We have a Nursery!

Done! The nursery is a nursery! Converting our office/guest bedroom/storage room into a nursery was a big effort but it is done and we love it! And this also meant some serious organizing and re-organizing in the garage.

There was something a bit special about creating this room for our daughter. Painting and organizing and cleaning never had so much meaning.

Before...
During...

After (Brett has given me permission to move the furniture around a dozen times before making a final decision on where it fits best...he is the best husband!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We played grown-up today and made our first Thanksgiving dinner. Ok, ok we had a LOT of help from Maro which was a lifesaver since tonight was a school night (Comment from Brett: especially given that i forgot to baste the Turkey as previously instructed..)

We are now wrapping up our evening with a warm fire in front of us, a warmth in our heart and full bellies (well, mine more full than others). I love Thanksgiving and while this one was untraditional, it was spent with loved ones and gratitude. What more could we ask for...

He earned a great big hug for tending to the "bird" while I was in meetings all afternoon.

A potential tradition that we started...Thankful 4's. We each had four 4's to write on what we were thankful for. I plan to make these into placemats.

Some of my favorites:

- Oli's: I am thankful for xbox. I am thankful for xbox controllers. Ok, you get the drift.

- Brett's. I am thankful for my great wife that makes me a better person every day. I am thankful that we spend lots more time laughing than crying.

- Charlie: I am thankful that Wendy will have a new little person for me to be involved with.

- Maro: I am thankful for babies.

- Wendy: I am thankful for a stepson that will be a super big brother and a husband that is so very thoughtful.

A snowboarding dude!

Boy oh Boy, overnight we have created a snowboarding dude.

Oli had his first snowboarding lesson on the snow yesterday and really enjoyed it. Brett said it was a special day for him and was very proud of Oli for trying so hard and never complaining. This will be a fun sport for them to share together.

Ok, I am ready!

First chairlift ride. He told his instructor, "ok, if you ever need to get my attention, just throw a snowball at me."

Look at that form!

Some action!

The way home...

I am way behind on the Oli'ism's, so here is a few to get caught up.

Oli'ism #100:

Oli: "Next time, I would like Wendy to come with us (ok, this was the music to my ears!). But not Scout becuase he would TRASH the chairlift."

Oli'ism: #101:

(scene: getting ready for our Thanksgiving dinner tonight..he said when asked what are you thankful for)

Oli: "I am SO thankful that they made football."

Oli: "oh and Xbox"

(I guess tonight we will try and expose him to some other things to be thankful for)

Oli'ism #102:

(scene: Brett reading Oli a story in bed and Oli trying hard to figure out some of the bigger words).

Oli: "Dad, I want to be a doctor"

Brett: "That is a wondeful job. But you are going to have to study very hard"

Oli: "Yes, I will study very very hard. I will study hard so that when your heart stops, I can start it again"

Oli'ism #103:

(scene: We took Oli to my doctor's appt where he got to hear the baby's heartbeat and see an ultrasound of his sister. On the way back in the car, he was quiet for a few mins, a rarity, I must say. and then....)

Oli: "How does the baby come out?"

(Brett rolls his eyes and looks at me and mumbles, "here goes")

Brett: "Well, do you know the different between boys and girls?"

Oli, emphatically: "yes!"

Brett: "ok, well, what is it?"

Oli: "Boys have short hair and girls have long hair."

(Brett smirks and rolls his eyes again and looks at me as if to say, "your turn")

Oli: "Oh cool...look there's Burger King!"

Wendy, sighs in relief.

(end of Scene)

Another Painting Project

How does one fill an entire weekend with a sick kid? A sick kid who is sick but has all the energy and enthusiasm as if he was 100% healthy.

We did a 5 step painting project...that resulted in a Marble Maze! (1 bit of ply wood, some paint, 48 nails & only 1 slightly damaged daddy's thumb)

And here is the previous painting project complete in all if its glory. Well, ok...glory may be a bit of a stretch. I underestimated how difficult it is to paint a painting...next one will be an abstract.

We were inspired to do a painting due to Brett's Dad's hobby. Here is David's fantastic paintings...it is of Oli on his third birthday when he got his fishy.

Happy Veteran's Day

A Sunny Fall Day

It was a stunning fall day and I got my wish to go back to St Edwards to practice some photography. All the fallen leaves were since trompled on but my subjects were still handsome and playful.

Happy Halloween

Today felt like a holiday. An expected sunny day and plenty of time to play. We started the day with a fall hike at St Edwards where Scout swam and we collected HUGE fall leaves. It was the perfect picture opportunity but I didn't have the camera. I am hoping we go back tomorrow.

Next, we played at the park and flew Oli's kite he got from the Gossett's for his birthday. Perfect breeze to fly a kite!

Of course the holiday ended with trick-or-treating. Thanks to the Bishop's for having us over (including the pooches) for dinner, halloween laughter and trick-or-treating!

Scout being dressed up as UnderDog. He is less than thrilled as you can tell.

One of our better family portraits. (Scout had already pee'd on his costume...a surefire way to get us to take it off of him)

Oli's Classroom Party

Oli's kindergarten class celebrated Halloween today with a school-wide costume parade and then a classroom party. What fun!

We got a great laugh at the costumes and all the little kid quirks.

Oli LOVES his costume...even though it squishes his nose. Too funny.

Class photo for the yearbook and our family album.

We brought in cupcakes for the kids to make their own Daddy Long Leg Cupcakes. This was one of 5 activity stations. It was a hit...here we were experiencing a rush on the cupcakes. We loved the interaction with the kids and also walked away with a sincere appreciation for the patience of the kindergarten teachers.

This is one of the youngest and shyest boys in the class...he is sure a sweetie.

One of Oli's best friends gobbling up his spider cupcake.