Happy 5th B-day Joshua!

Joshua celebrated his 5th b-day this week at preschool so I thought I'd post a few pics! This week was also Joshua's "helper" day -- which explains why he is sitting at the head of the table. It is so funny how the kids know EXACTLY what they get to do when it is their "helper" day!

Helper day also involves getting to bring show and tell -- a very, very big deal to an almost-5 year old!

And the b-day box . . . he was SOOO excited about getting to see what's in the box!

Blowing out the candles on the "cake!" (a wax edition)

And, today we had our very first every "friend" b-day party. Yeah -- it's several weeks early, but with Bryan's light show schedule, the free time on the weekends are non-existent until January. We went with an Outer Space theme -- and in the above pic they were testing what the "moon rocks" had inside them! (I had made a baking soda paste and molded it around several plastic toys, then when you put it in vinegar . . . it bubbles and viola . . . you see the toy inside!

We had to wear goggles because it was a very dangerous experiment!

Tossing the balls into the planets

Joshua giving it a try.

Bryan working his magic with the kids. From what I hear, he is exceptional at this on Wed.. night with the 3 and 4-year old Cubbies, too!

Joshua was very adamant on having blue icing on the cupcakes . . .

Opening gifts . . .

Look above the steps . . . yes, we had our very own "meteor shower" indoors!

The kids had fun unwrapping all of the "meteors!"

Even thought we're a bit "pooped" it was so much fun -- just very, very hard to believe our oldest is five. Holy Cow. We're planning on a "family" birthday after Thanksgiving. Have a great Thanksgiving!

First Snow of Season

The kids just BEGGED and BEGGED to go play in the snow outside . . . because, as you can well see, there is SOOOO much snow to play in! So, 30 minutes later, they were all bundled up and ready to go. . .

. . . and 13 minutes later the "playing in the snow" session had ended and then they were ready to come in! I supposed if their mother hadn't been such a stick in the mud and actually gone outside with them, it might have lasted a tad longer . . . but SOMEONE had to listen for Tyler on the monitor, right?

Happy 3rd Birthday, Kayla!

Our little "princess" turned three today, but we celebrated on Sunday. She was SOOO excited about her birthday . . . a nap on Sunday afternoon just didn't seem necessary :). Kayla has been REALLY into the princess thing, and I think it's safe to say that her birthday definitely had a "royal" feel to it! I saw a "princess castle cake" online so I decided to give it a try -- I think the kids just liked the candy pieces on it!

Posing with the gifts. Joshua offered NUMEROUS times to help Kayla with opening her gifts -- and she seemed to think she could take care of it herself! Needless to say, he is VERY excited about his own b-day coming up!

Aunt Bem got her FOUR pairs of princess shoes and a princess "beauty kit" -- complete with a working hair dryer!

These would be the light up princess tennis shoes from G/G Nelson . . she's been stomping CONSTANTLY around the house!

A NEW princess dress from G/G Varner -- so, so, so exciting!

You can't really see it, but she is so proud of this ring . . . we have lost it in the couch cushions, in the van, in the backpack . . .

Posing with the loot . . .

Kayla came down the stairs Monday morning with her princess dress on, backpack on (which was fully loaded) and her princess sticker book! Yep, we're lovin' the princess thing!

She was highly confused today when I told her TODAY was actually her birthday . . . should have just let it go! Kayla, we love you and are so thankful for the three years we have had with you!

Happy Halloween!

This was our princess and our rocket! Joshua wasn't overly thrilled with "mommy" making his costume . . . I'm afraid those days might be numbered :(. But, he did like the "fire" at the bottom! Kayla begged to be a princess from the get-go . . . recognize the white part of the princess dress???? Yep . . it's her "flower girl" dress from B/C's wedding in August. I realized we might as well make it into a princess dress she can wear around just for fun!

This was our church's Trunk or Treat -- the weather was great!

This is Joshua and one of his buds from church . . Joshua was a rocket and his friend was an astronaut . . . and no, they didn't plan it!

This was Joshua's preschool Halloween "program." He still loves his preschool!

Just saying "hi" during the "costume parade."

