Happy Thanksgiving

We had another great week and holiday with friends and family.  We all ate too much (well, except the kids...Mommy feels like they are existing on "crackers and air" lately but she keeps remembering "it's a phase, it's only a phase...")

A picture of Ayson sleeping on Auntie Julie from Sunday.  Mommy and Addie drove home Sunday night while Daddy and Ayson drove home Monday (Daddy was able to work from home while Mommy could not). Thanks for having us Julie and Dan!



Mommy and Baby Doll!  Addie loved the horsey on her sweater.



We all headed to Grandma Collene's on Wednesday night.  The kids love, love, LOVE Ruby :)



The kids also LOVE Ana, Uncle Jay (Ric's son) and Auntie Jen's daughter.



Ayson and Curran playing on the mini snow bank.



Addie is at the stage where it takes her a long time to warm up to people (about a day :) but not for Ana!  It helped that Ana was just sitting on the couch so that Addie could approach Ana on her own. After this picture, Addie climbed right up on Ana's lap!



The smiling beauties!  Sometimes, Addie won't even let Daddy hold her but she went right up to Ana and asked "Up, up"!



Movie time with the cousins!  Thanks, Ana!



Breakfast with the cousins.  Addie: "Where is MINE?!"



Tent time on Saturday.  The kids love it when Mommy plays "bear" and "roars" while shaking the tent.



Addie's fantastic "do"






Addie helping Daddy put the Christmas lights up in the Boys room.  Notice the "matchy patchy" purple shirts :)



Daddy cooked up the tenderloins from his first deer on the wood stove in the Boys room.  Yummy!



Sunday:
Daddy and his "Mimi Me" before they stacked wood.

Precious Kids and Precious Days

This week, Ayson kept asking Mommy when Christmas was coming and that lead to a discussion about December and that we were still in November and needed to be patient for Christmas to get here.  Then he asked about the months in a year, from there we talked about rain...and then about cold weather...and finally snow and then back to Christmas!  So when it finally started to snow on Saturday, Ayson said to Mommy "Is that snow really rain that is frozen?!"  And Mommy said yes :)

Addie is starting to assert herself more vocally and she has not been allowing other people (even Daddy) to hold her until she is sufficiently comfortable with them (usually only after being in their presence all day :)  She certainly does not hold back on letting Ayson know when he is too close or being a pest.  It is fun to watch her personality develop.

Ayson flying with Daddy Monday night.



Addie was more content to use Daddy as a perch.



News Flash: Addie and Mommy had their FIRST disagreement on clothing on Tuesday, November 19th 2013. Mommy intended the short sleeve Dora T-shirt to be an "under shirt" while a sweater would go on top....well, Addie was NOT having it.  So, Mommy compromised by giving Addie the shirt she wanted but insisting she have another layer for warmth:)  TaDa!


Another goofy smile from Addie.


Daddy and Ayson playing catch.


Run, run, run!!!



Addie had the funniest faces this week but the below Nutella "goatee" is kind of creepy.  Addie: "Arg, Mommy, I'm a pirate!"



There's our Baby Doll!  She is wearing her first pearl necklace and pair of high heels (thanks, cousin Kaela for sharing)!
On Saturday, we were all at Auntie Julie and Uncle Dan's for a family get together with Grandpa Chuck and Pama and Dan's parents, Babs and Jim.  Nice long johns Uncle Dan!



Ayson and Curran were too quite and we found them in the bathroom washing their feet.  The pink on Ayson back is lipstick...sigh.



Daddy shot a buck (with the antlers broken off) on Saturday night and the kids and Auntie Julie posed with the deer on Sunday.  It was super cold when the picture was taken on Sunday (12 degress...brrr!)

Family

A^4 spent most of the week with Grandma Collene and family.  The cousins had a blast playing together and with Ruby, Grandma's chocolate lab.

Ayson was talking about his brain this week and how it is getting bigger and bigger.  It amazes Mommy how much Ayson understands and what he thinks about.
Addie had a slew of more words this week.  She is a great helper when it comes to laundry and sweeping!  Now if we could just get her to stop standing on the chairs and couches!

Addie and Kaela playing with Barbies.  Addie loved putting the shoes on the dolls...Mommy loves shoes too...good girl :)



Addie is now a pro at getting on and off the rocking horse.



Daddy giving the kids a tractor ride.



A great smile from Ayson resting on Daddy Jungle Gym.



A pretty view Wednesday morning.



Ayson wanted Mommy to take a picture of him and Ruby....cheese!



Saturday was gorgeous so we played outside as much as possible!



