almost 8

she'll be 8 on the 8th.

she started 3rd grade.

will be baptized at the end of the month.

is in girl scouts and will be attending her first activity day on her birthday.

plays soccer and volleyball (yeah!),

and has loved watching baseball, soccer, and the Olympics with dad.

and her big birthday present this year,

her own room.

to say she's excited is an understatement;). 

first rapids game

marryn's first colorado rapids game with dad.

she got a beanie. which she has to share.

and a scarf.  which is all hers.

oh, and they won.  2-0

a look back

yes, i've been bad.

and i wish i could say i'll be better.

but i'm not sure i will;).  life is busy.

so here's what's been going on around here these past months.

marryn

turned 7 back in september.

got her ears pierced.

loves loves loves 2nd grade.  and is doing great.  already whippin' out multiplication facts on us.  (7x6=... anyone?)

was her class's first student of the month for responsibility.  then forgot her homework folder at home the next day.

played soccer again.  and shocked us with her competitiveness...

had her first dance recital in both ballet and tap.

has lost all 8 front teeth.

reganne

turned 5 just before halloween.

is learning all the letter sounds in preschool.

loves playdates.

received a *target* american girl doll from santa.

also had her first dance recital.

blew us away in soccer.  although she's not as competitive as the one above.

christian

just as lovable as ever.  and naughty.

still working on night-time potty training...(any advice?)

after much prep about what to ask santa for-he went his own direction and asked for a squirt gun.

santa brought him a nerf gun (and he was plenty pleased).

finally got a haircut.
and no longer in nursery.  now a sunbeam.

kellen

oh, my not-so-much-of-a-baby-anymore kellen.

loves cars.  loves them.

says very little real words.  (cars is one, as is movie-as in "i want to watch the cars movie.")

got his first haircut.  glared the entire time.

will eat cereal consistently.  everything else...anyone's guess.

has to buckle his booster seat every time he gets down from the table.

loves to wear shoes.  anyone's shoes.

photos to canvas *giveaway*

i was contacted awhile ago to do a review on Easy Canvas Prints,

and turn my photos to canvas.

i've always wanted to get a canvas done, so i was super excited.

and of course i dreamed of the perfect picture i'd take of all the kids smiling/laughing/etc...

yeah, that was just not happening for me.

so i changed my thinking and decided i'd just pick a favorite of ONE of the kids and use it in their room.

i went with this one of reganne in an apple orchard at the pumpkin patch this fall.

and then i went with a 11x14 (i think).

i wanted to go bigger,

but i was worried about the picture quality. 

my camera really is NOT the best.

well, it turned out WAY BETTER than i even imagined.

i could have gone bigger.  much bigger.

(this picture just doesn't do it justice.)

i have plans to hang it in the girls' room.

(if i ever manage to finish painting-it's currently 3 different colors.  and has been since june...)

but for now it's sitting on their bookshelf, lovingly adored by me.  and reganne;).

i just love it.

i love the quality.

i love the coloring.

i love it.

and will be doing more photos to canvas.

with my canvas came $30 in gift cards.

i was totally going to be selfish and use them myself,

but seeing how behind i am on everything these days,

i know i won't use them by the end of the year when they expire.

so i'm offering them to one of my readers.

just leave a comment with your email or blog

and i'll pick a winner by monday night (12/12).

(i'll email the codes to the winner.)

and since i have very few readers, your chances are pretty good;).


