Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We are heading to Arkansas to spend the week with my (Jess') side of the family. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Attempting a Christmas card picture.

Take IV, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Tricky. Very tricky with my two nutballs. Obviously there will be another photo shoot but here's one for your amusement.

Side note: we unknowingly stumbled into this Employees Only area at Bachman's and we all thought the giant wreaths were cool. I was really hoping for a card-worthy shot!

Sammy waiting for Santa

Sammy waiting for Santa, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We took the boys to the annual Holiday Open House featuring Santa's arrival at Bachman's , a local nursery. In addition to Santa, there were cookies, crafts and lots of beautiful Christmas displays. Check outFlickr for the full onslaught of photos. :)

Power Wheel!

Power Wheel!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Many MANY thanks to Cody and Ashley for making Sammy's 5th b-day more awesome than even a five-year-old could imagine. He LOVES this thing.

They gave it to him Saturday afternoon and he drove it around for about 45 minutes even though we were freezing! Then, Sunday morning he woke up ready to go out and ride, which Jacob obliged even though there was frost on the ground and he could only find one sock for Sammy (C & A were bunking up in Sammy's room). He went to the Vikings' game, then came home and rode for another hour or so. Today (Monday) is a glorious, perfect fall day and the boy drove from about 11 am - 1 pm, barely stopping to eat a few apple slices and a bar for lunch. He is thrilled, and as an added bonus, totally big stuff at the playground now. Thanks, guys!

Sammy's 5th Birthday Party

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Held at Edinborough Park this morning. Thanks to Cody for taking ALL the pictures for us! :)

More pics can be found here!

It's my birthday!

, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy posing again with his birthday hat and mittens and in the outfit that Grandma and Papa sent - the greens match perfectly! More b-day pictures on Flickr... clicky clicky

Birthday hat and mittens!

Birthday hat and mittens!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Happy 5th birthday to our sweet Sammy boy! Sammy woke up about 45 minutes early this morning (around 6:30 am) and went to bed at least an hour late last night because he was so excited for his birthday to start. Look at that tired face! He happily obliged posing for a picture with the hat and mittens I knit for him - the first present he opened, his choice. :)

Pump It Up

Freddie, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Leah invited the boys and I to this giant bouncy house place called Pump It Up on Friday. There were two rooms of inflatables - including two HUGE slides that were the big hit of the trip. Sammy and Freddie LOVED it.

For his birthday...

Sammy would like a remote-control butt. Then he asks me, "But, where would we find one?" (uh, let's hope we never, ever can)

I have a feeling Sammy is going to be a bit like Jacob's Uncle Ramon when he's older.

This morning

Freddie: "Where's my candies?"

Donut Race!

Donut Race!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Okay, I have to post one more from tonight because this was the funniest game I've seen - two donuts hang on a string, contestants can't use their hands, and whoever finishes the donuts first wins. Cal crushed Sammy and ate his entire donut before Sammy could take a bite. Sammy didn't mind too much because he did get to eat the donut in the end. It was freaking hilarious. Thanks for being good sports, kids!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

For more pictures of our awesome Halloween ---> clicky clicky <---

Trunk or Treating

Trunk or Treating, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We have one of the best Halloween parties at a church in our neighborhood. J and I took the kids there for Trunk-or-Treating and fun indoor party games perfectly geared toward little kids. The boys probably could have closed down the party but we had to head home when it turned dark for neighborhood trick-or-treating and to hand out candy. Oh! And for the Texas Longhorn game.

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

The Falls are back in full-force thanks to our Wet-tober (term coined by Ian Lenord, Fox 9 Meteorologist) and look beautiful as ever with the crispy fall backdrop. Sammy and I went down there this afternoon for the annual Halloween/Fall Party at the Falls to do some trick-or-treating and enjoy a few fun fall activities, including a hay ride and roasting marshmallows.

Cleaning out the pumpkin

cleaning out the pumpkin, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Both boys were engrossed in this project much longer than I expected, and I think may have even been helpful!

The boys love the air mattress.

The boys love the air mattress., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Note the matching Cars slippers. I had to get Freddie a pair because they kept fighting over Sammy's. They wear them all the time around the house.

The Buenos visit!

The Buenos visit!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We were happy and excited to host Holly and her kiddos for a night in Minneapolis. All afternoon Sammy kept asking me when Kennedy was going to be here, and in turn he was so sad that she had to leave. They had a lot of fun playing together, and Sammy even learned how to play two new, more girl-ish games "house" and "school" - thanks for that, KP! :)

Freddie was confused as to why Gage (who was not named Gage, according to F, but rather "Baby") couldn't stand without holding onto something. He kept trying to take away the item Gage was holding onto, but otherwise I think he played nice. He did quite enjoy the toys Gage brought and spent much of the next day saying, "I love you Gage."

A "Pumpkin"

A "pumpkin", originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Freddie *refuses* to get into a costume. Next year I'll have to keep this in mind and find costume in the form of clothing, but probably next year he'll be too old to fall for that. Sheesh! I'll just have to hope he gets over his costume resistance.

Thank goodness for his mama-made pumpkin hat - it's passed as his Halloween costume this week!

Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

On Wednesday a small group of moms and kids from our church went parading - in costume - through a nursing home. Sammy was the oldest kid there by about two years and he did so well introducing himself and impressing the residents with his expert wielding of the Light Saber [the Miller's lent to us] for his costume. Freddie refused (for the third time this Halloween season) to get in costume (more on the in the above post) but he was very friendly and excited to explore the nursing home.

Sammy was slightly offended when the woman guiding us on our tour kept referring to him as a Jedi knight. He came over and told me, "Nobody knows who I am!" I explained to him and he seemed appeased.

Waiting for the show to start.

waiting for the show to start, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Adding this one because I'm guessing some of you want to see these guys.