Giving

So I mentioned to Abigail about how we should collect some toys, clothes for some girls whose names were on the giving tree at church. I told her the girls’ names and ages. A few minutes later I came out of my room and Abby said “Come in my room, you have to see” So I went in and she said “this is for her” and she pointed to a bunch of clothes and books on her floor that she had picked out for the girls. I think my girl is understanding the reason for the season! So sweet!

Here she is with all the things she wanted to share. She set them all out on the floor!

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quote of the day:

me: “i think it (Abigail’s dress) looks really nice on you”

Abigail: “i think it looks really nice on me too”

Sweet Andrew

He will play in his room in the morning for about 30-60 minutes by himself. Such a sweetie entertaining himself and letting us sleep. He is always fine playing on his own, the opposite of Abigail who needs people like me:)

I found him this morning flipping through his fire engine book sitting on the floor. He has books all over the floor so maybe he had been reading for a while:)

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Yesterday he must have gotten bored of being with the girls at Abby’s friends so he went to the playroom and checked out all the toys for a while.

On the way to my dad’s yesterday he said “Bawby likes to play with me.” My dad decorated a tree in his yard with blue lights for Andrew and Andrew loves to look at it every time we go over. “I want see my blue tree.”

They are excited for Christmas. It is becoming an annual tradition for Kyle to decorate a tree outside Abigail’s window with light so Santa can find our house. Abigail loves to look at her tree out her window at night. 🙂

They wrote their letters to Santa. Abby wants an Ariel mermaid doll and an American doll. Andrew wants a basketball hoop for his room.

Kyle and I went looking for ideas of what to get them last night. We went to Elephant’s Trunk. It was so fun to go without the kids. I was able to take my time and look at everything in the store.

Quotes lately

Andrew : “Preschool….. is fun”

“Mom you are driving too fast”

Abby and Andrew : “Where is the jerk?” They couldn’t say Grinch so they were saying jerk! So funny! Someone in our neighborhood has a Grinch decoration in their yard.

Bedtime

The kids talk to each other through Andrew’s door before they go to sleep. It’s really sweet. Tonight they were singing a song together through his door. Abigail will also slide books under his door for him:) They love each other, so cute.

The whole time Abby was in ballet today , Andrew said “I want Abby, I want Abby”

Here they are in their “boat” tonight.

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me…

I started back running today after about a week off (I have had a cold). I am kind of wimpy this year about running in the wet cold. I guess it’s been too long. I was dreading my run today even thinking of just doing a workout video at the house but I went and after about a half block and the start of a good song I was enjoying it. So I must remember that- just do it! It’s amazing what a high you get from fresh air and running:)

I am getting headaches about daily. I think they started after the kids were born maybe after Andrew .. I don’t know. Not good. It seems they are worse lately. I had a really bad one tonight, so bad I laid on the couch. Andrew said, “What are you doing?” I never do that. I have found I have turned into my mother- go, go, go. I am always running around. I told the kids I had a headache and then Abby whispered “Andrew c’mon let’s go make something for Mom” They ran off and then brought me letters. Abby had scribbled “ABI” on a few pieces of paper. They also brought me a present (a necklace of mine wrapped in about 10 Kleenexes). My sweeties. Moments like these I am filled with joy and gratitude I have them- these little people that love me so much.

Thanksgiving..

The kids made thankful baskets at MECCA earlier this month. Here is what Abby said she was thankful for:

Grammie and Grandpa, play, Lindsay,Pa, Peyton, Steve , Brandy, Pretty dresses, Nana, Bella and Collette, John Paul, Toys R US, Thomas, Sophie, Cadence, Aunt Andrea

Abby’s basket:

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Andrew’s basket included leaves that said: cookies, Uncle Christopher

On Thanksgiving day, Abby said she was thankful for me and Kyle:) Made my day:) We had a really nice intimate Thanksgiving at our home for the first time! It was fun to be at home for the holiday. Kyle’s parents came to celebrate with us. The meal was delicious! My mother in law is an incredible cook. I am looking forward to getting her recipes.

