Little Man...

This Little Man is getting so big...3 1/2 months already! Where has the time gone...it seems like just a few days ago we were waiting and waiting for him to be born...
This past few weeks James has been changing so much...it is fun to see his little personality emerge more and more...This week his big achievement was rolling over! One morning before Daddy went to work James was on the floor and over her went! He also has discovered his voice...and loves to use it! He screams all the time...not because he is mad...when he is happy or playing with his sister or just because and he lets out huge screams! He has been giggling when he is about to be fed...he knows that nursing position quite well...when he is nursing he likes to hold my finger and gaze up at me...and when I finally say something to him, he breaks out in a huge grin with milk drooling down his chin! Such sweet little things I don't want to forget...
His nickname is still Mr. Puker Man... I think he is just destine to be a spit up kind of kid...it doesn't seem to bother him at all...but it bothers me...or rather my clothes! I keep waiting for my new "baby puke on the shoulder" look to become vogue! We love our little Mr. Puker Man...

Pumpkin Carving...

While we girls were off shopping...Papa Wayne and Brandon bundled all 5 children up, packed them in the 15 passenger van and took off in search of Pumpkins...each of the children picked out a pumpkin to carve the next day...and Elsie picked out an extra one for Daddy...

We spread out plenty of news papers on the dining room table, set out spoons, bowls and knives and had a little carving party...much to Elsie's delight Daddy was able to come home from work earlier than expected so he was able to carve with her! Daddy cut the top off Elsie's pumpkin and she eagerly stuck her hand inside to pull out the guts...brave girl!

I wanted a picture of James carving his first pumpkin...but he was really quite unhappy as you can tell...I think his little tummy was getting hungry...and there I was making him hold a little spoon and try to clean out his pumpkin! Rest assured that after the picture this starving little man was fed...

Yes, that is a 2 year old...well almost 3...carving her own pumpkin with the little knife...we are relaxed parents who believe in hands on experience...and the little knife was made for kids and not very sharp at all!

Auntie Emma...making a scary face on her pumpkin...

I think Elsie mainly just made little cuts and slits with her little knife...Daddy did the eyes and nose and Mommy did the mouth...but it is all the little Elsie-made-cuts that make this pumpkin look so fabulous...

Auntie Emma and Auntie Marissa...working so hard on making perfect looking pumpkins...

Lots of people, lots of Pumpkins and one huge mess...Thanks Mom and Dad for cleaning up the mess...I realized the next day that we left in a hurry with 2 fussing children that we never helped clean up or take the pumpkins home...duh...crying or rather screaming kids do that to you, I think!

All the Pumpkins in a row...our front step will look mighty inviting to any trick-or-treaters who might be stopping by...

While we were finishing up carving Pumpkins James was happy to lay on the floor with Papa Wayne and talk...that boy is a talker and Papa Wayne loves babies, so they get along great!

Now...we have our Pumpkins all ready and Costumes all laying out for the big night...we still have to get candy because I don't want to be to on top of things...but we still have plenty of time...right?

Girls Weekend...

Last week was a fun, exhausting and crazy kind of weekend...Every year (really just the 2nd annual, I guess!) during MEA all of we sisters, our mom and of course any breast feeding babies...get together for a full day of shopping! We all look forward to this day for months...we have our lists all ready...than we get pooped out and overwhelmed be lunch time! We woke up bright and early, ready to hit the stores...
We made it to 2 stores and part of the mall before taking a lunch break...and heading over to visit Ceara...who could not join in the shopping because she was busy learning to cut hair at the Beauty School...

After all the morning shopping we welcomed a break while visiting Ceara...James was a super shopper but needed a little time out of the stroller and carseat...

And some of just needed to stretch out...when you have an extra bone in your back stretching out is a must...even ya look a little crazy! I wanted to bring my big exercises ball with to use when I felt sore...but there wasn't room...I tried using one of the big red cement balls outside Target...but I think it embarrassed everyone...don't know why...what is else are those cement balls for?

James took a couple of long naps while we shopped...and was a happy little guy while awake...but at Penny's he just got far to hungry...thankfully I had pumped some milk...so we sat on the floor and had a little bottle while everyone continued to shop around us. Thankfully it was getting late and there were not many people in this department...

My main goal of the shopping trip was to find some clothes for myself...I find myself always buying things for the kids and my wardrobe was showing it! I still am quite un-sure what size I am since having James...I was a 6 before having Elsie then dropped to a 2...after trying on these pants I discovered I am not a 2 anymore! I gave up and decided I will cinch the belt on my too big pants and "suck it in" on my too little pants...so I just bought shirts...much easier! Just for the record...I can button the size 2...but I think it might give me slight underwear lines from being so tight! What do you think?

Laura...all pooped out from shopping. Shopping is not her thing...give her a dirt bike and she much happier! However the day after shopping Laura had a big crash on her bike and broke her collarbone...now she is waiting to find out if she needs surgery or not...I told you it was a wild and crazy weekend!

By the time this picture was taken James had gotten overly tired and was quite cranky...my back was killing me (so much I talked Ceara's boyfriend into picking me up at the door to drive me to our car on the other end of the mall!) and we were all starving...

We had a successful girls shopping day...we came home with lots of bags, good memories and full tummies...and the kids all survived a day with Papa Wayne and uncle Brandon as baby sitters...Looking forward to MEA 2011!

