new nephew/cousin!

My brother and his wife had a baby on Tuesday, bringing the total cousin count to 7. (Until this summer, that is, when it will stand at 8. Or 9.) We think he's adorable and can't wait to meet him.


Craig William...10 February...9 lbs 9 oz...21.5 in...really cute

wishing you a groovy christmas

Jonah wanted to know if we could get costumes like this and actually do the dance.

things that are not fun

Winter break starting 2 days early.
Taking the bus downtown with 3 kids and a ginormous stroller.
Having 16 ounces of coffee spilled all over you.
Waiting for the bus in 26 degree weather in jeans that are completely soaked with coffee.

dance fever

Joel took Annie and Jonah to Annie's school dance last Friday night. Evidently, Annie spent the whole time dancing with her friends and chasing boys. Jonah wouldn't leave Joel's side and they danced the entire time. Meanwhile, Zeke and I had a very peaceful evening at home.

random pics

From the past week...


Saying goodbye to Grammy & Grampy.




We really need a bigger bed!


Just chillin'.


Story time.


Sleepy time.

halloween

Taking a little rest during the Halloween parade at Annie's school.


Annie was going to be a princess and Jonah was going to be Darth Vader until they got their matching pajamas. It's definitely more fun to trick-or-treat when you can glow in the dark!


Getting ready to hit the neighborhood.


Scary skeleton counting his candy.


Trying to decide what candy to keep and what candy to leave out for the Sugar Sprite.

at the wurst fest

Which, incidentally, is the best name for a festival. Ever.

Jonah and the ever fabulous looking Soren.

Annie scooting up the rock wall.

final countdown

Only 4 weeks left. (The freaky floating alien baby on the right is technically wrong since we'll have a c-section at 39 weeks.) Anyway, 4 weeks. Crazy. We need to figure out how to shove his car seat in between Annie and Jonah's. We need a middle name. (Any ideas?) Jonah needs to start staying in his bed all night. (We're really not holding out hope on that one.) We need to update this blog. (There are pictures sitting in the camera from August.) We need to find Z a Michigan shirt. (How 'bout that game on Saturday, huh?) Can't believe we're going to have 3 kids. Annie is practicing putting diapers on every stuffed animal and doll she owns. Jonah is still certain the baby will share a bed with him. I'm attempting to stockpile sleep. Joel is crazy busy and ready to trade work for sleepless nights. 4 weeks seems like a long time right now.

beach day

My arm is just barely long enough


Sand dollars everywhere


Searching for crabs...


Joel caught one


Heading back to the car


Picnic stop on the way home

islandfive?

Looks like we'll have to change the name of our blog this fall!

joel's 33rd

The kids made a sign for Joel and Annie got up early to hang it.


Homemade pizzas for dinner.


Joel likes cake. Really, he loves it.

beach picnic

After months of gloomy weather, we've had a whole week of sunshine. Up here, you make the most of the sun, so we've been hitting the parks, riding our bikes to school, roaming the neighborhood to play with the other kids and catching up on yard work. We topped off our week with a Friday night picnic at the beach.






Too bad it's blurry.




Our little Napoleon Dynamite.

sequim

My good friend, Michelle, hails from Sequim and whenever she goes home we usually head over for breakfast at the Oak Table (bacon and 49er Flapjacks - a little slice of heaven!) and to hang out at her parent's house. This time we also walked down to the Dungeness Spit to enjoy the sunshine and play on the beach.


Michelle, one of my very favorite lady mammals.


Soren, Jonah & Annie


Jaxson, Soren & Jonah making a lake.

more sac pics

The kids love their Uncle Drew & Aunt Becky.


Riding the carousel downtown.


Mac & cheese. On pizza. Nothing could make her happier. Nothing.


Drew trying to take on Jonah in a lightsaber battle.


With Nana & Papa. Jonah's had it with the pictures.

at the railroad museum

There's a great railroad museum in Old Sacramento and we were finally able to take the kids there. Jonah was in heaven. Annie was good too until she came down with a 102 fever, climbed in Jonah's stroller, and fell asleep.


Engineer Jonah.

back in sacramento

The day after Christmas we headed down to Sacramento and spent several days with Joel's family. The kids had a ball with Nana and Papa and their aunts and uncles. Drew and Becky taught us how to play Speed Scrabble and we even got to spend an afternoon with them (sans kids) at Bella Bru playing Skip-Bo.


Uncle Drew and Aunt Becky gave both the kids stockings full of candy. We can't wait until they have kids!


Another present from Uncle D and Aunt Becky.


We didn't realize Becky was so terrified of slides.


Drew, trying his best to make Annie throw up.