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Weekend…

Kyle was off Wednesday through Sunday, so nice! We had a wonderful time. Saturday we went to his holiday work party- they had a tailgate before the game- gorgeous weather. Then we went home, Andrew took a long nap, I cooked turkey soup, Kyle watched the game. Everybody was happy. Abby helped cook of course… always! Then we hiked to my parents and soaked up the beautiful dry day. We made it in 40 minutes with the kids, we are getting faster, I remember last time it took an hour. I got to see my siblings who were in town. Sunday we cleaned house, went to Sweet Life as a family after nap. Then we decorated the tree and the house and had a fun evening- turkey soup, hot cider. Monday we all had to hop back into reality:)

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Life Lately

We have been traveling a lot- Medford twice this month and Kyle and I went to Seattle for the Duck game a few weeks ago just the two of us. Here are some recent pictures:

A sweet one of the kids , I love when I get these on the camera! Every time I find them doing something cute like reading in their room I go grab the camera:

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Abigail reading in my bed. I love that my kids love to read all on their own as well as with someone else.

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Abigail started really writing all her letters in September. Before it was mostly the easy letters like x, o. Card below says To: Grammie, From: Abigail I love watching the writing process develop. Right now she doesn’t fully understand letter order if you see how she misplaces a few letter of her name- ABILIGA She is also wanting to read. She reads out the letters of words and asks what they spell and then tries to spell words. She says things like “What does BMI spell?” She ‘ll just try to make words.

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Picture of Kyle and the kids on a beautiful hike we did that offered great views of the city :

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Abigail’s room after she cleaned it and made the bed herself this morning!

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Abigail ‘s hair is getting so long, I just love it:
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my sweet boy:

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cousin fun in Medford:

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Today we are getting reading for Turkey day!

Love,

Sara

Finally

I finally finished my application to sub! That took about a month to get done with everything else going on!   

Rough Morning

Mornings can be rough. Wednesday it was Abby saying she wanted an egg as I was cleaning up breakfast, Andrew screaming he needed to wear shorts as I was trying to put on his pants. I find once we are in the car, the silence starts as the kids look out the window thinking of our coming adventure that day:) We had a wonderful time at the library- they had a puppet show on snags. I was so proud of Abigail because she was speaking up after the puppet show and answering a lot of questions. It is so nice to see her growing up to be a confident little girl. Andrew enjoyed all the animals in the show- his favorite were the bears.

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Then we read some books and even went upstairs to the adult section! They are learning to be quiet as we walk through there. Then we got Abigail her first library card. She helped check out the books and then we went to their favorite part- the cafe! I splurged and let Abby get a bagel and a muffin! (I know living large!) I am so impressed with the kids’ French lately. I speak in French as much as possible. I just chatted away with them in French the whole time at the cafe and they understood everything.

Tuesday I splurged and let her eat a whole cookie at June’s (they are big there) because she did so well at ballet. It was observation day and she did so well. She is so into the dancing and such a good listener.

Abigail at ballet in her Dorothy costume doing a passe:

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We had a wonderful time at the cafe chatting about the puppet show and then watching the crane out the window, Andrew then took a two and a half hour nap. During which Abby cooked spaghetti sauce and soup and did her letter test. After nap we went on a beautiful hike to soak up the sunny fall day. It was a good day.

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Quotes Lately

The other day I was chasing Andrew trying to get his pants on or something (He is obsessed with only wearing shorts) and he said, “I running away I hide from bad witch…. You’re bad witch”

(Can you tell they have been reading too many fairytales?)

Abigail tried to cheer me up after by saying “Your ‘re the best mom in the whole world”

~

We went to a big high school football championship last weekend. The kids were up til about 9 watching it. Here is Andrew following the game!

http://youtu.be/YX1APFKEQa4

I am amazed that he actually will sit and watch the game . He gives his full attention.

We were walking out of the stadium that night and he turned to me, ” When I grown up I be a football player.” He said this several times over and over.