Arizona

taking over uncle jj's man room

ranger ride

bath time

i wonder why they had trouble sleeping

We have spent the week in Arizona. We drive back tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with my mom and dad and the Axlines. Black Friday on Friday and the Ohio State/Michigan game on Saturday. The girls have had so much fun with all their cousins. They absolutely love being at Lo and K's house. There is something for them to do in every room! Each night they had a movie in JJ's man room! I am sad to leave tomorrow, but looking forward to spending some fun time during the Christmas holidays with everyone again!

Might be a crazy life...

but (as Kate Gosslin says), it's our life. The weather has been wonderful...nice and cool and rainy. My kids love rainy days. I was trying to hold off and have grammie get them rainboots for Christmas, but the weather wouldn't permit it and we were at Costco and of course, they had rainboots front and center.

hannah cleaning out the goodwill bag!

meghan cleaning out my pantry

rainy days

Pumpkin patch

Cal Poly Pomona has the BEST, I repeat BEST pumpkin patch ever and it is very cheap which adds to the capital BEST:) 5 huge pumpkins for 20.00. Kettle Korn, bounce house, horse rides, food, booths, you name it. Our 1st year going we had no idea what to expect. It was 105 degrees, Kate was about a month old and Hannah was a roaming toddler. We brought plastic grocery bags. Seth and John were carrying them, their hand were losing blood flow, I was sweating with Kate bjorned to my chest, it was miserable. Each year we get better and better. We loaded up the wagon, snacks, strollers and us. My mom went with us. The weather was perfect. A little misty at first, but dried up real quick. The kids had a great time and I just followed them with my fountain diet coke and kettle korn! We ended up with 5 perfect pumpkins and some corn for dinner tonight. I do not enjoy Halloween, but seeing the girls so excited to pick their pumpkins puts a smile on my face!

Happy Birthday Kate

4 year pictures

Happy 4th birthday Katie girl

3rd birthday

2nd birthday

1st birthday

week 1

on our way to surgery

before surgery

after surgery

ready to go to school

Today our sweet baby Kate turns 4. Wow!!! Honestly where does the time go. I know everyone says that, but seriously. The days are going so fast. I feel that I am always just getting up with the girls and then before I know it, it's time to put them to bed. Kate continues to be well...a challenge. She is still a bit of a whiner! When things don't go her way...WATCH OUT! but if she is happy, it's the best. She'll kiss you, love you, lay with you, you name it. Kate is by far the most independent one of the girls. She is up, dressed (in matching clothes) and ready for breakfast by about 6:15am. She loves her mommy. She does not like going to other people's houses unless they have someone her age to play with. She loves school, loves her friends, loves her sisters, and loves her lunch pail. This past week she had her tubes removed...partially because she needed to and partially because I have a crush on her ENT and wanted to see him one last time:) Not seriously, she needed them done soon and we are switching insurance so I may have pushed it a little. Anyways...she got home from the hospital and wanted to take her NEW lunchpail to school. It was her first day of preschool. She continues to add joy (and pain) to our lives. Her nickname with the twins has evolved from Baby Kate to Katie girl. She is not a little baby anymore and as hard as I try, she is truly turning into a little girl:( We love you Kate girl!

Hannah started soccer. She is doing really well. Much better than last year, let's just hope she can stay on her feet!

Hannah's first day of school

Right before walking into her classroom

Sitting at her desk

mommy and daddy

marmie

our 'hike' at Laguna Lake

the girls at the lake

My baby girl started kindergarten (...again) today. I don't think she really understood that she was going to a new school until she sat down in someone else's classroom and we got ready to go. She had a good day and is looking forward to going back tomorrow. She actually likes her uniform and I LOVE it!!!

Bass Lake 2010

We are at Bass Lake having the most wonderful time...well the kids are:) They are loving being with all their friends. We have skied, kayaked, swam, had an ice-cream run, and innertubed! The kids are all loving life.

Yesterday the big kids asked if they could take the kayaks out in the morning alone. We told them "no" it was too dangerous. By noon, Hannah was manning a boat of 5 and Jillian and Bennett were on their own. They are standing up in the back and giving the little kids a ride!