Russell is 3!

We had another great Birthday week around here. Russell had dinosaur birthday. He was so excited to blow out the candles.He had a great time opening gifts, what child doesn't like that? He loves everything! He got so excited about everything opened.
I know the dino is not great looking, but I did the best I could we played pin the tail, teeth and eye on the dino. Russell cheated.
Our friends the Allen's came over, Russell just loves them to death! Nate even got to help Russell and Chad with the archeology dig. I froze two small dinosaurs in ice and he had to break them out. We needed a smaller hammer.
We got a great deal on balloons and Russell was in heaven. We only did just a few for Autumn's birthday, because we knew that Russell would like it even more. We got one of the balloon time boxes that has the balloons and the helium in it and wow what a great deal. Not to mention that we got it on clearance, doesn't get much better than that, except for the pure joy of your child when he sees balloons on his chair!
This is the pin the tail on T-Rex.
Russell wanted a dinosaur birthday cake, which is why we did a dino party. I am quite pleased at how the cake turned out. No it is not a pan. I found a picture I liked on line and cut it out of a 9x13 cake. He turned out so cute. So to say the least I am very pleased with how the butterfly turned out last week and now the dinosaur.
For breakfast on his birthday, he wanted pancakes with sprinkles. So that is what he got. He Loved it!
On the eve of his birthday, he and Dad set up the tent and did a camp out in the living room, so when he woke in the morning it would be his birthday, Camping! He got to open 3 gifts on his actual birthday, because we did not celebrated till Saturday. He overall had a great time and loved everything, is a bit disappointed that he has to wait another year for another birthday, but will survive. Thank you all for cards and gifts!

Autumn is 1 year old!

Our little girl turned 1 on this last Thursday, we waited to do most of our celebrating till Saturday, She got to have a butterfly cake, and some fun balloons, over all she had a great day!

(side note, Russell is very excited for his party next week)

She was so excited to see that butterfly coming toward her. But she was not so sure about the fire. She ended up reaching for it, so Chad blew it for her.
Aftermath...She had so much fun slapping in it as well as eating it. And no we did not give her the whole cake, she got a piece, we didn't want to give her a voluntary stomach ache.
She loves her new teddy, now she has one that Russell can't say is his. It is PINK!
When she tore the paper, after every little piece came off, she would say, "UH-OH!" Look up at us and then go for another piece.
For breakfast on her birthday, she got pancakes with sprinkles cooked in to one side. It was a better idea than it actually looked. But Russell Loved them, and we will be doing it this week for his Birthday as well.

Hike and Pictures

We had a short afternoon last Saturday and we decided to get out of the house! We went for a cold hike. Russell ran the whole thing, he really is such a good runner. He of course could not pass up the opportunity to throw stuff into the water, aka: feeding the fish.I took more pictures of the kids the other day, and neither one wanted to work with me. But they are still stinking cute! Autumn is going to be 1 year old Thursday and Russell will be 3 the following Thursday! So we are getting ready to have some cake around here.

Idaho Trip

We had tons of fun in Idaho, and the big news that we have to announce is that we will be moving there, specifically Pocatello the end of May! We are very excited for this opportunity, Chad will be finishing his last two years of residency there.

While in Idaho, Chad went on his family traditional boy's weekend of skiing. He said that he had a blast! Not one person walked away with a broken bone, I am so grateful for, but Chad did break both of his skis, better than a bone!

This first one is Autumn trying out the plasma car with her cape on! I have an awesome video of her going on it on my phone, we will have to see if we can't get that on here.
Russell, Megan, and Clint coloring away! Note: Russell wearing his cape.
Nana made Russell and Autumn these awesome capes for their birthdays, this is the only time Russell was not wearing it, he just had not gotten it on, but you can see both really well in this picture. They flew around the house every day. And now my house needs a run way.
Papa made Autumn this cute little chair, she Loves It! She spent most of the week pushing it around the house.
Papa taught Russell to sword fight, I then told him that it was a Russell and Papa game only, no one else is allowed to do it.
We had an un-birthday for the kids, Autumn really liked her owl!
Russell blew his candle out all by himself.

Nana made the cake and cupcakes. Here are the kids owls.

And the big owl.

Here is Charlie, Russell, Autumn, and Alli.

It was great to get to see everyone and to get to play and spend so much time and we look forward to being closer.

Hearts!

A couple of days ago after nap, we put "hearts" on the window! Russell and now Autumn love to decorate the window. Grandma Johnson sent us these fun di-cuts. It is fun for them, because not only do we look at them when we put them up, but every day we say by to Dad as he leaves for work and they always have fun comments. And the heart that Autumn is holding tasted really yummy, you can ask her. Russell painted this rocket ship all by himself, they are lovely choices, he loves it! He had so much fun doing it.

11 months and a loving Brother

Russell was actually feeding bubbles to Autumn just a minute earlier, that had to end. But she was returning the favor.

So ticklish! But you have to know when to stop or it ends in tears.
Autumn's favorite thing do do is get a hold of a sippy cup and she "drinks" the water and most of it she spits out soaking herself. She thinks it so funny! She will even gurgle it.
Autumn fell asleep on my lap one day and Russell wanted to give her a kiss. He gave her LOTS, and she still slept thought it.
If you say "cheese" this is the face that you get, what would you do with it?
Autumn is 11 months now, and is walking very well and loving life. Sorry to answer the hair question so slow, her hair is blond, light brown, red, it just depends on what light she is in and everyone says something different. But everyone says, "WOW look at those Blue Eyes!"
Autumn loves to color, Russell tolerates it for 15 seconds.

She has lots of teeth already. 7 with more on the way
She is walking everywhere now, but crawling is not over rated either.
She is really smiley, it is just really hard to catch it with the camera, she sees it and gets mad, because she wants to hold it.