Merry Christmas

Santa Clause is Coming to Town

Dominic is really into Santa this year and it is a lot of fun! Of course he wants to dress-up and bring gifts to everyone. On this particular day, his beard was a long piece of TP and he filled his basket with books to place under the tree.

If the camera is out, Natalie wants her picture taken. Also, she will not wear pants. About 60% of the time we are home she will keep her shirt or dress on. Pants? 0%. Those come off the second we walk in the door. It is always an argument when we have to get dressed to leave, but thank goodness she seems to understand that clothes are a necessity, only for going outside that is.

I love the things they say

While watching the Curious George Christmas movie Natalie came to me very concerned...

N: Mommy, George doesn't know how to make a snowman and he's sad.
Me: Do you know how to make a snowman? We should teach him.
N: But I'm still in the family room. I don't know how to get in the TV.

The kids have also been quite taken with the Curious George 2 movie (there was a marathon on over Thanksgiving weekend that we recorded). This movie included a magician so Dominic decided he needed to be a "magic man".

He had a popsicle stick that was his wand and because he had chewed the lid of his cup he told me he didn't want it anymore.

D: abra ca brabra, be disappeared.
D: hey, it didn't it work. I think this wand needs some batteries.

Oath of Office

Kirk is now officially a member of the Euclid Police Department. He swore-in on Monday November 7, 2011. We couldn't be more proud! Natalie is also on stage with us, standing proudly next to her Dad. Cara was able to hang back with the rest of Kirk's family who came to support him.

November Thanksgivings

 

1. I am thankful for sunny days

2. I am grateful for answered prayers

3. I am thankful for three beautiful children
4. I'm grateful for a hard working man in my life ;)
5. I am thankful for the kindness of strangers
6. I am thankful to have faith in the Savior
7. I am grateful for the beauty of nature
8. I am thankful to live in a blessed, free country and to have been able to vote today.
9. I am grateful for my wonderful parents who brought me into this world and raised me.
10. I am so thankful for the beautiful fall weather we've been having
11. I am forever grateful to the men and women who have fought bravely for the freedom of our country
12. I am thankful for my mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies
13. I am thankful to live close enough to our families to enjoy homemade cookies
14. I am thankful for my family's health
15. I am grateful that my children like to play together (at least most of the time)
16. ...for modern day conveniences
17. ...for family dinners
18. ...for wonderful examples for myself and my children
19. ...for a living prophet
20.... to live in a safe neighborhood
21. ...for food on the table
22. ... for a few vacation days from work!

list to be continued each day of the month

Halloween Happenings

Getting ready for trunk or treat. Dominic was posing nicely that evening.

Cara's favorite part of the evening was running around the cake walk circle like a crazy baby.

Halloween at Copley Park. The chick-fil-a cow was the highlight. It was crowded (although a beautiful day!) and Dominic kept running away so I was exhausted and I think Kirk is done with the gorilla costume.

Carving pumpkins: 

I skipped out on taking the kids trick-or-treating in the neighborhood since Kirk was working and it seemed like Halloween had been going on for weeks. We intended to hide out at my parents' but they had a fire truck for the kids to climb all over parked in front of their house as part of their neighborhoods festivities. I didn't have my camera, but Dominic and Natalie LOVED it. Natalie especially liked hanging out with the other kids and when we left shouted to one little girl, "Bye! Thank-you for meeting me!" which I have to admit was pretty adorable. Then we helped hand out candy and Cara cried every time we closed the door. The poor girl was deprived of trick-or-treating for a third time.

Because I have children that love dressing up, my favorite part of Halloween is the first week of November when I can score costumes for clearance prices. Looks like we will have a cowboy and cowgirl for next year.

Dominic Douglas

Dominic had a great summer. He loves to be outside and has become much more confident with activities like swimming. He is also overcoming a lot of his shyness. He will now go up to kids and introduce himself which is something he hadn't done before. Dominic wants to be just like his dad and love helping out with mowing the lawn and watching football games.

This is Dominic pretending to mow the grass with his tractor and lawn sweeper, aka beach bag.

Way back in June Dominic turned 4!!

This picture cracks me up every time I see it. I asked Dominic and Natalie to scoot in by Cara for a picture on Dominic's birthday and this is what I got :)

Dominic calls this "dressing up" like a sheep.

Whenever we go to the zoo Dominic insists I take his picture on this bear.

He made this tie picture as a Father's Day present, but wanted to wear it to church.

Dominic says his favorite animal is a cow, but whenever we are at the zoo, his favorite are the penguins. If you run your finger along the outside of the tank, the penguins will chase it. Dominic loves that!

Natalie Elizabeth

Natalie is brave and determined

She makes the funniest faces

Natalie loves to dance

and she LOVES horses. A friend of Kirk's boards horses and we were able to take the kids over to ride Dakota (or Dakotie as Natalie calls her) for an early birthday present. She was in heaven on that horse!

Natalie Turned 3!

Natalie loves all things princess. She wants frilly dresses that are long enough to touch the ground, and she always wants to reenact the dancing scenes in the Disney princess movies. Her current favorite is Beauty and the Beast.

Birthday pancakes. The kids loved them, but as an FYI the sprinkle pancakes weren't all that tasty.

Natalie is growing up quickly. She wants to do everything with her brother. They are both very imaginative in the games they play. Natalie is also caring and loves to help. She has a bit of a stubborn streak that I am going to learn to direct towards beneficial activities ;) We love our sweet girl!

Caroline Marie

You may notice a theme in the majority of the pictures below. Cara is restrained either by a high chair, stroller,float or horse. That is not to say I keep my child tied up all the time. But, it is the only way that I would be able to take a picture of her. Cara is now just about 19 months old. She is into everything. Cara is extremely curious and keeps us all on the go. She doesn't say much other than "hi" "dada" and "this" which is her go-to word for everything. It sounds more like "issssss", like a snake. So she runs around pointing to things and hissing at them, ha! Cara is a happy girl. She loves her family, to eat off of other people's plates, to figure things out by herself, and her blanket. She especially loves to torment her brother and sister by stealing their toys and seeing how fast she can run away with them. She loves to be chased. We are certainly blessed to have her as part of our family!