Birthday Party pics!

We had 9 kids running around our house/garage/yard for Casey's birthday party last weekend. I apologize that there aren't many action pictures from the party but we were both busy managing the various activities and chatting with parents. One mom was taking pictures and we hope to have those at some point. It was particularly funny to watch 9 kids gather in about a 3 square foot circle around Casey as he opened presents. He had to get up and move just to get some space (and they followed him there as well!)

It was a Cars movie themed party with Hot Wheels activities, cardboard box cars to run around in, a paining project with cars dipped in paint and run down sheet of paper, as well as various art projects.


As fun to play with as it was to set up!




step in and run amok!












Cupcake-a-palooza!


Casey's new bike!!





Taking a break


(your comment here)



and there he goes ....




Casey had a blast decorating the tree too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meant to post these pictures before the birthday ones, so I guess things are a little out of order. We had a nice trip (planes, trains, and automobiles aside) to Mississippi to visit Uncle Mike, Aunt Amy, Michael, and Matthew. Casey enjoyed the big back yard, and following Matthew around whenever he had the chance.


No, he wasn't watching a 3D movie.


On the couch with Dad and Michael


Making pumpkin pie with Aunt Amy






Lily (guess I didn't get a good picture of Copper)




watch out for wrestling dogs!






"seems kind of high"


"yeah, it does seem high"





counting page numbers with Matthew

Happy 4th Birthday Casey!

Hot wheels tracks were the hit of the day on Casey's birthday (Dad had fun too!)
And later we had pizza, so Casey needed to play with the rolling pin and roll out some flour.
Thanks for all the cards and presents that were sent!






A little creative arranging of the tracks









And back at it the day after his birthday.

A few house things

We finally got a hand rail installed at our house. We didn't like the "traditional" ones with the curly-ques and all that frill, so we decided to have something custom made. We were inspired by our neighbor's railing (made of wood) and thought we might try the same pattern with wrought iron. The maker was intrigued and decided to give it a try. This one, he said, will go in his book to show future customers. We love it too! (pattern is "chippendale")













And here are our new curtains and shelves (for toys, mostly) from Ikea.



Oh, and new dining chairs too (boy, need to stop swiping that credit card!!)

Halloween parade 2011

Hot off the presses! I just got back from the Preschool Halloween Parade and here are some pics. Casey was literally bouncing through the parade route. (He was so excited that he got to go home today and not stay for after-care)













I think he said "cheeeese" for about 2 minutes waiting for everyone to finish getting pictures.

Casey the artist.

Just thought you all might be interested in some of Casey's recent pictures. These are some of the first that actually look like something.



He said this was a pumpkin, with arms and legs, and hair and cheeks. He's really getting good at drawing circles. I guess it's from doing all those zeros. Oh, and he put the date on the bottom. (Dad helped with the slashes)




He did this in church this weekend. A bird, that counts from 1-8.

making apple sauce!

Casey helped make applesauce at preschool a few weeks ago and was anxious to try it at home.

A brief message from the professor.

This little guy will sit for 45 minutes or more and do math problems with his numbers. Once he found out about negative numbers he became even more interested. He likes to check his work on his calculator.




Preschool field trip!


2011 3-year-old class


on his favorite swing at our local farmers market store


with Grandma at the park!


rolling down the hill! (and feeling very itchy afterward)