Gingerbread Houses

Brody loves opening his envelope every morning for our advent calendar.  Today's note said we get to decorate gingerbread houses.  At first Brody wasn't too excited, so I went on Google and showed him some images.  Most of them were a little beyond our abilities but it made him a little more excited.  He had to wait all day because it was so nice outside but we finally got to them at about 6 tonight.  Brody was still working on his an hour later - he was so focused.  It was so cute.  He loved it! Sophie on the other hand had mixed feelings - she didn't quite understand that you weren't supposed to eat every piece of candy, so she had some tears.  She'll probably enjoy it more next year.

Sophie, Sarah, Stephen, Brody

Stephen, Brody (notice not an inch of uncovered space!)

Sophie, Sarah

Visit with Santa

We went to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop on Saturday.  It was great, they had tons of activities for kids.  Everyone had a good time, except for Sophie when it came time to see Santa.  I went to set her down on Santa's lap and she sent out a shriek louder than I have ever heard before! Everyone in the entire store heard it! There was absolutely no chance of me leaving her on his lap because she was holding on to me SO tight! 

Brody really wanted to stand next to Santa, but we convinced him to sit on his lap

She loved this!

Little unsure at first - still upset from the Santa thing

Brody giving Santa his list: Book (of Santa's choice he later told us), Jayhawk Blanket, Kitchen

Thanksgiving

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving trip.  Picking out the pictures really pointed out that we have so much to be thankful for.  We really enjoyed being able to spend some family time together.  

Halloween

The kids had so much fun on Halloween.  At first Sophie didn't know what to think of it but by the end of the night she would try to go up to the doors and get her own candy.  She also loved to dump out her bucket and then put it all back. Brody loved going door to door and would ask every person for candy for his sister too.  He's always looking out for her :)  He also loved handing out the candy when he got back home.  It was a beautiful night here and there were tons of kids around our neighborhood! 

Recent pictures

Stephen took the kids to the wetlands near our house while I was working a wedding.  It was so nice out!

Sophie loves to make faces when she eats - so funny!

Enjoying a beautiful fall day!

Walking around the nature center and Mary's lake. It was a little windy

She thinks she is so funny!

A day at the zoo with Drew!

NASCAR

Stephen took Brody to a NASCAR race (qualifying race) a few weeks ago and of course Brody loved it.  No idea where his love of racing comes from but he had so much fun.  I can't believe he can sit through hours of watching cars go in circles!!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch this morning with Brody's preschool.  It was FREEZING! 

 Brody and his friend Drake

 Trying so hard to get his pumpkin

 His friend Liam who lives down the street and Liam's sister Izzy

 Sophie did NOT want to keep her hat on but it was SO cold!

It is so hard to get a picture of them both being still and looking at the camera and smiling! Pretty much impossible!

Poor Sophie

Poor Sophie fell and hit her face on the step stool yesterday.  It was awful!  It was just me and Sophie home, Steve was still at work and Brody was at a friend's house.  I didn't realize how much your tongue bleeds, but let me tell you - it is a lot!  I had no idea what to do and I was totally freaking out so I ran outside with a crying baby full of blood.  I saw my neighbor was just getting home (I've talked to her maybe 5 times) and yelled for her - she saw the blood everywhere and quickly told me to come into her house.  She is a nurse so that was fabulous - she was so calm!  She was able to clean Sophie up a bit and see the cut on her tongue, she calmed us both down and told me that they probably wouldn't do much for it.  I then went to get Brody at his friends house down the street - they probably think I'm crazy because I show up at their door with this bloody baby but luckily his friend's mom is a chiropractor and she was also really calm.  We then went home and at this point Holly, Seth, Kelly and Steve were all in the drive way.  After looking at it closer Steve took her in to the emergency room.  They ended up not doing anything and said it will heal.  It looks really gross today! I can't really imagine it healing normally!! She was SO crabby this evening, I felt so bad for her! She barely at anything all day - just some yogurt.  I have been giving her pain medicine but by the end of the night she was playing with her tongue constantly.  Here are a few pics of her: