Happy Election Day!

No matter who wins this election, we pray they will do a good job guiding our cities, states, and country.  And we, here in the swing state of Nevada, are thankful that the election is almost over :)  No more commercials and mailers-yay!

Thankful for...

Our home.  We are so lucky and blessed to have a home.  We think of all of those who don't and all of those whose homes were damaged from Hurricane Sandy.  You are in our prayers!

And on a lighter note, speaking of homes, here is a new addition to ours:

A train table :)



Here is the new train table that John built for Carter.

What fun!

Someone else likes the new train table, too (just ignore the drool and Gerber squash on his outfit :)

"Fun" times eating in our home :)

Thankful for...

My little alarm clocks, named Carter and Noah :)  In the old days, when we gained an hour when the time changed, we would have an extra hour to sleep.  Now, we have an extra hour in the day to be awake :)  We were awake an hour earlier than normal for the weekend, and were able to take a walk and still get ready in time to make it to church at 8:30 a.m. (we don't usually go at that time :)  So, here's to being thankful for more daylight in the morning :)



Cozy on a walk.


Good boy, Hank :)

7 a.m. sunshine.

Thankful November Days

Normally John does all of our blogging, but I (Alicia :) am going to give it a try for this month.  I had to have John show me (again!) how to blog, because it has been sooo long since the last time I blogged.  I have seen on some other blogs, the idea of doing a "thankful" blog everyday in November, and thought it was a fun idea, so I will attempt it.  For those of you who know me, I almost never post anything on Facebook (or obviously blogger), so I will be lucky if I am ambitious enough to blog once or twice a week, but I'll give it a try (hopefully it won't be too cheesy :).  It is November 3rd, so I'm already a couple days late-ha :)  Better late than never, though.  If anyone wants to join me, the month is still young! 

First of all, happy belated Halloween/All Saints/All Souls Day!  Here are some Halloween pics!  I am thankful for a fun Halloween and cute trick-or-treaters (two of them are below :)  I am also thankful for my two fun, busy little boys!  Oh, trust me, we have our share of tough, crabby, EXHAUSTING, messy-house filled days, but also a good share of joyful days with laughter and smiles (and still lots of messes :)  I know they will be bigger and all grown-up before I know it, so I try to be grateful for the fun (and sometimes not so fun :) days and moments with them.  I also try to capture as many pictures as I can, to remember. 
Ok, and for today, I am thankful for a sunny morning to play at the arboretum.  Carter and Noah had a fun time until we got back in the car (then there was a lot of crying by an over-tired 7 month old).  We just have the happy pictures from this morning, though :) 

   





"Helping" dad carve pumpkins.

Two of our cute trick-or-treaters (well, Noah actually only trick-or-treated at one house :)

Our two little bears, and an exhausted-looking mom (I couldn't crop myself out of this pic without cutting off Carter and Noah :)  And yes, that pumpkin is The Count.  Didn't John do a good job?  And shh, don't tell him I told you, but even though he is much more talented at pumpkin carving than I am, it was from a Sesame Street connect-the-dots pumpkin carving kit :)  Neither of us has that much time on our hands :)

November leaves glistening in the northern Nevada late morning sun.

Fun at the Arboretum.

"I won't always eat rice cereal and sweet potatoes, but I'll snack on a leaf, or any other non-edible item, anytime!"  (Don't worry, no leaves were allowed to be swallowed at the arboretum :)

Noah is Seven Months Old!

Note the new Picasa link.  Pictures and a video below.

"Why yes, I am quite the happy guy!"



"Hit it right to you?  O.k."


"What a nice and tolerant dog I have (good boy, Hank)."


Hmmm...  This wagon full of pumpkins seems familiar.



"Old MacDonald had a farm..."


 A nice day up at the lake (yes, Tahoe; yes, on Oct. 15th).



Noah Clapping!

Carter's 3rd Birthday Party

The party was yesterday, but the actual day is tomorrow.  Note the new Picasa link to the left.  Also, fun (non-party related) videos below.



"Yes, I am the Birthday Boy!"










Alex, Finn, Landon, Maddy, Siena, Maya, Thomas, Gillian, Brooklyn, and Carter (I'm just impressed we got this many little kids to kind of sit still for a picture).






"Woooosh!"

Carter Spinning Noah!



We're calling this one the official first word (after all, Carter's was Mom, and I put a lot of hard work into this).  :-)
 

Noah is Six Months (and One Day) Today!

There are lots of new pictures, so, note the new Picasa link to the left.



Out on a hike!


Grandpa and some kids in matching jammies!


Grandma Leah and Noah on the beach!



In the Lake!



Happy Noah!



Fun with sitting!