November in review

Since it's December already....I decided to go ahead and just post all of November's pictures.  It was a busy month, but we sure had a lot of fun!

Holly and her kids came over to visit.  Becky would not smile for pictures, and it was time to leave, but we snapped one of them anyway.  The girls had fun playing, and the boys had fun running around.

Becky blowing out her birthday candles. 

Colby blowing out his candles.  Since we missed a party for him this year, Becky was a trouper and let her brother share her birthday party.

Opening presents

Becky standing with her balloons

Colby and his balloons.  He refused to stand up....he was so tired by this point, but I got a picture of him anyway!

We also headed to Mt. Ayr for a shower for Joel (and Darin and Darla too) It was so much fun, and that new nephew of mine is so adorable!

Closeup of Joel

Becky on her actual birthday....eating her breakfast of choice...powdered sugar donuts!

Becky was so excited to get her Doodle Bear.  She talked all weekend after her party about how she had to go spend her money because she did not get that bear that she wanted.  I was so excited it was what she was getting from us that I had to fight every urge to give it to her early! Good thing her birthday was on Monday!

Eating cupcakes with Emma

Colby didn't eat any cake at the party, so I decided this face would do!

making sugar cookies 

We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom's side of the family on Thanksgiving Day.  We had a good time.  It was nice to see everyone.  (except those California cousins, of course!)

Colby trying to get his legos open

The other present that Becky REALLY wanted.  She tried to buy it with her birthday money, but I told her to wait because I might have told somebody that she wanted it.  She couldn't have been more excited!

I finally got a picture with Joel, and some cuddle time.  Colby actually let me hold him.  He kept coming to check on me to make sure I was okay, but he didn't cry...so that's a good thing.

Becky was super excited to hold him too.  

Becky and I went to Beauty and the Beast at the Civic Center this year instead of our annual trip to Disney on Ice.  It was a good choice.  We had fun getting dressed up....and the show was amazing!

I knew it was worth it when Becky looked at me after one of the dances and said, "Mom, that was awesome!"

And that was our November in a whirlwind. Whew!  Hard to believe it's December.  We've got our decorations up, and the kids are behaving very well, especially knowing that Ronald, our Elf on the Shelf, is watching.  Colby loves that movie.  He watches it at least twice a day.  At least we get a break from Elmo and Barney, I guess!  Becky has really enjoyed having her Christmas movies out as well.  I love that she loves watching Rudolf and Frosty, just like we did as kids.  And now instead of having to wait until it's on that one night, we can watch it whenever we want....and we watch them at least once a week!  Hope everyone has a nice December and doesn't have to run around too much and forget the real reason that we celebrate this wonderful season.  God Bless You All!

Halloween

Since it's almost Thanksgiving, I figured it was time to post our Halloween pictures...

We went to Night Eyes one night.  It was cold but fun anyway!

Becky zooming down the slide

Colby having fun jumping around

Al got to carve pumpkins this year.  I was busy working on transcripts, so I didn't got mine done.  Al did great though, and Becky was super excited!

All ready for trick or treat.  We had a great time in our new neighborhood.

Vampire Becky

Cowboy Colby

Old Man Al

Waiting at the door.  So cute!  Becky told every person a joke this year.  Colby just said, "More candy."

On the 31st, we went to Trunk or Treat at our church. Becky had fun telling jokes to everyone again.

Al handed out candy.  Colby visited three cars and wanted to sit and eat some candy.  When it was time to leave, he was ready to go get more. Figures!

30th Street to 67th Street

I'm not quite ready to post pics of the new house.  But....here are the kids playing in the moving truck on 30th. They had a blast.  They had no idea how much work Mom and Dad were going to have to do!

Since Al and I had moved both tables, there was nothing to sit at to eat.  So....the kids and I had a picnic in the living room our last night in the old house.  They had a blast.  We should totally picnic in the living room more often!

Good-bye 30th Street.  It was a little sad to say good-bye.  It was our first home and where both of our children were when they were babies.  However, we are so excited to be in our new home!

And here is one of the many reasons why....a fabulous backyard for the kids to play in

Here is Colby taking one of his first naps in the new home.  Looks pretty comfortable to me!

Becky just relaxing on the couch

Watching their "movies"

So these little glimpses of the house will have to do for now.  We hope to get some paint in the kids' bedrooms soon to add a little color and to get some pictures hung.  Then when the mess gets cleaned up again, I will try to post some pictures (or you could just come visit us!!!)

Terrific Two!

Hard to believe our little boy is two!  Here he is letting his sister help him open his present before school.  I have a feeling this is the last year he'll let her help!

 

 

Giving me a "smile."  Like the rest of the family, Colby is not exactly a morning person, so he's sometimes a little grumpy until he gets some milk and cheese. 

 Looking for his milk and cheese

I just can't believe how tall he is!

Playing in a box after school

blowing out birthday candles on a cupcake

yeah!

Yummy cupcakes!

 

Colby had a nice birthday, even though we haven't had his party yet.  Things were so crazy trying to pack and get ready to move.  Becky said she didn't mind having a joint party with Colby, so I think that's what we'll do this year.  At two, Colby is talking so much.  He is able to use words when he doesn't like something or when he wants something.  He loves to be independent and walk up and down the stairs by himself, saying, "I do it."  Or sometimes it's, "Carry you."  He loves books.  He enjoys reading them and looking at the pictures.  Aninal books are his favorite.  He loves to point to the pictures and say things by name and the sound they make.  He loves to be outside playing almost as much as he loves watching Elmo.  He loves to sing songs.  It has been so much fun watching Colby learn and grow.  He also loves his big sister and loves to copy her.  He has an amazing laugh which is contagious.  It doesn't take much for him to get us all laughing, which causes him to laugh even harder at us.  He has been having some issues with hitting.  When you tell him, "No hitting," he will say, "hug," wanting to give you a hug to make it all better. He is so loving, it's hard to be mad.  We are trying to explain to him that a hug doesn't make hitting okay.  He seems to think that a hug will make everything bettter, though, so he's struggling a little with that!