Happy Birthday Bart!

Bart's birthday ended up being spread over a couple of days, since he wouldn't be in town for his exact birthday. The kids had fun wrapping the presents and being all over Bart as he opened them! We love you, sweetie!

Ready to blow out the candles

Jayda

Our crazy family

Present Time!

Dim Sum Class

For Gen's birthday, Kari thought it would be fun for she and I to pitch in and buy Gen a cooking class that all three of us could attend. What a super idea! We had a great time.... partly due to the fun, crazy teacher that we had. She was Chinese and actually used the cleaver that Gen is holding in this picture to cut everything up. It was a super fun girls night out and I'm so grateful for such wonderful friends!

Inside Playground

Cole didn't have school Monday, so we headed to one of our favorite indoor playgrounds. The kids had a ball. Jayda, as always, has no fear and climbed on everything.

Sadie sliding

Cole, a bit blurry, but having fun

Jayda on the turtle

Sadie and Jayda

Jayda

The Torture Continues

Who knew that when Cole started school, Sadie would continue to get picked on... Jayda picked up where Cole left off. I heard crying this morning and knew it was Sadie. She came upstairs with two of Cole's battery powered trains caught in her hair. Apparently Jayda had caught Sadie unaware and had managed to get the running trains stuck in Sadie's hair. Her hair was totally wrapped around the wheels. Even being as careful as possible, the trains managed to come away with two big chunks of hair. Poor Sadie.

Cole's Tooth

So, this saga started over a week ago. Cole was eating a granola bar and came running in to tell us his tooth was loose. Upon closer examination, we discovered that his new tooth had already started growing behind the one that was loose. I must admit, I freaked out a little bit. Messed up teeth run in the family and I was hoping my kids would get skipped. :) I was nervous about how the new tooth would grow in. So, I called my brother, who is an orthodontist, and he said the same thing happened to his daughter... Cole would be ok. Just let him wiggle it and it would come out soon. Cole has been working at it, trying to get that tooth more loose. Bart looked at it tonight and asked Cole if he was ready to have Dad try and pull it out. Cole was willing, so off went the boys to see what they could accomplish. A few minutes later, Cole came downstairs biting down on a piece of gauze, wildly shaking his hand so that I would notice his tooth sitting in his palm. Yippee!! The tooth is out! Great job Cole and great job Bart for pulling it.

Cox Farms

Since Cole didn't have school on Friday for Parent/Teacher Conference, Bart took the day off and we had some fun at Cox Farms (after the kids got their flu shots). :) It turned out to be over 80 degrees. It was a gorgeous day and the kids had fun running from slide to slide, seeing the animals, drinking cider and eating apples, swinging on the rope swing, going on the hay ride, playing on the haystacks and playing with the goats.

Afterward, Cole and Bart left for the Father and Sons Outing... and the girls and I had some fun pampering ourselves on a girls night out. We painted our toenails and fingernails, ate ice cream and watched a princess movie. What a life! :)

The Slide

The other day, some friends met us at the park. The kids were all running around, doing their own thing. But, eventually, it usually comes back to the slide. All the kids love this slide... even Jayda climbs up and slides down by herself. Well, on this particular day, they are started going down together. First in twos, then threes, then they figured out how to wait for everyone at the top, attach themselves to each other and go down with all five. It was pretty cute to watch and they were having the best time.

Wall of Character

Cole was nominated from his class by his teacher to be on the Wall of Character at his school. His picture gets to stay up for the month of October. Parent/Teacher Conference was yesterday and I couldn't help coming away a little teary eyed and proud. Cole is such a good boy with a very good heart. We are so proud of him and the strides that he has made since starting school. He loves school, his classmates, his teacher and even his homework. :) We are grateful to have him as a son!

Homestead Farm

We had a great time at the farm Saturday. It was completely gorgeous day! We took a wagon ride to the huge pumpkin patch and got 5 awesome pumpkins. Then, we went apple picking. We got several varieties and so far they have all been delicious. Bart was a good sport pushing/pulling the kids in the wheelbarrow. It was a very fun morning!