Umbrella Day

Today, Wednesday Oct. 27, Kagan's school had an Umbrella Parade. They have been studying Noah's Ark this month. So we went to the Umbrella Parade and loved it! It was short but cute. After the parade they sang two songs. Very cute!

going to the parade

kissy kissy

love this picture!

waiting for it to begin

Let the parade begin! Roo is wearing blue pants with a maroon shirt and his fall tie, just so you can pick him out.

I have some video but I will try to post it in another post.

Carving Pumpkins

Last night the kids and Chris carved pumpkins


picking out pictures; let the cutting begin (adaline tried to use a straw)

scooping out the guts adaline and her straw

adaline watching; kagan didn't like the "smell" so I finished scooping

cutting and carving

intense.....

ya know, I just realized I didn't get a final picture. I will do that later once I get the candles in.

Our week

Well I don't have any pictures for this post but I thought I would update you on what's been going on in our lives.

First, an update on my dad. He just finished his third round of chemo and is doing very well. He is tired but he still continues to push on and still preaches every Sunday. He still occasionally has to receive blood but other than that he is a fighter. I am so proud of him for his attitude during this whole ordeal and what a Godly example he has been throughout. If you don't already know he has a website if you would like to follow his progress or read his story www.caringbridge.org/visit/joechoate

Second, my grandmother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer a few weeks ago and had a full hysterectomy about a week and half ago. The kids and I flew down so we could visit her and I could help out any way possible. I did get a chance to stay with her in the hospital and enjoyed every minute of being able to help out. My gran and poppa have played an important role in my upbringing. Unlike other kids who barely get to see their grandparents or know who they are, we fortunately grew up with them at almost everything we did. They are very special people to me. So I really am grateful for being able to go see them at a time like this. She was having some fluid retention and having trouble breathing but like my dad she is a fighter and has come through that. She has a round of chemo and is currently at home recovering. If you would like to follow her progress they have a website for her www.caringbridge.org/visit/newtchristinemurdock

Thirdly, while we were down in Florida we went to Hunsader Farms with our friends The Atkinson's. They have a little boy who is the same age as Kagan and when they get together they are crazy boys! They consider themselves best friends :) At Hunsader Farms there's plenty of food, music, crafts, animals, and fun, oh and don't forget the heat.

Fourth, we spent the morning at Terri's house playing with Cody, Abby, Cali and Lexi. My friends from Disney: Jana, Trent, Charles and Maggie all showed up too. We let the kids run around outside and play in the pool. It was nice to see my friends and to catch up.

The kids enjoyed a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, Halloween prizes from their Aunts and MeMee and Bop Bop, some quality time with their aunts and lots of hugs and kisses.

Despite the reason why we went down to Florida it was an enjoyable trip, needed by all of us.

Little Miss

Our little Missymiss is 18mths old now. Where has the time gone?
She has been a little blessing to our family.
Now that she is 18mths she thinks she's the same age as Roo and tries to do
everything he does and has to have everything he has, same food, same toys, ect.

She can say pretty much anything you tell her to say. Actually she talks better than Roo
did at her age, although she doesn't say everything so clear yet. She does like to jibber jabber.
One word she does say very clear is MINE. Thanks to Roo. She thinks everything is hers and she is not afraid to let you know. If you tell her to do something, she will shake her head no and say uh uh with a little smirk on her face.

She also knows her animal sounds so if she sees a cow or a horse, she will say the sound it makes instead of the name (although she knows their names). So if we have chicken for dinner she will say bock bock before she eats it. It's funny but I think you just have to be there to hear her say it.

She also is starting to play with her babies a little more. I caught her today hugging and kissing her baby without me telling her too. She was loving on the baby like we love on her. It was very sweet.

She has finally learned how to give closed mouth kisses. I was so getting tired of my cheek getting bit and it being soaked after one of her kisses. On occassion she will take a little nibble from my cheek. Although she will bite and pinch if she doesn't get her way. She's not all sweet.

She is also socialable. Much more so than Roo. He tends to be more shy and she is the social butterfly. She will tell everyone she meets "HI" even if they aren't paying attention to her.

I'm so sure there is much more to say about her but my brain doesn't work much anymore thanks to the pregnancy.

Adaline has been a special addition to our family and we believe that she will be a wonderful and helpful big sister come the spring. We are very excited about all that is to come for our family within the coming years. God has blessed us with such beautiful and loving children.

Roo's 1st day of Preschool

Our little Kagaroo is finally going to Pre-school. I decided to do what Jac and Kate do with Rylee each year she goes to school and write her grade level on a piece of paper. Let's see if I can be as good as they are and remember to do it each year.


He's holding up his lunch box with says "Mt. Harmony Preschool 2010-2011"

on the way to school: calm, cool, and collected. He said to me "Mommy, when we get to school, I won't cry" I told him "I really appreciate that"

coming in for the kill: a kiss

off he goes.... no tears (from him anyways, me and adaline shed one or two)

I think he is going to go awesome at school. His teacher is amazing and has been teaching for many years. Her name is Mrs. Nancy. She is really sweet but firm and direct and I like that. She also has a big honeypot and each child has his/her name on a teddybear. If Roo gets his teddybear in the honeypot that means he's been in a sticky situation (in trouble) and doesn't get his treat at the end of the day. Pretty good idea!

(to date, roo has had his teddybear in the honeypot for running and jumping in the classroom when it was time for centers, whoops)

Our Kagaroo turns 4

Our little boy turned 4 on saturday Aug. 28th. It's hard to believe that our little 8lb 4oz, white haired baby is now 4 yrs old. He has been such a joy to have in our lives and we have enjoyed watching him grow into the man he is.

On the morning of his birthday, he was way excited to open his presents, so excited he didn't want to wait for Adaline to wake up. So off he went..

After opening his gifts, it was time for his birthday spankings, along with a pinch to grow an inch

He then couldn't wait to go ride his new scooter

He got a gift card from Memee and Bop Bop to Toys R Us so we went there and he picked out a bell for his bike and a Wii game.

Once we got back from Toys R Us, Me(christa) and Roo made his birthday cupcakes. He had a hard time deciding on which theme he wanted for his birthday, so for his bday in N.C he wanted Spongebob and for his cake in FL, he wants Batman. So we put Spongebob on top of his cupcakes and he was thrilled to pieces (we made more cupcakes than shown, he turned 4 so we took a picture with 4 cupcakes)

Later that day, after naptime, we went to my cousin Ashleigh's house to visit with them and to see my Grandparents, who have been traveling to Alaska and back. We had an awesome homecooked meal and they got Roo an ice cream cake. We didn't have candles to begin with but Roo told Ashleigh he needed candles to blow out, so bless her heart, she found some candles for him. Of course I don't have pictures of this b/c I forgot my camera.

Anyhoo, I think he had an awesome 4th birthday. And to top it off, we are leaving for FL on Wednesday and will have another cake to celebrate his birthday down there with all the grandparents and other family and friends.

Happy Birthday Roobug, we love you very much and thank God for you everyday!!!!

Washing toys

The outside toys we quite disgusting with clay and mildew, so I filled up a bin with soapy water and let him have at it. He did a really good job. But then things turned a little hairy.....


finished toys washing the slide

they got the idea of washing their hair in the dirty water,

Roo started it, then monkey see monkey do had to join in

this face is a hoot

I wasn't about to let them inside to eat

Then came nap-time........ahhhhhhh