Christmas Day

This series of Christmas pictures is for my mom friends...
I spent like 2 hours trying to set up my fancy camera to take a picture in front of our tree with "glowing" lights....which of course resulted in a yellow tint, and blurry faces in most of the shots. Of course, most of the shots are of someone crying or looking down anyway...
I've now finished reading Nikon D5000 for dummies.
Get ready Christmas photo 2013!



Take One- Actually the best shot of all even though Cole is blurry :(

Take 2- Ok, everyone look at mommy...right here in the camera...look at me..I'll give you candy...

Take 3- Did you say candy? (Caden and Cole) Whats this red ornament doing here? (Caleb)

Take 4- What says Christmas photo more than tears?

Take 5- Caden, just do your normal smile, ok?

Take 6- Ok, surely we got a good one by now, right?
(there were like 50 more...all worse)

Christmas morning presents!

Caleb opening the gumball machine Caden bought him at the school Christmas store...

He loved it! And "always" wanted one...
It broke after 5 minutes, do not ask him to show it to you at our house unless you are prepared to go buy a replacement.

Star Wars ruled the Christmas theme this year...actually, Star Wars Angry Birds. Cole has perfected the light saber sound.
On Christmas Eve we had our second annual "Bethlehem Inn" dinner. At dark, we turn off all the house lights and eat fruits, nuts, cheeses, and meats by candlelight. This year I got extra theatrical and made the boys go outside until they could see the candlelight in the window. I greeted them at the door as the "innkeeper" with a pillow case  women's head covering and welcomed them to dinner. Anyway, its lots of fun, we read the story of Jesus' birth and this year we sang a few Christmas carols. So after that Caden volunteers to sing a song by himself and he busts out in a song about lighting a candle each day little children and happy Hanukkah! It was so funny! Yay public school :)

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

In true tradition to this blog, I bring you an update, a holiday or two behind..
Maybe I should just let the year take a lap and start posting a full year back :)
Thanksgiving 2012 was in West Texas this year!




Uncle Gray with Cole, could't that be his sweet baby?
No pressure from big sister here, but seriously, that could be his baby...

Daddy practicing catch with Caden and his new glove!

My favorite tree...

My favorite one year old...

 

Gingerbread making eating candy excuse...

Out for a drive

Hiking with Uncle Gray and Aunt Jenna

I'm fairly sure we were stopped here...

This needs a frame somewhere...

Caden driving...

Gray in his beloved onesie suit..

Gray and Jenna chilling in the back of the jeep...

 

Cole being adorable

Daddy and Caden looking at the view

Post hunt return to the jeep

Smelling flowers

Gramply, Caden, and Caleb literally on the top of a mountain!

RUN!

More catching up to do!
Last month, I ran a half marathon! Yay! I have tons of commentary on this adventure...




It was hard...
It was way worth it
Training takes a lot of time
Which would have been impossible without a husband
who woke up in charge for 3 months of Saturday mornings
with three little kids
(we both know that job is harder than running 8 miles on a Saturday)

When people say you get numb after a few miles
they lie
There are all kinds of unexpected obstacles to running more than 6 miles
many of them involve being on a trail in the forest without a bathroom

Finishing a long run isn't the hard part
Finishing the rest of a long day when you are tired is harder

The sense of accomplishment you feel after running one mile more
than you have ever run in your life
is comparable to the sense of accomplishment
after birthing a child without drugs
almost

Running is fantastic for your body
and your mind
and your soul

I grew attached to my "route"
and even missed it on the day of the race.
Double jogging strollers make for great training equipment
especially when filled with young children yelling,
"faster mommy faster, like Daddy does it!"

What I didn't "get" before the experience
was just how exciting it is to see your body accomplish something
that you did not believe it could
and trust me, I laid in bed hours before the first day of training
thinking tomorrow, I have to run 4 miles
4 miles!

Running is easier with music
and much easier if you dance to the music while you run

Apparently there are places on my body that weren't
changed forever because of pregnancy
Although you have to run while they jiggle
for a few months before they leave
Putting my hand on my hips is much funner now
it reminds me of hard work every time

I will sooo do this training again
And find a way to run under 10 minute miles

I'm not that competitive,
but some people in my house are
so I have a challenge ahead

13.1 miles
2 hours 21 minutes 16 seconds

October!

Catching up! Here is October in pictures!

We had Yoda, a ghost, and a pumpkin. Caden and Caleb insisted on their costumes :)

 Candy frenzy!

 Soccer action! 

Caleb is 4!!!

Ok so it was a few weeks ago, I am sorry! I know there are grandparents and great grandparents who are missing these blogs lately!

Our amazing friend Gina from church surprised Caleb with this angry birds cake on his birthday. It was beyond belief how talented she is!!! Caleb was in love, he just sat and stared at the cake for the longest time and then they wanted to "play" it and knock everything down. Which would have been so sad if eating that thing was any less delicious that it was... oh man, I will not admit how many pieces of cake I ate that weekend, yum! 

Caleb also got some birthday money which he used to pick out....drum roll...angry bird toys.

For anyone interested, on November the 8th, the makers of the angry bird app are release a Star Wars Angry Birds option. I do not think the boys (and grown up boys) in my household are going to be able to sleep that whole week....Collin already finished shopping for the boys Christmas stuff...please do not purchase Angry Birds Star Wars paraphernalia, I can assure you that we already have it sitting in our closet :)

Cole, 20 months

Caden is turning 6 next month

  Heres our Sweet Berry Farm pictures for the year, none with pumpkins (seriously?) but we had a blast, its such a fun tradition!