A Family First

We did our first as a whole family:

We went to the movie theater!!!

Pierce and Dan were there too, just couldn't get a good selfie of all of us. Ha!

This was so exciting. Saffryn and Pierce have both been to the theater before but not all of us as a family. It was so fun to be there together experiencing it all together!

We went and saw The Good Dinasouar. Max did really great for about 45 minutes! If there would have been no previews or short mini movies I think I could have stretched him for the whole movie. But as it was he hit a wall and needed to go out and explore for a bit :)

It's so fun to reach some new milestones as a family!

Thanksgiving and Christmas Activities

This will be a mostly picture blog. 

We went to The Gaylord for Thanksgiving!

They had such a neat ice exhibit. 

Papa and Gigi with the kids!

Fun times!

When we got back from Thanksgiving travel we put up our Christmas decorations!

Setting out the nativity scene with Papa

Decorated the tree!!!

The list of activities the kids told me they wanted to do in December. My personal favorite...eat warm pineapple on a cold day!

Saffryn and I got to go see The Nutcracker with some friends!!! It was the little girls first time and they both loved it!

So fun!

Making Christmas cookies with Aunt Meredith!

Phew! As you can see we have had a busy couple of weeks! Can't believe Christmas is 5 days away!

Movie Marathon

There will be absolutely no spoilers in this blog. I love surprises way too much to ruin it for someone else. But there has been so much curiosity about our Star Wars movie marathon I figured I better write a post! Haha!!!!

My husband is a GIANT Star Wars nerd...I mean fan. :)

He has known for a long time episode 7 was coming out. He had read every possible review and article, any pod cast or blog related to this movie for well over a year. He was so excited about its release. 

A few months ago we found out that some movie theaters around the country were going to show all 6 episodes prior to the opening of episode 7. So we looked into it and saw our movie theater being one of them! Dan asked a few friends and we got our tickets (which was a crazy process!). They were $50 a person for all 7 episodes. Dan's dad graciously offered to watch all four kids ALL day and night so we could go together! Thank you papa!!!!

The first movie started at 4am. We woke up at 2:45 so we could get there before the doors opened at 3:30. There was a long line by the time we got there. Dan's friends were hardcore and camped out the night before and got us awesome seats. We are so spoiled!!!!

We look pretty alert for 3am!

Once we got inside the theater they gave us lanyards to wear for the day so we didn't have to keep track of our tickets and could easily go in and out of the theater. 

Uber nerds I tell ya. 

Movie one started at 4am. I had plenty of energy for this movie and felt great! After the movie we had a 10 minute break to potty and get concessions (they had donuts and coffee along with their normal food. Woo!!!) 

After episode 1. 

Episode 2 started around 6am. Midway through that movie my eyes got very heavy! I caught myself dosing for a few minutes. Oops! All said I think I slept for 10 minutes so not too bad. After the movie we had another 10 minute break then it was episode 3. That was a great one! I don't let my kids watch that one because I think it's too scary so that means I haven't seen that one in a while. I couldn't even remember all of it so it felt so new and fresh! I was wide awake and was having fun!

After the movie was done we had another 10 minute break (and lots of food for the next movie. The restaurant in the theater opened then and served awesome food). Then we started episode 4. Also really fun! I love the old one and got a kick out of people getting excited about watching this one. 

After another 10 minute break we started episode 5 and I started hitting a wall. It's a long time to sit in one of those chairs! I couldn't get comfortable. I was so fidgety. I'm pretty sure I moved around more than the child sitting in front of me! And it's a long time to be quiet!!! I love to talk. So that was getting hard too!

We had another 10 minute break and watched episode 6. People were getting eager for episode 7! It was fun to feel the energy start to build. It was impossible to get comfortable and I kept telling myself I just had to make it through this movie and then I could ride off of adrenaline again. Hahah!

We then had a thirty minute break. We got 3D glasses bc our episode 7 was in 3D. Not my favorite option but that is what the marathon offered. So that is what we got! We stayed in the same theater and same seats the whole day!

During this 30 minute break everyone got serious and made sure to go to the bathroom and have all snacks ready to go because nobody wanted to miss one second of the new movie! Episode 7 started at 7:15 and ended around 9:20 I think. So we were at the theater from 3:30am-9:30pm. 18 full hours of Star Wars. 

