Our new addition...

We got this a few weeks ago but it is still new and exciting for us. I had put Ethan on a waiting list for piano lessons being told he probably wouldn't get to the top until spring or fall of 2010. Well he got to the top in November of this year! We needed a piano and so here we go.
Like our house wasn't noisy enough before.... let's add a piano into the mix :)
I also am going to be taking piano lessons and should be at the top of the list around Jan. Until then I sneak a peek at Ethan's lesson book when I can. It has been so fun to have piano music in the house. Chances are with four kids at least one of them will really like music so we are excited and curious to watch how each child does with it.

E squared

This picture just reminds me of our e squared duo (Ethan and Elizabeth).
Every once in awhile they will have a "sleepover" which means Ethan lets Lizzie up on the top bunk. They read books together and Jim and I can hear them talking and laughing much later than bedtime.
For the most part, Ethan is so patient with Lizzie and Lizzie in return is usually willing to play Star Wars or Pokemon or Indy with Ethan.

Since the day we found out we were pregnant with Lizzie, Ethan has been very protective of his little sister and takes such good care of her. They certainly still have their sibling moments but for the most part it is so fun to watch them interact with each other.

Carving Pumpkins

I am just going crazy today with updating the blog :)
Here are some pictures when we carved pumpkins together as a family.

Halloween

This year for Halloween we would like to introduce Dorothy (played by Lizzie), The cowardly lion (played by the girl who doesn't like to try new things aka Lilly), the scarecrow (played by the girl who does a lot of things without thinking them through aka Afton) and of course Indiana Jones in Army disguise (played by Ethan)

Time Capsule

The other night we made a family time capsule to be opened in five years. We did foot and hand prints, pictures, certain lists of likes/ dislikes and what we want to be doing in 5 years and of course an impromptu family picture.

Two weeks

Well today Jim put in his two weeks notice at his job. Seems kinda weird that at a time when most people are worried about getting laid off here is Jim putting in his two weeks. All for the cause of doing what you love.....

This has been a year or so in the making. As I sat down today and worked on what our new budget will be with us paying an absolutely ridiculous cost for our health insurance .... I got a little nervous.

BUT

I know everything will work out how it is supposed to and that in a few months things will be fine. Between now and then though we will live by an opening line from a Harry Potter movie, "Fasten your seat belt. It is going to be a bumpy ride:)" In a Jamacain accent of course by a shrunken head.

I am very proud of you Jim.

Pumpkins

Well it is October so I better put some pumpkin pictures up. Me and the kids and my parents went over to Engh Gardens. My nice parents let the kids pick out their own pumpkin (within reason of course.) Ethan wanted the biggest one he could find but had to settle for one $10 or less :) Lizzie really didn't care about picking out her pumpkin and just wanted to play. Afton and Lilly were happy to hold their little pumpkins and I think they were just excited to go on an adventure that was not taking the kids to and from school, hanging out in the back or front yard or going to the grocery store.
Thank you Mom and Dad!!!!




I like how Ethan is pointing to his huge pumpkin


At home with everyone's pumpkin treasures