And he's five...

just like that.
My precious boy.
Happy 5th birthday!

Santa 2012

We visited with Santa at Stanek's Nursery on December 1st. It was really the perfect experience for both boys. There were about 2 other families in line ahead of us. It was very quiet and laid back. We will remember this for next year!

Rowen went right up to Santa and talked to him for quite awhile. Santa was very sweet and really took his time with Rowen. He told Rowen that the kids that go to bed the earliest get their presents delivered first. Rowen has been telling me all week that he wants to go to bed early on Christmas Eve :).

 

As we expected, Pax was not fond of that scary looking guy so we had a family shot taken. Eric just loved Santa snuggling up to him ;).

We left with gifts! Santa gave me bulbs, Eric a candle, and the boys candy canes. We also saw two of Santa's reindeer at Stanek's. Rowen was sure one was Comet and one was Dancer.

Fall 2012

What an incredibly gorgeous fall we had! We enjoyed it so much. I think this is one of the best falls we have had with so many fun outdoor things to do and so much opportunity to play outside. I am really missing it today:(.

In September we went to Papa's work party. Last year they had the party around Christmas but this year they decided to do a fall theme. Rowen rode a horse again and did so great! He was super serious of course but he still talks about it to this day.

Rowen rode the "bull" again this year and loved getting thrown off.

They had a hay bale maze and this super fast slide! The kids had a blast.

Touch A Truck was a great experience. We met up with our good friends, the Sackmanns and the boys had a great time being really silly and running around to explore all the different vehicles.
We will definitely go back next year!

We got one good pumpkin out of our garden this year. Good thing Pax didn't have a clue this year. The pressure is on daddy for next year :). This is Rowen's little pumpkin. He used paint markers to make it into a Jack O Lantern. He worked so hard on it.

I had to include this photo because I couldn't believe how grown up my little boy looked after a hair cut in October... such a handsome boy.

We enjoyed lots of family time this fall. This photo was taken in early October I think. The boys already look so different.

In addition to lots of outdoor play time we had a blast watching Paxton begin to really play with Rowen. Here all the boys are playing cars of course :).

We did not plant any corn in our garden this year but Eric was given a bunch from a friend at work and it was sooooo delicious. Paxton LOVED it!

And of course the biggest highlight of Fall 2012 was probably our trip to Green Bluff with our good friends, the Sackmanns and the Donnellys. The big boys has a blast riding the tractor and the little train. Sliding down the huge blow up slide was a little more crazy this year. I am sure it will only get more wild over the years :).

And the littlest ones enjoyed checking each other out :).

Paxton loved riding in the wagon while we picked apples. He was such a ham while I took these photos.

My two darling boys. 

Life is hectic, chaotic, and exhausting at times, but so very full and joyful because of these two!

We picked out 5 pumpkins. Pax is checking out the dark orange and white pumpkins here.

We carved our pumpkins over a weeks time this year. It is funny how these big projects take lots more time with two kiddos:). The first night we cleaned the pumpkins out and carved one pumpkin. Then a few days later daddy and Rowen carved a second one into a lion face.

Devri and I ran The Monster Dash in Manito Park the weekend before Halloween. It was so fun to run a race with my BFF :) and then see my two little boys cheering me on at the finish line- in costume!! Todd ran the race too, pushing Bennett in the jogging stroller. We were seriously impressed :). After the 5K race Rowen and I ran the kids race together. He did so good- ran the whole way and smiled the whole time too I think! We will definitely do this again!

 Halloween night was a blast! Both boys wore their lion costumes and looked so darn cute! It was a prefect night- warm, really dark, and our neighborhood was overflowing with darling kids in all sorts of costumes.
We met up with the Donnellys (Cooper a race car driver and Quinn a darling lamb) and took off trick or treating. The grandparents stayed at our house to answer the door and take care of Paxton for the second half of trick or treating.

The first snow was so exciting. I think we were outside by 7:30. Rowen loved it but Pax wasn't sure. He couldn't really walk around in all that gear so he was mostly frustrated. The snow wasn't sticking together very well but we made lots of snow angels and threw a few flimsy snowballs. A few days later the boys built a great snowman with Grammy.

