It's suddenly the end of September

Does anyone know where this year has gone?  It's been so busy and full of change for my little family and I that it's just flown by.  It's crazy to think that in this year Josh finished school, we moved to Utah, we had a baby, started a new job, and moved to Nevada.  It's been a big year for us.  Besides that, Josh had to first search for a job, go through the licensing and testing process, and Cohen got glasses and has to wear an eye patch and has attended three different preschools this year, and I'm now a mom of three beautiful kids, and we're all just trying to get used to life all over again.  I really wonder what normal is some days.  The quest continues.  Getting Josh up and running with practicing Chiropractic work is hopefully coming, and one more minor detail.... buying a house!  I hope (although I'm thinking it's more of a dream at this this point) to get a house in 2013.
So, in case you were wondering why I haven't been updating my blog almost this whole year, now you know.  I'm not bitter or upset.  I've just been a bit busy.  I look forward to getting settled, and finding time to update this blog for family and friends.  Happy September everyone!

Life is going quickly!

Well everyone, I have hopes and desires to really update the blog.  A real Christmas post would be nice, right?  My focus is on moving right now.  Yay!  We'll be in Utah in a week and a half.  Time flies!  We sure have been busy around here with getting Josh done with school, catching up and keeping up to date on all medical appointments before the move, getting Parker surgery yesterday, and now packing and moving.  I'm sure in the blink of an eye our time here in Oregon will be finished.  It's bitter sweet to think of.  I've missed home for lots of different reasons, but I have certainly learned a lot about myself, my family, and other's along the way.  I wouldn't change a thing!

ps. Notice the blue sky in Portland?  It was amazing that day!

Cheers!

Christmas Time Adventures

 

I always try to make the most out of the holiday season with the kids.

I tried to squeeze in lots and lots of fun, but when it came right down to it, they got pneumonia, and our plans were stunted.  I guess it's more important to stay home and take care of sick kids than to force enjoyment from the season.  We took care of our kids.

 

I took the kids to the Portland Festival of Trees.

I've only ever experienced the well-known one in Utah before.... so this was a bit surprising.

I can't say there were that many trees, I didn't even spend the time to look at them up close.

I focused on what the kids would want, and that's what we did.

Too bad I didn't think we would have to wait in an hour long line to do the most adored thing.... get a teddy bear, and doctor them all up (band aids, nose & mouth covers, ace wraps, etc.) with the help of actual medical professionals.  Oh, well.

 

The kids are standing in front of a kid's size house.  Cute.

 

We met Mrs. Clause, and then she sat down and read Christmas stories.

 

Here we are trying out Mrs. Clause's chair.

We got to decorate our own cookies.

 

The kids even got to "make" jingle bell necklaces. 

They still play with them. 

That was the biggest hit from the event!

 

 

One day, my dream to pick out a tree as a family will actually come true!!!

This Christmas, we tried to, but the tree place was already closed by 5:00 pm on Saturday, and we all arrived shortly after that.

The boys and I took care of it the following Monday.  No worries.

They loved it of course.

I love that I can get a nice sized 6 or 7 foot tree for $25 or $30 and that it stays fresh through January.

This is a plus of living in Oregon!

 

The boys helped me decorate the tree the next morning. 

 

I let them pretty much do it how ever (trying to give them advice) and then rearranged it slowly over the next couple of days.

 

This is what it looked like after THEY decorated it (and I put on a couple near the top.)

This is the best picture Cohen's ever taken of me. 

 Just thought I should throw it in there!

Ok.... see the bulge on the side of my body above my left hand?

That's my lovely cyst of some kind.  Cute huh?!

 

Cohen sang with the Primary at our ward Christmas party.

I played a little solo on the piano that I put together..... I don't know how well it went.



 

Santa came to visit at the ward Christmas party! 

Hooray!

We went to the Clackamas Town Center Mall to visit Santa about a week later.

Here's the kids waiting in line to see him.

I can't believe that there were NINE DOGS also in line with us, waiting to see Santa.

They weren't all together either.  Lots of people, with lots of dogs.

At least it was entertainment for the kids!

We went to see Santa, and ended up eating in the food court while Santa was taking a break.

The reason I mention this is because the very next day, something tragic happened right where we were.

A gunman came into the mall, and opened fire in the food court and killed several people.

This is right where we were. 

Our Santa was on the news. 

Everyone in the area (Santa is pretty close to the food court) had to run and cover.

I'm thankful we are safe, and that we missed it by a day.

