This year Max really wanted a Scooby Doo birthday. I thought it would be fun to make it "groovy", too. We made tie dye t-shirts and went crazy giving them out! He invited 6 friends over and they had a "mystery hunt" to find the missing cookies. It was cute to see him so excited and all his friends in their fun colorful t-shirts. Then later that night we had our families over for dinner. It was a great day just for Max and one I hope he'll remember.
How I love this little girl! She is so fun. She sits up on her own, and plays with the toys that I leave in front of her. She likes to eat and loves to grab her little puffs and attempt to put them in her mouth. She is a momma's girl and has serious separation anxiety when I leave her side (which is rare). It's exhausting, for sure, but I LOVE her!! She makes babbling noises and copies you if you repeat a noise. She sometimes grabs onto something and tries to squeeze it with all her might and muscle. It's hilarious and the face she makes while she does it is a puckered, squinty-eyed one. She has two bottom teeth. I get NOTHING done when she is awake, but it's fun to watch her interact with her brothers (who love her to death) and Wolfie. Zoey and Wolfie have an understanding. She will grab and pull at him, and he just sits and lets her. He'll come up and lick her or sit next to her. They are buddies. It's so cute. Lukas likes to pick Zoey up and then that means Max does, too. She hates it and immediately lets me know they are too much for her. She will go to Daddy without a fuss and gets so happy when he is in the room. She still doesn't take a binkie, but loves her lovie (a small square of minky fabric that she has to have to fall asleep).
We had so many FUN things going on for Halloween...a school carnival, the witches at Gardner Village, a Fall Fest with Papa and Nana, the ward playgroup Halloween activity, a spontaneous neighborhood party put on by Whitney, Trick or Treating and Papa's Spooky B-day party. Whew!!! We loved every single one of them! Here are a plethora of pictures to prove it. {Notice Zoey and her many costumes...thanks to some sweet neighbors for lending them to me! Actually the boys have quite a few costumes, too. From years past.}
The weather has been so nice lately...in the 70's...so it was quite a surprise to wake up to THIS today! But the kids loved it and immediately wanted to go play in it. My excuse is always, "I don't have any snow pants". So I watch lovingly from inside. Lukas built this snowman all by himself . What a cute one it is, too! And Max just eats it. Here's to winter!!!
We love the neighborhood we live in. It is so fun to play outside or take walks and visit with friends that we have so much in common with. Recently we have had a frequent visitor. When I say "we", I should say "Wolfie". Charlie lives a few houses up from us and comes to play almost daily. We love him and he is so cute with Wolfie. Who says dogs can't have play dates?
Max was on a soccer team with 12 of his neighborhood buddies! Their uniforms were bright green--hence the team name "Slimers". They had an entertaining season full of laughs and cries. Overall I think Max had fun. He sure loved his coach and would do whatever he told him to. Max is very glad soccer is over and can't wait to cheer Lukas on when it's his turn.
Finally!! I have been wanting family pictures since the day Zoey was born. There is a very talented guy in our ward who took these amazing photos. He captured each of us just perfectly. Whew, now I can enjoy life until the next family photo!
So I was getting tired of the toy room being the first thing you see when you walk in the house. Not to mention all the toys & all the clutter that the kids didn't pick up. And finding toys everywhere BUT the toy room...so I moved the toy room down in the basement & turned that room into....a study/reading room. I wanted the kids to have a place to do their arts or crafts, to read & now that Lukas is in school, a place where he can do his homework. So really it should be called: The Homework Art Study Craft Reading Room. I think we are getting a lot of use out of it. The kids color a lot more, want to read books, work on puzzles & Lukas gets his homework done. Plus, there is less to clean up and ZERO clutter (for the most part). And can I just say YAY for my label maker?!! Pat gave it to me awhile ago & I am now putting it to good use. Lastly, I must give IKEA props for almost everything in the room (minus the bookcase & cabinet, oh & the dog!). It was an easy, inexpensive make-over!!!
This year Max really wanted a Scooby Doo birthday. I thought it would be fun to make it "groovy", too. We made tie dye t-shirts and went crazy giving them out! He invited 6 friends over and they had a "mystery hunt" to find the missing cookies. It was cute to see him so excited and all his friends in their fun colorful t-shirts. Then later that night we had our families over for dinner. It was a great day just for Max and one I hope he'll remember. 
