First Snow of the Season!

This year our first snow came on the day of Olivia's "kid" birthday party.

This was the first year Spencer would get to play in the snow!

Both kiddos were ready to give the sled we got a couple years ago a try!

Olivia loved being bundled up and wearing her new hat and mittens.

Olivia did not last very long on the sled; she thought the snow was great for a little while, though.

Spencer on the other hand did not know what to think of his cold weather attire.

Richard made sure he was bundled up well for his first ride.

Still smiling! Olivia only lasted about ten minutes and decided she was cold. She is a lot like her mom when it comes to cold weather.

Faster dad, faster!

And I can't forget Dodger, my snow eating dog...

Four of my favorites!

These are four of my favorite, recent Olivia memories.

1. Olivia loves to sing songs. . . Christian songs, Hannah Montana songs, and my personal favorite, songs she makes up herself. Sometimes "Olivia originals" are to the tune of something she heard recently, and sometimes she makes up both the tune and the words. Either way, I love to hear her sing and watch her twirl around the house. I might also mentions she "reads" to herself. You never know what is going to happen in Olivia's fairy tales.

2. For Richard's birthday, we went to Red Robin for dinner. Olivia absolutely loved the entire evening (we don't go out to eat as a family a whole lot, you see). Richard and I decided from here on out we would go out to eat for birthdays, and we were both talking it up with Olivia; we naturally assumed she would pick Red Robin for her big day. After all, every time we drive by she reminds us it's where we went for Richard's birthday. On the afternoon of her birthday, she decided she wanted to go to "Donald's". Oh yes, my four year old was adamant that she wanted a happy meal for her birthday and there was absolutely no changing her mind- believe me, Richard really tried. We were both actually really proud of her for persistence. She would not be swayed and would accept nothing less than "Donald's.

3. Sometimes when I am upset, I'll say "son of gun". Olivia heard me and asked me what I said. I decided I didn't really want to repeat myself. She laughed, "I know what you said, Mom... Cinnamon Gum". We both ended up laughing and now when she's frustrated I will hear her say, "Cinnamon Gum."

4. She loves to color, finger paint, put puzzles together, and read. Here are some more of her loves I don't want to forget: Sponge Bob and "smoovees" (smoothies- from Costco) that she and her dad make at night, singing Hannah Montana Forever songs with her mom in the car, watching Peter Pan and pretending she is Wendy with her Grandpa Tucker, aka Grandpa Ed, watching out for her little brother who tries to do just about everything she does, loving on Grandma Tootie. She is such a sweet, sweet girl. I'm so glad God made me her Mom.

Okay, so number four ended up being a conglomeration, but there's just so much I want to remember.

Olivia's Fourth Birthday!

Olivia's birthday celebration began Monday and lasted through the following Sunday. She thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

One of My Favorite Smiles Ever!

Olivia told me she was going to wait until the afternoon to open her gifts, but it was the first thing on her mind Wednesday morning.


The Birthday Princess


The party boy, such a ham!!!
That's Grama Tootie on the side:)

The party crowd

Grandma and Grandpa Carico actually started out the festivities Monday night.

What a Certain Someone Thinks of My Photography . . .

Go ahead, Spencer, cry all you want to.

I will just bring the camera out on another day.

"Nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37

Olivia learned another verse! Hooray!

I am driving the kids crazy trying to get Christmas card pictures these days. Miss Olivia was 100 times more cooperative than her little brother the other evening, but I'm not quite sure yet what we will come up with as a finished product. I need to remember this verse if I decide to try again to get a picture of both kids smiling, together, at the same time, in the same picture.

Seriously, though, I just love this verse. Mary said it as a young girl, just after learned she would be the mother to the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. WOW!

Halloween 2011... We're Ready

I plan on saving some money next year.

Olivia will be making costumes at day care.

Like Father, Like Son

Spencer went on his second four-wheeler ride today to help Richard check gopher traps. He absolutely loves riding, which scares me to death.
There wasn't an ounce of fear in this kid when Richard took him out the first time. Oh how I hope Honda or Polaris makes an "unrollable" four-wheeler... and soon. This kid was born to ride, according to his dad. From what I've seen, Spencer is in full agreement.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse- Halloween 2010

We didn't make it the the local church's Walk Through the Bible this year. We ended up trick or treating Nampa downtown Friday afternoon and went to a Halloween party Saturday. By Sunday, we were costumed out. We had a great time celebrating Richard's birthday at Red Robin.

Things didn't start out so well Friday afternoon.

Spencer hated his Mickey Mouse ears and did not want his picture taken.
Olivia loved her Minnie Mouse costume from the moment she opened it.

Although Spencer never came to appreciate the ears, he eventually would decide he could handle the costume, as I will explain below.

Mickey's attitude turned around pretty quickly when he realized trick or treating meant getting "nanny". I'm really not surprised one of my children's first words would be "candy". It's definitely easier to say than chocolate.

Mickey officially knows the sign for candy. Unfortunately he thinks he should get "nanny" for every meal.

Day 2, Minnie leads the way as they head out to a Halloween party and "nanny".