Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving 2010

We spent Thanksgiving this year with Matt's family at his parents new house. They were thankful that they finally were able to move in and out of their temporary apartment! We were thankful to be able to spend the day with family.

Baptism Day

AnnaRose So Happy!
Mark and Grandpa J

Makenna and Grandma J

Makenna and Aunt Marci

All Dressed Up

Fall Beauty

Today we had Matt's cousin Courtney's daughter's baptism. It was a great family day. The kids had a blast seeing everyone and enjoyed running around with all the other little kids. They were thouroughly exhausted by the end of the day!

Another Ninja Day

One of the costumes my mom had brought Mark was a red and black Ninja. He was excited to put that one on as well and use his sword. Whenever he needs it, he usually beckons Makenna to get it for him too. He's such the big brother some days. But Makenna is usually more than happy to get it for him. Sometimes though, she does throw her little attitude towards him.

Wheel Barrow Race

Mark and Makenna have been playing Wheel Barrow Races lately and I don't know where they learned it, but at first I thought it was too cute, but then I became more weary that one of them was going to get hurt. Of course, it eventually happened. Makenna face planted and Mark landed on her, but they both got up and shook it off...and then wanted to do it again. I promptly said, "No More." I'm sure they'll do it again the next chance they get...

Star Student

Mark has been doing so well at school. I have gotten 2 progress reports so far from Mark's teacher and they both rave about how well he is doing. She says that he gets along with everyone in his class (no surprise there about his social skills!), but also that he has been a good listener during circle time (which does surprise me) and that he knows everything that they have asked of him. He's getting a lot better with writing his letters and knows all of his numbers now too. He counted to (over) 100 when in the car with me and my mom the other day too! He also is doing much better with his coloring and the pictures he draws amaze me! I am so happy with his school, his teachers, and how well he is doing with all of it. I think this program was one of the best decisions we could have made for him, and I'm thankful everyday!

Too Cute

Makenna found this hat in the totes that my parents brought of Madison's stuff and she loved it. She wore it the day we went to the Aquarium and then the next day to Church. It was really easy to get her to wear it again though when I found the dress that it matched perfectly. I was sorry we didn't have it before when I took the fall pictures of her in the skirt that matched too! She actually keeps it on all day...and she is just too darn cute in it!

OH NO SNOW!

I could not believe when I woke up on Saturday morning, looked out the window and saw snow on the ground. It had been sleeting the day before, but I never thought it would cold enough to stay on the ground. It made me so sad. Thank Goodness it got up to 55 degrees by the end of the weekend. I was starting to get depressed! I took a picture of Makenna outside before we left for the Aquarium just to prove the snow on the ground in early November!

Black Ninja

Every year the day after Halloween I go out to Target and look for costumes at 50% off. Mark had said that he wanted to be a Black Ninja next year for Halloween so when I found this one I was very excited. He also found these Ninja swords and yes, he has a million and didn't need another one, but he was so excited. He still loves fighting and anything that has to do with it. I was just glad to see him so happy.

Shedd Aquarium

Heading into the Aquarium
Makenna (of course with her fist up-she thinks she's so tough!)

Rowing in the Canoe

Playing in the Penguin Area in their Penguin suits down the slide

My parents took all of us to the Shedd Aquarium Saturday. The kids had a great time watching the show with the dolphins, beluga whales, and sea lion. We also watched a short 4D film of Happy Feet, but they didn't like that there was something that poked you in the back. Other than that they had a great time playing in the penguin area and in the submarine. They were exhausted by the end, but it was such a fun time!

Grandma and Grandpa H

Grandpa H and Iron Man
Iron Man and Mark

Police Girl and Grandma H

Arresting Grandpa

Pretty Minnie

My parents came to visit this weekend and Mark and Makenna were so excited to see them. My mom came bearing gifts of dress up clothes from Halloween. They were so excited because playing dress up is their absolute favorite thing to do these days. They opened everything immediately and put it all on. They had a blast! Of course, Makenna LOVED the police girl outfit since she still says that she wants to be a police girl when she grown up. She had a Great time arresting everyone!

Bowling with Aunt Marci

Mark bowling
Makenna Bowling

HI-5!

I had a soccer game last Saturday and Matt had school so I asked Marci if she could watch the kids. She was able to and decided to take them bowling. This was the first time that Makenna had ever gone and Marci said she loved it. They both had a ton of fun and when they got home, they made sure to tell me that, "No one got all the pins down." But they still had fun!

Break Dancin'

Mark and Makenna still love to dance...

Makenna's Song and Dance

Makenna loves to sing and dance. She's not like Mark where he can hear a song once or twice and remember it, so she decides to make up her own lyrics. It's so funny. She is just very creative sometimes!

Mark Halloween Song

This was my favorite song of Mark's from his Halloween Parade. I had him sing it at home, and Makenna even joined in. It was too cute!

5 Little Pumpkins

Here is a video of Mark singing "5 Little Pumpkins"... a song he learned at school that he performed at his Trick or Treat Parade.

Mark Trick or Treat Parade

Makenna handing out candy

Mark "Trick or Treating"

All Done with a Bag Full of Candy!

Mark had a Trick or Treat Parade at school last week. They got to dress up in their costumes and parade around while all of us parents and siblings got to hand out candy. Makenna was so excited that she got to dress up to hand out the candy to Mark's class. They sang some really cute songs, but Mark was in the back row and you could barely see him so I had him sing the songs at home instead. They had a Great Time!

Exhausted Skeletons

Mark and Makenna were exhausted by the end of Trick or Treating. When I told them that I wanted to take their picture in their jammies, Makenna said, "Why do you have to take so many pictures? I'm done taking pictures Mom." But I had to talk her into just a few more. Mark wasn't on board though. He said he would take one by himself, but not with Makenna so she was telling him, "I'll hold you like a baby Mark." It was too funny.