Thanksgiving!

We had a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving. Earlier in the month, Josh's preschool had a Thanksgiving feast that Lucy and I got to attend. It was fun to eat our little feast with Josh and his class.




























We had lots of different ideas of what we wanted to do for Thanksgiving, but ended up finding ourselves on our own for the holiday. Adam and I enjoy cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner, but we didn't want to do it just for ourselves (because let's face it, the kids weren't going to eat much), so we decided to just make a few pies and go out for dinner. We went to Rudy's and it was EXCELLENT! Their smoked turkey was amazing, and they have the BEST creamed corn I have ever tasted. It was even nice enough that we could eat outside.
























It was great to have yummy food that we didn't have to cook or clean up after. After dinner, we went home and had mini pumpkin pies and lime meringue pie that Adam made. So yummy!! Later, we were able to Skype with our families and share a bit of the holiday with them. All in all, it was a very nice, relaxing day and I'm so glad we were able to spend it together. I am so grateful for my little family and all the blessings we enjoy!

Bowling!

We took the kids bowling the day before Thanksgiving. I think it was the first time we've gone as a family, and the kids were really excited when we got there. Lucy lasted for about 4 or 5 frames before losing interest, but Josh had a blast the whole time. I'm glad we were able to go and have fun. It is definitely something we should do more of in the future.

Grandma's Visit

My mom came to visit us last week and she brought along my nephew, Ryan. Josh and Ryan are very close in age, and I'm so glad they were able to spend some time together and have a fun week of playing. That's one thing I miss most about being away from our family. I wish my kids were able to play with their cousins more. And now for the pictures!







































































































































We had a great week. Grandma had so much fun playing with the grandkids, and they loved all the attention. I'm so glad they were able to come and visit us!

Sometimes...

...it's so hard to wait to get in the tub.

Halloween

Halloween is always a struggle because Josh never likes to wear costumes. He even picked out his Thomas costume this year, and when we got home and went to try it on, he didn't want anything to do with it. We wrestled it on him, and it took a little while for him to get used to it before he would stop messing with it. Even after he was used to it, he didn't want to put it back on for Trunk or Treat or to go to school on Halloween day. The boy was just not made for Halloween, I guess. We did have fun at the ward Trunk or Treat. Adam had to work, so I left our candy bowl in the back of our Jeep and took the kids around the parking lot.


Josh actually had a lot of fun. In years past he hasn't really gotten the whole concept of trick or treating, but this year, everything clicked and he loved going from car to car, holding out his pumpkin and saying "Trick or treat!" Lucy had fun walking around, too. I don't think she knew what was going on, but she got to wear a pretty dress that she loved and everyone we passed kept commenting on what a cute little witch she was.

Josh had school on Halloween day. Lucy and I stayed for the Halloween parade the school did. It was cute to see all the kids in their costumes. Unfortunately, the video I took was lost when I was having issues updating my phone later. Boo. But I did get some pictures of his class and teacher.


We didn't go trick or treating that night because Adam had to work and I didn't want to take the kids out by myself. I wish I had, though. I think Josh would have really enjoyed it (finally). Definitely next year!

Pumpkin Patch

In October we went to the pumpkin patch a couple times. There is a pumpkin patch down the road from Josh's preschool, and one day after school we went there to eat our lunch and look at the pumpkins.


Later that week, Josh and I went back to the pumpkin patch for his school field trip.


There were lots of fun things they had organized for the kids and we rotated between stations. One of the stations included riding the train around the pumpkin patch. That was Josh's favorite thing!

Hats!

My parents took a month-long road trip in September to practice being retired, which was a lot of fun for them and they had a great vacation. When they got home, we got a care package in the mail of things they got for us from their trip. These hats for the kids were included. They have been lots of fun to play with! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Pratt!

First Day of Preschool!

Josh started preschool in September, and he LOVES it. He goes to Triumphant Lutheran Preschool, which is at the church where we took our Financial Peace University (Dave Ramsey) classes last year. Some friends of ours have sent there kids to this preschool, and they loved it, so we decided to have Josh go there, too. It's a little bit of a drive, about 20 minutes away, but it is awesome. His teacher is Ms. Jalene, and there are 5 kids in his class. They have lots of fun together. It has been fun to hang up his art projects on the fridge! It's great having a preschooler!

Reading Stories

Sometimes on Sunday mornings after the kids have had their bath and they are waiting for Mama and Daddy to finish getting ready, they grab some books and sit on the bean bag chair and read to each other. It's very cute. I love that my kids are interested in books!

First Day of Nursery

Lucy turned 18 months old in July, which means she started going to nursery! YAY! The first day was rough for her with lots of crying. She has an awesome nursery leader, though, and after a couple weeks, Lucy was having a blast in her class. I'm so glad she loves her class now and enjoys going every Sunday.



Chillin' out on the way to church.








Ready to go to class!

Swimming Lessons

Josh took swimming lessons for the very first time this summer. I heard from some friends about a lady who teaches in her backyard pool, and I signed up Josh to be in the same class as his little friend Annabelle. Josh LOVES the water, and he did OK with the lessons. He would either get his legs kicking, or his arms moving, but never both at the same time. Maybe next year :)


















































I LOVE her pool. It is both a fun play pool and a lap pool all in one. I want one just like it when I grow up.

Arizona Trip

OK, it's time to try and update the blog. Again. These catch-up posts probably won't be as detailed as I would like, but at least there will be pictures of what we've been up to this past summer and fall.The last week of June and into the Fourth of July weekend, we took at trip to Arizona for a family reunion for my mom's side of the family. We left after Adam got home from work and drove through the night, hoping the kids would sleep most of the way there. Remind me to never to that again. The kids did OK, but it's hard on the parents, too. The reunion was at a small horse ranch just outside of Flagstaff. It was great to see my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family.

Adam and I left the kids with grandma and grandpa one afternoon and headed up to the Grand Canyon. It was pretty amazing!

After the reunion, we drove down to Chandler to visit my dad's brother and family. I love visiting with family! Josh and Lucy had fun playing with cousins and electronics.

We stayed the night there, then headed home the next day, which happened to be the Fourth of July. We stopped in El Paso for the night, then drove the rest of the way home the next day. That stretch of I-10 between El Paso and San Antonio is a long, lonely stretch of road. Sometimes you just really have to go to the bathroom.

I'm so glad we were able to go on vacation and spend time with family!

4 Years Old!

Josh turned 4 years old in May. It's crazy to think he's already 4. My little boy is growing up.
















That afternoon we went to Pump It Up with some friends to play.













The next night, Adam didn't have to work, so we had our little family celebration after dinner. I made Josh a Thomas the Tank Engine birthday cake, which he loved.




















Josh got a new bike for his birthday. He's not so sure about it yet. He still prefers to ride his tricycle, but hopefully by the time the weather cools down in a couple months, he'll be ready to try out his new bike again.



Josh has been in speech therapy for a year now, and Adam and I can see lots of improvement. He still has issues with beginning and ending consonant sounds, but he'll continue working on it as he does speech therapy again for another year. We're also excited for him to start preschool in the fall. Josh loves to play with his trains and his cars. He can play for hours running his trains and cars back and forth along his tracks, reciting the stories and phrases from the various Thomas the Tank Engine episodes he likes to watch. He likes to wrestle with Lucy, which sometimes she enjoys and sometimes she doesn't. He is very concerned when she cries and tries his best to take care of her and get her bottle for her when she is upset. He likes to build block towers and do puzzles and he loves playing with Mama and Daddy.

Here are some of his 4-year-old pictures.

























































































We love Josh and are so glad we have him in our family!