Fall Festival Fun

Steves mom and her husband were here this past weekend and we all had a blast. Saturday we spent a good portion of the day at the Stocker Farms pumpkin festival. The boys got to dig with trucks in the giant corn boxes, hammer nails, bang as loud as their little hearts desired on pots and pans, jump in the bouncy house, Aiden caught his first fish, they got their faces painted and of course we found some pumpkins to bring home.

The only bad part, the "hay ride". Yuck. Pulled by a smoke belching tractor for 20 minutes out to the pumpkin cannon (guys were impressed, I was not).

Sunday went shopping for signature stamps and log books for our letterboxing hobby. Then we went to Firestation 71 for their open house and the kids got to climb around the fire truck and ambulance.

Fun fun fun. Come back again soon Grandma and David!

The Fourth

We were blessed with awesome weather again for this fourth of July. We had fun with bbq and friends and the pool. Mostly just sitting around chatting. Of course there were a few tiny fireworks, if you can call pop its and smoke bombs fireworks. Of course the little boys were very excited. Okay, probably the big boys too.

Liberty Lake in the Spring

We ventured over the pass to visit Grandma and Grandpa Schneider and Uncle Chris for a long weekend. The boys were great as they are well trained tv zombies and the dvd kept them pacified pretty much the whole car trip.

Grandma and Grandpa took us to Chucky Cheese Friday when we arrived. Aiden had fun with all the games and Nolen enjoyed watching the giant mouse sing and dance. Aiden did climb up a maze/slide thing and get scared and stuck. Steve was able to rescue him before too long, and I am sure a few visits to the therapist will fix him right up. We also celebrated Uncle Chris's 17th birthday. Aiden was jealous of all his gifts since they both share a love for Sponge Bob.

I got to shop with my mom without anyone asking for a snack or crying to get out of the stroller. I actually had enough time to decide on a pair of new shoes for myself. And I talked my mom into a gorgeous pair of boots that I couldnt fit my fat little calves into.

Steve got to do some virtual golfing with Grandpa and then he spent the rest of the weekend watching the boys so I could run around with my mom. What a guy. He had to entertain them indoors as Spokane didnt have any less rain than Seattle.

The trip back was slow as the pass was traction tires advised. Lots of sleet and yucky rain. But thanks to Steves capable driving we made it back safely.

Thanks for all the fun Grandma and Grandpa! Oops, I didnt even take one picture!

Nolen Turns One

Probably goes without saying, I can't believe he is already one. Nolen has been a huge blessing (literally as well as figuratively). I think his first party went off very well. He didn't suspect a thing all day long (please sense the sarcasim). Grandma Schwark, David, aunt Jennifer and cousin Tennyson all came up from Vancouver to visit and help Nolen celebrate.

Aiden's gift to Nolen was a giant cookie monster balloon, and it was by far his favorite gift. Once spotted he did not let it go for the rest of the evening. It even had to go into the bath with him. To all the grandparents who are thinking "good lord, I hope she didnt let him sleep with it"...Of course I didnt let him sleep with it.

He partook in some cupcakes and my expectations of a wild messy baby were not exceeded, but adequetly met. He loved to squish, but not to eat. He made an appropriate mess and looked cute doing it.

Thank you to all who sent gifts, Nolen could have cared less about the clothes, but I love them and appreciate them.

Turkey Day Was Good for us, not so good for the turkey, I guess

We had a thankfilled thanksgiving this year. The Schneider family came to stay with us for four days, and gave us more reasons to be thankful.

Thursday was of course filled with cooking, eatting, resting, and more eatting. By Saturday night I had racked up a total at least 15 turkey sandwiches (before you freak out, they were little, on the costco little rolls, but still I was sick of turkey). It is a good feeling to eat so much of something wonderful that you become tired of it though. This is part of how I rate a sucessful thanksgiving.

Friday my mom and I braved the black friday crowds and headed to Alderwood mall. We spent more time in the car getting there then we did actually shopping - and we ended up not buying anything at the mall. My husband considers this the mark of a sucessful shopping trip. We hit Costco too. No remarkable sales, but I can always find something to buy at Costco :)

Saturday the boys hit the golf course. They had fun although it was wet and cold. I guess golf is golf.

We spent the evenings playing Wii and watching movies. Aiden was only wounded once by an out of control wii player (grandma). He may have also been scared by her explation of death when he inquired after my brothers pet rat. :) Cant be any worse than Steve letting him watch a baby horse being born on tv, (every now and then he still mentions how baby horses come out of your bottom).

Anyhow, I have detoured.

Hope everyone had as wonderful of a thanksgiving as we did!

Nolen's Baptism

We had Nolen baptized on October 12, 2008, at Gold Creek Community Church. He of course did lovely and was a happy little man being held by Pastor Dan. The water didnt bother him and neither did the loud music or lights.

We had a great lunch back at our house afterwards and lots of friends and family came. Nolen promptly had a bottle and went to bed for the duration of his party.

Unfortunately being the second child it seems to be true there are far less pictures taken of his events. But he got a blanket commemortaing the event just like his brother, so far they are even.

(Amy Whisenand, Nolen's god-mother, pictured right)