December Birthday Extravaganza

Clark and Dean both have December birthdays that are 4 days apart and they are almost exactly two years apart in age. So we have a combined birthday party for them. Two times the birthday boys, games, presents and fun! This year they had a dinosaur party. Their cousin Ethan came and Clark invited his friend Blake. Everyone had a lot of fun, especially the two birthday boys. We played pin the tail on the dinosaur, had a dinosaur feet relay, and smashed a pinata.

Clark smashed into the wall on one of his turns.Here is Ethan winning the dinosaur relay thanks to his superior ball balancing skills (or it could be that he just held the ball in the spoon)Dean and Clark's dinosaur cake.

This is either Dean or a clone trooper.
Clark loved his gift from Oma & Opa- A star wars Rancor beast play set. He said it was what he always wanted.

A cousin picture in front of the Christmas tree. Two kids are almost looking the right way, a good shot in my book.Here is Dean tucked in for bed the evening of his party. He loved the incredible hulk hands he got from his Uncle Dan & Aunt Marla. He wanted to wear them to bed, so we let him. A good ending to a fun day.

Keeping Busy

Time has been flying around our house and here is what we have been up to.

I've started making all the kids take a daily nap in the same little toddler bed.

This is Clark's new favorite way to watch TV.

When Matt goes on the production floor he has to wear a hair net (nobody wants hair in their Zebra Cakes, right). Eve has found many creative uses for them. She thought this one was pretty funny. (If you can't tell... its George Washington.

We had a great and fun Thanksgiving. Eve helped her little brothers make Thanksgiving themed headbands.

We put up our Christmas tree the next day. Dean had the honor of putting the star on top. The tree is looking a little more "special" each day. Two people in this family like to run by and take ornaments off so all of the ornaments have been going back on higher and higher.

I have been busy making aprons to sell in a holiday gift show. Here are two proffessionals modeling the two little girl aprons I made. I sold two aprons, not a bad first attempt at selling something I've sewn. Now its on to sewing birthday and Christmas gifts, so I better get going!

Who likes Little Debbie Snack Cakes?

We've always loved Little Debbie cakes (especially the kids), but now we love them even more. Matt is now a production supervisor for McKee Foods- the company that makes Little Debbie treats! It is a great job, with a great company, great benefits, and a large boost in salary. We have been so blessed for Matt to get this position. So the next time you reach for some tasty treats at the store, don't feel guilty...your supporting our family. Now you have a great reason to eat all the Little Debbies you want.

Zoinks...Its the Scooby Gang

We had a great Halloween as the gang from Scooby-Doo. Clark was Scooby, Eve was Daphane, Dean was Fred, Matt was Shaggy, and I was Velma.

We went to our Ward's Trunk or Treat party on Wednesday night and out for more trick or treating on Halloween. Some friends of ours, who live in the neighborhood we went to, offered us their wagon to pull the little guys around in. They enjoyed riding when their legs got tired and Eve was still going strong. Everyone got so much candy that I think we'll still have some at Christmas.

Homemade Spiderman

Clark was sad the other morning because he wanted to be Spiderman but he didn't have a mask. I had some pieces of red fleece so we whipped up a homemade Spiderman Mask during Dean's nap. Dean woke up and saw Clark's mask. He really wanted one too. So out came some more red fleece and the sewing machine.....

We ended up with two homemade Spidermans (or possibly bank robbers) who had a ton of fun shooting imaginary webs all over Eve and running around the house and yard all weekend.

(Eve may be looking for a new place to live)

Fall Giveaways!

My friend Natalie is having a "Fall Giveaway Soiree" on her blog. She'll be having 3 giveaways a week for 6 weeks. She has some great sponsors and is giving away fantastic stuff, so check her out and tell your friends!

BOO!

We made these cute ghosts to put on our porch for Halloween. The original plan was to only make 2, but Clark insisted that every family member have a ghost. So we ended up with 3 on the porch and 2 in the foyer. They were easy to make and the kids really like them. It doesn't look like it, but Dean likes them too. He likes to kiss them and tell them hi and bye when we pull out of the driveway.

Choo-choo Dean

Dean loves trains. We found a small sheet of Thomas the Train wall stickers at the Dollar Store and got them to put on the wall near Dean's crib. Clark helped me make sure we stuck them high enough so Dean couldn't reach them. This is what Clark found when he checked on Dean during his nap.....

I guess the stickers need to go a little higher.

Legos

All of our kids love Legos. They built this tower out of their Lego guys one night after dinner and wanted to show it off. All of the people are balanced on one lego horse on the bottom!

Indiana Clark

I caught Clark getting some practice for his career as a stuntman on our neighbors weeping willow tree. Hanging sticks and a ditch. What boy can resist that?

Speed Racers

Clark & Dean like to ride their "bikes" (a tricycle and a rad pink big wheel) around the driveway. They had a fantastic time taking turns coasting down the driveway, so we decided to get some action footage.

Dean really was having a lot of fun, until I got the camera out to catch him in action. He's a nut.

Clark: Professional Laundry Kid

Clark wanted to help me with the laundry, and he wanted to do it all by himself. I was doubtful, but he proved me wrong. He used his little boy skills to get all of the wet clothes out of the washer and into the dryer.

I thought he was a goner a few times, but he made it!

He did a fanastic job! I need to ask him if he wants to scrub the bathtub.

Code Brown

There is something that occasionally happens around our house that we call a "code brown". A "code brown" is issued when a little something magically appears in the bathtub and all kids must be immediately evacuated. Unfortunately, this has been occurring more often because someone thinks its funny. Thanks a lot Dean!

This is what happens to little boys who have big sisters.

The Mowhawk Brothers

Clark & Dean needed haircuts last weekend. Matt asked Clark if he wanted a mowhawk for a day. Clark thought that was a fantastic idea, so Dean & Clark were the proud owners of some wicked awesome mowhawks for 24 hours. Dean was amazingly cute with his. We joked about sending him to Nursery Class at church with it, but decided the other toddlers couldn't handle it. The mowhawks were snipped off Saturday evening, and the boys had a fun day with their wild hair.

Back to School

Eve headed back to school today. She is in 3rd grade this year. She must have been excited because she wanted to sit on the porch and wait for the bus 20 minutes before it came. Clark and Dean didn't mind. They like running around outside at 7:40 am. Eve likes her teacher and had a great first day.