Christmas Update

 We enjoyed the fall here in Ohio!  The kids loved raking up the leaves and then jumping in them.  I love it when it's the simple things that make my kids the most happy.  We enjoyed many warm fall days outside playing in the leaves.

 Max always keeps us on our toes.  He might be saying something that makes me laugh or making a face that makes me laugh even harder.

 Our future missionary!  Max looks pretty good in a suit.  Here is a recent conversation i had with Max.
Max- Mom do you know what my favorite part of church is?
Mom- No Max I don't know.  What is it?
Max-  The part when we get to go home!
Isabelle-  My favorite part is Jesus.
Love how different my kids are!

 Cutting down our Christmas tree.  We had quite the adventure!

 Watching some ice sculpting.  We sat around a fire and had hot cider and kettle corn and watched some amazing guys make sculptures out of ice.

 Franklin Park Conservatory.  I love the poinsettia display and the train!

 The nutcracker Ballet.  This was Max's first year to go with us.  He didn't know if he wanted to go because as Max say's "I don't like beautiful things"  I decided that I am going to raise a well rounded boy that can not only watch a football game but appreciate the ballet and the arts.  Max was a trooper and even had a little fun.  Our conversation before the ballet
Max-  Mom I don't think I want to go because I don't like beautiful things
Mom-  What are beautiful things
Max-  You know, things like flowers, make-up, weddings, I don't like beautiful things, i just like cool things.
Mom-  What are cool things
Max- Transformers, guns, superheros those are cool things
Mom-  Well I really want you to come with us.  Were going to get dessert afterwards at a restaurant.
Max-  You can just get mine to go and bring it home ok.
In the end Max came with us.  And he had fun!

The Simple things!!!

I just discovered this website today and I love it!  It really is the simple things in life that make me the most happy.  They are what make life great.

GO BUCKS

Poor Spencer came down with the Flu this weekend and had to miss his first regular season game for Ohio State.  Not wanting to waste the football tickets, Isabelle and I headed to the game.  I was impressed with my knowledge of the game as I explained each and every thing that was going on to her.  Although we only made it to half time we had a great time.  The seats we were amazing, the weather perfect, and the buckeyes won...who could ask for more.

Why I Think Fall is Fabulous!!!

 My top 10 reasons why I think fall is fabulous

10.  Hello...Do I even need to say it SCHOOL!!!!!  I love being back on a schedule.  Quiet afternoons all to myself and did i mention i have a secret obsession with school supplies.  There is nothing quite like a new box of crayons.

9.  Fall clothes!!! They just happen to be the same colors as the things my kids stain them with.  Browns, oranges, purples.  I love being able to throw on a sweater or a cardigan or a scarf to dress up any outfit.  And I don't have to hit up the gym as much because all of the layers hide the chub!!! :)

8.  Nothing smell's better than a kid who has just jumped into a huge pile of leaves.  I love it when its the simple things that make my kids happy.

7.  My favorite fall shows are finally back!!!

6.  Hot cider, Hot cocoa,  apple crisp, pumpkin pie.  I could go on and on and on and on!!!

5.  Pumpkins...I love them.  I think they are just the most fabulous things around.  Every time I go to the store from now until Halloween I buy one.

4.  It gets darker earlier!!!  So much easier putting the kids to bed.

3.  Every time I see a Jack-O-Lantern it reminds me of Isabelle's toothless smile.

2.  Football Season!!!!  I have grown to love our lazy Saturdays watching college football.

1.  We hit our 1 year mark for school....YES THE END IS NEAR!!!!  Next year at this time we will be in a new town, making new friends, and did I mention not being in school....how fabulous is that!!  Every time we go somewhere or do something in the back of my mind i think "this is our last time to do that."  So having said that I am going to enjoy every minute of our last year here in Columbus.

50 DAYS OF SUMMER FUN: DAY 4-Backyard Obstacle Course

Isabelle and Max put together an obstacle course.  Then I would time them while they ran through it!  It was a lot of fun.  There were cones to run around, hop scotch, hula hoop, horse shoe toss, basketball toss , and jump rope.

50 DAYS OF SUMMER FUN: DAY 3-Bubbles

We spent the afternoon today, blowing bubbles.  We had all different sized bubble blowers.  Max's loved popping the bubbles with his squirt gun.  It was fun to see Max and Isabelle having so much fun with Kate.  The more bubbles they blew the more excited she became.  And the more excited Kate got the more bubbles they wanted to make for her.

50 DAYS OF SUMMER FUN: DAY 2-Pudding Bath

I filled the plastic pool up with chocolate pudding and let the kids just play in it.  They did a little painting but mostly just had fun making a huge mess.  Kate loved eating it!