Halloween 2013

This year for Halloween, Auntie Delta, the boys and I attended the Harvest Party put on by our church, North County Christ the King.  We all had a great time, and it was nice to be indoors in a nice, warm building.  Collin had left earlier that day for two weeks in Japan, so Auntie Delta's help was greatly appreciated.

Finnian sharing his cotton candy with Auntie Delta.

All four boys lined up in a row, content with their sweet treats.

Latham

Ronan - aka Optimus Prime

For his first Halloween Vaughn was a pumpkin.

There were games for the children to play; here Finnian is bowling.  Every attempt earned the child a prize, which was a piece of candy.

Ronan shooting a hanging target with a nerf gun.

"Cheese!"

There was a cookie decorating station...

...and these awesome giant inflatable rings to bounce off of one another.

Ronan and Latham especially liked these.  Finnian was still a bit too young to participate in this activity.

There was also a version of the good-ol' favorite, Cake Walk.  Every child walked away with a cupcake.

The best part about the Harvest Festival was that the boys had so many games and activities to participate in versus standard trick-or-treating.  And they got some candy, but not the obscene amounts that can be collected going door-to-door.

We hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Stoney Ridge 2013

Every year in October we take a trip to Stoney Ridge Farm in nearby Everson, WA.  Stoney Ridge has a great pumpkin patch, farm animals, hay rides, corn maze, and - most importantly - fantastic mini pumpkin donuts!  The activities create a lot of photo opportunities, and here are some pictures from our recent trip this past October.

The size of our family has officially outgrown this favorite cut-out photo op.

Every year I make sure to get a photo of the boys on the saddle next to the Stoney Ridge sign.  I'm not happy that this was the best shot, but anyone with kids know, you take a million snaps, and you're still not guaranteed a good one! 

The barrel-car train is the funnest!

Daddy and Baby Boy #4

It's so tough to be a baby!

A tractor-pulled hay ride took us out to the pumpkin patch.

Finnian

Vaughn

Daddy and the older boys

Cool dude Latham

Same as every other year, they could pick out

 any pumpkin they wanted...as long as they could carry it themselves!

Random-ness with Latham & Finnian

With Ronan in school full-time and Vaughn still sleeping much of the time, my days are largely spent with only Finnian and Latham.  They keep life interesting, to say the least.

When I look at this picture, I wonder what in the world possessed him to do this to his pjs.  Seriously buddy, why did you decide to hike up your pants and stick your arms down through them?!?  Love the pose though.

With a household of six people, laundry is a chore that never ends.  I remember living in Saskatoon by myself when I was a student at U of S, and I did laundry once a week, 2-3 loads total.  Now I average two loads a day to stay current.  Anyway, due to my constant laundering, there is always a laundry hamper or two around for the brothers to play in.

Bellis Fair Mall after a doctor appointment, one of a million lately for Finnian - he has had the most random things happening to him lately - having lunch with my two little batmen.

Vaughn - 3 Months Old

Vaughn is now three months old!  He is getting so big!  I've already had to pack away the 0-3 month clothing - he never did fit "newborn" size - and I'm in the middle of a large project.  Not only am I putting away all the summer clothes, I'm going through the large closet upstairs where I put all the outgrown clothing until the next in line is big enough for it, and figuring out who fits what now.  I've pulled out some 6 month outfits that Ronan used to wear, and it's so weird seeing them again on this little guy.

This cute outfit is one that I bought Finnian when he was tiny.  Judging by Vaughn's smile, I think he likes it.

Laughing

So adorable, if I do say so myself; Collin & I agree that we make pretty cute children!

Yesterday evening I found Finnian "reading" his Elmo book to Vaughn.

Hanging out with Daddy and his brothers, getting in some tummy time.

Vaughn has found his fingers recently, and they are in his mouth almost constantly.  Sometimes there's even an internal struggle - he can't decide if he wants his fingers or his source of milk!

