Christmas Parade and other Phone Pics

Our town's Christmas parade was warm this year! We forgot our real camera, but got some phone pictures. We met up with our church friends to watch and then went out to eat together afterward.

Fireworks!

Wesley is doing a great job at sounding out words by himself, and

he tells us almost every day now that he wants to be an artist when he grows up. 

He left this message on Curtis' chalkboard after Curtis demolished
the little city of blocks that Wesley had made.
(I will build Wesley's blocks)

We sent this picture by Wesley to our
Compassion child, Moubarack, in Africa
(Moubarack I pray for you)
In the middle is a picture of Moubarack taped up on Wesley's wall.

Out getting fro yo

John Mark and I just went to our first movie
alone since we have had kids, The Hobbit in 3-D!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with John Mark's family this year. We were happy that Kevin, Sara and Sadie made it down for a few days. Sadie, Wesley and Curtis had some great cousin time (Legos, reading, wagon time, etc) that we weren't sure was going to happen since the due date for Sadie's brother is soon!  Also Paul and Christi got to stop by for lunch on Saturday before everyone departed. Our family stayed through Sunday which allowed some time to catch up with JM's best friend from high school, Hassan (and his wife Kathy), who were visiting from Canada.

Curtis got to open some birthday presents.
He got his own cowboy hat like his brother's.

Curtis pulled Sadie around in
the wagon for a good while

He started making some hilarious faces when
he started getting worn out, but he wouldn't
stop until he had her back to the porch

Curtis Turns 3!

Curtis celebrated turning 3 in November with a Thomas party. We had a very small celebration with a few friends that was low-stress (except for some cake mishaps).

The kids mostly played quietly in the boys' rooms, while the adults visited. The attendees got a Thomas tattoo and a party horn to take home. No gifts (except from family). Simple and fun!

Pumpkin Painting

In October, the boys got to pick out their own little pie pumpkin to decorate, but by the time we had gotten around to painting them (mid-November), one had already rotted. They didn't mind sharing one, though. 

Wesley's side (with a little Curtis interference)

Curtis' side

50's Day

Wednesday was Wesley's 50th day of school, so the kindergarteners celebrated with a 50's day. They had root beer floats and popcorn during a "drive-in" movie. They had cardboard boxes decorated like 50's cars that the kids sat in while watching Cars. I didn't get to go because of work, but Wesley told us all about it. He loved it! 

We had a little sample container of pomade, so we used the real deal to give Wesley the greaser look. He laughed and laughed while I did his hair.

And here's a cute morning shot of Curtis T 

Halloween 2012

Wesley and Curtis

or

Mario and Luigi

It was Wesley's idea to do Mario Brothers. This year my token handmade item was the overalls. I had planned to do hats, but finding the right shirt color and hat material color combination for Luigi was more difficult than expected. I found that green shirt Tuesday night by chance.

We went over to our friends' house for hot dogs/nachos as usual this year, but afterward we headed to church for Trunks and Treats.

Joshua (Peter Pan) - his little sister was Tinkerbell :)

This was the Charlotte's Webb station. They were really cute.

Curtis loving some bounce house time

Wesley with one of his great Sunday School teachers,
Mrs. Leigh Ann

Another one of his great teachers, Mrs. Jarrie

Curtis with the wonderful Mrs. Annette

The boys' favorite (and only) babysitter, Ariana

Mr. Gene - our amazing children's pastor

Eli, Caden, Curtis, Landon, Wesley
They weren't really into taking this picture.

We had a fun time, but the boys got tired earlier than expected and requested just going home. John Mark and I happily obliged.

Farm Field Trip

Wesley's class visited a local farm yesterday, and I got to join in as a parent chaperone. The place used to be a dairy farm, but mostly now I think they grow Christmas trees and host guests. First, they got to go on a hay ride (well, minus the hay) up to a playground area.

We got to roast marshmallows (seemed a little warm for that!)

I think Wesley's favorite part (apart from getting to ride a bus for the first time) was the sand pit. 

Every kid got to pick out two mini pumpkins. Here is Wesley searching for the perfect ones. 

Found 'em!

The whole class

Wesley said that after they got back to school they were all worn out, so they just laid on the floor and listened to stories.