So, because we had a change of plans last night, I realized this morning (Sat). that if our pumpkins were going to get carved before Halloween, it had to happen today . . . and Bryan had to be gone all day. (Welcome light show season!). Note: Bryan is the "carver-in-residence" -- I STINK at carving pumpkins. So, being resourceful, I found some templates online to use (I'm thinking triangle eyes, etc). But before I could "edit" the possibilities . . .Joshua sees this spider one and INSISTS we have to carve a spider. So -- gave it a try . . .
I think it served it's purpose. I was going to carve one for each -- but when I picked up the second pumpkin from the porch . . it was a bit, um, soggy shall we say. A day or two past its prime. So, we just went with one, and Kayla seemed to be ok with it.

And, not to be excluded, here's our "little" pumpkin . . . 7 months old today!

Happy Fall/WInter!

Well, it seems that the "fall" weather escaped us this year . . . but here's a few pics to represent this season! Joshua with one of his "buds" from our church's fall festival.

Kayla and Bryan on the hayrack ride.

You know when people warn you that pumpkins take up a lot of room . . . you should really heed their advice . . .

. . . but it was worth it, right????

Kayla

Joshua chopping his pumpkin off of the vine.

Bryan got such a kick out of Tyler strongly disliking his green beans that he actually videoed him. Like father like son.

Happy 6-months!

And this would be why Joshua is much more successful at getting Tyler to smile than I am!

Brothers!

soo, soo behind. . .

Should have posted these about a month ago . . . sorry! Kayla and Uncle Ryan . . .their matching iPhones!

One of our last summer bike excursions -- we love it!

Our favorite is stopping for a bite to eat at Sonic on the Shunga Trail.

Wassup????

The kids had been begging to go miniature golfing -- so we went several weeks ago on Bryan's day off. Bryan and I just helped the older two, so we managed to pay $5 for the whole family since Kayla was free!

And this would be what happens when the ball gets "stuck" in the alligator mouth! Quite comical, eh?

Mr. Lucky -- yes, he earned a free game! So it was REALLY a budget-friendly excursion!

Brian and Carly's wedding

So, better late than never, right? LAST weekend, was the BIG weekend, and it was sooo much fun getting the kids all dressed up! Before we went to the church, we stopped at Gage Park for some pics -- the kids were more enthralled with the train than with the pics!

Yes, this was posed!

OK, so this looks "slightly" awkward . . . but do you know how hard it is to pose a 5-month old who doesn't sit up yet????

Kayla was thrilled to be a "princess" for the day!

Our family . . . thanks to the random gentleman and daughter in the park who had the role of photographer!

. . . looking way too grown up!

My sis and me

This is SOOO Joshua . . .

Kayla and Carly (or Cah-lee as Kayla used to say!)

Tyler taking in the seriousness of this occasion . . .

Why do these family pics always looks like complete chaos????

Carly and her dad . . just waitin'!

Joshua and Kayla did GREAT in their "jobs" -- couldn't have been more proud!

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Varner

PS -- for more pics, go to my mom's blog.

Big Milestone!

Well, this was a big week in the Nelson household! Joshua had his first day of preschool! He was SOOOO excited -- made it a bit easier on mama! Bryan dropped him off and admitted he got a bit teary on his way to work -- I think it's safe to assume he handled it better than I would have!


This is Joshua and his teacher walking out to the van in the pick-up lanes. He said he had a blast, but I REALLY had to work to find out what all he did!

Tyler had a milestone too -- happy 5th month birthday! I think he decided to celebrate it in a not-so-good way . . . he has officially refused any kind of bottle for the past two weeks. Um . . . yeah. So, we bought a new sippy cup for him yesterday and we are in full swing of "sippy cup training" 'cause this momma is feeling a bit confined!


Joshua does a super job of entertaining Tyler when I'm trying to finish up meal prep, baths, etc. Such a huge helper!

My bro and sis in law are in town from Brian and Carly's wedding last weekend (I know, I know, I still need to post pics . . . hopefully later today) and we went to the zoo together yesterday. Our kids ages . . . 1 year (5 months), 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years.

Just a cute pic . . . Joshua and Max are playing together so much better than a year ago . . . it's great!

No, she's not melting down, she's just screaming with all her might in the train tunnel!

And this . . . would be what happens when you have a MAJOR diaper blowout and mama realizes she neglected to "restock" the diaper bag with a back-up outfit after the last blow out. At least we've got the feet covered!