Our Tree

This morning we packed up the van and headed north to cut our Christmas tree.  The twins took full advantage of the fire pit, the saw, and the abundance of "hide-outs".  Between repeatedly moving the twins away from the constantly shifting smoke (thanks wind), reminding them that the saw is a sharp tool not a toy (we initially allowed them to carry the saw together, but quickly realized our error), and  trying the locate them among the many, many trees (our search for the "perfect" tree quickly turned into an unagreed upon game of hide-n-seek), we managed to make it home with a great tree.

The welcoming fire pit.

Saw exploration.

Meg and Iver.

Our tree!  Jorja's clearly enjoying the power of the saw.

Trying to carry the tree out with a dog on leash and a son insisting on pulling the opposite direction.

Iver's decorating skills.

Reading

Unfiltered early literacy when you have older siblings.  Bring on Star Wars...

and Ninjago!  If you're unfamiliar with either topic, feel free to swing by for lessons in either (or both!).

Grandparents

Grandparents are awesome people and it's been a treat spending time with both Meg's parents and my mom.  They have so much love to give and we have kiddos that are so ready to receive it.

Grandpa Garry and Grandma Linda's first visit with Iver.

Hanging out with the trio of kiddos.

A quiet moment for Grandma Linda and Iver.

After school pick-up with Garry (with their bus stop friend Nate in the foreground).

Building a scarecrow at the local Harvest Festival.

Our completed scarecrow!

Festival games  - Pumpkins in a Bucket...

 

and the Scarecrow Ring Toss.

The twin's recent visit to Grandma's.

Big hugs!

Brady and Anders running and running and running...

along with Jorja and Alli.

Grandma Ruth's first visit with Iver.

The cuddling duo.

Halloween Festivities

We had an excellent Halloween -- complete with a trip downtown to the courthouse for our adoption hearing, an energetic party at the dojang, and friends and family over to our house for a chili dinner and trick or treating.  Fun times all around!

The reason for our trek downtown.

Iver's adoption is final.  (Check out Anders and Jorja's ninja costumes).

The trick or treating gang.

Iver enjoying a Halloween nap (thanks for the card Grandma!).

Move-A-Thon

This past Friday Anders and Jorja participated in their first school-wide Move-A-Thon.  As the biggest fundraiser for their school and with "Lap Goals" of 8, we excitedly pledged each one $5 per lap.  Well, while cheering on the sideline, I watched two very determined kids -- there were no stops, no walking, very little talking, lots of smiling, and  impressive maneuvering around those that were moving slower -- complete a whooping 29 laps (J with 16 and A with 13).  

Lined up and heading over to the starting zone.

A few minutes before the start.

Anders smiling his way around the track.

Jorja in the "zone" of determination.

Counting each participants final tally. Jorja tied her best friend, Caleb, for the most number of laps in the entire class.  She also informed me later that day that she would have run more laps, if she had been able to put her head down for speed and hadn't needed to run around all the other kids.

Look at our Big Boy!

Field Trip

I volunteered to be a chaperone on the twins' first kindergarten field trip. We (along with hoards of other classes, schools, districts, and a few random non-school affiliated folks seeking a quiet, peaceful retreat to the countryside) headed north to a pumpkin farm for an afternoon of crazy. I made it home 5 hours later exhausted, but this isn't about me. A tour:

The slide -- loosely bolted together, crooked, shallow, and requiring a "spotter" at both the top and the bottom. I was thankful for the excess of hay at the bottom of the slide.

Jorja and her best friend Caleb.

Anders taking a turn with the duck race pump.

Jorja shooting out of a tunnel tube.  Not the best with regards to keeping track of your group of kindergartners.

The corn jumping room.  Anders came home with  a pocket full of corn kernels -- which ended up in our washing machine, dryer, and scattered around the laundry room floor.  Enjoy Comet!

Anders with his friends Lucas and Chance.

Anders and Jorja explaining that their pumpkins where the BIGGEST in the whole class.  Guess who ended up carrying them?

Decorating their pumpkins post-field trip.

Integration

Iver has done a great job integrating himself into our household -- we all adore him.

Comet's quite curious about our new addition. Zeek tends to disappear when things get busy or hectic or loud.

Jorja loves to "check" on her little brother.  She's quite the helper (most of the time).

Post-bath for Iver.  He had a great time hanging out in his mesh sling partially submerged in warm water.  It was a group effort.  Anders helped with the washcloths, while Jorja provided entertainment and organized his clean diaper, clothes, and hooded towel.

School Bus Initiation

Anders and Jorja have finally been granted their persistant, energetic request to "WE want to ride the bus! WE want to be with our friends! When can WE ride the bus? Why do WE have to walk?".  Farewell fears of separation anxiety that never surfaced.

Here they are ON the BUS (with me and Gailyn along for the ride to soothe their, ahem our, apprehensions).

They loved it!

Our New Arrival

Iver Theodore was born on Saturday, 9/8 at 8:16am.  Meg had an amazingly smooth labor and delivery and Iver was (in the words of the attending medical staff)  "a rock star" -- staying even keeled throughout the whole birthing process. 

Immediately post-birth. 

Mr. 9 lbs 1.3 oz and 21 inches long.

Swaddled and sleepy.

Getting to know our lil' guy.

Welcoming their baby brother.

And then there were five.

A little love before our hospital departure.

A happy Mommy and baby.

Iver buckled in and ready to head home.