Decorating!

We started putting up our Christmas decorations yesterday. (I finished this morning...) Jeff let the boys help him put the big tree together this year. They were a big help!

I think this sweatshirt is so cute. It says, "Put a little jingle in you bell." Lily liked the jingle bell attached to it.

After two trips to the store to get more lights, putting one strand on, taking it back off, and then adding another two new strands, we finally were able to decorate the tree. The kids were starting to think we were lying to them about getting to do it. =)

Lily was actually able to help this year. She kept saying, "You got us Christmas??" Like it was a thing. So cute!

The kids get to decorate a tree in the family room with all of their ornaments that they get each year, and ones that are mine from growing up. Then I get to decorate a small one that goes in the livingroom all by myself. There are NO Chiefs ornaments on my tree. =)

We have a little train that goes around the little tree......Lily really likes it....we had to let it "rest" earlier this morning.

Here are some of our outdoor lights. Jeff bought a giant snowman for the kids this year. They LOVE it.

When Riley came home from school today, he ran right to the tree and said, "No presents yet!!!"

I better get wrapping!

Zach's Party!

Zach's birthday isn't actually until Wednesday, but we had a party with family today. He had cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents here to help him celebrate.

He had lots of help opening his presents. ;-)

(This is a horrible picture, but it is the only one I got of his cake close up.)

Wow! Seven years has flown by!!!

Thanks everyone who came to help him celebrate!! He had a GREAT party!

What Am I Thankful For?

My wonderful family!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Riley's Favorite Part of Baking?

He's such a good helper. =)

Welcome Home Mann Family!

After living in Oklahoma for several years, my sister Dianna and her family have moved back to Wichita!!! Yesterday, her three boys came over to play and everyone had a lot of fun!

Camden took some trains for a walk:

Lily and Carson tried to beat each other up with pool noodles.......what are those still doing out???

Lily and Camden had a truce over who's toys were who's to swing for a little while. =)

The older boys had fun playing football.

Don't these two look like they are super happy to be sitting in the same chair?

I know that they will get to be good friends....as soon as neither of them are two. =)

These guys look ornery don't they?

Thanks for coming over to play Cooper, Carson, and Camden! We are looking forward to seeing you a lot more!

Best Buddies

These two have not always been the best of friends. When Lily was born, Riley wanted to love her SO MUCH! But Lily was not quite sure she wanted his sometimes smothering love. =) She loved when Zach would just hold her, but didn't really like Riley's constant poking. Now that Lily is a little older, and Zach has been in school for a few months (leaving Lily and Riley the only kids here), Riley has become Lily's best friend. They still have their fights. Riley likes to tease her by taking her dolls and hiding them. Lily likes to throw things at Riley's head. But, for the most part, they LOVE each other. If one of them is in trouble, the other will go sit with them in time-out. (which kind of defeats the point of time-out) Lily gets super excited when she sees Riley get out of school, and Riley usually saves some of his school snack to share with Lily in the car on the way home. Lily has to kiss and hug Riley "goodnight" when she goes up for a nap, and Riley tells Lily he loves her several times a day. They play together and help each other out. So, even though there are the times when they are yelling at each other, I know that they really love each other. I know that Lily will really miss Riley when he goes off to Kindergarten next year. (already?!?!) So for now, I am just enjoying watching them together as they make me laugh daily with the funny things they do.

**Lily still loves Zach and still gets excited to see him when he gets home from school too and she follows him around all of the time and he is still protective of her....but they have always been like that. =)

Mean Snow

Yesterday we had snow that was not very nice to the kids. On the way home from Preschool, we saw big, huge flakes falling down. I told Riley and Lily that when we got home, they could run around in it....only when we got out of the car, it wasn't really snowing anymore.

Riley was not very happy with me.....because I control the weather. =)

On the way home from picking up Zach from school, we saw giant flakes again, only to be disappointed when we got out of the car again. =(

Zach was able to catch some on his tongue.

Lily was not that impressed either time we went out in it.

While I was happy that the snow did not stick to the ground (I HATE driving on snowy/icy roads.) the kids were kind of sad. But, I am quite sure this is not the last snowfall we will see. Hopefully next time it will be nice snow.

Turkey Time!

We have been all about turkeys around here! First, we made hand turkeys with paint.

Then we made hand and foot turkeys. I usually trace their hands and feet on paper and then cut them out, but this year I decided to just use paint. It was actually a lot less time consuming this way, and surprisingly easier.

Then we collected leaves and pine cones and made turkeys out of them.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is so close! Time definitely needs to slow down!!

BUGS!!

Yesterday, Zach found a ladybug outside and wanted something to put it in. When he came back outside with a glass jar, Lily & Riley immediately ran inside to get one too. Because Zach just can't do anything without them. =)
So, the hunt for bugs was on!
Even Lily, who HATES bugs was after them.....if "The Brothers" (as she has started calling the boys) can do it, so can she!

They looked under rocks, toys, by the fence, everywhere!

Lily was fascinated by her cricket. The poor thing got jostled around all over the backyard and then it finally either met it's demise or escaped when she dropped the jar and broke it. (she was OK)

Zach collected the most. He gave the bugs some dirt and a rock to play with. Considerate, isn't he? =)

Zach actually caught most of the bugs for the other two also. Such a nice big brother.

Riley caught his own roly-poly, but was really excited when Zach caught a cricket for him.

This kept the kids busy for quite awhile. It is so fun to watch them all play together....and not fight while they are doing it. Ahhh...the little things that make me happy. =)

Our Walk

This weather has been great! I can't believe it is November and we are still able to play outside and go for long walks! Today we went in search of leaves for an art project. Riley found plenty. He kept naming them too. Did you know that some leaves are called "Rare Orange Warblers"? They are. There are also "Rare Red Warblers" too. =)

When Riley saw this:

He got SUPER excited! So excited that he wanted me to take a picture of it before he picked it.

He thought they were all dead by now.

He found one for Lily too.

Poor Lily had such a hard time blowing hers....she tried so hard.

When we got to the park, they ran up the hill and Riley was ecstatic to see one whole side covered in dandelions!!

Lily spotted this big spider. (yuck!)

I don't know why this is so much fun...but apparently it is. =)

Enjoy the weather while you still can!!