January 2011 - Continued

Our favorite thing that we did in January was taking a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with my parents and my sister's family! Grandpa and Grandma rented a 15 passenger van so we could all ride together and the whole weekend was TONS of fun!!

Reuben was so excited he couldn't even nap...
until about 10 minutes before we arrived.

The backseat boys!

Reuben checking out the cabin he and Levi got to share.

The best part - the waterpark!!

Happy New Year - January 2011

Continuing on with my blog re-cap...

Levi & Reuben during a moment of brotherly love

The boys' first trip to the public museum.

Even Matt took a turn on the big bike!

Christmas 2010

Some more pictures from our Christmas festivities:

Our family photo for the 2010 Christmas card

Christmas day - just the four of us.
Stockings first!

New shirts for the boys

New PJs! Excavators for Levi...

...and monkeys for Reuben

The boys weren't so sure about diaper boxes for gifts!

Until they figured out what was inside the boxes - sleeping bags!!

Merry Christmas 2010

December 2010 - Continued

I doubt many people actually check our blog anymore...BUT, in an effort to document our family happenings (mostly for my memory-keeping), I'm going to try and post some monthly pics to bring us up to date. It might take me a few days to get caught up, but I'm hoping after that to be a more regular blogger again :)

The rest of December was filled with Christmas festivities:

The boys and I made a clay pot nativity set (or activity set, as Levi called it).



The angel, baby Jesus, Joseph and the urgent Mary (according to Levi)

The finished nativity set - plus a helicopter (added by Reuben - he thought the pilot wanted to see baby Jesus too!)

A Big Day

Today was a special day at our house for a couple of reasons.

Matt turned another year older today! We helped him celebrate with our traditional birthday sundae at Red Robin.

Happy Birthday, Honey
Wishing you a wonderful year to come!

I love Reuben's eyes in the picture - eyes on the prize!

This morning was special for Levi, too. Levi had the opportunity to sing with some of his friends at church while the Advent candle was brought to the front. It was quite a big deal for the quartet of 4 & 5 year olds! This week's candle was peace, so they sang "Light One Candle for Peace". They did a great job! Levi told me that he was a little scared to stand up there during church, but he was willing to do it again some time.

Levi with his friends - Natalie and Micah

Getting some instructions during practice.
Check out "Joe Cool" in the middle - hand in his pocket!

The whole group practicing their song.

This video was during practice - I didn't want to make Levi nervous during the service.

Happy Hunter!

The hunter at our house returned victorious today!

Around 8:30 this morning, Matt shot his first (ever) deer:
a 4-point buck.

Congratulations on your deer, Dear!


Side note: I am welcoming any ground venison recipes that mask the taste of venison!!

Me Be TWO!!

Today was Reuben's 2nd Birthday! He was quite excited and when we asked him who's birthday it was, we heard "My mon-key cake day!" Tonight we celebrated with cake and ice cream and had lots of fun.

The birthday boy - I can't believe he's two already!

Sitting with Grandpa and Meleah (for just a minute)

Levi made his own "card" for Reuben this year (it was a set of drawings he did) and wrote most of the note on the envelope: LOVE LEVI - DEAR RUBN - I LOVE YOU

Checking out his new dump truck, quilt and bike (below)!

A monkey cake for our little monkey!

Levi thought we needed the lights out for singing

Happy Birthday Reuben - We love you!!

Happy Halloween!

The boys had plenty of opportunities to wear their costumes this year! We started on Friday night at my parent's house and then on Saturday we went to a church "Trunk-or-Treat", as well as some trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Here are some pictures from our Halloween activities:

Levi was The Cat in the Hat
Reuben was the Fish (from The Cat in the Hat)

The fish in his fishbowl

Gotta love that cat!

Trunk-or-Treating with Larry the Cucumber (Henry) and Bob the Tomato (Meleah)

Matt & I joined in the fun on Saturday
(Thing 1 & Thing 2)

Another picture of the Dr. Seuss Family

The fish minus his fishbowl

Off to some more houses!

Trick or Treat!!

Thing 1 got a little creative with his costume!