You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid!

Ken took the boys outside today to practice shooting the coveted Red Ryder BB gun. They shot at a couple cans and our decomposing pumpkins. And thankfully no one shot their eye out!

Deck the Halls

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I love the traditions. The smells. The decorations. The carols and the candles. I love giving gifts and baking with my grandmother and children. I love celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Tonight we got out a few of the decorations and had some fun with them. We have a ways to go before our house is ready, but at least we got started.

Future Pike Place Duet?

Michael had a good time jamming with Ken and his guitar. Maybe there is a futue for them at Pike Place.

Babies, Babies, Babies!!!

Babies are such wonderful blesings from God. We have been blessed to have so many new babies born this year to our family and friends. And we look forward to more babies to come in the new year.

Karsten Nicholas born May 30, 2007 to my dear sister, Angie & husband Ron Willem Dando born September 17, 2007 to my sweet sister-in-law, Jen & husband Timm
Eli Stephen born October 26, 2007 to my good friend, Jaymie & husband Justin

Andrew G. born October 30, 2007 to my lovely sister-in-law, Heidi & husband Dan

Trevor Paul, born November 5, 2007 to our good friends, Steph and Greg

Still to come...

Tamara's baby, January 2008

Stacy's baby, February 2008

Kelly's baby, March 2008

Leah's baby, June 2008

More To Be Thankful For

We shared Thanksgiving with Ken's family today. It was wonderful getting together with everyone and especially seeing the two newest family members (below on Grammy & Papa's laps); Willem Dando and Andrew G. Another tasty feast!

Michael found his highchair partner, June, quite entertaining!

While the babies slept, some of us tried to walk off our dinner to make room for the pie!

Which one should I choose?
I'll take this one!

Why can't I get him to do this with green beans?
A little post-dessert entertainment...what a great way to finish off the evening.

Macy's Holiday Parade

Wooo-hooo! Macy's Holiday Parade. Last year we didn't do it because Jackson threw-up his turkey the night before. The year before that it was a rainy, blustery day. But the year before that, we went and loved it. Down town Seattle, amidst the crowds and coffee cups, the marching bands and floats go by.

This year Cousin Kelly came with us. It was especially appreciated, since we had four little ones to watch over. I would love to tell you that it was a fantastic experience and that all was perfect, but I would be a liar. We asked the kiddos what they thought of it and Jackson's words were, "It was too long," and Kennedy replied, "I was too cold." But Harrison didn't complain, and neither did Michael, who was experiencing his very first parade.

We ended our trip into Seattle with a stop at Krispy Kreme. No one had any complaints about that.

So Much To Be Thankful For

Our little pilgrim stands in front of the Thankful Tree where we have been collecting leaves on which we write the things we are thankful.It was a grand feast. Fourteen adults and six children and babies gathered around two tables. As we ate,we shared with one another some of the things that we are grateful for.I love traditions. Every Thanksgiving, after the table is cleared, we decorate gingerbread houses. It's a fun way to get a jump start on our Christmas decorations, too.

The rule at in our home is that the gingerbread house remains a decoration until December 26th (Jackson's birthday) and cannot be consumed until then. Yes, the thought of eating a stale candy house that has been sitting out for a month is disgusting to most of us, but for children, it is one of the grand prizes of the season.

Daddy's Home!

It happens around 6 PM every night. The commotion is triggered by the sound of the garage door opening. Someone hears it and let's out the shout, "Daddy's Home!" Then we all go running to the garage to greet him with hugs, kisses, and knuckles (the latter is the boys' newest sign of affection).

Tonight after dad got settled, he rounded up the troops and took them to the basement for a little Architecture 101. Together they built this fabulous structure that actually touched the ceiling! My job was to keep Michael from trying to be a part of the construction...or should I say destruction. The building session was followed by a game of demolition. Each person had a chance to knock over the blocks with a football. Kennedy...nope. Jackson...uh-uh. Harrison ...no. Daddy...believe it or not, no. Kennedy...YES!! And the walls came a tumbling down!

