September, October & November

September was a great month.  I am so thankful I take pictures, because as I sat here trying to remember what went on in September, I couldn't think of a dang thing.  I went through my pictures, and everything came back in an instant. 

Austin started Karate in September.  He LOVED it- had a great time.  One of his friends was in his class as well, and they were glued at the hip.

 One of our great friends came to town with his wife and kids, Chad and Margo.  We went up to Leavenworth for the day, and Austin had a blast at the hat shop.  Sydney was more interested in the toy store next door.

 This is Sydney... she's not real thrilled that I am bothering her during her toy exploring.

One of the BEST parts of September for me was going to a concert with my momma, Melinda, and Chelsea.  We got to go to ZAC BROWN BAND!!!!  I guess I'd better change my songs on here so you all can here them.... one of my FAVORITE bands- so I was pretty excited to go!  Also was my FIRST trip to the Gorge.... even though I lived here for 18 years, I had never been!  

 Part of the band.  Zac is the one with the guitar.  Not much to look at, but a GREAT artist!

At the end of September, one of my very best friends, Melinda, got married to Brian.  It was a beautiful ceremony in Ohme gardens. 

In October, we were on our way to Oregon to visit Dad, Nancy, Nannie and Pa.  Also Connie and Paul at the end of the trip. 

So, Austin had his last day of Karate..... here with his "girlfriend" Carley. (Who happens to be the daughter of my childhood best friend, Amy.)

 Austin also had his last day of School here in the States for THREE YEARS!  Here he is with his wonderful teacher Noel. 

Nannie and Pa are now living with Dad and Nancy after Pa's diagnosis of cancer.  Here are Austin and Sydney camping out with Nannie and Pa watching t.v.

This is one of Austin's favorite parks.  It just so happens to be quite close to Gramps' house!  

We also went to the river.  Didn't stay long because it was FREEZING!!!

It's crazy how beautiful Fall can be!!

Nancy aka Grammie also had her 35th birthday while we were there ;o)  She chose to celebrate at the new Red Lobster in town. YUM!

And of course.... Gramps got pampered!

Arts and crafts for the kiddos!  We left Gramps and Grammie with some artwork to decorate their house for fall.

The kids were so cute one morning.  For some reason they wouldn't come out of the bedroom until their pancakes were done.  So Sydney crawled out of the pack n play and into bed with Austin.  They laid there and talked and giggled for a good 45 minutes.  It was pretty cute to see.

Then, off to Bend, OR to see Auntie Connie and Uncle Paul!

Here's Austin at the Smith Rock corn maze.  It was a Star Wars Theme, so Austin was beyond excited.

End of the day grouchiness happiness!

Zoo Train Ride.  Austin was super excited to ride on the Giraffe.  Sydney on the other hand just wanted to get out to go play in the dirt.  All.  Day.  Long.

 

Back home to Washington just in time for Halloween.  Both kids were/are sick, so it was a very low key, mellow Halloween this year.  Austin didn't even want to carve pumpkins!  Even so, they were pretty cute!  Austin was Optimus Prime, and Sydney was a Hello Kitty Witch.

We took the kids to a Halloween kiddie carnival one night for about an hour before Austin's fever returned.  Then on Halloween, I ended up having to take Sydney to the doctor and found out she came down with a double ear infection (again) along with some pretty swollen tonsils.  So she and I stayed home while Nana and Papa took Austin trick or treating.

Austin got to see his cousins on Halloween.  Tanner, Bryce, Hailey and Maddi.  Austin adores him. 

So that brings us right to November!  Time is starting to fly now.  And it's only going to go faster in the next few weeks.  43 days until Bryant returns- and we couldn't be more excited!

The movers will be here shortly to pack our stuff to ship to Germany, and I will be having to make a trip to Seattle to ship our vehicle as well.

In the middle of this month we are going to make a short trip back to Mountain Home to see some friends before we leave for Germany, so we are all excited about that.