And of course we would never miss out on Cooper's birthday in early November! Cooper is now 4. We are so proud of him and love him dearly! Cooper treated his friends and family to a birthday party at Mobius and a delicious chocolate race car cake!

This fall we participated in two art classes through Spokane Parks and Rec. with Cooper and Devri and Bennett and Josie. A Halloween theme class and a Thanksgiving theme class. We had lots of fun getting messy and learned a lot about doing art classes planned and prepared by people without kids or maybe just have forgotten what a 2-4 year old can really do independently. We really did have a great time but both classes involved mom doing most of the work! I have to say though that I am proud of all the work Rowen did do on the projects. He did whatever he could and he did enjoy it!

We have had to find ways to stay busy, active, happy inside this fall. The photo below is a big hit- getting pushed around in the laundry basket. Great workout for mama and a thrilling ride for the boys!! In addition to trying to keep these two boys active we did lots of other fun fall stuff... story time at the library, checking out books each week, doing lots of fall crafts, writing on our "thankful tree" each day of November, baking all sorts of stuff, meeting up with friends for play dates, going to a few indoor play areas, and much more.

Fall 2012 was a success!

First Day of Preschool 2012

 Rowen is enjoying his second year of preschool at Treasure Chest Preschool in Cheney. He loves his teacher more than words could describe and his classmates are all such great kids. We couldn't ask for a better school for Rowen right now. The year started with two mornings a week but then in November his teacher added Fridays from 10-12:30! Rowen was thrilled and so was mommy!!! This boy thrives off of school, learning, staying busy, busy :). And if adding a third day a week wasn't great enough, Rowen gets to take a lunch to school on Fridays (great practice eating in a classroom environment and with his friends) AND sometimes we get to go on field trips on Fridays! So cool.

 These photos were taken on Rowen's first day...

This boy is such a great kid. We are very proud of him.

Henry

My nephew arrived on November 18th at 1:27 a.m.
7 lbs 6 oz and 21 inches long

Welcome Henry Dean Mustard! 

We love you more than you will ever know!

 This is the first photo we got of Henry from TJ. I immediately thought that he looks like TJ and Rowen as a newborn!

Henry was so calm the entire time we were visiting.

 I can't believe it... my little brother is a daddy! He is already an amazing daddy. I had no doubt :).

Proud daddy and his boy.

 

My sister in law went into labor early in the day on Saturday thinking she was just not feeling well but by late evening it was clear that she was truly in labor. TJ sent us a text at about 7 p.m. "confirming" that Erin was in labor and that baby was coming soon. I rode down to Corvallis OR (8+ hour drive) with my parents. We drove through the night through tons of rain! It was an awful drive- I couldn't sleep at all! We got a text from TJ at about 1:45 a.m. saying that Henry had arrived! We couldn't wait to get there and then finally arrived at the hospital at about 3 a.m. along with Erin's family (mom, dad, brother, sister in law and niece). We had to wait about an hour to see the new little family but by about 4:00 we were all taking turns holding Henry and giving mommy and daddy hugs. Henry's mommy did an amazing job! It sounds like a pretty rough labor with no pain meds. TJ was very proud of his wife :).

We got about 3 hours of sleep then were back up for breakfast and to go see Henry again. By about 1 p.m. I was on the road home with Erin's father, brother, sister in law, and niece. My parents are staying all week and Erin's mom is staying into the first week of December. We are so happy that Erin will have her mom there for such a long time to help out.

I got home at about 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and slept hard all night! Yesterday, Rowen couldn't wait to see more photos/videos of Henry that I had taken with my phone and then we were busy all morning making a Happy Birthday card for Henry and then Rowen wrote a darling letter to him. I wish I had taken a photo of it because it is truly precious! Rowen and I went to the post office on our way to his music class to mail the card, letter, and a small gift to Henry. We can't wait to see him at Christmas! We love you Henry.