***those reading this on facebook- please visit my blog (joeandkelsey.blogspot.com)
for the giveaway and leave a comment there with your email-only names on the blog post will be considered-thanks!***

but either way, you need to check out Easy Canvas Prints.

they offer great specials all the time.

currently, if you "like" them on facebook, 

you will get 50% off your next order, 

and free shipping as well.

so visit their site, upload your favorite photos, and have fun playing with all the options!

i was not paid to do this post, but did receive my canvas for free.  so worth it;).

meet the spider family

big spidergirl

 little spidergirl

spiderboy

 spiderbaby

found all the costumes at party city back in july for $5 each.

kellen's was a 12-18 month size and a bit snug.

christian's was a big boy's medium and well, he'll be able to wear it years to come;).

and the girls were swimming in the leggings, so we replaced them with tights.

but overall, not a bad deal.

captain america

this boy kills me with his cuteness.

yet all the same drives. me. crazy.

gets so excited over anything with superheros.

is picky about what he wears.

in desperate need of a haircut.  again.

thinks boy ballerinas are so silly.

and is almost completely potty-trained.

(days, since before he turned 3, nights...so close.  i hope.)

the glare

he's been practicing many looks these days.

this one's fun because even if he really *means* it, 

it's usually followed by his fun little laugh.

while the girls are away

the boys play.

in their jammies.

  the boys and i have been having some fun while both girls are at school.

we still miss them,

we're just making the most of out time together.

although our little tramp will be out of commission for awhile.

our first big snow came today.

pre-k

preschool is in full swing now.

and if you're counting, this is year 3 for her.

we had thought about trying to get her into kindergarten this year,

but in the end, felt much better about keeping her where she should be.

she'll be one of the oldest (and tallest) as she goes through school,

but that will be a good thing.

just means she'll be smarter, more mature, and more athletic.  right?

regardless, she's where she will do best.

she thrives when she is confident.

summer fun

anyone else going to be sad to say goodbye to summer? 

sticks and ...shorts

while visiting my family over july 4th,

we made a little day trip up to grand mesa.

these pics of christian were just too funny not to scrap.

made with studio calico kits.

our little bobblehead

he's dancing to christian's happy *4th* birthday card from grandpa dave.

yes, christian turned 3, not 4;).

we all, including grandpa (who did realize his mistake after he sent it off) had a good laugh over it.

first day

the first day.

the first day of second grade.

she's been waiting 2 months for this day.

 new backpack?  check.

new shoes?  check.

new clothes? check.  kind of.

 

 

hope this year is more than you could of dreamed sweetie.

our garden

i was going through the girls' photos and videos from their cameras.

came across this.

warning: it is taken by a six year old...  

our garden: by marryn

7.11.11

{to stop the blog music, scroll to the very very bottom...}

little brothers

today

today is his last day being 2.

although he thinks he's been three for awhile now.

i'm going to miss this two year old.

he was so much fun.

i hope his threes prove to be just as much fun.

history tells me it will be a challenge.

{photo by marryn}

parade fun

we spent the 4th over on the western slope with my family.

{also know as cherry days in paonia.}

love this shot of the kids at the parade.

my dad had gotten all the kids ice cream cones.

my kids were in heaven.

my little niece dehcaley however did not want hers.

so i ate it.  no asking me twice.

wonder if she was regretting that...;)

small town parades are fun.

lots of horses.

lots of trackers.

lots of truck pulling trailers.

and lots of candy.

it was a good, good day for my kids.

this was my favorite.

joe and i couldn't decide if the tracker was 83 years old.

or the farmer driving it.

at my feet

he makes it very hard to get much done.
but i know one day i'll miss it like crazy.

so.  just got back from my much anticipated hair appointment.
i usually head into the aveda salon about 2 times a year.
yes.  i make my haircuts last.
but this time i was literally fighting back tears as i drove home.
i walk in and marryn, first thing, says, "i don't like it.  why didn't they just trim it?"
and she's the one who told me earlier she likes my hair shorter.
but then all the commotion of me being gone for an hour took over...you know, anxious poopy baby, kid covered in hives...
later, reganne comes up and asks if i like my hair.
i say, "not really."
she says, "i don't really either, but i still love you though" and gives me a hug.

thanks sweetheart.
i needed that.

sisters & friends

picture taken last May.

right before Marryn's eyes swelled up from rolling around in the grass.

i love these girls.

i hope they are always the best of friends.