Another biggie of this month is Sydney is going back in for surgery.  She will be getting tubes in both ears again as well as adenoid removal.  Hopefully this will be the end of our bad luck this year! ;o)

Well that's all for now!! Stay tuned. =)

xoxo

k.

August (Picture Heavy!!)

August started off with a bang & Austin got to see one of his best friends from Idaho, Sammy.  And I got to see his mommy Tifiney! =) 

Austin, Brin, Sydney & Sammy

By the end of the day I was in tons of pain, yet again. Bryant was due in 3 days and I was more than a little ticked.  My back decided not to like me and went out.  So needless to say I was in a lot of pain during Bryant's visit, but we made the best of it and had fun anyways!

I drove over to Seattle and met Bryant's plane.  He was very tired, but so, so happy to be home.  We stayed the night in Seattle and drove home the next morning.  The kids had NO idea that their Daddy was coming home, and they were absolutely stunned.  Austin just stood and stared at Bryant, not sure what to think, nor what to say.  Then jumped in his arms and hugged him for a long, long while.  Sydney was a little more reserved, standing back for a few minutes, and then once she hugged him everything else was moot.

After the homecoming we hung out together for awhile, and family started showing up for Austin's 5th birthday party.  We had an outside party for him, with lots of water, and all the kids had a blast. We enjoyed being with the family and our friends, and LOVED having us 4 together again. 

 This is my nephew Joey.  (Bryant's brother Jeremy & his wife Jenn's son)

 Jeremy, Bryant, and their dad Mike

Caught Grandpa Sleepin'. 

On Austin's real birthday, he wanted to make Pizza's for his dinner.  So we got all the making's and came home and made homemade pizzas for dinner.  It was a lot of fun- and he really loved it.  Then he got his own little mini cake to blow out a candle on, and then changed his mind and wanted a banana pudding filled cupcake (made by his Nana) instead!

 Makin pizza with my favorite boy!

 Eating his birthday pizza!

 Loved the candles!

 Blowing out his candles!

After desert Austin, Daddy, Unc and Sydney got into a Nerf gun war, and it was probably the funniest thing I've watched in a long time!!

We also got a family picture on Austin's birthday right before we took him out to McDonalds!

The next day we headed over to Seattle.  Sydney had her testing over there, so we made a little family vacation out of it.  We walked around the U district the first evening and had dinner and got Starbucks.  The next day we went to the Aquarium, which the kids LOVED.  Later that afternoon, Sydney had her testing and did wonderfully.  After that we went and found a new hotel because our first one was HORRIBLE.  So horrible in fact, that we checked out a day early, and got a full refund.  So we found a new hotel, and then we headed out for dinner.  After dinner we all went swimming in the hotel pool and the kids had a blast.  The next day we trekked to the Woodland Park Zoo.  We had so much fun there- the kids absolutely loved it!  We went and found a mall and had dinner there, and then headed back to the hotel.  We'd decided to stay an extra night because we thought we were going to do the Duck Tour the next day.  Once we got there, they were completely booked until around 6 that evening.  So we decided to just head home.  With coffee in hand, of course!

It was a great weekend, and a fantastic family vacation.  The first one we've ever had in fact!

 In Seattle at the U District

Dinner at Johnny Rockets 

 Dinner at Johnny Rockets

 Getting ready for the Aquarium

 Sydney during her testing.

 At the nice hotel.  Having a blast because mommy and daddy

let them eat dessert in the bed =)

 Zoo family picture

 Kids in Downtown Seattle

We had a great time while Bry/Daddy was home, and miss him tremendously now.  We are so, so thankful for him, and the sacrifices he makes for our family, and also this country.  He is an amazing man!

We're also thankful that we only have FOUR MONTHS LEFT!!!!!  It feels so, so good to say that!  It seems like forever since we sent him away in December, and now, four months seems do-able. 

That's all for now!

xoxo

k.