Thanksgiving

We had a Vancouver Thanksgiving since we couldn't go anywhere being due so soon.  We were so excited for our Jeppson cousins to come join us for the weekend and celebrate Thanksgiving. They recently moved to ID, so they only had to drive 7 hours instead of the 24 hrs from AZ. 

We had a lovely dinner on Thanksgiving day and just loved being together.  Gordon took them on the loop (Beacon Rock, Bonneville Dam, Fish Hatchery, and Multnomah Falls) which is always fun and very NW.  We also had fun hanging out around the house.  The boys had a lot of fun with Nerf guns.  We did venture into Portland as well and did OMSI and the food trucks; yummy.  Oh, and I can't forget that we went and saw Frozen on Thanksgiving evening which was awesome.  We look forward to visiting the Jeppson's farm this summer and are excited that they live closer to us!  Happy Thanksgiving.  

Kid table

Adult/teenager table.

Talmage, Addison, and Gabriel.

We made these cute turkeys out of Oreos and other candy.

Adalyn's turkey.

A turkey close up.

Audrey's turkey.

Tanner's turkey.

This is a sweet picture of Logan and Audrey walking into OMSI

These Jeppson boys especially the older two, Logan and Gabriel are so sweet with my girls it melts my heart.  They played games with my girls, read them stories, and just were so adorable with them.  

The Jeppson boys flying cups.

In the Chemistry lab. 

Having fun at the food trucks; love the faces. 

Thanksgiving Feast

I went and helped with Adalyn's preschool Thanksgiving feast.  Adalyn is an adorable little Pilgrim.  They had a fun feast with turkey sandwiches, chips, carrots and dip, and of course pie to finish everything off.  The students made cute place-mats to eat on and were either Indians or Pilgrims. The whole thing was really cute and I love the little prayer they recited before they ate.  I love being with my preschooler! 

Me and Adalyn

The feast

Adalyn's Pizza Fieldtrip

I was lucky enough to go to Adalyn's class field-trip to a local pizza restaurant.  The restaurant was close to the preschool so we walked in the rain in true NW fashion.  The kids had a great time watching the chef toss the pizza dough in the air and seeing the HUGE walk-in refrigerator.  Of course the highlight was eating the pizza, it was delicious.  I love seeing Adalyn interact with her friends; she loves to mother everyone and keep them inline.  She is such a cutie!

Wow, look at that toss.

Checking out the kitchen.

Adalyn is eager to say she likes pizza!

Checking out the walk-in refrigerator.

Getting ready to eat pizza.

Cute Adalyn and Mom.

The whole class. 

Stitches for Joseph

Joseph is one rough little boy so he didn't wait long to get his first set of stitches.  He was moving chair to chair at the kitchen table cleaning up everyone's leftover breakfast when he lost his balance and fell in between the chairs and his forehead hit the edge of the chair.  I knew right when I saw the cut we would be going to the InstaCare.  Joseph ended up getting 6 stitches and was amazingly clam through the whole thing.  We brought a bunch of suckers and they did the trick; thank goodness for Halloween the week before.  Gordon and I were joking it should have happened the week before so he could of been Frankenstein for Halloween.  Knowing this kid, I'm sure this won't be his last set of stitches.  

He is so cute in this picture.

Here we are waiting for the area to numb so they could do the stitches.  

Waiting to be seen by the doctor; got to love those suckers!

Student of the Month

Audrey was awarded student of the month for exemplifying the life skill of responsibility. We are so proud of our Audrey and what a go-getter she is.  She does a great job of being responsible in life and be helpful to others.  We love our Audrey and the special girl that she is. 

  

Receiving her award.

Audrey

Harry Potter Birthday Party

For Talmage's 9th birthday he wanted a Harry Potter party.  We had a fun time planning it I was so grateful for my talented husband to make the party magical.  We had the boys come in a white dress shirt and then we added the black robes for them.  We of course had to do the sorting hat and all of the boys were put in the Griffindor house.  We then went to Olivander Wand shop and Gordon made magic with his acting skills, fan, and lights.  Basically when the right wand found it's owner they had a magical moment of wind and lights brightening on them; it was really fun!  Next we had a feast; this was the feast that happens after the Sorting Hat.  Talmage had this idea and it was really fun.  Then we had a quidditch obstacle course.  The boys had to ride on a broom up the stairs, through hoola hoops, and in between cones to get the golden snitch; they loved this part.  

Next we moved to a potions class because no Harry Potter party would be complete without a potions class.  I had the classic vinegar and baking soda recipe and then we add rat spleen (sprinkles) and candy bugs to the mix.  The boys loved watching the mixture fizzle.  

Last but not least we ended with cake and presents.  The party was a huge success and Talmage loved it, which is all a parent can ask for.  Happy birthday Talmage!

Golden Snitches

Gordon made these out of Ferra Rocha and parchment paper.

The sorting hat.

Talmage getting his wand at Olivander's Wand Shop.

The feast.

The boys toasting with their butter beer. 

Talmage on the quidditch obstacle course; having a great time.

Jumping through the hoola hoop.

Maneuvering through the cones. 

Birthday cake

Ready for potions class. 

Talmage and Aidan

Talmage and Nathen

Talmage and Oliver

Talmage and Jackson

Talmage and Leonard 

Talmage and Daddy.

Talmage and Mommy

The Griffindor House.

CRAZY!

Some of the decorations.

On our door when you came in.  

The invitation. 

The wax closure.

Talmage and Gordon working on the wax; it was harder than we thought it would be.