It was such a fun experience. It was a LOT of Star Wars. Haha. But it was fun! The movie theater was well equipped for the marathon watchers and were so friendly and fun! The crowd of people (150 or so) were so fun! Lots of clapping and cheering throughout the day. Lots of friendly and relaxed people. That was really great! There were people dressed up. We had a few storm troopers, Darth vador, Leia and Jedi Knights. 

I initially went to this for Dan because I knew it would mean a lot to him. I enjoy Star Wars but am not to the same level of fandom as he is. But, if I am being honest it ended up being really fun and I would willingly do it again for episode 8!!!!

Four Years Old

Ok, so technically he is 4.5 years now. These monthly/yearly posts are getting harder and harder for me to do for some reason. I can write a quick blog about an activity but to sit down and write a lengthy update seems to be too much. Haha. I will try to catch up though. 

Sweet boy is FOUR!!!

Stats: Pierce is wearing 5T and truthfully He could go up a size in length. He is SOOO tall! He is in the high 90's in percentile.  He is wearing size 11 shoes. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. His skin is still very fair and sensitive. It gets dry or irritated very easily. 

Personality: He is the sweetest boy! He is so calm and quiet. He is very patient with people and doesn't make much fuss about things. He loves jokes and can be a tad mischievous though! He is very introverted. He is sure of himself and has a lot of confidence even though he is quiet. He likes what he likes and doesn't try to please other people with it. 

Interests: He is really into space and rockets. His favorite planet is Mars. He is also very interested in art. He loves to sit and create stories and ideas with colors. He is very expressive and loves to get into charachter. He loves having fun hairstyles, fake tattoos, colorful clothing (or costumes) and jewelry. Like I said he is very expressive and creative!

Milestones: He knows all of his letters. He can spell and write his name. He knows a lot of different facts about animals and space. He is getting better and better at knowing how to manage his emotions and doesn't have as many outbursts as he used to. He is great at helping clean up and organize. He has gotten so comfortable in the water now!!! He can go under and swim almost across the pool! So proud of him!

Dislikes: He is a picky eater! He hates loud noises. He doesn't like scary things. He can be slow to warm up to new places or experiences. He doesn't like being wrong. He doesn't like seeing other people hurt or upset. 

Random: He loves babies and children and they love him. He can do things to and for Max that not even I can get away with! He enjoys Legos and Star Wars. He would wear pajamas all the time if we let him. He is a comfy boy and loves comfy things. He still sleeps with his puppy blanket every night. 

Pierce James you rock! Seriously. Dad and I always talk about what a GOOD boy you are! We are impressed with you on a regular basis. We are so afraid you will get lost in our crazy shuffle because you do not rock the boat. But we see you. We love you so much. Thanks for being you and adding so much to our lives!

Little Joey

My mom and I have joked that Max should have a different name. 

Joey

The reason? 

Because this baby has always loved to be held! If I had a pouch like a momma kangaroo that boy would be in it 22 hours of the day. I am sure of it. 

He is a little baby kangaroo boy. A Joey. 

I thought he might outgrow this. And eventually he will. But right now he still wants to be held. All. The. Time. I think part of it is the stress of moving. But another part is just him. It fills his love tank. 

I have decided to stop trying to fight it and let him be the little Joey he is. I ordered a toddler carrier for him and it arrived today!!!

He is so happy in it! I have carried him around already in it for a bit and he just smiled and laughed the whole time. 

Oh my silly baby. You are nothing like my other children. You are you. And I love Ya to pieces!!!

Biggest Splash

There is a stream behind my in laws house. The kids love throwing rocks into it and collecting sticks to go fishing in the stream. The other morning the boys were getting rocks and throwing them in to see  who could get the biggest splash. Without warning Colt got too close lost his balance and fell in. The stream is a couple of feet deep and he went completely under. I ran over to him and he popped up and climbed out all on his own! I was so proud of him. It was chilly outside and the water was cold. Poor baby. And like any good mother I snapped a quick picture before caring for him. 

We got inside and into a warm bath and we talked about the experience. After discussing why it's important to be careful and not get too close he gets quiet. Then, he says in a very serious voice, "I was the biggest splash."  

Haha. Yes. Yes you were. But let's not do that again!

Fall Fun

Here are some pictures of us enjoying some fall weather and activities!

I loved how grey the clouds were and how much it contrasted with the bright blue sky!

So much fun exploring the leaves and lake!

Helping Aunt Meredith make a big pile of leaves...

To jump in!

So fun watching them! He warmed up after a minute and jumped in, too!

It looked like fun so I had to try it too. 

That escalated quickly 

Haha!

Happy Fall!!!