Oakley's cousins helping him put together his lego Star Wars ship.
Saying good-bye to good friend with one last play-date (for kids and adults).
The Spanish branch Christmas party (I didnt know Santa wore sun glasses).
Birthday pedicures with Aunt Heather.
Bryce made a delicious carrot cake.
Tessa helped me blow out the candle. Thanks to everyone who made it a great day!
Tessa's school Christmas program.
Taking care of Alden.
Tessa has been asking for this little Rudolf every time we go to the grocery store. I kept telling her "next time", so last week I finally asked if we could get one when we were in the check-out line. They came back to tell us they were all sold out. Tessa looked at me with very sad eyes. I asked if they were getting more and they said they didnt know (I was feeling bad at this point). Finally the sale associate came back and said we could have the display if we wanted it. I jumped on that, and said to bring it over. Tessa looked at me and said, "Whew, that was a close one". Now the kids tell everyone ours was the last Rudolf in the whole store.
We tried to get a few family pictures for our Christmas cards--here are a few I like. Thanks Amy Beth for taking them.
I love this one because they all look so happy.
By the end we were all done!
Saturday morning Bryce and the kids went and cut down our Christmas tree (I staye home with Hathaway who was sick). They picked out a really nice tree for us this year.
Hathaway doesnt look happy in this picture but I had to put it in since she looked so cute in this dress. It was the dress that my mom made for me for my first birthday.
A couple in the Spanish branch were getting married and didnt have a cake so I offered to make one. Here it is--my first wedding cake. It was fun and I learned a lot.
This year Tessa and I went with some friends to NYC to see the Rockettes in the Christmas spectacular. It was a fun show and we all had a good time. Here we are leaving.
Tessa watching the show.
Waiting for the subway on the way home.
The kids decorated our car for the trunk-or-treat.
Halloween evening we had dinner and some game with friends.
We started off the Halloween season with the traditional jack-o-lantern carving. The kids had a fun time creating theirs.
Tessa and Oakley also created the concept and design of their own costumes this year. Tessa was a dragon princess and Oakley a black pirate.
Oakley had his first piano recital on Halloween as well--in full costume.
Here we are at the ward trunk or treat.
Here she is on her first day.
We have been to the zoo a lot the fall since we have a pass and we always have fun.
Hathaway and her little friend in the tree house.
Oakley started cub scouts this year. We have had to juggle that with soccer, since they fall on the same night much of the time, but he has like both.
Look, the zoo again, I told you we went a lot.
The girls just looking cute.
Since I am a room mom, I got to go with Oakley's class to the aquarium. Oakley of course loved it and I was glad that I took tylenol before I got on the bus---it was pretty noisy (but fun besides that).
Oakley has surprised us by how excited he has been about soccer and how well he has done. He has improved a lot over last year and it has been fun to watch him.
Oakley was sad that so many zoo trips were taken without him, so on a school holiday we swapped Hathaway for one of his friends so that we could do "hard-core zooing".
A quote from the boys, "Isn't the zoo a great place to learn about how to use maps." They are from the same mold.
And a final zoo shot. Oakley and Bryce got to go on an overnight at the zoo (hence no picture because it was dark and no flash allowed). But they did get to decorate pumpkins that were then given to the moneys to play with.
If we had twins, this is what it would be like. We got to take care of our friend for the days who is just a few weeks younger than Hathaway. We had fun but we are glad most of the time we just have one.