Embrace the Camera...

Every Thursday at the Anderson Crew blog is something they call "Embrace the Camera"...a chance or rather a reminder to get out from behind the camera and be in a picture or two with your children. Today I decided to try it out...we set to camera up on the end table with the self-timer on and had a little fun...we took LOTS of pictures...Elsie enjoyed being goofy and I enjoyed seeing if we were even in the shot! I hope to participate in the "Embrace the Camera" as often as I can...

I cannot get the "Embrace the Camera" button to post under the pictures...so if you look on my side bar it is there...click it!

Almost Three...

Elsie Jane is almost three...in just a few days her days of being 2 will be forever gone...I can't believe how fast the last three years have gone by. Really where does the time go?
I love the sweet little girl Elsie has become...she can be the sweetest sister to her brother...she has the coolest personality...very free! I never know quite what to expect next out of her...she is constantly saying the silliest things and doing the craziest things. One day I found Elsie laying on her side on the kitchen counter looking at a magazine like she was some kind of diva! I can't wait to see her personality change as she turns three...

Story Time...

Elsie loves to read story books...and now she is into sharing her love of books with her little brother...For now James is contented to just there and listen as she makes up a story to go along with the pages...but before long James will be reaching and grabbing for the pages!

Toy Land...

Christmas is fast approaching...and that means our mail box has been filling up with toy catalogs...much to the delight of a certain almost 3 year old little girl! Elsie loves to sit with Jon or I and drool over all the toys and beg for them all for Christmas!
We still have a "no noisy toy" rule...but I think before long that rule will no longer exist...the "no barbie" and "no stupid or plastic" toy rules have all been broken...as children get older I think they gravitate towards things they know parents don't like!

Playing Cars...

Last week we were outside enjoying some beautiful fall weather...James enjoyed laying on his fuzzy blanket while the kids played little cars all around him...
Won't be long and James will be playing cars along with his sister and aunties...

Such cool shadows on the cement...

James was happy to lay in the sun for a long time...just watching...

The kids had little chalk roads and towns all over the cement...

So many little cars...I have a feeling that before long our house will be over run by little cars...

Never buy Scissors!

That is right...never buy scissors for your children! Elsie goes around cutting paper into little shreds...the best part is she as she cuts, it all falls right on the floor! But that is okay...I really have nothing better to do with my time than pick up hundreds of little shreds several times a day! I think Elsie is slowly getting better about cutting into a bowl...but sometimes it is a hard thing to remember!

Pile up...

I have given up on having a picked up house...Mondays are our cleaning day...and in no time at all things begin to slowly fall apart...lately the top of the little ledge on the TV stand had been driving me bonkers! Elsie seems to think that the little ledge is there solely to hold DVD's! She never puts the cd's back in the cases...too much work I guess!

Rainbow Style...

I love the clothing combinations Elsie comes up with...and her incredible confidence that comes with the interesting combinations...Her 2 favorite clothing pieces are these bright Rainbow tights and her little pink tutu...
Oh, yes...and her red cowboy boots...

In her little creative mind her outfit matches perfectly because both the tights and the shirt have stripes..."ding, dong, duh, mom!" (so Elsie says!)

I just love it...and a belt...gotta have a pink sparkly belt...she dressed in her "fancy outfit" for a visit to Grammie and Papa Wayne's house...and she just had to bring with the abacus in case she wanted to count and an empty thermos because it just might come in handy...

What a girl...love her independence and free spirit...

and Lilly's old pacci in her mouth...just because...and a side note...I did not brush her hair all day and she was still wearing the falling out pony tail from the day before...oh well...looks like we all survived! I have said it before and will again...we practice relaxed parenting around here! Just can't keep on top of everything everyday...win some, lose some, I guess!

Messy Girl...

I have a certain almost three year old girl who is very messy...or maybe just a girl getting in touch with her creative outlet of clothing design. (the last one sounds so much better!) Elsie goes through *several* outfits a day...you see she gets dressed right before breakfast, then changes after breakfast to a dress so she can twirl, then changes again because another outfit might look better, then changes again because she is girl and she can...on and on all day...
I love that when she changes no one can be in the room so she can surprise us when she is done...and her bedroom door must be closed all the way while changing so no one peeks. The thing I do do not love is that the concept of "pick up your clothes" is totally beyond her! I pick up her clothes daily...and it still looks like this at the end of the day! As much as I would appreciate her leaving her clothes alone...I kinda find myself liking this new stage...she is growing up and expressing her own style and creativity...

Sunshine...

There is really no significant story to go with these these pictures...they are just cute baby pictures of my little man...
We have been taking advantage of the lovely weather by spending some extra time outside...

James is a true boy who loves being outside...he is always happy to be outside and feel the sunshine on his toes...

A happy little man...

Sleep...

Love this picture...this is how James and Elsie sleep every night...all cuddled together! James starts the night in the bassinet and Elsie starts in her bed...but for some reason they both wake up in mommy and daddy's bed...they know where they feel safe, I guess...I am not about to complain though...nothing is better than having my babies all snuggled up cozy and safe in bed with me...children are babies for far to short of time not to enjoy and cherish every moment.
I have discovered that James will never wake up completely until I pick him up and start talking to him...he lays in bed and kicks his feet, then lays still for a minute before kicking them again...he does this over and over until I pick him up...then he opens his eyes and is full of smiles!