preparing for Thanksgiving

Here's what's been happening at our house lately as we prepare for Thanksgiving.

I can always count on plenty of "help" in the kitchen from these two!

We've been busy baking and eating stuff like chocolate chip pumpkin bread!

And plenty of silly playing!

This is how Braden lines up his vehicles . . .

while Addyson reads.

Addyson and Braden have been busy coloring and also helping me make turkeys out of their hands and feet for our Thankful banner.

Last night we had our family's Thanksgiving meal - 

We successfully ate a whole meal with a tablecloth and candles . . . and nothing was caught on fire or pulled on the floor. The kids enjoyed their paper plates with turkeys on them instead of the nice plates. Everyone helped with supper - Ryan grilled steak and we had green bean casserole, bread, and jigglers. Addyson and Braden were super excited to help me cut out the jigglers into shapes - they picked triangles and circles and A's and B's (for their names). And we finished up with some chocolate chip pecan pie. Because it just isn't Thanksgiving without it! I must admit that I am a terrible pie crust maker. I have tried off and on to make pie crust from scratch and it is never pretty. I think Ryan and I's worst fight ever was the first Thanksgiving we were married when we tried to make pie. So I decided it wasn't worth that and I basically resorted to the boughten refrigerated kind. And then Pioneer Woman had a pie crust tutorial on their website  . . . and I thought that looks simple enough that I could give it another try. Mine tasted super yummy and I got it rolled out after only a few unpleasant words, but it was not the prettiest crust you have ever seen. Oh well, still tastes good. I'll have to work on that another time I guess! Maybe someday I can bake a pie I can be proud of!

Braden had a few leftovers on his plate so we thought we would share with Chloe (in the giving spirit of Thanksgiving of course). The kids wanted to tell her "Happy Thanksgiving". So cute - and Chloe thought it was pretty good too!

And here's one last smile for you!

We hope you have a wonderful week and find lots of things to be thankful for!

big girl haircut!

So, I finally decided that it was time for Addyson to lose her straggly long, long hair and get her first haircut. I've been trimming her bangs for a while now but I have been too scared to take a chop at her long brown locks. And since her hair is in some sort of pony tail or pig tail over 90% of the time anyway, it looked ok usually. But her long hair has been getting really tangled lately (which hasn't been much fun for any of us) . . .  and let's face it, it just looked straggly. So a real haircut it was.

Here are the before pictures . . . 

Here it is wet, so you can see just how LONG it was!

and all dry . . . with some wave and curls. 

During (she did REALLY well by the way) and enjoyed getting her hair cut.

One last look at those long curls . . .

And the cutting begins!

And here she is after! Looking good! 

Beautiful Fall

Right now it is drizzly and cold. Which we are not complaining about. But Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. Sunshine, no wind, and just the right temperature (according to me - you know the kind where you can wear a sweatshirt and jeans and feel the warm sun but you're not too hot or too cold - just perfect!). So as soon as nap time was over the four of us headed to the Arboretum in Hesston. We had a great time. I don't think I had walked the trails since Ryan and I moved out of town. We used to take Chloe for walks there all the time since it was such a short distance from our house. Anyway, the trees are turning pretty colors and we made good use of some old crusty bread (a.k.a. fish food) to throw in the pond. I'll stop talking now and just show you some pictures. They can speak for themselves!

what i want to remember

Here are some things I want to remember about both of you at this age (2 years and 8 months) - 

Addyson is finally big enough for adjustable waist pants (that's a size 24 months). This is what her adjustable waist pants look like - cinched all the way up to the first buttonhole!

And here is how Braden wears his size 3T adjustable pants - on the last buttonhole. The only adjusting his pants ever need is rolling up the bottoms! :)

I want to remember the way Braden plays - very organized. And how you use all my kitchen stuff to organize the candy. Did you know a broiler pan was perfect for this?

I want to remember the way Braden grabs my head and kisses me over and over before bedtime. And how you ask for "lots of kisses". And how you go on and on until I tell you that you have to stop so you can go to sleep. I will never get tired of hearing you say. "Hey, mama!" in your excited voice. I want to remember that you finally use the big toilet instead of Ribbit, and that you excitedly tell me I don't have to clean up the poop anymore as you flush!!! I want to remember your hugs and giggles. And how much you love playing with your daddy. Especially when he ropes you.

