and another thing...

Here's some more pictures I neglected to include earlier.  Henry has a nice angry face, and the wolf ears are a nice touch.  Tate received some money from Nana and Papa for his birthday, which happened to be just enough to buy his coveted video game, Mine Craft. Avery blew out her candles and enjoyed being queen for the day.  Ember already enjoys being glammed up.  And I don't know why I bother to set the table, because Henry inevitably come to spread his lovely baby germs all over the place settings, or at least to play some tunes.

Avery's 5th Birthday

Since we already celebrated Avery's birthday with the trip, we just gave her a cake and let her spend her birthday money on the 20th.  She chose a Monster High doll.  I find these dolls weird and a little gross, but Avery loves them and has been asking for a long time to have one.  

Avery requested a Barbie cake, just like last year, so I bought the mold because this may be what she wants every year.  I had pinned a bunch of beautiful decorating ideas on Pinterest, and then Avery decided that she needed to be the one to decorate it.  Let's all recognize my great mom love by letting her decorate that cake!  She did a good job and is actually a great little artist.  Avery is growing up too fast!  We love her and her intense personality makes for never a dull moment around here. She loves to play with play-doh, and to play house with her friends.  She also has started ballet class since her birthday with her sweet friend, Casey.  

Birthday Trip

These pictures got all out of order, but I'm just going to give one big caption for all.

October is the great birthday month around here!  I love it!  Eric's birthday is 5 days before Tate's birthday, so Eric kicks of the October festivities with his celebration September 27th.  Tate is into geography, so his cake is a world map with runny frosting and the number 7!  Although we were celebrating both his birthday and Avery's with this trip, we left on his birth date of October 2nd.  Avery's was a few weeks later on the 20th.  

This year instead of a friend's party, we went on a family trip to Great Wolf.  It was about a 4 hour drive and Henry entertained us by putting books on his head and grunting until we all applauded his great feat.  He would even make sure Avery and Tate were impressed by watching them with his eyes turned while keeping his head still.  It cracked me up.

Upon arrival, the kids posed by the big bear.  I told Avery to sit and smile, but she had a better pose in mind.  Aunt Jenn gave the kids gifts before we left and they opened them at the hotel.  I was really happy that Avery opened an easy craft activity of bedazzling jewelry so she could have something to do while we rested up before swimming.   Tate loved the bunk bed area where the kids had their own tv.  We spent 2 days swimming and running around the hotel and can't wait to come back.  Seriously, we love Great Wolf.  This was also our first family vacation with just us.  I love building vacations around extended family, but this was also really nice and low-key.  From Great Wolf we headed to Portland to spend the night with Ty's family, and then on to Eugene for Taegen's baptism.  I didn't get any photos, but it was very nice and she is a sweet heart.  All 3 kids slept on the ride home.  That NEVER happens!  They were exhausted.

Playing

Lane, Taylor, and Ian enjoyed some dirt play.  It made me laugh to see this picture of Bre and Ember in ma's house in September.  Although it was beautiful outside, as you can see the boys are in t-shirts and shorts, she put on her big coat and hat because mom and dad's house is always so cold!

Baby Round-Up!

This September, during the Pendleton Round-Up, Ty's family came to visit.  I snapped some photos of these cute babies and couldn't bear to edit any out.  They are all about a year old.  Henry is 3 months older than Ember, and 4 months older than Seth.  He loves babies.  And apparently Ember loves to pose perfectly on the front porch.  This is also a month before mom and dad sold their home and moved out.  The grandkids have enjoyed playing on their front porch. There's one close-up of Ember's angry face.  That's the face I see when I am not giving her my food quickly enough.  The girl loves to eat!