Sold

After 5 years of fun, fourlers, camping, guns, Papa Pablanos, and Hillbilly New Years, we have sold the cabin.  

This was our last trip with just our little family.  We all had such a blast.  We didn't really tell the kids that that would be the last time to be there, they would have been devastated.  We soaked up every minute of fun we could, and then shed a tear when we pulled away for the last time.  

At least for now, we still have Grandma & Grandpas cabin to use.  New Years just won't be the same.  :(

Our Family Pictures. 

aren't we just a beautiful bunch? 

 

Halloween

Not sure what it is about Halloween, but I usually don't want to spend any money on costumes.  I haven't been able to figure that out about myself.  My kids LOVE dressing up, and have the best imaginations.  They would love every costume in the book.  But come on.  Some of them are just ridiculously expensive.  So once again, we went the cheap route.  I figured I could splurge and buy some poster board and duct tape.  :)

A paper doll and operation!  So clever I thought.  We had tons of fun at the Empey's party.

My pretty little ghost.  She throughly enjoyed eating her skirt.

This was the best.  :) The boys had jet packs.  Its a total costume copout I know.  Nate and Kyle spent hours playing with them and had them pretty well destroyed at least twice before halloween.  Carli and I were twiners.  Naturally, hers is blue...its her favorite color (for now).

Canning

Ms. Janette(my good friend and kids preschool teacher) has me hooked on canning.  There is just something about a pantry full of food that I just love.  It has been great to spend a girls nights together at the excuse of doing something so productive.  I have learned a ton.  Its been well worth the late hours, messy house, and crazy kids.  

So far we have made (in no particular order)...

Pineapple, salsa, peaches, mango salsa, tomatoes, orange marmalade, apple pie filling, roasted bell peppers, marinara sauce, roasted tomatillo salsa, pears, BBQ sauce, and probably a few others that Im forgetting about.  

We have ended up having so many join our little canning group, we have had to can mass amounts.  180 to be exact on the apple pie filling.  But who wouldn't want 50 jars of that in their closet?  :)

1st Sunday with Reese

This was a big deal.  We got up, got ready, and even had time to take some family pictures.  Im sure this is not going to be the case in the future.

Ice Skating

For the summer, we put Carli in ice skating lessons at the mall!  I thought it was something that I could somehow manage with 3 other kids in tow.  We did it!  Not for very long, but we did.  The kids loved watching her and she thought she was a pro by the end of the summer.  She even moved up to a bigger class because she was doing so well.  

Go Carli!

Reesie Girl!

Our sweet baby girl arrived today!!  We went in at 7am to be induced and only had the slight complication that she turned sunny side up.  Not a nice way for either of us to deliver.  The worst part was the suction had to be used to help get her out.  Im not sure any of us have seen such a sad little cone head.  The nurses quickly put a darling "bow hat" on her, and it made everything all better.  :)

We are so lucky to live by family.  We quickly had everyone at the hospital to give her hugs and squeezes.  

Introducing 

Reese Allene Combs

May 4th 2011

6lbs 6oz

19 1/2 inches

Just as beautiful as they come.  We just cant get enough of her.  

The beautiful Bow Hat!

Carli was beside herself.

Proud Daddy.  

Nana.  Couldn't wait to get her hands on her.

Not sure what to think about this tiny baby!

Grandpa. 

Angie of course got her all comfy and settled in for a little snooze.  

Grandma.  Loving every minute of this tiny girl.  Says she looks just like Me!  

Nates special time at the hospital with Reese!  What a sweet big brother.  

Carli just had to wear the dress that they have mating of. She cant wait for her to get big enough so they can be twinners!  :)

Uncle Ffej!

Brooklyn & Ella

Exhausted after lots of visitors.  

Swimming in the Cold!

Ohh to be a kid again.  The water was so cold, but the kids just couldn't wait another day.  It was time to hop in the cold pool.  They only lasted a few minutes, got out, had popsicles and were done.  And loved every minute of it.  

Thank You ISR

For the kids birthdays we post pictures of them all over the fridge. They love talking about all of them and seeing when they were babies. Kyle didn't really "get it". He thought most of the pictures were of Nate.

We had a picture at the bottom of the fridge of Kyle floating last year in his ISR class. Getting ready to go back for his refresher course he loved to talk about him floating. As the weather has been getting nicer, the kids have been playing outside much more. I keep the door open and an eye and ear on them, but admit I don't sit out there 100% of the time. They know not to touch the water and for the most part do a good job of following that rule.

Well this day, Carli got in trouble for one reason or another, so I brought her in for a time out. As we were waiting for the timer to beep (5 minutes) I heard water splashing. Of course I ran outside to find Kyle "trying" to float in the deep end. Without thinking, I jumped in and got him out of the water. Nate was sitting on the waterfall just watching. He told me he was floating, and didn't seem to be at all concerned for his safety.

Immediately after getting out of the water I was so grateful for the ISR lessons he had taken the previous year, but as the night when on my mind stayed in the worst place. I couldn't keep it together. The thought of him struggling in the water made me sick, the idea of Nate not being at all concerned bothered me a ton. Why wasn't he worried for his brother? How could I really let my kids play outside without me? I had to have Chad give me a blessing to ease my mind.

I had already set up for Kyle to start his refresher course a week later, but that night called to get him started on Monday. So after 4 weeks of M-F, 10 minute lessons, I have the best floater in the world!!! Im positive he could float for 5+ minutes at a time. He did so great in his lessons. I can now say I am much more relaxed and ready to start our summer of swimming.

These pics are only after 9 lessons.

Head flip into the water backward.

Coming up getting ready to float.

Floating! :)

Thank you! Thank you ISR. We will see you next year with baby Reese.

Happy Bday Kyle Dude!

I can't believe this dude is 2 already! I think he is the craziest kid yet, and he knows it. We had a fun time celebrating and riding his new tricycle at the park.

Sick & Freezing

What a crazy month is has been! Sick kids, freezing cold weather and a lot of missed preschool. We are ready for March.

Poor Carli got the worst of it. She was sick twice with the flu. Despite sleeping on the couch almost every night for a week straight she milked every minute of the attention.

We all loved looking at the snow, but were too sick to enjoy much of it. It didn't help that underneath all that snow was a thick sheet of ice. We were home bound for a week. Thankfully Chad was home to run to the store if needed and take us out for "donuts" in the mall parking lot! Nate was in heaven!!

Christmas 2010