So far the eyes are blue, but Ronan and I are hoping that they turn green!  Go Team Green Eyes!

September...

...is the bestest month in the whole year, in my opinion.  Not only do the days get a little colder and crisper, the leaves turn all sorts of wonderful colors, and school starts, but it's also the month of my birthday!  

Here are some pictures of our September:

 We now have a second grader!  Ronan was excited to start school again.

Daddy was in New Zealand on a business trip, so he missed our annual first-day-of-school photos while waiting for the bus.

 Luckily, Auntie Delta was around, so she could act as the photographer.

 I love the fact that Ronan takes the bus everyday.  I had to walk to elementary school, and the only time I was ever on a bus was when my class had a field trip.

Off to school!

Latham also started school this year. He attends preschool at Laurel Community Baptist Church on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  He was not looking forward to preschool since Ronan told him that school was a lot of work!  I set him straight - preschool is all about playtime, with some learning thrown in each day. 

 We went back to Oroville, Washington in mid-September.  My older sister was married in Osoyoos (north of the border) so we decided to stay for a four day weekend.  We rented  a different house right on the lake and had perfect summer weather.  Since it was a four bedroom house, Auntie Delta stayed with us, and again we had a great time relaxing on the porch and playing in the lake.

 Sorry, I don't have any pics of the wedding since guests weren't allowed to take photographs during the ceremony, and we weren't at the reception since it was "adults only".

 These guys were in the water all the time!

 Daddy and the boys down by the lake at twilight.

My 36th birthday was September 21st.  Collin took me out for dinner on Saturday, and we had my family party on Sunday after church.  In fact, I walked in the house after church to my present - the bicycle that I had wanted.  I call it a "granny" bike but supposedly the real term for it is a "retro bicycle".  Happy Birthday to me!

Family Vacation to Oroville, Washington - August 2013

 We have just come back from a family vacation to Oroville, Washington.  The city is right on the US/Canada border (Osoyoos, BC is directly north), and the southern end of Lake Osoyoos is on the US side of the border.  Collin rented us a 3-bedroom, 3 bathroom house right on the lake, and we had a great week-long family vacation.

 The boys were constantly in the water.  Collin brought some water toys and floaties, and everyone had a good time.

 Even Finnian was feeling comfortable in the lake, which meant we had to keep a extra super-close watch on him (although the boys were watched at all times).  One day he climbed onto one of the floaties and within 10 seconds was 10 feet away from shore.  Yikes!  I was supervising and saw the whole ordeal so he was safely brought back to shore.

We spent hours in the water.

 We visited the ghost town of Molson, 20 minutes from Oroville.

 The boys ran around exploring the old farm machinery and abandoned buildings. 

An old water pump

 The town bell

 There were old cabins complete with furnishings and fixtures.

 Latham was fascinated by an old wash basin and laundry gizmo.

 Baby Vaughn needed a refreshment break.

 The boys ran from one building to the next, having a good ol' time.

 Ronan playing a teller in the old bank building.

 We also visited the nearby old Molson School (now a museum).  The building was the center of the community when it was built in 1913, so it was more than just a school -   there was also a barber shop on an upper floor as well as the town's post office.

 The three older boys playing school in one of the classrooms.

 Teacher Ronan

 4 brothers on a couch

Ronan is a wonderful helper with Baby Vaughn.

 Auntie Delta arrived on Thursday, and we took her back to Molson.  We also went out for ice cream everyday.  Here she is with the younger two at our favorite ice cream spot.

 Finn-Finn with a bowl of strawberry ice cream that was almost bigger than his head.

 Latham had some ice cream but then his dairy sensitivity acted up so he had M&Ms instead on subsequent ice cream trips.

 Of course Ronan had chocolate.

 Look closely, Mommy and Finnian are wearing sombero sunglasses at Prince's Department Store in Oroville.

Daddy showing the older boys the new work-related project that was alluded to in my Wednesday post.  It's still under wraps, so you'll have to wait for the launch date to find out any more details!