

So I got this idea to teach myself how to make fabulous birthday cakes for my kids. I have always been a fan of cake decorating and shows like "Ace of Cakes." Every year I have bought Elizabeth's cakes, and usually paid more than I am comfortable with, however I thought, if I could just teach myself how to do this, I could save money and give my kids something special and really tailored to their own tastes and dreams. Here is the cake before I assembled it. I originally planned to do complete made from scratch cakes, but my mom who happened to visit that weekend talked me out of it. So I doctored cake mixes to make a very moist chocolate cake and a white sour cream almond cake. I purchased these lovely square pans from a hole in the wall craft store on East University in Des Moines call Claytons. They are owned by a couple in their 80's who I am pretty sure live in the rear of the store. However they are computerized and will help you with absolutely anything that you need. They had more cake decorating stuff than any chain store I had visited in Des Moines. Since we had to bake one layer at a time, it took all day, and more buttercream than you can shake a stick at. But we persevered, and here we are.

Here is the assembled cake at the party. Candles and everything.
Just a few more touches.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!

Still catching up - a night in costume

So the night started off with two men in the sky. Still hasseling with the antenna, to which I am greatly opposed. To Chad, a better picture is just one adjustment away. Can I tell you how many times he has adjusted this thing?????
Here is the line up of trouble. Alexia, Kora, Josiah, Elizabeth, Kaden and Grant.

Trying to strike a pose.

The cutest frog on the block. At least he learned how to say ribbit that night :)

Pumpkin Patch - late entry

OK - For those of you that were at the pumpkin patch with me, you know these are extremely late, but you also know I started working a ton of extra hours shortly after returning from this trip. Let me introduce you to my family. The first picture is the oldest three grandkids, Sara, Ashley, and Jenna with a small shot of Kate. The next one is is my mom and Brayden. Breanna is also making a small appearance.
This is my youngest sister, Joni with Brayden, her youngest and Josiah. This was taken during the rain storm, luckily we got a spot under the porch roof.


Again, here are the two hoodlums. Elizabeth is still working on that smile issue :)


Here is my sister in law, Jill, Elizabeth, and Jill's two girls Ashley, and Kate. Jenna is making a small appearance on the right.

This is a rare sighting of my charismatic older sister Deanne. She really does have two legs. I wouldn't even post this picture, but I think I have a total of 3 pictures of her, one from last year's pumpkin patch, this one, and one of her in the background of a picture of my kids. And she truly is always on the move. With her are Luke, her youngest, and Jenna again.

Yet another picture of Elizabeth and Josiah. Still trying to get Elizabeth to look and smile.

Here's the whole troop. Notice we got everyone in the picture and no one is visibly restraining anyone. Looks like they actually do like each other. Well done everyone!