Reporting Live From The First Grade...

Kennedy is currently studying chemistry in our co-op. She loves it. The other day she sat down and drew an atom for me. I was impressed. She has been finding elements from the periodic table in the world around us. Today she was excited to read that her friend's water bottle said "sodium free." At meals she talks about solids, liquids, and gases..."Mommy, my scrambled eggs are solid now but they were a liquid just a few minutes ago!"

Today Kennedy gave her report on the five most common elements in the earth's crust. She was proud of the poster that she had made and ready to share the information that she learned. To remember that the core of the earth is believed to be made of iron and nickel, she kept saying over to herself, "I bought my iron for a nickel."

Big Beds For Big Kiddos

Kennedy said that she now has the best room in the "entire university of the world"

Jack has been waiting for the day to come

when he would finally be able to sleep on the top bunk.

Hair-Bear's excitement over his first night in the Big Boy Bed

wore off quickly as he drifted off into deep slumber.

Mikey is such a good sport. He was happy in the Pack-N-Play and equally happy in the crib.

Tonight was a big night for our children. Everyone graduated to a bigger bed.

Harrison, though three years old, had been in a crib (okay, so it's been VERY hard for me to let my baby grow up). But with Cousin Michael staying here and sleeping (though happily) in the Pack-N-Play, it seemed like the right time to make the move up.


Dad bunked Kennedy's and Jackson's beds and set them up in the boys' room. So Michael moved to the crib, Harrison to the bottom bunk of a real "big boy bed," and Jackson to the top bunk (for the first time).


After looking for about a week, we ended up buying this adorable doll house bed off of Craig's List. Kennedy was so excited when she saw the photo of it on the computer, she offered the two dollars and one nickel that she had been saving, to go toward the bed.

Back Yard Basics

1. Blow all the leaves into one big pile

2. Throw them in the air like confetti

3. Jump and fall into them

4. Thank your Daddy for making it possible

Splish Splash I Was Takin' A Bath!

So glad to have a happy Michael in the tub this morning! The last bath he took was not a good experience and he let us know that for the entire three minutes he was in the tub! But today he was all smiles as he splashed about and even played with the toys around him. He also had fun "helping" Harrison knock off his parade of vehicles.

Scrumptious!

Ya gotta start 'em early. That's what I say! Unfortunately the doughnut machine was not in operation when we arrived. The kiddos were disappointed that they couldn't watch them come down the assembly line. But they quickly forgot their misfortune when they were faced with the display case and the opportunity to choose their own delectable treat.

Don't worry, Baby Michael didn't get one. But he was a good sport for a brief moment while I got a photo of him wearing the trademark hat!

A Few of His Favorite Things

Jackson has a drawer in his dresser that holds the things that are dear to him. He calls it his "collection drawer." This is what it holds:

1 plastic tool belt

3 swords

1 light saber

1 green plastic gun

1 toy motorcycle that was his brother's birthday cake topper

1 blue wistle

6 baseball cards

1 pair of Lightening McQueen sunglasses

1 plastic cockroach (with which he loves to scare hs sister)

1 barrel of monkeys

1 piece of Halloween candy

5 candy wrappers

9 tiny Halloween erasers

1 plastic dinosaur

1 toy police car

1 broken lock

1 IKEA certificate for a free bike helmet

1 pirate coin

1 African bracelet

2 dollars

1 Halloween card

57 small rocks

Rest Time for Ronzos...What really happens during the established quiet time around here?

Not surprising, Kennedy is reading a book.
Jack-O was pretending to be the gingerbread man, cooking in the oven.

Hair-Bear takes Curious George and the Incredible Hulk for a tractor ride to the castle.

I thought I was going to sneak in to get a photo of the dozing baby,
but instead I was greeted with a big smile.

Tree Fort or Sea Fort?

Dad and Papa worked together this summer building this fort for the kiddos. It has a nautical theme and looks a bit like an old boat house. On this warm autumn day, our children and a couple of their friends enjoyed steering their ship and fishing off the deck.