The 2 rainbows Daddy captured while hunting at Grandma Collene's



Daddy showed Ayson how to twirl spaghetti around his fork.





MMmmm!


Addie saw that Mommy had the camera out so Addie started saying "cheese"...our little ham :)

In the Moment

A^4 are sad today as Great Aunt Freda, "Auntie" Kathy's Mom, and Grandpa Ric passed away this weekend.  We are sending our love to Grandma Pat, Aunt Shirley, to our dear friend Kathy, and to Grandma Collene and all of Grandpa Ric's family.  Mommy and Daddy hope to instill in our kids that we should live our lives "in the moment" and to try not to take people and everyday life for granted.

Monday:
Mommy dancing with Addie...too bad Mommy choose that moment to "take a nap"!  (Notice Mommy's right hand placement on Addie...it becomes very important in the next picture.)


Diiip!



Tuesday:
Gianna stopped by for a visit...she gave Mommy a bracelet that she had made.  Thanks, Gianna!
Ayson getting a ride from Gianna.  Addie: "Wait for MEEEeeeeeee!"



Gianna even got to try some of Daddy's Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho.



Wednesday:
Addie helping Mommy clean the "play room"



On Wednesday night, Ayson woke up with a horrible cough and we found out on Thursday that he had croup.  That certainly was scary for Ayson, Mommy, and Daddy!  By Thursday afternoon, Addie had a runny nose but luckily the cold did not progress into croup.  Mommy stayed home with the kiddos on Thursday and Friday.
The below picture is from Friday: our first snow fall of the 2013 season...it did not stick.



Saturday:
Ayson constructed an awesome block building with tunnels...which "Godzilla" Addie promptly knocked down after the picture was taken :)



Sunday:
Bath time Mohawks!!!

Happy Halloween!

Another week has blown by!  Mommy and Daddy captured some great smiles from the kids this week.
Addie's words for the week: hair, eye, nose, mouth, hot, Ayson, and yeah.
Ayson responding to Daddy's statement that Daddy thought Ayson "probably did not need anymore candy"...Ayson: "well, I probably do want to eat more candy"


Monday:
Daddy "jungle gym" has gone vertical!









Playing outside on one of the last warm days of the year.  The kids met another little girl at the park and everyone had fun playing together.



Ayson and Gianna



Think fast!



Tuesday:
The kids did not finish their dinner in time to be able to go outside and play...so Mommy went outside by herself.  Even Addie was not happy.  She is definitely slowing down, in the amount of food she eats...sigh our "little hoover" is gone.



Wednesday:
A bit colder but we still played outside.  Addie is wearing her bumble bee Halloween costume/jacket. Addie:  "Gianna, I want UP!"



Ayson rolling down the hill like a crazy man.



Thursday:
Indulging in some chocolate Halloween candy on Thursday night.
Mommy and Ayson went "Trunk or Treating" at the Presbyterian Church with Scott, Lucy, Sam, and Ben while Daddy and Addie manned our door and gave out candy.  Even a little bit of rain did not stop the kids from having fun.



Pretty smiles!!!



Hi Big Guy!  Ayson is showing off his sucker ring.



A car trunk decorated as a witch.  (Ayson as Batman and Sam as Superman).



This van was ALL decked out as a huge monster...very cool!



Ayson inspecting his loot!  Daddy said:  "that's it?!?"  Mommy replied:  "do you really think Ayson really needs more candy/sugar?!?"



Friday:
Ayson is now riding his two wheeler without training wheels!  Using the balance bike really helped Ayson make the transition.  Awesome job, Big Guy!



Gianna and Addie messing around.



Go, go, go!



Saturday:
A pretty smile from Addie



Ayson playing with a rocket (including sound effects).  Daddy took Ayson to Barber Sam for a "normal" haircut.



We went to Stafford Park on Saturday so that Ayson could get some more bike time in.  Ayson, however, was more interested in the slides.
Addie can now "nudge" herself into going down the slide.  Check out the smile on her face :)






Ready,



Set...



Go!



Weee!



Saturday afternoon was rainy so we all found ourselves coloring.  Thanks for coming over to play, Gianna!



Our two chick peas!



Sunday:
Daddy and Mommy's friends Sasha and Tamara stopped by on Sunday.  A^4 got to meet their daughter, Zara (11 months old), catch up, and we all got to feast on Vietnamese noodle soup (thanks to Daddy!)



We had a great time visiting with Sasha, Tee, and Ziggy.  We miss you guys and look forward to our next visit...whether in the States OR Denmark!!!