Madelynn's Birthday and Halloween

We love our little Madelynn!  She started Kindergarten this year, which to have really help her feel like a big kid!  She is still just as sweet as ever and still loves to "mommy" Ashley.  She still loves Hello Kitty and is excited that she has started reading.  So far since Kindergarten started, she has lost her 4 front teeth. So she loves singing,  "All I want for Christmas are my two front Teeth!  She loves to plan parties and even tries to turn normal days into parties. For instance, if Chris and Grant leave to run some errands she will declare that now "It's a girl party!"

Happy Birthday Little Cat M! We love you!

 Right after she lost her bottom 2 teeth.  I had to pull one for her and the 2nd one fell out after Grant jumped on her and his elbow hit her face- so technically, he pulled the 2nd one!

She is now 13 months old and just as cute and busy as ever!

We visited a pumpkin festival at the local plant nursery.

Free days at the zoo!  We brought our neighbor friend, Jenna.

She wanted to be like her cool big brother!

Somebody wanted a snack.

 

End of Summer and Starting School

This has been a fantastic summer!  We have tried to get out and explore as much as possible!

We went hiking and waterfall splashing at Starved Rock.  Loved it!

Zoie is brushing a goat at the zoo!

                        Grant started 3rd grade and Madelynn started Kindergarten.  I'm going to miss                                                                these two!  We had a great summer!

Grant's Birthday and Baptism

What an exciting time for our family!  We love our Mr. Grant!  He has brought us so much joy and adventure!  He is very curious and asks a lot of questions about everything!  He is a super big brother and loves inventing new games to play.  He still loves Lego's and has Minecraft and has developed a love of reading!

Happy Birthday Grant!  We love you!

 He is so excited to be a Cub Scout! 

To celebrate Grant's baptism, we had some special visitors!  Thank you for coming Grandma and Grandpa Anderson!

We are happy that you chose to be baptized Grant!

My parents joined us for a quick weekend trip to the Beach Cities in Michigan.

Grant is the biggest helper in the garden!  He never hesitates to pick what is ripe.

Visiting the Blacksmith's shop at Naper Settlement. His favorite spot there.

Our sweet Ashley is now 10 months and walking!

Here are some conversation captions that show what the kids talk about.  

1.) Grant: I want to be a Police Officer when I grow up.

Zoie: I want to be a bush!

1 month later

Grant: Zoie, what do you want to be when you grow up?  A Bush?

Zoie: No, I want to be an art set.

2.) Maddie (5) Why do they call it Indianapolis?

      Grant (8) Because Indians used to live here.

      Zoie (3) and apples!

      Maddie: (totally serious) Ok  (Like she accepts that Grant and Zoie are the experts)!

3.) Grant: Mom, what's the name of that Super Hero that looks like Dog Food?  (The Fantastic 4 Guy)

Happy 3rd Birthday Zoie! Ashley is 5 months

Little Cat Z is such an amazing little girl!  We love her to pieces and love watching her connections and cute Zoie-isms.

 

Here are some of her favorite things:

 Princesses, Minnie Mouse, chicken, dry cereal.  She loves play dough and gets so excited when Grant gets home from school so she can wrestle with him.  If Zoie were an animal she would be a squirrel- always hiding things away and putting little things into boxes or bags. 

 

Here are some of her cute sayings:

1.) To Zoie everything is either "Girlie" or "Boyish". 

2.) She says "Flippin booty" for Sleeping Beauty.

3.) When Zoie and I were playing Rock, Paper Scissors.  I was a rock and she said "I is Toilet Paper"

4.) "When I grow up, I want punching gloves.  Blue ones."

5.) We asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she always said "everything and a light bulb."

6.) At lunch I was eating soup and she had a sandwich.  After she finished her sandwich, except for the crust, she grabbed my bowl full of soup and said, "let's switch!"

7.) Zoie was helping me cut fresh green beans for dinner.  She stopped and said, "I like you mom. Thank you for teaching me all these big fings (things).

8.) She handed me her shirt and asked, "can you inside that out for me?"

9.) Zoie: "Mom, I'm going to call you armpit."  Me: What?  I'm your mama.  Zoie: "No.  You're my armpit lady."

 

 

 

 

Putting on a brave face at the dentist.  She definitely didn't like her visit.  She didn't like how the toothbrush tickled and how the paste tasted.  Lots of tears, but no cavities:)

 

Zoie started a little dance class and loves it!

 

 

Little Ashley turned 5 months on Feb 10.  She is still so sweet and cuddly and is rolling and planking like a champ!