Going to the mall there the next couple of times was hard for me, but we can't live our lives in fear.

Onward!

My Parker is 2!

 

 

He's two folks!

Actually, he turned 2 way back on November 23rd.

We had a birthday party for him about a week before.

Why do I care so much about these things? 

It must be for the love of my kids.

Wish I could be content just throwing a "whatever" layed back birthday party, but instead I plan and organize, coordinate and prepare.  Yet still, I barely pull it off in the end.  You'd think I'd learn.  Ha!

The party was in the relief society room at the church.  My house just wasn't going to cut it this time.

I have an amazing cake decorating friend.  Daya did good work!

 

Favor bags I put together, mouse ears I made, and instruments for the kids to play with.  Hot dog!

Hog Dogs for the kids (You'll understand if you're a "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" fan) and BBQ chicken for the parents.

Parker was pretty quiet during most of the party.  He gets overwhelmed easily.

Apparently, this is how Mickey Mouse's ears look.  We tried to fix them for Cohen, but he insisted this was the correct way.

March in a circle to the M.M. music, stop on a character when the music stops, see if you get drawn for a surprise!

Pin the tail on Mickey!

I'm actually really happy I found this picture online, did a copy, paste to my file, downloaded it to Costco, and printed it for $10!  Wala!  Two hours later it was done!

Kisses for Mickey.

Dancing to the music.  The "instruments" were sure loud!  They are all simply various kinds of whistles.

 

Cake time!  Even now, Parker sings happy Birthday for fun.

His new love for blowing came in very handy when it was time to blow out the candles.

This is me trying to get a picture of us together on the big* day, but it was the end of the party, and Parker was DONE.

 

On to the REAL Birthday.

Pancakes in the morning.

I put the "2" down the wrong way on his plate.  Oops.

 

Presents.

 

We went out to pizza for dinner, and came back for birthday cake.

I learned earlier in the year that Parker DOES NOT like chocolate cake.

Is he really my son?  I'm not so sure.

 

Parker is so fabulous!

He loves trains and cars.

He loves to play with his brother and do everything he does.

He loves his blanket.

He's a little sneaky.

He talking more and more and usually leaves the first letter sound off the word.

og = dog, ilk = milk, ake=take

ut ack= fruit snack, train track, plus more.  It's tricky!

He doesn't have any desire to climb out of his crib.

He's an early riser!

Loves hot dogs, hates peanut butter and jelly.

I love him to pieces!

November Fun

 

I'm DETERMINED to keep more up to date with this blog of mine. 

With the upcoming major changes in our life.... we'll see how I do.  :)

 

Cohen took a gymnastics class at the end of last year. 

He loved it, and flourished in it.

Seriously, he was good.  As a mom, I loved it.

His biggest learning points for the class were learning to wait his turn, and not talk over the teacher and her instructions.  Yes, we still have a lot of work to do.  At least he was nice... just a little too talkative.

I wish I would have ended up with better pictures.

 

 

Waiting for his turn on the bar.

 

 

 

Cohen's on the balance beam in the back.

Just did a flip under the bar.

Parker is as cute as can be, and found a fascination with blowing on things that continues to this day.

 

He loves his trains.

 

 

I'm the "Activity Days" leader (over the bi-weekly activities for girls ages 8-11) for the girls in my ward.  I have a fabulous woman, Katie Brandt, to work with. 

I just had to snap some pictures of the last recognition night we put together.

I probably spent too much time working on the details for what came of it, but it was fun non the less.

 

 One day I was driving and just had to capture this lovely Portland treasure. 

I don't want to forget what it's been like to live here.

Medical marijuana.

Oh, dear.

 

Then there are other days while I'm driving around and I notice the beautiful scenery like this.

These lovely red trees were captured in late November.

So pretty.

 

Just another picture of Andrea with her kids???

No.

We are actually roller skating.

This is what happens when a stranger takes the picture and doesn't realize I really wanted the roller skates on our feet to be documented.

 

I realized once we started that me taking these barely 2 and 4 year old boys alone, roller skating for the first time was not the most brilliant idea I've ever had.

We had fun, but Parker moved like a snail, literally, and I wasn't allowed to pick him up (I tried and got in trouble.)

Cohen needed lots of coaching and encouragement, and got better little by little.

I was glad we only arrived for the closing 40 minutes or so.

I (nor the kids) would have been able to last any longer!

Fun times.  We are smiling, we did have fun.