Thanksgiving snow

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We did. Enjoyed the snow. Kellen was so excited about that and the new boots daddy bought him. He mostly enjoyed the snowmen, although he knocked down the one I made with him. I don't think he could have knocked down Ian's. We had so much fun at the Koops' and enjoyed an absolutely delicious turkey dinner.

Things that make me smile.

Grandpa Gerry visited us and we made a special stack of pancakes with our chokecherry syrup and saskatoons. Both things make me smile. Lanelle did not eat her stack, just in case you were concerned, she borrowed mine for fun.

Grandpa Bill also visited and Lanelle fell asleep on him - with no crying. Amazing. I smiled again. She loves him.

This smile can't help but make everyone smile, I think. Lanelle crawls now and is happy about that. She also likes to stand on things, but she doesn't quite have the hang of that.

The space we are enjoying in our new house is also making me smile. I should take pictures soon, but you would still have to ignore the boxes and empty walls.

Preschool gym night started again tonight for the winter. Kellen loves it and Lanelle enjoyed watching everyone run.

It was a rainy cold depressing day today, but we were invited over for a play time at friends place who knew it would be a long day for Kellen and his mommy without a change of scenery. I am so thankful for friends that make me smile.

Kellen started at a preschool this week and loved it. There were no tears. I was told "sorry, but he didn't miss you at all, mom!" He sang "autumn leaves are falling down" the rest of the day. And he stops often to point out his "punkin" craft on the fridge. I will have a couple hours twice a week that will be more productive. So many reasons to smile.

How to carry your baby on your hip.

I was looking for ideas on how to install a baby gate at the top of the stairs where we have a round banister. This caught my eye. Maybe it's because I should have gone to bed hours ago, but i found it quite funny. Good thing I stopped to read it. Now I know how to carry my baby on my hip...tricky.

Fabulous Fall

We are having a fabulous fall. I tell myself such positive things everyday. I will not complain, I will not, I will not...

Our garden harvest was great. Here's Lanelle with a sampling of it. I have been pureeing tomatoes all morning to freeze (and I'm not complaining about it.)

Aren't these babies the cutest?! Ariana with the eyebrows and Lanelle with the almost no eyebrows. They liked their tub time together, although Ariana could have done without the hair pulling. I think it was August that I was at the farm. Since then I've tried to stay at home and enjoy the last days of my home, which are pretty much over now. I dreaded that day at one time and am now very much looking forward to it. Mostly for the dishwasher. Only 4 more days.

The fall pictures were tricky this year with Kellen running around and Lanelle eating leaves...and then the camera battery died. I'm not complaining though. I was pretty impressed that I got as many good ones as I did.

I love my kids. They are growing up so much. Lanelle loves music and bounces to it with such excitement. She will sit for an hour and play with toys. She is so easy going! Kellen is potty trained now. He has been listening amazingly well lately. He is sleeping amazingly well and weaned himself from our bed to his own for the whole night. They are so easy to love!

I haven't posted in a while, because i only seemed to want to complain. I'm doing much better now. I'm learning and growing I suppose as much as my kids. I know God is blessing us, even though its not always the way or in the time frame I would like. We are having a fab fall!

Six months of growth and change...

Lanelle is six months!

some happenings...

We've kept busy lately and have had lots of fun. Here's a few fun things...
Kellen decided to get himself some chocolate milk. When I said he was going to have to clean it up, he got down on his knees and started slurping. Not quite what I had in mind. Lanelle got her first rice cereal. She's not that keen on it. Kellen thought it was pretty exciting and wanted really badly to feed her.

Kellen's new tools have kept him entertained for hours of the day. He calls himself Bob now and likes to practice naming all the tools. The tool belt is on for most of the day. (thanks, J'nea for buying them!)