Friends

Over Thanksgiving, I was able to get together with some of my good friends from high school. In this picture is Mary, Justine, and Justine's cute little boy Emerson. It was so great to get caught up with these two! We were friends all 4 years of high school and played field hockey and JV soccer together.

Laurel and Elena were so excited to see each other. It was almost impossible to get a good picture of both of them because they were so hyper to get to play together. We'll have to arrange a longer playdate the next time we are in town.

Caleb and Elena decided to have a camp-out last Thursday. He grabbed toys and books and she ran to her room for "sleeping bags" and pillows. They had so much fun playing in the tent. I love watching their pretend play. They make each other meals, they play house, they play monster and monster-hunter, and lots of other games that they make up as they go along.
When Elena and Kevin got their pictures taken with Santa Claus (the pic is on my mom's camera), we received coupons to Build-a-Bear. Granny and Granddad decided that they couldn't pass up this chance, so Kevin and Elena got to make and bring home 2 new friends: Chocolate Bear and Sugar Plum Green (both were named by E). It is a very cute store; I can see how they stay in business. :)

Kevin: 5 Months

We love this kid!

Kevin now has a tooth. And I am happy to report that he drools much less and is sleeping better again now that tooth #1 is here.

He LOVES to eat cereal. He cries and coughs between bites.

This was his first time sitting in the high chair. He only sat straight for a couple of minutes, but it won't be too long before he gets to eat dinner with us in his very own chair!

Bethlehem Bus

I noticed this scene the other day after Elena went to bed:

Wouldn't sweet Mary have preferred this to riding on a donkey?

The Future Doctors Dison

Shelby made the scrubs for Elena a while ago and Dan happened to bring home a pair that was a similar color yesterday. So cute!

4 Months

Kevin had his 4 month checkup on Thursday.

He weighs 16 lbs. 7 oz (80th %) and is 27 1/4 inches long (97th %).

I checked Elena's stats from her past checkups and it turns out that a 4 month old Kevin is the same height and weight as a 12 month old Elena!

Halloween Fun!

I haven't been able to add anything to the blog in a while because I usually write my posts in the evenings, but lately Dan's been going to bed super early (the computer is the bedroom). For the past 2 weeks, he has had to be at the hospital at 5 am everyday. Even on the weekends. He's really enjoying his surgery rotation despite the 14 hour days. There's six more weeks left. It'll be interesting to see what he will specialize in. He has liked most of the rotations that he's had so far - pediatrics and surgery have been his favorites. Anyway - so here are some of the Halloweeny things that we did this month:

We had so much fun visiting the Hymas'. Elena had liked decorating these ghost cookies, and I loved eating them. They're Nutter Butters dipped in white chocolate. Kristin has so many great Halloween ideas.

Looks like Will is enjoying eating them too!The whole family at the pumpkin patch.
Maybe next year, we'll ask someone else to take our picture:

Elena was a BIG fan of the wagons at the pumpkin patch this year.

Dan and I were chatting when we heard, "Yay! I did it!" We turned to see Elena in the back of this wagon about 100 yards away. We didn't even know that she could climb up a ladder and how did we let her get so far away without even noticing? It's not like we have 6 kids - there's only 2 and Kevin can't even move on his own!I love this baby boy! Check out his grumpy little face:

E's pumpkin!

After the carving: Dan's, Emma's, Elena's (she drew it herself). Kevin's was just drawn on, so you can't see it in the glowing pumpkin picture:

Trunk or treat at church:

These cupcakes were awesome! I never found out who made them. The mouth and ears were a cut up marshmallow. The maker even did little teeth in the mouth!
We had dinner at the Jacksons right before Trick or Treating. Kevin was our little elefante this year:

Check out Elena in 2007:
Tenemos dos animales ahora:

The Fourth of 4 New Posts

In no particular order:

How handsome is this kid?!

Elena made this doughnut at the Children's Museum. Krispy Kreme had a little cart set up with a worker who had gloves for the kids to wear so that they could make (meaning: frost) their own. The icing is red because they were opening a new Clifford exhibit. She was so careful when she ate it and didn't get any frosting on her shirt.
My wonderful, hardworking, handsome husband turned 31 on October 5th. We enjoyed a nice evening at home. Dan was sick for the two days before and the two days after, but he emerged from the bedroom for an hour or two to open presents and let Elena blow out his candles (he was just pretending so that he wouldn't spread his germs around). Elena did a great job decorating the cake with a variety of sprinkles.
We had a girl's night at the movies recently. We (Mom, Bethany, and I) took Elena to see her very first movie in a movie theater: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
We had a blast and she was on her very best behavior. The movie was really funny and cute. I was able to preview everything about it on this website which was great.
Check out the size of that popcorn bucket! I think that might have been her favorite part about going to the movie theater. Yes we ate it all, don't judge.

Family Vacation (part 1)

I had no idea that I had saved this post a month ago and never finished it. I hate when that happens!!!

We were so lucky to be able to take a trip as a family to Virginia (in August). Dan hadn't been able to go with us to visit my family since Christmas and that was only 4 days. Besides my high school reunion, we spent a week going to the beach, Busch Gardens, and visiting with Shelby (one of my best friends who just moved from here to VA).

Michael, Laurel, and Elena at the beach:

The boys chillin' on the boardwalk:

Kevin liked the beach, but he wasn't a fan of the water this year. We'll try again in the spring. :)

Granny, Grandad, and Kevin at Busch Gardens. It was the hottest day ever! At least it felt like it.

I love this picture of Elena and her Grandad.

Dan, Elena, and I happily getting soaked by standing next to 'Escape from Pompeii.'

On a mini Ferris wheel with my little girl:

She loved this ride when it first started to move forwards and backwards and then it began to move side to side as well. Dan was great though - he just scooted down in his seat and talked to her to calm her down until the ride was over.

We even got Granny to go on a ride. :)

Michael, Elena, and Laurel at Shelby's new house.

Family Vacation (part 2)

We also visited the Children's Museum in a neighboring city during Dan's vacation. It was very cute and Elena had a great time. We'll have to go back soon. This house was the playhouse at the museum. There was a full kitchen and everything!
One of these things is not like the other:I honestly didn't see it until I looked closer. Dan is tricky:

They had this costume in the theater room. I wish we could use it for Halloween!