November

My children have been busy! They love to play together but that usually means some type of fighting and huge messes. I am just resigned to the fact that there are always toys scattered all over our apartment. I also believe half of mommies job is mediating. It can make for some long days but they really do enjoy each other and hopefully they are learning valuable life lessons about getting along and sharing. I was in the shower the other day, while both kids were up, I just really needed 10 min to myself and I started thinking, what is this costing me and what is it worth? Well turns out it cost me a box of tampons that my kids opened and scattered all over the house in individual parts. Allie typically instigates this type of naughty behavior and William carries it out to its fullest extent. We are trying to teach William that he is old enough to know better and needs to tell her no instead of think it is funny make the whole mess way worse! There are several of these type of situations I could elaborate on... I told Nick about that particular one and he said "well you don't need them." I laughed, Well that is a good point! It kind of helped me put it into perspective even though they got in big trouble for being naughty.

some days its hard to remember to be patient with the two little rascals but they really are sweet and when the days are hard I just try to remember what a blessing from God they are!

Honestly, who can stay upset with a smile like this one :) Allie LOVES to go potty. I think she has only actually gone once on the toilet but she is adamant about trying. Usually when she gets her diaper changed. She just loves it! Nick thinks it will pay off but we will see.

The other day I was on the computer (in the living room) and the kids were in the back of our apartment playing (or so I thought) when Wills came running out all excited and told me "mommy Allie didn't even cry when I cut her hair" I replied with "oh that's great bud... (info sinks in...) WAIT WHAT!!!!!" I sprinted off to survey the damage and just couldn't stop giggling. I am very thankful that it wasn't to bad. He just gave her some bangs. I still just laugh about this. I really can't believe that my daughters first hair cut was by my three year old son. See they have been busy!her is the trouble maker in action. LOLAnd the result of the hair cut. (she has her daddy's funky callic right up front so her hair parts that way)

Allie is getting so big. She loves to talk! You can totally have a conversation with her. She can say a ton of words now. Along with the usual she says, please, thank you, juice, down, kitty meow, grandpa and grandma (but it sounds like a really demanding mama she LOVES my mom, she has become her favorite person in the whole world Rach asked her if she liked Rachel the best and she said NO and she asked her if Grandma was her favorite person and Allie said YES! it was really funny. I think it is because my mom holds her anytime!) Allie also says ride ( to go 0n the quad), poop, snack, and a bunch of other words that I can't remember. They don't always make sense but she is definitely telling you something! It is fun to watch her develop.here they were having a snack on the wii board.so cute!I thought there facial expressions were hilarious in this one.We made cookies for daddy and the kids both wanted the beater. There is only one so this is how they shared. LOLthey are sweet together. Like when they hug good morning and are just so excited to see each other. It makes mommy smile!

well I have some pictures from thanksgiving flag football to get up but that will have to wait. I have already spent more time on this then I had. My kids are going nuts so please excuse any disjointness...

Yosemite nov 09

We headed out to Yosemite the first weekend in Nov. Yosemite hasn't received that much rain yet this year so the water was a little sparse but Yosemite, as always, is absolutely gorgeous. Nick was bummed but I was thankful that it wasn't a repeat of his birthday trip last year where it rained practically the entire time we were there. Although that trip was great and everything went well Allie would have been much harder this year for that type of trip. Our weather was fine this year. It was freezing cold in the morning and that made the kids crabby but the nights weren't terrible. That may be because I had Allie snugly warming my one side and Wills the other. at least I know they are both warm! Wills actually started out in his own sleeping bag and ended up with me and Allie an hour later.

Here are the photo's from our tripour little family shotsHere is Wills watching some deerSuch a sweet little girl! I love this picture!!!We headed up to glacier point to check out the views.

(I unsuccessfully messed with this a little in photo shop so you could actually see Nick and Wills. (Nick's the only one who really would have noticed :)We had lunch on the river. I love how beautiful it is to be surrounded by huge granite walls

This is back at glacier. Wills had an attitude and didn't want his picture taken.Allie and I in front of half dome ( I look just lovely)Hiking up huge granite rocks with daddy. I love that you can basically walk straight up graniteThese two make me laugh. They are so sweet together. She loves daddy!Nick and Wills jumping off a big tree in front of Yosemite fallsShe wants to do anything her brother doesI thought this picture was funny. Wills road a mile or so on his bike (thus the helmet) while Nick ran with him and Allie and I walked and then we walked along a rive next to happy isles.This picture is leaving glacier. The kids were both cranky so Nick was carrying both of them. I thought it was cuteLooking at a riverAllie wouldn't stop putting her finger in her noise so Wills decided he would join her. Such punks! but funny non the less.

a very pretty picture of the kids in front of half dome

fall

Here are a few of the activities we have been up to this fall. Nick had a birthday back on Oct 28th so we had a little family celebration the night of his birthday completely with a homemade lemon meringue pie, (I only mention that because it makes me feel very domestic to make that pie, its a TON of work! but fun to do once a year for his birthday) The following Saturday Nick had a writing test at school so when he got back he headed to apple hill before we headed to my parents for a little family birthday celebration. Apple hill is a bunch of different apple farms up in Placerville (about 45 min from our house) that have different activities, vendors and food at their farms. We stopped at two different places. The first place Wills got to ride a pony. He loved it. He has told us several times that he wants a horse as he gets bigger, uhh I don't see that happening bud, stick with the dirt bikes, here is hoping one of your Moulton Aunt's ends up with some horses and when we visit we can ride them :)

They got to reach over the fence and pet the pony. Allie decided she needed to climb the fence. She is a GOOD climber. Here they both are climbing away.

It is hard to see but Wills little head is behind Allies. They make me laugh :)Nick and Wills buying our goods. Wills picked out this apple to buy. It was pretty cute. He ate the whole thing. We bought a box of apples and Chrisy and I canned applesauce this week. It is delicious!!! Wills LOVES it. He wants to eat it for every meal. I am keeping tabs on the amount he intakes so we don't end up with some issues if you know what I am talking about...Here is Wills ridding the pony. He wanted mom to walk with him. He cracked me up, he held onto that saddle horn for dear life.

We were headed out and Allie needed some clothes on, clearly, and I was busy getting ready so I asked Wills to help her get dressed. LOL it was hilarious. He was really doing a good job but she is a stinker. He almost got her pants on but I intervened before one of them started getting mad. lol.Williams favorite part of Aunt Rachel's soccer games is when the field clears and Daddy can chase him and tackle him. some unpleasant older lady commented that "that kid is gonna get hurt." That is definitely a possibility but Wills LOVES it. Allie chases them around to try to get in on the wrestling as well.Well those are it for now but as some of you know every year we go to Yosemite for Nicks birthday so I will hope to have those pictures up some time next week.

we like her

My sister plays soccer for her Junior College, Sierra College. We went to several of her games this year and here are a few pictures. A writer from the Auburn Journal contacted her a couple weeks ago and wanted to do an interview. we Love her and are so proud of her.

Here is her article