Bedtime

I thought Isaac looked so sweet sleeping with his new bear Rex.


We've had quite a few fireworks tonight. Ethan lined up his stuffed animals so they could enjoy the show. Too funny!

Isaac's birthday celebrations

Isaac had an awesome 6th birthday. Here are some of the highlights.

Presents! He got a penguin webkinz, art desk, ipod
shuffle, easy bake cake mixes, and reading game.


Birthday pictures at Sears.


Lunch at Red Robin. Isaac didn't like the singing,
but it was worth it for the ice cream.


Batman cake with his cousins.
Tyler, Joseph, Maddy, Isaac, Mikaela, Alvin, and Ethan


Build-A-Bear party with his friends.
Jacob, Alvin, Dallin, Emily, Nicole, Isaac, Ethan and Jasmine

Isaac's Birthday!

Our baby Isaac Jay turns 6 today. He has brought us so much happiness and laughter. We love you little grubby!

Candy testers

Every year at Christmas time we make gingerbread houses. We were a little late this year, but we finally made them today. The boys had so much fun decorating, and tasting. Ethan said the best part of making houses is eating the candy, and licking the frosting.


Isaac filling in "mouse holes." (Cracks between
the roof and walls.)


Ethan spelling out his name in gumdrops.


Alvin was so excited when he figured out how
to make hearts with the candy canes.

T.K.D.

Ethan and Isaac tested in tae kwon do on Saturday. Before they could test Ethan had to finish a 3-page report on Judo, and Isaac had to do 10 hours of service. They both broke boards. Sadly I didn't get a video of Ethan breaking his boards.

Mariah, Ethan and Isaac with their certificates.

Isaac breaking his first board.
(It's a long video so skip ahead to about 1:15)

Sled o rama

We joined my sister Lisa and her family on their annual Christmas sledding tradition. They usually have to drive up to Mt Hood, but this year we only had to drive a few miles for a great sledding hill. We had such a fun time, and no serious injuries!

Isaac getting a push from Papa.

Alvin with Grandma.

Ethan chasing his runaway sled.

Mariah, Alvin, Grandma, Isaac, Rebecca, Papa, Ethan

Christmas Festivities

Ethan's wanted a gumball machine for a few years. He finally got one!
Alvin opened what he thought were all his presents and said, "I guess I didn't get a webkinz this year." The one present he really wanted. I found his last present hiding under all the wrapping paper and it was a...webkinz pig.
Isaac frosting the first cake he made in his new Easy Bake Oven. He gave the cake to my mom as a surprise.
The boys' first and probably last white Christmas.

In memoriam

Katie and I built Harold the snowman together. He was a good and kind snowman. He brought a smile to the faces of all who saw him. Sadly his life was cut short. Was it a natural demise? I think not. Cruel cruel world.

School's out for...snow day

Battle Ground School District had a snow day yesterday, and it actually snowed! We played out in it a couple of times. Here are some of the hightlighs...

Jacob and Alvin making snowballs.

All the kids love snow shoveling. Yay free labor!

They took turns pulling each other on
the sled over the snow ramp the made.

Isaac with his snow angel.

Alvin was so excited to build his snowman.

North Pole

We braved the elements last night to take a trip to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Alvin told his speech teacher we were going to the North Pole. He truly believed that's where we were going and couldn't be convinced otherwise.
Alvin's favorite: "Getting the bell from Santa."
Ethan's favorite: "I liked almost the whole ride."
Isaac's favorite: "The hot chocolate. Not the cookies though, they were gross. I ate some of it only it was still gross."

The boys in their new pajamies.

Sadly the best family picture we got.

Isaac told Santa he wanted a Webkinz, and then got shy.Alvin loves Santa! He's a true believer.
He asked for a Webkinz too.This year Ethan was too old for Santa. :(

Maestro

Alvin played "Friendship" and "I Saw Three Ships" at his Christmas recital today. It was cute how shy he was.

He also got a certificate for finishing his second set of books.

School Daze

Ethan was so excited to get his honor roll certificate at the awards assembly on Friday. He's such a great kid. I feel lucky to be his mom (93% of the time anyway.)

Grandma, Ethan and Papa

Santa's helpers

I saw this on Shelly's sister Roxanne's blog. She did one of my nephews Jack and Logan. It was so cute I had to try one with the boys. It cracks me up! Isaac loves it. Ethan said, "I don't see the humor." Alvin said, "thank you" and tried to give me a hug.

Tree huggers

Saturday we went to a tree plant near the Lewis River east fork with my sister Lisa and her daughters Mariah and Rebecca. Isaac and Mariah needed to get service hours to earn their next Tae Kwon Do belt. It was bitter cold when we started, but once we got planting we warmed up. The kids did such a great job planting. Even Isaac hammered in stakes and put the trees in the holes. The kids are already asking when the next tree plant will be.
Here's the link if you're interested in spending a great day with your kids while helping the environment. http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/ourenvironment/streamTeam/calendar

Alvin, Ethan, Mariah, Rebecca
Isaac

Zoo Lights

Katie and I took our kids to see the zoo lights last night. It was a little rainy, but so much fun. (I'm not even being sarcastic!) I've never been before so I was surprised at how beautiful the lights were. The kids were happy and excited to ride the train. Every new lighted animal they saw they'd yell and point. We also got to see the baby elephant. It was a wonderful night spent with friends.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love Christmas! Ethan asked me what I like about it and I told him EVERYTHING! The music, shopping and wrapping presents, generosity it inspires in people, but mostly I love the decorations! We decorated the family Christmas tree and put up the final decorations this morning. It's so festive and happy!

Shine on Shine on

Yesterday when Ethan was playing soccer a kid kicked the ball just as Ethan turned around and he got hit in the face. I was worried it would turn into a black eye. He thought it would be cool to have a black eye. I guess that's just another difference between boys and girls.

Little buddy

On Tuesday I started watching my nephew Gustav while my sister and brother-in-law are at school. I'll watch him on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a few hours until the end of the quarter. I was nervous to watch him because it's been so long since I had a baby. He's so happy and sweet he makes it easy. Isaac was less impressed he kept asking when Taylor was going to pick him up.

He was pretty excited about the "big boy" toys.

Trying to eat the kitty's whiskers