Exciting News....

... anticipated arrival June 15, 2011

Snow Much Fun

It has snowed a few times in Indiana and I have been in heaven! I love the snow and especially close to Christmas. It also makes me feel at home, since I have been missing the Utah snow. The first snowfall the neighborhood kids were out playing and came to see if the boys wanted to join them. Cole and Garrett had a wonderful time and I am so thankful for older neighbors that take such good care of them.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

The neighborhood snow gang


My little snow bunnies




Sledding behind our house -- so much fun!




Hot cocoa after playing in the snow -- the best way to warm up!

Holiday Traditions

Since we will not be going to Utah for the holidays, I decided to start a new family tradition. Each day I have some sort of activity or treat or something in a Christmas tin that the boys get to open. So far we have picked out a Christmas tree, watch "The Grinch" while eating candy canes, visited Conner Prarie to see the Gingerbread houses, had Christmas activity books, make sugar cookies, and my favorite one was to visit a little town called Zionsville to see Santa.

When we went to Zionsville it was snowing huge snowflakes. I was in heaven and felt all full of the Christmas spirit. There is just something wonderful about the snow! Main Street in Zionsville is paved with bricks and there are quaint little shops lining the streets. We visited the shops and then went to find Santa. The kids got to give their Christmas wishes to Santa and got a candy cane in return. While we were waiting for Santa Garrett saw a group with their bells getting ready to perform. So, we had to return to watch the performance. Garrett was in heaven and enjoyed watching the Bell Choir -- it was more exciting for him than seeing Santa. We also got to go on a little train ride and since there was no one else there, Russ and I were able to ride. It was quite a scene to see the two of us in the cars -- we couldn't stop laughing.

We are loving this new tradition and hope the boys will continue to love it as much as we do!

Downtown Zionsville


Family picture by the Christmas tree...


Ho, Ho, Ho - loving Santa


Riding the "train" - doesn't Russ look comfotable?!






HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Fall is in the Air

Fall is my FAVORITE time of year, so here are a few highlights from our Fall festivities:

Cole's First Day of Preschool (complete with sourdough hot cakes!!)




Hoosier Outdoor Experience (it was an experience -- I took the boys alone because Russ was out of town!)





Garrett's new obsession is bells and cymbals - we have a high volume household! (not really a fall activity, but it is at our house - notice the gloves he is wearing; you can only play bells with gloves on, so he always has a pair nearby!)



Tuttle Apple Orchard -- we've been three times!





Cole's first year of soccer with the YMCA -- Go Wizards!!



Hoosier State Park - at the top of the Fire Tower


The Fire Tower -- all 110 feet and 123 steps


Family picture our hike


Cole throwing rocks into Lake Monroe


Dinner at Mother Bear's Pizza on IU campus - great pizza!

Hard WORK Paid Off

Cole worked so hard doing chores and finally earned enough money to buy his Dinoco trailer. Russ made a deal with Cole that he would pay for half of it -- the darn toy cost $22, and since he was only paid .25 cents for each chore, it took a while! But, after about a month of chores (he had to do 50 total) he reached his goal. The only problem: the stores were all out of the Dinoco trailers. Uuuggghhh!

This toy is an exclusive of Target, so you can only get it there. I wanted Cole to earn the money and then go to the store and buy it after he had enough (I'm trying to teach a principle, right?). I wanted him to feel good about all of his hard work when he got it. I called all the Target stores in the area and none of them had the trailer. So, I got online. I had seen it on target.com a few days prior, but when I looked again they were not even available online. Uuuggghhh!

So, now what do I do? Here I am trying to teach a great principle about the rewards of working and the reward is available. At this point I seriously started praying for a solution. I didn't know what to do. Russ went on a weekend trip with his brothers, brother-in-law, and father to Texas (more on that on another post...), so I begged him to try and find a Target in his travels. He sent me a text that said, "How much do you love me?" and a picture with his brother, Bryan, holding the Dinoco trailer. Yes-- success!! Even if we had to go to Texas to get it, it was worth it! After I picked Cole up from preschool I just handed him my cell phone and he took one look at the picture and squealed. To say he was thrilled is a huge understatement. Off and on for the rest of the day he check the picture on my phone, just to make sure it was really still there.

Russ got home last Sunday night, so on Monday morning Cole raced into our room and Russ gave the Dinoco trailer to him. Russ told me that he was so excited, but put the trailer down, ran over to him, and gave him a big hug and said, "Thanks, Dad!" We just can't get over how grateful he was, amid the excitement. So, I guess all in all this has been a great lesson for all of us. I am so proud to have such a darling little guy as my son... how did I ever get to lucky?

Here is the Dinoco trailer -- so glad to have it in his little hands!


Cole even had to sleep by his new trailer on Monday night.


The trucks all arranged and ready for bed

Summer Recap

This summer was kind of a blur with Russ' graduation from Orthodontic school, Grandpa and Gradma Guymon visiting us in Iowa, a trip to Utah (with Russ fishing and a quick trip to Vegas for me), moving from Iowa to Indiana, Grandma Jacobson visiting our new home, visiting cousins in Oklahoma and Texas, Russ starting his new job, local and state fairs, swimming at the neighborhood pool... it has been a busy summer! Here is a quick photo tour:

The Indiana State Fair -- are we in the mid-west or what?!


Milkin' a cow at the State Fair


Cole and his goggles -- I had to pry them off of him. He always had raccoon eyes after we went to the pool


Garrett on his new trike -- that pedaling sure is hard!



The REAL route 66 (for you Cars fans) -- Ramon's building was copied after this


The boys with their cousin, Stanely, in OK -- it was their first meeting!


Garrett riding Coney, his cousin's dog, at their home in Oklahoma


Playing with cousins, Joshua and Grace, at their home in Texas


At the Splash Pad in Amarillo, TX, with cousins (Russ had more fun than the kids, and was more wet!!)


Visiting a local fair -- we always have to stop by the pigs!


Grandma Jake reading "Umpy" -- a book my Grandma Kennedy used to read me


The moving truck -- don't want to do that again in the near future


Me and my cute friend, Kelsie, that I visited in Vegas


Jumping on the tramp with Uncle Landon and dog, Gus -- a crazy combination


Doing chores with Grandpa Jake -- the boys loved it and wanted to go every day


In Nauvoo with Grandpa and Grandma Guymon