Getting ready for Christmas

Here's what we've been up to the last few weeks...



Debbie found this beautiful piano on Craigslist. We have always wanted to get a piano, especially since Hannah has been taking lessons. We are very fortunate to know someone in the piano business who was willing to transport it for us!



For the first time in our marriage (eight Thanksgivings now) we had Thanksgiving at our home. It was only our little family plus Mom, Matt, and Vicki, so it wasn't all that stressful and it turned out really well. We're so thankful to have a beautiful new home with plenty of room in the kitchen and dining room!









It was Eli's turn to put the star on the tree this year.




I've been looking forward to decorating the house all year. I even bought our own ladder this year instead of borrowing Mom's.

Happy Halloween

Halloween was great this year... not too drawn out. The kids had a blast at trunk or treat and their various parties at school and Dance Tech. On Halloween, Brady and I decided to dress up (at the last minute) for a party at a friend's house. We all had a fun time.

The kids had a great time eating...
playing...
and decorating :)
Jonas was just happy to have a holiday totally dedicated to eating candy.

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

Last month we had a nice time with grandma and grandpa Shipp who were visiting from California. We even had our first snow while they were here... hahaha... lucky for them it didn't stick for long. We love when they come to visit, and miss them when they leave. (Hope to see you again soon!)

Eli's FOUR!!!

Eli celebrated his fourth birthday last month. He is growing up so fast! He had a fun party with lots of cousins.



I think this next picture is hilarious. Leila wanted to be sure Eli got to blow out his candles. So sweet!

Day at the Fair

I just downloaded about two hundred pictures from my camera and decided that it is time to update our blog a bit.
(I don't take many pictures, so 200 is A LOT for me.)
Anyway, we went to the Idaho State Fair last month, so here are some pictures from that fun day....

Jonas loved the petting zoo.
He followed the goats around to pet them.
They were very tolerant of him... they must be used to it.

If dogs stayed this cute and cuddly, I would probably want one, but I am not that disillusioned!

Each year the kids ride the barrel train that's pulled by a four wheeler.
They love it.

Here's a pic of Eli and Jonas.
We were glad that Jonas had a pillow behind him... it was kind of bumpy!

Hannah LOVES the carousel.
She enjoys naming the horse that she rides.

Here's Eli with a little friend that he made. She was adorable (her mom asked me if her little girl could ride with Eli). They were having trouble getting the ride going so the two of them were just sitting and chatting for a few minutes. I would love to know what they said :)

After the fair, we stopped at a park for a picnic on the way home.

Here's the last picture of the kids after a long day of playing hard.
Yes, their faces are very dirty... another sign of a good day.

Hannah took this one of me and Brady :)
After a long day of ... hardly playing!?!
Just kidding, I think that we had as much fun as the kids!

First Day of School

Waiting for the bus.
(Notice the huge backpack that I stuffed everything into so that
she would not leave anything on the bus.)

Climbing onto the bus :)

Meeting the bus driver!

Summer's over... school's in... our little girl is growing up! I don't know why but sending Hannah to first grade has been so much harder than sending her to kindergarten. Maybe it's because a huge bus carried her away to first grade. It was quite entertaining watching her climb onto the bus though. Anyway, Hannah seems to like her new school and her new teacher.

Family Reunion 2009

Happy 40th mom and dad. This was the beginning of a wonderful family reunion. We had so much fun seeing family. We made a lot of fun memories and the kids are still talking about it :)

Jonas and Vivian getting to know each other.

Fun at Lagoon!

Jonas' favorite ride- Bulgy the Whale

All wet, and cold

Dinosaur Museum

One of my favorite pics.

Temple open house.

Children's Museum

Brady and his BFF, just kidding, this is the picture I took right before Brady knocked him out.

Princess Hannah

All partied out on the ride home.

We have been slacking on blogging because we have been having so much fun. But things are slowing down now so we can share some of our fun pics.

Princess Hannah

Hannah loves dancing with Grandma Lori!

Presenting: Princess Malory and Princess Hannah

Hannah got to go to Princess Camp at Grandma Lori's studio. She was very excited that her cousin Malory was there too. She loves to pretend to be a princess, and enjoys dressing up, so she was in heaven. She had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the program that they preformed on the last day. We love our little princess.

Walking Jonas

Our friends the Risenmays posted video of Jonas's buddy Abbey taking her first steps a week or so ago, so we have been practicing with Jonas. He has the standing part down really well but he would fall after taking only two or three steps. But today at Grandma Lori's house he decided that he could do this and just took off on his own a few times. I think he'll have it by his birthday on the 25th.

Duck, duck, goose with a twist

We played duck, duck, goose for the FHE game a few weeks ago and it got kinda crazy. We decided to play with a little bucket of water, and whoever was chosen as the goose would get the bucket dumped on their head before the chase ensued. Anyway, it turned into a fun family water fight that almost everyone enjoyed (poor Jonas!)

P.S. Jonas didn't get the bucket of water dumped over his head, he was just being a little sensitive.

Hannah's dance recital & Last day of dance class

Hannah outside the Colonial Theater where the recital was.

Hannah receiving her trophy from her teacher (grandma Lori)

Hannah participating in the drill down. She got third place this year!

Hannah had her dance recital a few weeks ago and danced beautifully. Her class did their ballet and tap dances. She loved the costume this year and wanted to wear it to the last day of dance class too.