They grow up so fast

Ryan is blossoming right before our eyes and is always trying to be like mommy.

Tree-tastic

We got our first real tree this year! We have always had a little fake, dinky tree that fits on top of the dining table (out of Malcolm's reach) but now that the dog is gone and Ryan is old enough to somewhat enjoy the festivities, we thought that we should get a big one. Scott went out the day he finished finals and found the perfect tree. It is full and smells great and doesn't have any bald spots. Happy Holidays!!

It was snowing so Scott is covered in water and sap. But he wrapped it and hauled it upstairs by himself.

Ryan didn't want to take a picture in front of the tree so we told her she could have a piece of candy (that is why she is cooperating).

Here is the finished product. We went to Target to pick out a few decorations and Ryan ran around screaming and tearing things off the shelf. It was super fun. Ohhhh the holiday cheer.

The sound of (pretend) music

Ryan has recently become very enthusiastic about "pretend" play. She can often be found "cooking" with my bowls and whisks, changing her baby's fake diaper, and playing her "violin." Her violin consists of various household objects but is usually a can opener as the instrument and a toothbrush as the bow. I didn't even realize that she knew what a violin was until one day she told me she was playing music?? She even looks to be holding her "instrument" the right way. Kids are so funny.

My little musician -- playing the fork.

The most popular instrument of choice ... the can opener.

Twilight

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to blog about the most important thing that happened over Thanksgiving weekend. Scott and I went to see TWILIGHT! Yes. How sweet it is. I love Twilight. The movie was sappy and perfect and now I must own it. I walked away very satisfied and thought that they did a great job maintaining the integrity of the book. It doesn't hurt that Edward was so easy on the eyes as well (Scott thinks so too). I am obsessed with the entire series. I started the first book three weeks and had to suspend my life until I finished the fourth book a few days ago. I can now go back to my normal life and be a good mom to my kids again.

Oh ... Sugar Honey Iced Tea

What a day! I almost ripped out my hair. My children were crazy and on a whining marathon from the moment they climbed out of bed until I wrestled them into bed at 10:30! Augh. Oh well ... such are the joys of motherhood. I don't have any great Thanksgiving photos (since I forgot my camera) and I haven't yet captured a great family pic yet either. We tried to take one while visiting my parents but Ezra had a meltdown and Ryan refused to take her fingers out of her nose. Maybe I can just use this one. Ryan cooperates for a couple of pictures and then starts saying the Ezra's heavy and hurting her legs. I have also noticed that all of my blog pictures are like these, so I will try my darndest to come up with a larger variety of photos.

Ezra is getting so big ... especially his head. Ryan is so cute and such a good sport (I have no idea what Ezra is looking at).

He really is the happiest baby I have ever seen. It takes nothing to get him to laugh. (And he spits up a lot, evident by his soggy shirt!) He is so handsome.

Tummy time

Just a regular day at home; we enjoyed movies (and by movies I really only mean the movie Madagascar), coloring, toys, snacks and tummy time! Ezra is getting so strong and growing so big! I can't believe that he is already three months old. I feel like he should be a helpless newborn still but he isn't: he is sleeping through the night, holding onto toys and smiling and laughing. I just love my babies.

What a big boy!

Ryan has me spread out her blankie too.

Flashback ... Ryan as a 5-month-old enjoying tummy time too. What a Q-ball!

The Portland Children's Museum

So yesterday I took the kids to the Portland Children's Museum. We went with a few friends and had a really fun time. We went during nap time, so getting the kids packed up and in the car was a little hairy but once we got there everyone perked up. Ryan did great. She participated in all the activities and was only a little shy. She loved shopping at the "store" and cooking in the "kitchen" the best. I love living in Forest Grove because we are really close to the city and have a lot of fun activities at our disposal, plus we have met a lot of fun people to do things with. It was a good day overall.

Contemplating what to cook.

Finally deciding on scrambled eggs.

Visiting the "Bob the Builder" exhibit and driving a dumptruck.

Even though he spent the majority of his time staring at the ceiling, he was still in good spirits.

Our birthday girl

It is official ... we have a two-year-old! Ryan's birthday was yesterday and we had a little family party. She walked around all day saying, "Happy Birthday!" but I am not sure she really understood what it meant. Anyway, I made chocolate cupcakes with sprinkle frosting and she got a tricycle as her present. She was scared to blow out the candles but she liked our singing to her. All in all, it was a success.

