A Visit

Julie, Andy, Us

Noah, Finn, Harry, Lovis, (Missing Summer)

We were lucky enough to have a overnight visit from our good friends the Tegeders on there way home from a rotation in Tuscon. We wish we lived closer!

King Tut?

He did 90% of it himself!

Mrs Gagner (Gone-yay) Being mummified

Finn's class just finished up their unit on Ancient Egypt. He got to make his first diorama and dress up for a performance during the assembly and a party!

Halloween!

Sunday night Trick or Treating Crew

A picture of a family at our Trunk or Treat that I thought were awesome!

Our trunk, fog and all

Our Pumpkins Clone and Yoda

The Fam

The Egyptians

Mummy

Bad boys, bad boys what ya gonna do what ya gonna do when Finn comes for you?

Brave brave Sir Harry, brave Sir Harry saves the day!

Beck's First Meal

Oatmeal and Applesauce

Yummy!

He started out liking it but, towards the end he got shivers after every bite.

HECK YEAH!

Coming to a Town Near You

We recently found out that when Finn grows up he wants to be a Chef! Of course anything Finn wants Harry wants too. In the car today we were asking about what kind of restaurant they wanted to have and what they would name it.

Finn: a Bakery called Pick A Snack

Harry: a Star Wars themed restaurant called Big Fat Belly

Hoppy Bersday Dear Anna

I hope you go on a great East Coast Adventure today and that it is a great birthday!

I love you!

"Come on Ride the Train!"

THE POTTY TRAIN!

He did it! With a little encouragement from my friend Katie (while she was babysitting). He has been a man on a mission to fill his chart and earn his "loop-a-loop track". Well this morning he did it!

HOORAY!

Monet and Van Gough

On Saturday we pulled the supplies out of the garage and let our creative juices flow! The Masters came up with some amazing pieces like: Star Wars Speeder in a blue Forest, Two Light Sabers Fighting, A purple Death Star with an X-wing, and A Red Race Track! It was a lot of fun and something this uptight Mom needs to do more often!

A Red Race Track in the making

The Masters at work

Working on Two Light Sabers Fighting

Star Wars Speeder in a Blue Forest

(only minor help from Dad on this one)

First Time!

Beck tried out his Excer-saucer this weekend! It was a hit!

They Are "Just Two Wild and Crazy Guys"

For your viewing pleasure.

Star Student

At school this week Finn got to be the Star Student. He got to take in a poster all about him, Bring stuff for the Estimation Jar, bring in a show and tell, have a Q & A with the class, and bring in his favorite book to have read to the class!

The poster

The man himself

Harry not wanting to be left out, posing looking at the class pet, a Goldfish named Candy.

Grandparents Day

Friday was Grandparents Day at Finns school and he was lucky enough to have Grandmother Boynton come to celebrate with him. How many kids get to know there great grandparent let alone spend quality time together, so cool!

They started with a Grandparent interview, read a poem, sang a song to them, gave them a gift, told them that they loved them, and then took them to the lunchroom for a nice snack. After it was over Finn wanted to show Grandmother a few things from his classroom.

This was also the first time that Grandmother got to met her namesake Beck. It was a fun afternoon and we are so grateful that Grandmother was willing to come make Finn feel so special!

Listening to the poem

After a nice snack

Showing Grandmother his Skeletoni

Carol Beck Boynton meeting Beck

So This is Why I am so Tired!

Vacations:

Prechildren: A romantic tropical beach.

Postchildren: Disneyland!

Got this off a friends blog. Thanks Nancee!

Getting up in the morning

Prechildren: Set your alarm. Snooze if you feel like it. Eat some cereal. (Total time: 10-20 minutes)

Postchildren: Get up anywhere between 4:30-5:30am. Rush into the baby's bedroom before she wakes up the toddler. Feed her a bottle. Change a poopy diaper. Toddler wakes up before you get a chance to snooze again. Make breakfast for the toddler with the right kind of cereal and milk in a sippy cup. Take toddler to the potty. Eat some cereal. Put baby back down to sleep. (Total time: 3 hours)

Showering

Prechildren: Hop in the shower and shave your legs if you feel like it. (Total time: 20 minutes)

Postchildren: Put a movie on for the toddler and hope that she doesn't destroy anything while you are in the shower. Check on toddler and hope that she doesn't wake up crying. Shower as fast as possible. No chance of shaving your legs. (Total time: 10 minutes)

Walking Out the Door

Prechildren: Grab your keys, wallet and phone. Walk out the door. (Total time: 1 minute).

