First BIG Snow

Its been blizzarding in Iowa! We had a huge snow storm hit us last night after almost no snow so far this year, and my kids were way excited. Ethan mainly because school was cancelled :) It started out as a pretty but heavy snowfall last night, then quickly added thunder and lightning (who knew that could happen?!) and lots and lots if wind. We woke up to a white out view and snow drifts a foot high at our door, and warnings that travel in these windy conditions could be life threatening. So we stayed in, mostly. My kids got anxious to go outside so about one we joined friends for a few minute jaunt outside, broken up by recovering in her garage to escape the wind. It was an adventure, but we survived the Iowa storm and look forward to many more days of sledding and hot chocolate!

Happy Birthday, baby girl!

On her birthday, she:   

ate cake,

(mostly frosting),

got messy,

enjoyed her decorations,

 opened presents,

hugged her new doll,

played with a set of spoons forever, 

tried to keep her new toys away from her brothers,

 and went to bed a 1 year old girl! 

Happy Birthday Hailey, it's been an amazing year and I hope you had a special day!!!

Halloween 2012

Halloween in Des Moines is always busy! There is lots to do around this holiday. 

First I got to help out in Ethan's class for his "fall party"- lets call it what it is people, when you let the kids wear their costumes and make spider treats and witch crafts, I think you can safely call it a Halloween party. But anyway.

His class, all dressed up! (Ethan's trying to make a hook with his hand :)

Me and my big kindergartener!

Ethan winning the candy corn game I was in charge of.

Chase's preschool had a trick-or-treat party as well.

Hailey as a zebra! I got a really cute one of all 3 and Chase deleted it off my phone : (

Ethan was a pirate and Chase was Bumblebee the Transformer...at his school one he wanted to wear his Spiderman costume instead.

And of course we carved pumpkins! Ethan helped me do the guy with the glasses, and Chase helped Eric do the scary one. 

Trick-or-treating on Beggar's Night! Here in Des Moines the kids go out the night before Halloween and it's called Beggar's Night. Gotta love Iowa!

Hailey lately

Here's my baby, or should I say amazon woman, lately! She's 11 months, walking, into everything, wearing 18-24 month clothes, weighs 24 lbs and she's in the 99th percentile for height. She loves her brothers and her blanket. She loves going outside and heads right for the street as soon as I open the door (scary!). She has to have food on her tray or she won't sit in her high chair, even while I'm actively feeding her. She signs 'more' and tries to say 'all done' and has a new habit of letting loose a high pitched scream. If you get her in the car at the same time as Chase she will relentlessly yell Ahhhh! She has this new sound she makes- she sucks air in while saying Oh! And she makes a great OH! face to go with it. Hailey is such an easy going girl I feel like we can take her anywhere, she hardly complains even when it's past her bedtime. I've had a very hard time finding shoes that fit her feet, and she takes them off as soon as shes in the stroller or car. She makes us laugh and she's so sweet, we love our Hailey girl!

Meals From The Heartland

Have I mentioned I love Iowa? I love Iowa. There are some of the coolest people here and everyone is super friendly and caring. They have a service project that we've been able to participate in for the second time called Meals From the Heartland where groups prepare food to be sent to those in need. My family and I scooped rice, veggies, and protein into bags, weighed them, and packaged them for shipping to places around Iowa and to Haiti. It's set up so anyone can help- as pictured below Chase is at a scooping station with 2 of his friends :) Even Hailey came along (and wore a stylish hair net). It is a great service project to be a part of and a great way to teach our kids to serve others and to be aware of people who don't even have their basic needs met.

It was set up in a huge hall downtown and there were so many people working, it was amazing to see. Hopefully we can do it again next year!

Do I cook?

I was making pigs in a blanket with Chase today-- it's one of my boys favorite lunches- and Chase kept smashing them together on the cookie sheet saying, "I want them together!" I tried explaining that they need to be spread out, so I used something he would understand.

Me: You know how you hate people sleeping on your bed with you?
Chase: Ya.
Me: It's because you need your space. These little smokies need their space too, so they can cook.
Chase: (thinks for a minute) Do I cook?

Well, I tried.

Love this.

I found this new quote that I love on the blog: memoriesoncloverlane.com. Thought I'd share.

The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils,

light in your eyes,

flowers at your feet,

duties at your hand,

the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars,

but do life's plain, common work as it comes,

certain that daily duties and daily bread

 are the sweetest things in life.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

First day of Kindergarten!

Ethan had his first day of Kindergarten on Wednesday!! The first 2 days were half days and today is the first full day. Yes they have full day kindergarten here, which I don't like. A 5 year old at school for 8 hours? Really? Anyway...

He had a great first day! He rides the bus with about 8 of his friends from our Branch who all live in our neighborhood, its pretty fun and it makes it easier for him to want to go. We met his teacher, Mrs. Cooley, on Monday at the open house and we really like her! He seemed to have a good time, and came home asking to use "the restroom" haha I don't think he's ever said that before. 

Ethan and his best friend, Anna

Can I get a ride?

Bye Ethan! Chase is going to miss you a ton!!

Hailey Pictures

Hailey is 9 months! I had my friend Nicole take some pictures of Hailey and they turned out way cute. She does such a great job, and I think Hailey had fun doing it :) 

She's Mobile!

She crawls, and she growls. We love this silly baby girl!

Chase's Pledge

Chase is involved in a preschool group of 7 kids once a week, and we all take a turn teaching for 2 weeks. It works out great and it's been really fun for him. Every day at the beginning they have circle time and do the same things: name tags, weather, the pledge, etc. and at the beginning of the year I thought there was no way Chase was going to learn the pledge. But he did! Their 'preschool graduation' is next week but we will be in Utah during it, so I recorded him saying it this morning so he can still take part in it. I thought it was cute so I decided to share :)

Watch Chase here

Progress Report

After Monday, Eric will officially be done with his second year of medical school!! YAY!! The first two years are all classes, and the second two are clinical rotations and more hands-on experience. I'm so glad he's done with the school portion of things! 

Last week Eric had his Rite of Passage Ceremony-- basically they gave out awards for the best grades in each class and said congrats for making it through the first two years. Congrats Eric for making it this far! Only 2 more to go! And then 3 years of residency, but lets not talk about that...:)

He has done such an amazing job, I know he will make an amazing doctor. Love you Eric!!!

(We will see how long this post stays up after he discovers it, but he usually checks the blog monthly at best :)

\

DMU Podiatry Class of 2014!

Can we go on a bike ride?

At least 12 times I day I hear that question: Can we go on a bike ride? I usually let them ride out in the garage or in front of our house, but sometimes that doesn't satisfy their want to go on a long ride. So the other day Eric and I took them out on a long one. Next to our house there's a big field and we were surprised to discover there is a maze of sidewalks paved into it, and a little pond! Perfect to let the boys ride, ride, ride. I'm sure we will be back here often.

Hailey made herself comfortable in her stroller. Such a good sport!