She was so excited to start "riding" her bike. Really she just pushes herself around without using the pedals.

She loves chocolate but doesn't get it very often so she was very excited.

Daddy "helped" her blow out her candles.

The morning before ... we got Ezra a new bouncer when we went shopping for Ryan's present.

Hanging out at the ol' homestead

Ezra and Macey's turn in the spotlight.

Here are a couple of random photos from our weekend in Eugene. We roasted marshmallows, played games, and gushed over the babies. It was crazy, crammed (both brothers were home) and fun.

Another party

Playing the ring toss. She won two tickets and went the the "General Store" to buy a treat.
My cute family.


We also went to my parents house for a visit. We attended their ward Halloween party and Ryan and Annie dressed up as matching fairies. So cute. Their party was quite impressive; they had a ton of games, lots of chili, a cotton candy machine, spook alley, and trunk-or-treat. Ezra was a baseball player this time (go San Fransisco Giants!). It was fun to be with family.

Pumpkin Patch

Chasing the kitty through the pumpkin patch.
There were farm animals such as this llama (on the right ... only kidding).

Ryan's friend Caroline.


Scott had a fall break last week and in between study sessions, we tried to take advantage of the extra family time and get out of the house. First we went to a pumpkin patch with some friends. Ryan really enjoyed the wagon ride, rubber duck racing, and the farm kitty running around.

Halloween Party

We attended a pre-Halloween party up at Pacific. Scott and I didn't have time to dress up, but we decked out the kids. Ryan was a crippled fairy (she sprained her wrist) and Ezra was a polar bear. I made Ryan's tutu and had a blast doing it; it was a real "mom" moment (I was so proud of myself for "making" her costume). She was definitely the prettiest one there. There were games and treats (demonstrated by Ryan's chocolate mustache) and we just had fun hanging out with friends.

Snuggle bugs

Scott tries to take a nap whenever he has a spare minute (which isn't often) and Ryan always takes advantage of a cozy place to snooze too. Ezra is snuggly in his bouncer too.

Family weekend

I am not sure why it looks as if Ezra is sweating. He isn't, and he is still so cute.
Nanny and Papa with their grandkids.

The girls love playing together. They are always laughing and screaming.

Ezra was blessed at church this weekend. The blessing was amazing (Scott is very poetic) and it was awesome to have so much family in town. Britney and Rex and their cute girls stayed the night, while my mom, dad, and brother Brady came on Sunday. Scott's parents also came and stayed with his brother in Hillsboro. It was fun. We had lots of food and played a lot of guitar hero!

At home

Half asleep in our bouncer.
Saying "cheese" in the bath.

My two babies playing together. Ryan is always trying to do the same things that baby Ezra is doing (i.e. she is "soggy" and needs a diaper change too when Ezra is being changed, she needs to be swaddled in a blanket too, when he is wrapped up, etc.) It is very cute.

Visiting Eugene

I took the kids down to Eugene to see Britney's new daughter, Baby Macey, and visit my parents, too. I was confident that my babies would do really well during the car ride and during our stay and they did. Ryan was extremely shy around everyone except Nanny and Papa. Ezra was an angel and spent most of his time in his bouncer, where he is happiest. We had a fun time and the only drawback was that Scott couldn't join us because he had mega tests at school. But he did great and we look forward to next weekend when everyone will be coming up to us for Ezra's blessing at church.

Our babies

Since I just started this blog, I thought I would add a few more pictures to it before sending out the address to everyone ... that way it would be a little more interesting to look at. Here are my beautiful babies!

The zoo

We recently took Ryan to the Portland Zoo (we took Ezra too, of course, but I am not sure he got anything out of it). Anyway, she loved petting the goats and seeing the monkeys and hippos. She has finally reached the age where she recognizes the animals and has fun. Ezra was fantastic and slept almost the entire time.

Our new addition

Baby Ezra was born Aug. 15 at 4:40 am. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is a very good baby. He has a very mellow temperament (we don't know how that happened) and spends most of his time sleeping. Ryan is a great big sister. She is very helpful and such a big girl.