Thanksgiving

Dave took the kids out on a Thanksgiving morning run/roller blade.

It was great to have the Kimball's join us for a low key Thanksgiving dinner. Kelly was 8 months pregnant and doing a simple meal and I wasn't up for doing much so we agreed to get together and keep it simple. My kids made lots of pies and Ash was insistent on making crusts from scratch. 

The "newness" of having babies has not worn off and I'm so thankful. Our older three adore these babies and LOVE spending time with them. They are such a big help to me. 

 Sadie made pecan and pumpkin, Ash made berry and a lemon cream, Nate made chocolate cream.

 I had to snap a shot of this. They both wanted up when I was doing dishes. Life can be so hard!

 Our wonderful friend, Blanche, broke 7 ribs during a recent fall. We have been so sad for her. She got moved to a rehab center and when I suggested maybe we bring her a few Christmas decorations, Ash volunteered their tree that they have upstairs every year and love. What a sweet sacrifice. So we brought their tree and plugged it in and she loves it.

 This picture is for you, Tyler! Ashlyn's cousin is known to have a book with him in some funny times (like practicing the piano, doing dishes, etc). Ash making peppermint bark and reading a good book while stirring.

 They have discovered the dishwasher.

 The kids made a Christmas chain and some ornaments for Blanche's tree. Blanche's attitude about life inspires me to be better. We always leave feeling so uplifted and wanting to be more optimistic about life. She is 95!

 Ash working on her berry pie.

Me working on snuggling my babies. A favorite pastime.

Grandma comes AGAIN!

My poor mom is going to need to pencil our family into her November calendar each year for a visit to help. She was with us last November to help (two separate trips over a month's time) when I had my terrible bout with pneumonia that took over our my health for a couple months. I was on the mend just in time to welcome Anna and Audrey into our family (phew!). It's been a year of the pneumonia coming back every couple months to try and take over again. I could type 10 pages of a health history which would be way too boring. But in summary, it's been a long road to say the least. 

It's interesting to look back at pictures and even though I'm smiling, many of the times I wasn't feeling well at all. Some of them (like trick or treating), I was so thankful just to make it out and be with my family. I wasn't sure I could walk all the way in to the hockey game without my lungs getting bad...stuff like that. Boy, pictures sure don't tell the whole story! 

When I was getting pretty sick again, Mom came to the rescue. She is such a great help and everyone loves having her here. Nate was cute as he kept saying how awful that Grandma had to go in "5 days" or whatever the countdown was. The bonus is that we get extra time with Grandma! 

 I love watching them dig in for toys together.

 Grandma and the girls before church!

 Audrey

 Story time with Grandma!

 I can just picture Sadie down the road with her own baby tugging at her apron while she cooks.

 Nate makes all sorts of contraptions for the babies to have rides around the house.

Love their sleeping poses. They are 10 months and are going strong sleeping together!

Halloween

 It was a year for "find your own costume around the house". I found these matching "two peas in a pod" at our consignment store for Anna and Audrey. They were cute and warm. Ash hung out with a friend and felt too old to dress up. The funny thing was how many, many teenagers were out trick or treating! Ash would have fit right in!

 Audrey and Anna

 Nate spent all day working on a magic show for us. He found some great tricks that had us wondering his secrets! The best part was watching him get so into it. He made himself a hat and the girls helped with all sorts of props.

 We took the family to a hockey game with a big group of dentists in the area. I should have brought ear protection for the babies - it was so loud! Everyone had fun.

 Ash and Sadie are in a shakespeare class at school and they each made a model of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Sadie took 1st place and Ashlyn took 3rd. The prize was two tickets to a modern day theatre! Sadie was nice and shared a ticket with Ash.

 This is a daily occurrence at our house...skateboard rides. The babies love it.

 Dave and the babies.

 It was so fun to have Jason come visit for a night while in Colorado for work! Thanks for coming, Jason!

 This sight still makes me smile. I love watching them run off together to explore.

Bedtime stories...

A video we made for Meliss

Groovin

Things that make me happy

Life is full of ups and downs and today had a few downs. So, for my therapy I put pictures on the computer and looked at the many things that make me really smile. 

 Babies watching us play four square. I had so much fun playing with the older kiddos.

 Mom suggested I make a book of all of the sleeping pictures of Anna and Audrey. I think I would have a ton!!

 I don't think Anna could smile any bigger if she tried.

 Putting them to bed is a highlight of each day. They are so happy and soak up every bit of attention they can get. I never want to leave two babies smiling and giggling at me.

 This was an interesting way to make sure they touch.

 Introducing Anna and Audrey to the tramp.

 Audrey helping Mama fold the laundry.

 Watching Nate's soccer game.

 I think Anna wants to play.

I'm probably going to have a sore neck after all of this bottle feeding/tugging at my hair. Audrey now likes to yank it over and over and it's starting to hurt!

 Audrey, Anna

 Anna, Audrey

 Nate took Audrey on a skateboard ride around the house. She loved it.

 Sadie giving the babies a horsey ride.

 I love how their hands are touching.

 Audrey kept wanting to grab Nate's book so I got her a book and they both joined Nate.

 They love their toy basket.

 Love Anna's position. She couldn't get close enough to Nate and the book he was reading.

 Dave took this picture and texted it to me with the caption "The tides have turned." Now Audrey is the one on top of Anna!

Last but not least…Nate didn't like the Indian saag we had tonight. So he pulled out the handy clothespin (he's used it before for this issue) and ate a lot more off his plate.