You missed him terribly when things were busy and now you could play with him for hours. Your daddy wants to remember how you chased a coyote today with him . . . and how you love to ride horse and feed cows and do anything with animals or outside. How you love your goats and sheep and take care of them. And how you care about people and have such a big heart. When we talk about your little brother, you usually say "Go get him!" and wonder what we are waiting on. The way you love to help me in the kitchen. Your cute chubby cheeks and short legs - you weigh almost 35 pounds but still would rather be carried just about everywhere. Your kissable cheeks and how snuggly you are. You can open deadbolts now so you try to go outside - even if you only have socks on. You ask "What this" or "What these do" about everything - you want to understand it all. You never miss spotting hay bales or animals. You love trains, trucks, and tractors. You are all boy - you talk about pooping and tooting and butt cracks (we both know it wasn't your mama that taught you about those, sigh). Thankfully you stop when I ask you to as soon as you are done laughing. Someday you will grow up to be a mature, caring young man (at least that's what I pray for and work towards!) but for now I clean up your messes and love on you and just laugh. 

I want to remember the way Addyson giggles. And sometimes fake laughs . . . and coughs . . . and then sighs. She makes us all laugh. And how you love to sit beside me while I get ready and pretend to do everything mommy does. I want to remember how confident you can be. And how you have started to take care of your babies; how you love REAL babies. How you love to sleep in - I think if it was just you and me we could sleep in all morning. I want to remember how friendly you can be - and how much attention you get from everyone wherever we go - they think you are the cutest tiniest little girl. And you love the attention most of the time. How you wave. How your tummy always seems to hurt the moment you are in trouble, or are nervous, or tired, or anything. How you push the limit with your ornery smile. How you get annoyed when you are crying because your "eyes are wet". And I love that I get to wipe those tears away and love on you. I love that you hit a stage where you don't want mommy to leave you ever, and that you are coming out of that stage. I love your big spunkiness and loud noises that come out of your tiny little body! I love that I can still carry you around since you weigh 22 pounds! You know all the steps and rules about how to potty like a big kid so that you can remind your brother, but you still have yet to succesfully use the potty chair (but you seem more interested and hopefully we can work on this soon). When we ask you about your little brother, you say he's in Russia and you think you are getting a sister too (because apparently you think brothers always come with a sister since you did!). I love when you pray - sometimes we have no idea what you are saying. You don't understand why Jesus doesn't sleep and you don't want him to come get you or wash your feet. You love Sesame Street - especially Elmo, Abby, and Super Grover and you are super-pumped that your diapers have Elmo and Dorothy on them (maybe that's why you don't want to stop wearing them!). The way you love to snack -your favorites are chocolate and jerky. You like to talk and sing. You hate getting your tangles out, but love your pony tails and clippies. You put on your flowery rainboots with anything and everything and are ready to get to work. God knew I needed a little girl just like you.

We want to remember both of you drinking milk and snuggling up before bed. How you yell at each other for being on the other's side of the bed, but then usually fall asleep basically on top of each other. And playing together bunches and bunches.

And giggling together, crying together, and just doing pretty much everything together. The way you come find us when you wake up and say "We waked up!" as if you are so surprised and excited that you did actually wake up. And the way you love us completely and usually unselfishly, even when we screw up. God has certainly blessed us with two very different, very special little people and we love you both so, so much!!!

rounding up some candy

Here are our little cowpokes!

Addyson was a cowgirl and Braden was a cowboy for Halloween!

They wore their cowboy boots and hats and rode their stick horses. I made them chaps out of grocery sacks, foil cupcake liners, brads, yarn, and stickers! And they had spurs (jingle bells tied to more grocery sack pieces). So they jingled wherever they went! This was actually pretty nice so we could track them!! And I think that was their favorite part of the costumes!!!

We went to a Trunk or Treat with some friends from church so we got to see their friends' cute costumes too! Our cowboys weren't for sure what this trick or treat thing was all about at first, but they realized they got to put candy in their buckets and warmed up to it before the night was over! Then we caught up with their cousins to trick or treat at a couple houses before calling it a night. The chaps didn't survive so well and we lost a spur or two but they had a good time! And daddy even let them have some candy for breakfast today. Totally good for you.

And now it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving! One of my very favorite holidays. The stores are packed with Christmas stuff, but I'm looking for ways to involve the kids this year and make Thanksgiving sort of a big deal, so if you have any great toddler-friendly crafts or ideas please share! Hopefully I can share some things we are doing with you!