Skyler's 1st Gingerbread House

We thought it would be fun to get Skyler a gingerbread house kit this year and put it together as a family. Luckily the house was pre-assembled for us. Maybe next year we'll each make our own from scratch.

Here's Skyler checking out his undecorated house, it looks like he's really plotting what he's going to do with it.

Working on the little gingerbread men with daddy

Dylan was a good supervisor!

Here's his finished gingerbread men

Skyler really preferred eating the candy rather than putting it on the house

He put all of the "lights" around the windows

Here's our adorable boys with the finished product

Skyler and Rich with the finished house

Here's the close-up of our first family gingerbread house

We had a lot of fun decorating this. I definitely think this needs to be an annual thing. I can't wait to see how the boys decorate their houses as they get older! Skyler has thoroughly enjoyed eating all of the candy off of the house. This is how pathetic it looks after only a couple of days...

There is definitely some candy missing!

AJ's visit

My sister, AJ, decided somewhat last minute, that she was going to come up here for Thanksgiving. She's a busy girl, working 2 jobs and going to school, so getting time off of all 3 things can be kind of tricky. She was only able to come up for a couple of days but we were so glad she made the trip. We had a really fun time together! I don't know what I was thinking but I didn't take a single picture on Thanksgiving Day. And it was Dylan's first Thanksgiving too. Mother of the Year right here! Anyway, we picked AJ up from the airport in the morning and then enjoyed lots of good food and we watched TV and just hung out. It was a fun day!
On Friday we did a little Black Friday shopping. We didn't go too crazy. We slept in and got ready and headed the the outlet stores in Centralia. We got some really good deals at the Children's Place, they had everything in the store 40% off plus they let me use a 30% off entire purchase coupon so we got a big bag of clothes for the boys for $50 and we got a free stuffed monkey for Skyler. That's my kind of sale! Bath & Body Works had some good deals too so we are fully stocked on soap for the next year or two. Other than that we didn't do too much damage to the 'ole wallet.
Saturday was the day AJ had to fly home so we just hung around the house all morning and played out in the back yard. Skyler had a blast playing in all of the leaves. And I actually remembered to get the camera out :-)

Skyler & AJ in the backyard

"Helping" daddy rake the leaves up

Walking through the big pile of leaves

Jumping in the big pile of leaves

Jumping with AJ in the pile of leaves

Falling down in the leaves

Hugs for Auntie

I was trying to take pictures of Skyler and he kept running away from me. He thought he was pretty hilarious. I finally managed to corner him and get his picture.

Running away from me again

Posing with AJ, only because it was HIS idea, what a little stinker!

I love how we all have crazy faces in this picture! :-)

Dylan liked playing in the leaves too!

He also liked sitting in the tree

Dylan loves his Auntie AJ! Isn't this an adorable picture! I love it!!!

So sweet!

Our classic airport pose. We have one of these from every time she visits.

Thanks for coming up AJ, we miss you already!!!

Random Pics from October & November

I was looking through all of the pictures on my computer from the last month and, man have we been busy! These pictures are in no particular order. Enjoy!

Since we moved into our house around the beginning of October I was able to host Denise's baby shower here. It was a fun and busy day. I sent Rich out to do errands with the boys while the baby shower was happening and when they were done he took the boys to a football game at Oly High school. Skyler LOVED it and talked about it for weeks afterward.

The same day as the baby shower was our Ward's annual Trunk-or-Treat and chili cook off. Skyler did not get a nap that day and was NOT at all into dressing up so we were lucky to get him in his tool belt for trunk-or-treat.

Here he is, proudly showing off his candy stash

Sunday, after church, Rich and Dylan fell asleep on the couch together and I though Dylan looked so sweet and peaceful. I love sleeping baby pictures!

Dylan is very mobile these days and is getting into everything. He knows where the snack cupboard is and frequently likes to help himself.

I absolutely LOVE his smile! It lights up his whole face.

Doesn't he look so innocent!

These two love bath-time. They have so much fun in the tub together!

Look at that happy, clean little boy

Since we have more space in our new house, we also had more blank walls that needed something hanging on them. One of the spaces that was driving me crazy was above our TV. I went online and found some vinyl lettering that I liked and Rich helped me make the signs for them to go on. I think they turned out really well!

Skyler loves having friends come over and play with him. Rory and him played together so well, I think we need to have her come over again! I caught them both sitting in the empty toy bins and thought it was pretty funny.

Sometimes when you play hard all day and then you finally sit still for 2 seconds, you fall asleep.

We got to attend Carter Bernard's baby blessing this month. What a special day for a special little boy. Apparently we all got the memo to wear pink and black :-)
Kelly, Jodi, Carter, me & Dylan
(notice how cute Carter looks in his little suit...it's the same one Dylan was blessed in)

The 'Fantastic 4' has grown a little...we are SO HAPPY to have Tristan & Jodi living back in WA again!

Tristan's mom and sisters with baby Carter

Skyler got mad that we wouldn't let him watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the millionth time one day so he went and hid from us, under the dining room table. Apparently he got a little too cozy, laying across all those chairs, and fell asleep down there. That kid can seriously sleep anywhere! He slept there for at least an hour.

Skyler and Caitlyn are two little peas in a pod and have so much fun together. They like to hang out with all of the pillows and stuffed animals in the boys' room.

Dylan woke up from his nap in a really cute and happy mood one day

Just look at the big grin. He was having so much fun jumping up and down in his crib.

Skyler doesn't like having his picture taken so I have to be sly about it these days.

Precious little Emma Katherine arrived on 11-21-11 weighing in at 9 lbs 9 oz and 21.5 inches long. She is one big, healthy girl! And she is such a little sweetie! I love snuggling with her!

Proud daddy with his sweet baby girl

We even managed to get Christie to hold Emma

She was a little nervous at first but she did great!

And lastly, look at how cute Dylan is in his new winter hat! Love it!