Postchildren: Pack up diaper bag for the children. For the baby you need to fill up bottles, the formula container, make sure you have a clean burp cloth, change of clothes, enough diapers and wipes. For the toddler you need snacks, a water bottle and a change of clothes in case she has an accident. If it will be a longer trip, you need a blanket and pacifier for the baby to help her sleep. You need some activities for the toddler (i.e., DVD player, ipod, crayons, etc.). Make sure toddler has gone to the bathroom. Feed the baby before you go and change her diaper. Grab your keys, wallet and phone. Strap both kids into their car seats. (Total time: 1.5 hours).

Running to the Post Office

Prechildren: Get the package. Take it to the post office. Mail it. (Total time: 5 minutes)

Postchildren: Try to manage a package, a car seat, a toddler and a diaper bag (filled with all the things listed above). Hope people are nice enough to open the door for you. Mail the package. On the way back to the car you have to stop and look at the red diamond sticker in the window, do a balance beam walk along the curb, talk about the "hot air balloon" hanging above Quiznos and why you can't ride in it, but you can go drive by it. Strap kids back into the car. (Total time: 25 minutes)

Grocery Shopping

Prechildren: Drive to the grocery store. Buy your items. Put them in the car. Drive home and put them away. (Total time: 1 hour)

Postchildren: Drop toddler off at dance. Rush with newborn to the store. Park near a stray cart so you don't have to haul the 25 lb. car seat very far. Put baby in and rush through the store before dance is done. Baby starts crying. Debate whether to feed her, decide you don't have enough time, give her a pacifier and hope it works for 10 more minutes. Decide not to get half the things on your list because you don't have time. Rush out to the car and throw the groceries in. Mash the banana and probaby break a couple eggs. Drive to pick up toddler. Baby is screaming. Drive home. Baby is sleeping. Leave the car running. Take toddler to the bathroom. She pees all over the freshly cleaned toilet seat. Change her clothes. Get her something to eat. Bring in some groceries. Baby wakes up. Put frozen food in freezer and cold stuff in fridge. Leave remaining groceries strewn around counters and hope husband will help put them away when he returns home. (Total time: 1.5 hours)

Lunch

Prechildren: Make a sandwich. Eat it. Read something while you eat. (Total time: 15 minutes)

Postchildren: Make a hot dog for toddler just the right temperature. Cut it up into little pieces. Stick a straw in the juice box and drink some of it so it won't squirt all over her fresh outfit when she grabs it. Spoon feed baby some chicken mush. She doesn't like it. Try some pears. She eats only half of it. Give her a bottle. She spits up some of it on your clothes. You don't bother changing because you know it will happen again before the day is over. Read toddler some books and tuck her into bed. Put baby down to bed. Make a sandwich. Eat it. Read something while you eat. (Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes)

Blogging

Prechildren: You don't have time to blog. (Total time: 0)

Postchildren: Begin a blog post. Internet stops working. Restart computer. Start typing. Both kids wake up. Keep typing anyway. Go put pacifier back in baby's mouth. Hope toddler falls asleep eventually - at least she is staying in her room. (Total time: 30 minutes)

Cleaning House

Prechildren: Do 2 loads of laundry. Wash a few dishes. (Total time: 30 minutes)

Postchildren: Do laundry for 4 people. Wash bottles and dishes. Clean up toys. (Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes)

Dinner

Prechildren: Make dinner. (Total time: 30 minutes)

Postchildren: Toddler wants to eat at 4pm. Give her a snack to hold her off. Baby is awake and needs to eat again. Feed her a bottle. Place baby on floor with some toys to entertain her. Toddler wants to help make dinner. She insists on dumping everything into the bowl herself and stirring. She needs her hands washed. Baby is crying and needs to be moved to the Bumbo for a change of scenery. Toddler is done helping, but dinner is not ready. You put a movie on for toddler to entertain her while you finish. Eventually dinner gets made. (Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes)

Bedtime

Prechildren: Watch a movie and/or read a book. Go to bed at midnight. (Total time: 2 hours)

Postchildren: Feed baby, change her diaper, turn on her ceiling fan, turn on her humidifier, make sure she has a pacifier and blanket. Set up bottles to use during the night. Turn on white noise maker. Put her to sleep. Replace pacifier every 5-10 minutes until she is asleep. Read toddler books, brush her teeth, take her to the bathroom, put on her pjs, say prayers, turn on her night light and white nosie maker. Explain to toddler why she doesnt need to be scared. Return to toddler's room to get her a drink of water. Return to toddler's room again for some nonsensical reason. Eventually toddler falls asleep. You are too tired to watch a movie or read a book. You go to sleep at 9:30pm (Total time: 2 hours).

Eight Years

We have been married eight years, and we are still so in love! Not that sappy newly dating/married-hang-all-over-each-other kind of love but, the

thinks-I-am-still-cute-when-I-laugh-like-this,

and helps-me-clean-my-teeth kind of love

Gavin Thanks for eight great years and three of the best things about me!

Love You!