Basketball

Wesley had his first try at organized sports this year. He did Upward Basketball, and he enjoyed it for the most part. His attention span/energy would run out a little after half-time. He liked making friends and seeing his friends from school at games. In fact, for one game, we couldn't find Wesley on the floor where he was supposed to be. We found him sitting on the other team's bench chatting with a boy from his class while his team played!

Misha and Gin-Gin came to one game. Curtis was happy
to get some iPad time.

John Mark ended up being assistant coach!

Coach Phil was a great
encourager for all of them.

Wesley's School Christmas Party

For Wesley's class party, the kids got to wear pajamas to school. They exchanged books and had some fun snacks. Wesley has a great teacher and goes to a great school. We are thankful! 

Christmas 2012

I guess it is time to get caught up, so we'll start with Christmas!

We had three Christmas celebrations, two in December and one in February. Since our nephew, Micah, was due right around Christmas, we planned on going to Kansas for John Mark's side of the family (but that didn't happen since our kids got nasty sick - not so good for being around a newborn). We had a little get-together with Golly, Granddad, Paul and Christi at IHOP one morning where we exchanged gifts for the person whose name we had drawn. Wesley came home with this big gift from Golly and Granddad with an exciting snowman decoration!

We had our little family Christmas the night before leaving for Austin.

Wesley got some Avengers figures

Curtis' sidewinder grin

Fun games from Paul and Christi!

The contents of the snowman package.
A big hit. (Poor Owen)

We had a good time getting together with my Mom's side of the family in Austin. Colin, Lela and Mavry made it from California.

Wesley and Curtis both got handmade superhero masks and
arm gauntlets from Colin and Lela and Angry Birds Star
Wars shirts from Misha.

Mavry's first Christmas

Mimi looking over her annual personalized calendar

Mom gave the boys some cool instruments.
Curtis got a real drum

Wesley got the ukelele from Mom's fifth grade music class.

Mimi with all of her great-grandchildren

When we got home from Austin, it didn't
take long for the boys to get their full
superhero costumes on. 

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