Merry Christmas and happy birthday Jesus!

Santa Express!

We are new members to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and we love it! There are tons of trains to see and climb into and on the weekends you get to ride the real thing. For the holidays, it's the Santa Express. Santa was not on the train but he was in the depot. The best part was that we got a tip from one of the trustees that you can also ride in the "pop" car! What a treat for 2, 2 year old boys!

10 photos for 10 months!

Ohana is 10 months today! In honor of this I picked 10 photos from my iphone that have never been seen before (I don't think)! She is crawling and wants to walk very badly. She loves her brother and is quite the daddy's girl. Such a sweet temperament and those big blue eyes!!!!

O Christmas Tree!

I love that our tree came from a lot that helps thin the forrest. It was hard for Boyd to pay for a tree since we usually cut one from his dad's property. But it's Ohana's first tree and Rigel helped decorate it. Having a live reindeer at the lot was also fun.

Labor of Love!

I have been busy making tutus for a holiday craft fair. Rigel would ask me why I was making the tutus and I told him they will be presents for someone. He then asked if one could be a present for him... well yes it can! This was made of mostly leftover tulle and black. It's my labor of love for the one I call my "little love"! This will also be great teenage black male;)

Weekend of Thanks

Thankful we have started potty training despite accidents.
Thankful for cute outfits and smiles
Thankful for family walks and wagon rides
Thankful for baby wearing and being close
Thankful they are healthy and happy... and mostly gentle to each other
Thankful for attention... no matter the cost!

Happy Weekend of Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!!!!

Little crouper trooper

Croup is a nasty viral sickness that is going around here. It's best known for its seal like barking cough. Ohana is not barking but her cough is harsh. We got the only medication that helps with the cough symptom. She also spent time in a steamy bathroom last night and then out in to the cold night air- also to help her cough. Her night was better, but not great. Luckily she is still nursing like a champ and was able to come into bed, nurse, and sleep next to me for a few hours- then the cough came back. The night before, Boyd and I took turns in her rocker all night while she went from sleeping to coughing to crying then to sleep again.

Despite all of this, she still smiles at everyone who catches her eye.

I caught this shot right as I put her down for her nap this morning... almost makes up for it all.

9 Months!

Our baby girl is 9 months... where did the time go?

We just delight in who she is becoming and how much she adds joy and laughter to our family.

You are trying very hard to crawl.

You light up when your brother walks in to the room.

You are very happy and usually smiling.

You are more curious everyday.

You let me dress you up and so far, are not pulling the flowers off your head.

You are expressive with your tongue... it's really funny.

You squawk so excitedly every morning.

You love to pull Rigel's curly hair.

You still have sweet blue eyes.

We love you Ohana!!!!!!!

Thinking Holidays

We are big on money saving around here. I really never pay full price for anything. On top of that, I'm learning about cash back shopping, coupon sites and just plain earning free stuff. So far I've earned $60 in FREE amazon gift cards for just searching the internet the way I normally would. We will pay for the kids Christmas gifts with this as well as maybe a little reward for myself for being able to earn free money! None if this is that hard and it has literally paid off for us as we are thinking of the holidays! It actually makes shopping fun and in ways, stress free. Happy shopping everyone. Click on my links in this post to connect to my favorite shopping tricks.

The photo is the goal of my next shopping hunt! Won't Ohana be so cute in this dress.

Trains Trains Trains

We were able to get an amazing deal on a family membership to the Colorado Railroad Museum. Since Boyd was gone ALL last week, we were in need of some family time. Wonderful fall day and tons of trains!

Girl style!

Boyd loves carharts. He wears them all winter and was happy when we found baby ones when Rigel was little so... now we do them girl style!!!!!

Teeth!!!

Our girl is getting her first pearly white teeth. Can you see 'em?

Those people...

I thought I was one of "those" people... natural birthing, recycling, bargain finding, blogging, non-hfcs eating (high-fructose corn syrup), tech savvy people... but maybe I'm not. I'm good at multi-tasking but maybe just not that good at any one thing. In fact I'm pretty average at most things. I usually want the average of what I do to be just a little better. I love my friend Melissa. I email her at least once weekly about how she "did" something. She is sweet enough to tell me and so I dream of being her pesky neighbor. Basically I wish she would mentor me about how she "does life". Just in the little things like blogging, making jams, sewing something and creating fun things that she just likes! Well here's the latest deal from Shutterfly. We have made 4 photos books from them just for the cost of shipping. We will do this I'm sure as we got our last years cards free too... why wouldn't you. Hopefully she won't kill me for making my post about her! She taught me how to have "links" in my posts;)

Costumes and seat

We finally got a better shot of the two kids in their costumes. Tigger and the baby chick rocking party #2! This wasn't easy as Tigger kept wanting to kiss the chick... who can blame him!

When Rigel was smaller someone gave us one of those bath seats which he just never used. Ohana used it for the first time and loved it! She is sitting in the bath big girl style.

Costume Preview

Tonight our friends had a Halloween party. They are the type that go all out! The front yard is a cemetery, there are zombies dining at a table on their front porch, the bathroom has a "psycho" shower curtain, there are fake mice hanging from the chandeliers... and on and on. So we do our obligatory dress up and walk the few blocks to their house for the festivities.

Ohana had to have a tutu costume... come on... so baby chick she is! I coordinated as a farmer. Cheesy, I know. I need to get a better shot of Rigel as Tigger and Boyd was a 'Zoo Keeper' to go with our little Tiger, I mean, Tigger!

Fall Fun

It wouldn't be fall without a trip to Cottonwood farm. It's the perfect size for 2 toddler boys and their baby siblings! Pumpkins, animals, tractors... oh my! It was a balmy 80degrees today.

Ohana is sporting one of Boyd's all time favorite baby clothing items a la Jeds!

Last night Boyd treated us to cookie dough and Rigel got to lick the beater... yum!