Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! Thank you sis for hosting!
I snagged a few pictures off my dad's memory card, but unfortunately I didn't get any of my own (hint, hint Mary and Sabrina you can email me copies of yours lol).

The cousins. Why can't we ever get them looking in the same direction?

Hanging outside...watching the pictures being taken of the kids I think.

Kidlets

Frying turkey

Playing (Yes, I know, Lia NEEDS a haircut)

Kids taking a walk with the dog (and Gma)

Riley dude :)

Lia

I haven't made the time to blog lately. Whoops! This post is overdue :)

Lia's Birthday. 
My baby isn't a baby anymore! She grows more and more every day.  Her vocabulary is expanding every day too.  She can definitely be a handful and is very opinionated.... like her mama I suppose :)

Minnie Mouse cake

Trying out Mommy's lip gloss. Pretty huh?

 

With her "Build a Bear" Hello Kitty

Cheese!

Showing off her new Jammies from Gma and Papa

 

Halloween 2012

Just a few pictures from this year....

Minnie Mouse, Jewel Sparkle (Lalaloopsy Doll), & Batman

Riley says "SIDEWAYS Batman"! Funny boy.

Dylan after too much candy. He gets a little silly lol

Halloween Party 10/13

 

Lily

Hard to believe Lily is 8 yrs old now! Seems like yesterday she was Lia's size.  Now she's in 3rd grade, how'd that happen?  She is doing really well in school.  We got a letter from the school district that she's been recommended as a possible candidate for the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program.  She'll be screened and then we'll make a decision whether or not to put her in the program.  Not an easy decision since that means she would change schools, which something we've been doing our best to avoid.
Anyway, here's a picture of her with her birthday cake... this is what she requested (style-wise).

Riley wanted to be in the shot too lol

We had a slight incident last night that involved Riley slamming Lily's finger in the door.  Lucky for you, I am not going to post a picture of that.  She'll definitely be losing a fingernail.  That is an experience I hope not to go through again!
So that's the catch-up with Lily.  Halloween pictures are coming next :)

New Rooms...

This week was a big one for the kids.  It was time for a new transition.  Riley moved into his own room and Lia moved in with Lily.  Lia has been out of the crib for a while, but we were waiting to move her in with Lily because she was being difficult at bedtime (and in the middle of the night).  I finally figured out that her problem was the closed bedroom door.  Once I started leaving it open a few inches she no longer felt trapped, and the problem disappeared.  Now if I could find a solution to her bath "phobia". *sigh*
To make the experience fun and exciting for Riley (and the girls) I allowed them to pick out brand new bedding....with minor amounts of steering in the right direction from Mom :) They also picked out wall stickers to complete their "looks".
So without further ado...

Riley's- The comforter and wall decals glow in the dark

 

 

 

The room can double as a "guest bed" when we have visitors

Girl's room

Lily is on a "PEACE" kick right now

 I am happy to report that everyone is doing well sleeping in their new beds. Lia freaked out for about 30 seconds the first night, but after that all is well.  Nap times are no problem either.  Woo-hoo!

Good dirty fun....

So, I'm getting back to running (consistently) again.  Yesterday was the first "race" I've done in a while.  I put race in quotes because we participated in a 3+ mile mud run with 20 obstacles.  It was not a speed thing.  I wasn't hoping to place or beat a certain time.  This was purely for the experience and fun factor.  And let me tell you, IT WAS FUN! 
What made it even more fun was the fact that my sister-in-law Aimee and nieces Erin and Caitlin did it too.  Great Gma and Uncle Aaron hung out with Lily, Riley and Lia and they all watched us slog through the final HUGE mud pit and cheered us on.

Before

After

 

 

 

Good stuff huh?

Back to it....

So yeah, it's been slightly over a year since the last post to this blog.  Whoops!  My sister-in-law inspired me to get things  going again after seeing her new blog.
It's such a great way to keep everyone in the loop about what's going on in our little family and I'm a bit disappointed that I let it go this long.  What's done is done though.
So, without further ado, here are a few pictures since the last time....

 Riley's 4th Birthday cake.....

 Lia hangin' out...

 Family Hike & Exploration at Natural Bridges...

 Lia thinks the life vest is AWESOME

 First Day of 3rd Grade for Lily-Lou

My Goofy Girls

Amateur Photography 

I couldn't pass up this shot of the sunrise and the moon

Another shot I took....tweaked a bit with "Photo Toaster"

I loved the red sunflowers Dylan brought home and thought they looked beautiful next to the colors in the painting hanging over the mantle.

More to come, another day....