Our 2013 Thankful Poster

Here's what we are THANKFUL for this year:

my ball -p
the church -j
chelsey -k
jillian, peter, lucy, molly, kevin -c
the book of mormon -j
curly hair (gasp) -c
myself (or else i wouldn't be alive) -j
being a big sister -j
the zoo -p
mostly i like jillian -p
lucy -p
pens -p
friends/bffs -j
star wars and molly -l
the states -j
star wars -p
my whole family -j
nacher (nature) -j
being a mom -c
animals -j
x-rays -p (?)
ice cream (target brand chocolate chip) -c
toys -j
letters and numbers -j
my toys -p
ME -p
pops -p
YOU! -j
grandmas -p
thanksgiving -p
star wars -j

Cute Kindeegartener

I can't get enough of my cute kindeegartener and the things he brings home. I love to see his brain working as he struggles to learn a new word or on paper when he writes a new sentence. I wish I knew the educational term but his class has been working on building words by breaking down each sound, or something like that. Why didn't I major in elementary education?? Anyway, here are some examples that make me think this kid a thinker.

Lemnad (Le-mo-nade)
Liun (Lion)
Lasso
Nif (knife)
Scrl (squirrel)
Fon (phone)

a bear hibrnats. (his periods are as big as his letters so everything looks like it has an "o" after it.)
a fox hunts.
a goos flis south.
a moos staz (stays).
an oul hunts.
a har (hare) gets wit(white).

His favorite winter memory is building a snow fort and if he could give Kevin and I any gift he would give Kevin a football and me a ring.

So many sweet things Pete brings home from school, so little time to record them all. Lately he's brought home one sheet that says "If I have a problem, this is how I will calm down: Hum a tune." He had drawn a bunch of music notes for the accompanying illustration.

He also had a to draw a WANTED turkey with a disguise on it around Thanksgiving. He chose to disguise his turkey as a ninja and he said the reward for finding this turkey would be 5000 LEGO sets! Wow.

Splendid Sunday Evenings

 We love our neighborhood! At least six of the girls in Jill's class live here and they are all such sweet girls!

 Peter won this scooter from the Walking School Bus. That's the program at the kids' school were they walk to and from school twice a week during the time of year when the weather allows for it to encourage a healthy lifestyle. One day everyone who walked entered a drawing and Peter's name was drawn for the grand prize!

 Lucy was not happy about the coat I wanted her to put on so she stayed in the stroller under a blanket. 

 Iowa does sunsets right! I can't come close to capturing them with my camera.

We walked up to Brooklyn's house and they wanted Molly to play the baby while they played Family. Here she is in their toy closet. 

All things Iowa

Gayle told me about a friend getting a fun shot of a newborn on a hay bale and after that I was a girl on a mission. After all, I've got a newborn. In Iowa. These shots turned out goofy but we got another chance a few weeks later.  

 Kevin making fun of me:) Funny thing is he looks strikingly handsome in this pic so I had to include it. 

 It was a windy, crisp day so there was no way this babe was going to relax or fall asleep to get a less than rigid shot. 

 These hay bales are huge, and high! See Kev ready to grab her if she falls?

 Jillian's cute friend Liberty was with us

 If everyone's outfits seem random, that's because they are. We were just driving somewhere on a Saturday and happened to see some hay bales so we pulled right over!

 These two photos are probably my favorites. Love this loving boy.

Adventurers

We met this fun family upon moving to Iowa and they're here for a year as well doing a fellowship. We went hiking one chilly day in November. 

 Lucy was anxious to try what the big kids were doing.

 King of the hill and throwing mud clods. Melissa is the perfect mom of five boys. She takes everything with stride.

 Molly slept through the whole hike. She is THE sweetest baby.

Swim Lessons

This tiny lady got to take swim lessons this fall. It was her first time taking any sort of lessons or class so I wasn't sure how she would approach things. But when we got there, she took off the warm layers she had over her swimsuit, it was November in Iowa after all, and marched over to the person I pointed out as her teacher. Even from the balcony where they have families watch, I could tell she was talking the ear off of her teacher but I brought my zoom lens the next week to confirm. Her she is telling them something riveting.

Birthday Girlie

Lucy turned 3 over a month before we had a chance to have a birthday party for her. With Molly being born just before her birthday, life was a little hectic. But Lucy was so excited at the prospect of a party that I just couldn't let the occasion pass without acquiescing. She wanted CAKE, EVERYONE TO WEAR PRINCESS DRESSES and to INVITE FRIENDS. We were having joy school at our house so we decided to turn our turn into a very low key celebration. Kids this age are so easy to please. Lucy was tickled pink:)  

 Jane came dressed as a parrot. So fun!

 We decorated and ate cupcakes. We read stories about birthdays. We danced to music and played some instruments. All in all, it was the simplest it could possibly be and she was so happy about it.

 After her friends left, she had a picnic with some pretend friends. 

 Ever the Big Sister, as she now insists on being called instead of Lucy, she wanted Molly right in the center of everything.