Christmas gifts for the kids.....

I'm in quite a dilema over the presents this year.... in previous years I could slide through the season with minimal effort, but this year, AJ is a keen observer. He has caught on to the fact that most things he has asked for he has received I think.... this could be a mistake on my part. Anyhoo.... he wants a sewing machine, this is not a whim ~ I can't even count how many times he has told us the only thing he wants is a sewing machine with lots of thread. I thought a couple of weeks ago he was over it, when I explained we wouldn't be able to get one because it was somewhat dangerous and TK could get hurt and the directions said he should be 6. I told him would figure something out when he was 5, he responded be saying "how about 4, mom." It wasn't brought up after that, so I figured for awhile he would get distracted with some other novelty, even though he is rarely distracted. We wenting shopping for a friend's birthday gift and I thought after AJ picked out a new toy for him he would have a long list of things he wanted.... nope, he said "Those things are fun for Mason." Is this typical 3-yr old behavior? Well TK was asking why we don't have cats and AJ walked into the room and said "Yeah and I want a sewing machine with lots and lots of thread." I thought oh no here we go again...... It doesn't matter what we get that kid, he is going to be DISAPPOINTED!! Does anyone have any suggestions and please not the cheap pink hello kitty sewing maching..... this is the kid that was not impressed with the child size motorcycles because they weren't the same size as the one on the roads.

more of AJ's picture taking

I helped TK take this one.... I love these kids!
















Mark finishing some tile in the back room

AJ figured out how to hide treats in the dogs' toys,only Louie cares though .

TK and I after just waking up..... gotta love those early morning shots! (:

ummmm

isn't there a weight limit on that thing.....

Seriously..... I thought I could hook the sled to it and let the AJ pull TK around so I wouldn't keep having to do laps. Just a note ~ this jeep doesn't have snow tires and it does not work!!

Snow

Getting a little excersice.....

Fall

Happy Fall! AJ is showing his silly face.

New Room

Finally AJ has his own room.... I mean he has for the last couple of months, but we finally finished painting. It is a fine line for Mark and I as to what we want to spend money on since we are only renting and hoping to be moving in less than a year. So that being said we reused some furniture and still haven't purchased a headboard or curtains. (The blinds were already there.... I HATE blinds!) After much debate we convinced AJ on a lighter shade of brown and Mark added some blue. So on to TK's room!

Trick-or-treat

This was the first year we went trick or treating. We hadn't talked about it much, but after the first house those kids had it down pat! AJ walked down the driveway saying... "I always wanted candy!" TK didn't have a costume becuase everytime we went to get one, she would cry and say everything was scary. EVERYTHING is scary to her..... wait until Santa Claus comes along!!! Then AJ wanted a new costume, but he wanted to be a picture or a mailbox (where does he get this stuff). So I gave up shopping and AJ went with the same costume from last year and TK got a shirt with cats on it..... much less scary.

Halloween party

For whatever reason Halloween was sad for me this year..... I thought alot of the parties we went to last year and the friends we miss. The kids babysitter had a halloween party that we went to and it was fun for the kids ~

Walking Stick

This fellow has been living outside our door for several weeks. He's missing a leg, but still a spry old guy. AJ is fascinated with him and took this pic. I have to say he might be a better photographer than me (not that that takes much)!

He also took a pic of his favorite toy.....

Pumpkin Days

A few weeks ago we attended a pumpkin festival in an adjacent town..... complete with line dancing. (AJ loved the dancing ladies.) OK, so I could have done with out that, but the pumpkin doughnuts were delicious!!! The kids favorite part was the pony rides. I think this might be TK's first memory, it is the only thing I have ever heard her talk about on her own. She definitely loves horses.

Dress

My mom bought this dress quite some time ago, and finally it makes its debut.... now only if I were a better photographer.