Happy Thanksgiving!

We headed up to Cadillac for Thanksgiving this year. The trip up there (only a couple hours) wasn't bad at all. The packing was a little crazy since Royce has been working so many hours. But we got it all done, forgot a few things, but we made it! The dinner (Thanks for hosting it Aunt Deb) was wonderful! The company was perfect and the kids had a great time. Megan and I had even made some cookies a couple days before. Megan hopped from lap to lap cudding. She especially loved seeing Grandpa, Gammy and Gampy. And her cousin Brandon is so great with her. Evan hides things under his shirt and in one quick word says "whereizit?" it is the funniest thing! We listen to some lovely singing then we headed to our hotel room.

That is when the real fun began. The kids didn't sleep. I literally did not sleep at all. Evan cried almost all night and Megan couldn't sleep because of that and other issues. We were all up at 3:30 AM at one point, it was so crazy. We were at the breakfast stalking the door at the soonest they opened which was 6:30 AM and to the pool by 7:30. We were showered and ready by 9:00 and I was already sure we weren't going to pull a second night LOL. After a vomiting spell in the car (Megan was WAY over tired), we decided to just head home. So unfortunately our trip wasn't as long as we could had liked but we learned the kids need to be just a lil' older before we all start sleeping in the same room. LOL

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Hope you had a great Turkey Day...

Thinking of college...

Megan: "How old will I be when I go to college...?"

Dad: "A lot older."

Megan: "5?"

Dad: "No."

Megan: "6?"

Dad: "No....18."

Megan: "18! But I don't have that many fingers!"

A playdate with Megan...and a green snowman... ;)

So no pics of Evan, he was napping! But Megan and I got outside, did a little shoveling, sledding, and built a green snowman (Megan's favorite color). Here are a couple snaps to share:

Endless...

Looking at Megan, I see an amazing future. I can't help but stare at her these days. He mind is growing, her imagination and creativitiy soaring... I wonder, what will she be? Where will she go? Her tiny frame seems destined for great things that I can only ponder about. He eyes just seem so endless...her possibilities neverending...she's getting so big.

Annual Platemaking...

Each year we make plates...

This year, Megan made two dinosaurs on her plate.

Evan, we'll he did his own little masterpiece and even added some drool to the mix for a nice watercolor effect! He's already so creative at such a young age ;) LOL

Mom is practicing again...

I'm lucky they are still willing to cooperate at this point. Since I'll be indoor a lot this winter, I'm working on my lighting - different techniques and such. Here are a couple (technically horrible, but visually adorable) from the other days...

The sounds in my house...

Minutes 1 to 5 - How cute they are playing 'music' together.

Minutes 5 to 6 - *evan screams* *megan screams* the drama of belonging to a two-man band begins.

Minute 7 - Awww, they worked it out and are sharing now.

Minute 8 - Wow, I'm impressed Megan can keep the tempo to BINGO so well!

Minute 9 - 12 - Ok, she knows BINGO really well....REALLY well.

Minute 13 - Wow that's a new sound - oh wait...that's my own head!


Ok and as Evan was hitting Megan over the head with the spoon in the pictures below. (she has the pot on her head). Megan was screaming "alert alert" and acting like a robot. It was pretty comical to see actually...

No more monkey's jumping on the bed!

Alright, so as Royce mentioned, we have snow - a lot of it! It is hard to imagine that just a few weeks ago we were still in the 70s. It hit fast and hard and we're definitely entering winter now! Megan could care less. This child loves snow. Forget gloves. Frostbit fingers - she'd do it if I let her. Even walking out to the car keeps me on my toes (and we're parked in the garage!). "Megan don't touch the snow you don't have any gloves." "Megan put the snowball down." "Megan no snow angels without a snowsuit." "Megan dipping your hair in the snow is going to give you a cold head." and so on and on... I promise some snow pictures soon but my camera and flying snowball - is a little dangerous ;) LOL

What else is new? Hmmmm, Evan is a stinker. So michievious, just like Megan. You know, where he know he shouldn't be doing something but he slowly, very slowly moved his finger towards something (like my laptop keyboard) and lightly touches it and pulls away and looks at you and laughs. He is talking more and more and his cute ramblings make me giggle. His favorite word is still ma ma, ma ma, ma ma, which I hear at least a zillion times a day. He loves itsy bitsy spider and can do all the motions himself as I sing. He loves to chase Megan around the house and play hide n seek. He loves squirrels, dogs, and eating, which I think he could do 24-7 especially if it is sweets. We are going up to visit with family for the holidays. I am concerned to see all the food LOL. He is going to go crazy!

I can't wait to see what fun this winter will bring - sledding, snowman, forts, maybe even some skiing?! I can't wait!

It is snowing as I write this...we look like we're in a snow globe. It seems beautiful right now, but I'm sure come February I'll be ready for green grass again!

And with that note, not being able to go outside as much now has left me with some pretty hyper kiddos. You all know Meg and Ev by now...I have my hands full. They have so much energy...please keep me in your thoughts this winter LOL especially now that Evan is mobile just like Megan!



















and her quirky faces - gosh, she makes the funniest expressions!



and sweet faces too -



and one in color just because I know some of you are wanting color right about now. ;)

The First Snow. By Dad.

I enjoy hearing Christmas music on the radio, which here used to start after Thanksgiving. This year, I found a station that started playing it the day after Halloween. I just thought that was peculiar, but it was a nice change (although reminded me that we hadn't done any shopping). Needless to say, that the radio stations were better at predicting the weather than the meteorologists. This past weekend we were buried in our first snow of the year. We were able to get all the leaves in our backyard to the leaf dropoff (only took five truckloads) on the day before it snowed. Unfortunately, the snow caught me off guard with the trampoline. I was lucky enough to be able to take it down with six inches of snow on the ground (and mat), weather in the 20s, and a nice frigid breeze off of Lake Michigan. It only took 3x as long to get it apart due to the bars and frame being froze together. Maybe next year, I will not procrastinate and get the stuff done before the last minute (or at least get Megan out there enjoying it with me). To all those down south, enjoy what warm fall weather you have left, and to those up north as well, Happy WINTER and stay warm!

Halloween Fun...

Megan decided months ago she was going to be a dinosaur. Of course, little bro had to follow suit. The roars Evan would make were hilarious! He loves to imitate his big sis. Megan barely slept the night before, as usual for any pre-holiday night. She was able to dress up for pre-school and also for dance. We went trick or treating around our neighborhood and boy, did the kids make out with some great cavity causing junk - but it is the fun that counts, right? :) We trick or treated through dark and Megan would had kept going to more houses if we let her. She was so worked up about making sure to get EVERY house, she almost went to some houses twice! ;) Luckily, Royce and I were well rested to keep track of which houses we had already went to (ya right, have I mentioned Evan isn't sleeping well lately?). I'll have to have Megan type a message about her favorite part of the day. Evan tagged along and wanted to go to each door with Megan. He waved goodbye to almost everyone but we never got him to say "trick or treat". It was a beautiful day in the 60s and we couldn't had asked for more beautiful fall weather!





Is that candy sour Megan?


Let's try a sibling pictures - Evan...Evan...Evan!