Happy Holidays!

With only two weeks to go until Christmas, we're settling into the holiday season without too much seasonal stress. The tree is decorated, the stockings are hung and the lights are strung on the outside of house. Both the boys have wish lists long enough to wrap around our house twice, and Alex is already trying to help Santa out by stuffing his stocking with his own Star Wars guys.

All kidding aside, we really did enjoy "trimming" the house this year with the kids. More than any year before, this year the boys - especially Jack - seemed to really remember and cherish the holiday traditions we have started since becoming a family - and that is pretty neat.

We hope our Christmas card finds you all well and enjoying the holiday season. Except for an ear infection, our house is healthy and looking forward to the new year. 2007 was a big year for us with the start of kindergarten for Jack. We enjoyed visiting family and friends throughout the year and look forward to adding a new family member with the birth of our third child this spring. The boys are increasingly becoming excited about the baby's arrival - we're not sure if they are excited about the actual baby or the fact that they are getting new bedrooms - but it's excitement nonetheless.

We can't wait to see you all over the holidays and into the new year. Merry Christmas!

Love,
Leslie, David, Jack and Alex

The Darth Duo

Both boys were Darth Vader for Halloween. Here's some photos from their class Halloween parties. (Yes, Alex is the menacing, dark figure in the back row.) Trick-or-treating was a huge hit this year. We had to take a break during the middle of the evening just to unload their pumpkin buckets so that they could finish trick-or-treating.

October Outings

Although you couldn't tell it from the blog postings over the past month (or lack of), the boys have been busy enjoying fall, friends and family. Here's some pictures from the pumpkin patch and the zoo. We also went camping last weekend with Jason, Jill, Logan and Liam. Although we had to cut the weekend short due to bad weather, the boys had a blast playing in the mud!

Toothless Jack

Jack lost his first tooth on Sunday night. And his second one tonight. Both David and I were quite impressed with his bravery. He asked both nights to have them pulled and said "Let's do it!" I think he was a bit underwhelmed by the gift of the toothfairy. The $2 left under his pillow were not the "hundreds of single dollar bills" he had in mind. But he is very proud of those two holes in his smile!

September 2007

Jack turns 6!

On the old Taunton (now Raley) Farm!

The First Day of Kindergarten!

It's finally here! Jack's first day of Kindergarten. Jack showed no signs of nervousness until this morning when we were driving to school and as we turned into the circle drive - he said, "I'm not too sure about this anymore." He was brave though and made it to his classroom with a little encouragement. I, on the other hand, have been a mess since Saturday thinking about this day. Now, it's 1 PM though, and Jack has only 2 hours left of his first day of school. Maybe tomorrow will be easier on me...

A Few of Our Favorite Moments From Washington D.C.

Seeing the real Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

(The photos weren't great due to low light and no flashes)

Just playing around or 3 kids' personal opinions of the current administration?

(Honestly, this photo was completely unrigged)

Another surprise encounter with R2D2! Who knew he works for the US Postal Service?

A rare moment with all three boys sitting on the steps

of the Lincoln Memorial looking out over the reflecting pool and Washington Monument.

Jack's favorite president.

He was very interested in seeing Ford's Theatre, the place where Lincoln was shot,

and the house across the street where he later died.

Lincoln's portrait in the American Presidents

Gallery of the National Portrait Museum was also his favorite.

Hanging out with Aunt Laura, of course!

Seeing the panda at the National Zoo

And lots of just plain ol' clowning around

We came and we saw

By far the highlight of our trip to Washington, D.C. has been seeing THE REAL C3PO and R2D2 from the movie Star Wars. David and I thought we were going to have to drag the boys away from them, but they did leave willingly after a long, long time. We've also enjoyed the pool, a Nationals baseball game, the memorials, natural history and air and space museums. And the boys are now old pros at public transportation. Tomorrow's itinerary: the National Zoo and the aquarium.

Relaxing In The Rockies

The boys have just returned from their first adventure to the Colorado Rockies. We enjoyed a long weekend of hiking, putt-putt, hot sulphur springs and lots and lots of ice cream (There are something like five ice cream shops in the town of Grand Lake). Jack accomplished his quest of hiking to the top of a mountain (to the top of the tundra at the Alpine Visitors Center - over 12,000 feet) and although it appeared Alex simply fell asleep at the top - we're sure he actually passed out due to a lack of oxygen. We loved our cabins at Lemmon Lodge. Our last night we stayed right by the North Inlet Stream, and the boys had a blast throwing rocks and pine cones into the stream. The hikes were fun, too, although the boys tired out way before David and I were ready to turn back. Two hikers set out on the Colorado River Trail...

...and 20 minutes later one hiker is ready to go back.

We found snow in June!

We made it the Alpine Visitor Center - very windy! This is where Jack's journey to the top of a mountain begins.

We stop half-way for a break on our journey to the top of a mountain peak. Breathing is not easy up here! You can see that Alex is already losing consciousness (just kidding -he was just tired)

We made it. Jack's on top of the world!

A breathtaking view!

Happy Birthday Alex!

Partying while the parents are out

Cousins Logan and Liam have been in town while their parents have been vacationing in Italy. Together, the four boys have been "partying it up" with trips to the zoo, swimming pool and parks and LOTS of Lego Star Wars. Here's just some of the photos of the fun they've had over the past few days. Next week, Jack and Alex are off to Colorado with David to meet me in Grand Lake. We'll be sure to take lots of pictures as the boys have their first adventure in the mountains!

Birthday and Mother's Day Fun!

For my birthday and Mother's Day, the boys took me hiking in Shawnee Mission Park. Yes, we made it to the river this time (actually, it was a lake). Here are some pictures of the boys during our hike. Afterward, we climbed to the top of the tower in SMP. Very cool! I think we really wore Alex out - the pictures at the end are of Alex trying to keep his eyes open on the way home from dinner at the end of the evening.

Lewis and Clark and Clark

The boys took us hiking at Shawnee Mission Park this afternoon. Jack is a real explorer (and a power walker). He kept wanting to lead us off the "beaten path" to find uncharted territories with Alex and Drew as his trusting sidekicks. We're already planning a second trip back - Jack wants to make it all the way to the river.

Things we never thought we'd say...

The boys received Star Wars light sabers for Easter. We went into it with eyes wide open realizing that the inevitable would happen - little kids will get hurt while playing swords. We also thought we could teach the boys how to play without serious injuries. Now we're finding ourselves saying things we never thought we'd say. The most recent one this morning: "If you're going to cut someone's legs off, do it nicely."

Spring Break in St. Louis

A few photos from the boys' spring break trip to St. Louis...