Just because They're Cute

Yup, I've got the cutest family EVER!

Little Artista

So maybe I'm just a proud parent, or maybe I have an artistic genius on my hands. :o) I really am impressed in little Ava's ability to focus when she's creating. There is a unicorn all tied up in that picture with layers and layers of color and story. She could tell you all about it. How many kids would color the entire page before they were done? She water colors the same way-the entire page, and when she's really into her coloring book, it's the same thing. I think it's pretty cute.


She also makes her own gladiators. These ropes are from a "sewing" kit I bought her. Basically one of those toys where you thread the string through the holes in the cardboard. She does that, but she also makes these intricate things with them. She's made a necklace with this huge knotted medallion out of the pink and red strings. Don't worry the necklace is not tight. I am really amazed and what this little one creates.

This is what the big one (me) creates with her birthday money. Thanks for the new curtains and centerpiece contributors!! I also added a little color to the basement, but you'll have to wait on those pics because I've changed a few things around.

Haircut

I know what you're all saying...it's about time!! jk

Needed a change. Not sure about the layering, but like the bangs, and it's nice that every strand is fresh and healthy. What do ya think?

Snow Days

We've gotten lots of snow this year. My frugal husband has decided that we're only living here for two winters, so why would we need a snow shovel? (Please remember we've just moved from Utah where he said the same thing.) Just wanted to let you take a look at what he's decided to shovel with- a dustpan. Our driveway is really long, and the next day Mike was really confused as to why his back was paralyzed with pain. Hhmmmm... Any ideas??? :o) I'm just glad he shoveled. Maybe next snow fall he'll change his mind.




Ezra doesn't really like playing in the snow, but Ava's a real trooper. Look how wet she is. She rolled the snowman head all by herself. It's all great fun to her. Ezra isn't interested in building snowman, rather...

Eating them. Oooops! I tried to stop him, but was laughing so hard at him sucking on the snow it was too late before he accidentally pushed it down. Ezra, Ava and I had a great time playing in the snow that night. While we were all sleeping the snow melted and soaked into the ground. When we woke up, there wasn't a patch of snow anywhere except our snowman standing on our back porch. We rebuilt the one Ez knocked over.

Ava's First Talent Show

Well, I'm dying that the camera didn't last longer, but enjoy what we got. She's adorable. Oh, and by the way, the part that you see is the rough patch. She just needed to get started. She did great.

Tonight's FHE was on living in Heaven before we came to earth. I was telling Ava how we were all in Heaven and Heavenly Father gathered us together in a meeting and told us about a beautiful world he created for us so we could get our bodies and learn to make good choices. Before I could continue Ava shouts, "I'll go!"

Christmas Pictures

A Hidden Gem in Sleeping Beauty

Ava was asking me about her new Sleeping Beauty movie the other day. "Mom," she said, "You know in my Gaurora movie, where she's in the forest with the three birds and the squirrel?"

"Yeah?"

"Gaurora says those three aunties still treat her like a child." Giggle giggle.

"Well, what do you think that means?" I ask.

"They love her a lot."

She is so wise! That's usually why we treat our babies like babies, even when they're not so little anymore. We want to protect and snuggle them FOREVER!!!

Shea sure is loved!

Just wanted to post a video of all the love and attention she was getting on her first day home.

Shea Eden Koch has arrived!

Shelley and Jake's sweet little girl finally arrived on Friday, Dec. 19th. She is calm and alert and seems as content as can be-even while experiencing digestive issues, if you know what I mean. She's a true miracle in my book.

Ava, Ezra and I went to keep Skye and Evan company, and out of trouble while Shelley and Jake staid at the hospital. We had so much fun!
We baked holiday sugar cookies. Check out Ezra's stache. He's already growing into a man. Each child took a turn pressing their cookie cutter into the dough. After Ezra's turn I wasn't paying close enough attention to him and he'd half eaten his cookie raw!

Jake had arrainged for some dental school friend's to come over and with cake and decorations. So sweet! We helped them decorate and also helped them eat their cake!


For those of you who don't know, Ezra doesn't sleep well other places. He's great at home, but other places... no siree. I put him down for a nap his first day at Jake and Shelley's and 5 minutes later he's surprises me by coming around the corner saying, "truck...cars?" The next day for nap time I heard some a little noise coming from his room but didn't think much of it. I was just grateful he was staying in there. Mike went to peek at him a while later and this is what he saw. Ezra had hopped out of bed, taken bookload after bookload from J&S's shelf and dumped them into his bed. When he'd gotten a pile two or three books deep he decided to get back in his bed and go to sleep. Those books are heavy books! Check out the SAT book. I think he was hoping to learn through osmosis.

Loves

Snow

Beth's Visit

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet, but my good friend from Los Angeles came to visit at the beginning of the month. We had such a great time together. We both LOVE cooking, so we started out Friday morning, our first day together in the italian district picking up fresh veggies, italian cheese, and fresh sheets of pasta. We then hoofed it around town shopping on south street, to the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall. From there we decided to head over to the Mutter Museum, a museum of medical oddities. Lots of bones and body parts and a shruken head from Africa (?). All I remember is the head not the history. Very interesting. We walked the town from the north to the south, east to west, exhausted our selves and went home to make a feast of homemade cheese artichoke ravioli. Why didn't I take a picture of the food?? It was SO delicious and beautiful besides.

Saturday we spent at Betsy Ross's house and the surrounding neighborhood which is filled with local art galleries. My favorite kind of neighborhood. That night we got a sitter and took Beth into town for a BYOB resturant Philly style. So delicous.

Sunday Beth cooked Banana Pecan Fried Wontons with custard and together we cooked a chile tomatillo roasted chicken. We love food.

We had such a great time together, she's so great with the kids, and I'm so lucky to have a friend like her. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Autumn Leaves

Happy Halloween!!!

The post everyone is waiting for, checking for, the reason blogs exist (in my world anyway)... TA-DA The cuties in their costumes. Eat your hear out Grandma!

We went trick-or-treating with some friends, so here's the crew.

She's ready to go!!! you can see me in the background. I'm Snow White's evil step-mother. Thank you Shelley!
Ava is Snow White

Ezra is Dopey the Dwarf. I made him a purple hat, but of course in the chaos to meet our friends, I couldn't find it. Velcro was coming undone by the end of the night. His shirt is supposed to be buttoned, but....you know how homemade costumes go.


Ezra sure was a trooper. His normal bedtime is 7. We didn't start trick or treating until 7:30 and he was walking along, knocking, "trick-or-treating," and "thank-you-ing." He braved steps and ditched in the dark no problem, and LOVED the Halloween decorations everywhere, especially one house with strobe lights on these huge skeletons. He's a partier!

Here's to Families!

I have been totally head over heels in love with my family lately. Ever get that way? I just had to post a few pictures and a video of those sweet moments that can be easily taken for granted and not celebrated as they should. Here's to families!!!!
Ava and Ezra taking a nap together. Not really, but when I asked Ezra if he wanted to sleep in Ava's bed for his nap, they both jumped in together.



Ava has always had a really hard time going to bed on her own, and lately she's had a miracle change. We'll do the regular routine and leave and the last few nights when we've gone to check on her, she's tucked herself in, wrapped herself all up, and is sleeping soundly.

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Paula sent Ava a Halloween card and some stickers. Ava decided to use her stickers to decorate Dad's face. They wouldn't stick to his whiskers, so that's why his forehead and cheeks have gotten all the attention.