Snow? Not so much...

It seems that everyone around Columbia MO has been getting snow the past few days. Uncle Robb called with a 12" report! We about hopped in the car this morning for a trip to Lincoln!

This morning when the kids woke up we had about a 1/2" (if that) of snow on the ground. You would have thought it was 8" by their reaction! They have been begging all morning to go out so finally after lunch (hoping it would warm up but is only 20 degrees or less with a much lower wind chill!) I bundled them up. I hadn't done any inventory on what winter/snow clothes they had so this is what i came up with. Addison's pants are WAY too short but everything else seemed to fit great! Yay for not having to go out & buy all new snow stuff in hopes that we get a bunch of snow this year!

Jackson immediately fell down and started making snow angels...

Addison followed...

"Snow sandwich" per jackson

They were lapping up the snow... and yes, i let them!!

the snow LOVED the snotty nose!

I finally got them to come in for hot chocolate with marshmallows

Christmas Tree Decorating 2009

It takes us several hours to put the actual tree up (its a hand-me-down from my parents 8+ yrs ago and I just can't stand the thought of buying a new one!). So, this year we got smart and did it in two nights. The first night Nate & I put it up and the second one was for the kids. They had SO much fun decorating it. Jackson claimed the boy color balls and Addison got the pink & purple ones. Jackson blanketed one tiny section with every ball & ornament he had. We would attempt to sneak them away but he would catch us and get upset! So, later that night Nathan re-distributed. The next day Jackson figured it out...

Addison kept saying "It's so beautiful (bu-ti-fol)". She has to have the lights ON all the time! Nathan also put lights on the outside this week. It's so BU-TI-FOL! I love the christmas season- the lights, the music, the giving, the warm drinks and food, the Salvation Army workers collecting money at each shop, and all that the season brings! I am so blessed to be surrounded by the best friends and family a girl could ever dream!

Addi's year to put the star on!

Kitty wanted to pose in a picture. meow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a very low-key Thanksgiving this year. The Figueiredo's went to Massachusetts and my parents & grandparents headed to Texas. Robb drove in on Wednesday eve. It was a Crouch thanksgiving! We had a very nice day spent at Joan & Bobs. Joan still made a 20lb turkey- for 5 adults!! And I made sure to make plenty of food- leftovers are the best part of thanksgiving!

my boys.

Addi- appetizers before the big meal.

Addi showing Grandpa her favorite new movie- UP!

Gram & her turkey! Delish!

Just us... and our 20lb turkey!

Table Hockey with Uncle. In which Jackson made ALL the rules. If he accidently hit it in his own goal it DID NOT COUNT as Uncle's point. Uncle lost at least 4 points this way!

the winning picture

Halloween!

We had a super fun halloween. Jackson was Red Ranger and Addison was Tinkerbell. They both played their parts well. We had many stops and started early. Off to Grandpa Bob's (Gram was in Tuscon), Grandpa & Grandmas, firestation and then to Kristin & Jon's to eat a ton of great food and TRICK OR TREATING! The kids did great- Addison was getting very tired by the end of it but would not skip a house! The most fun was this week at home with ALL the candy.

Addison is the BEST sharer you have ever seen. It is hard enough for me to stay away from the candy myself- but I've got her asking me "mommy, which one is your favorite, this one? this one? do you want one?" when/if I say no thank you she says "here i will put it here until after lunch- then you can have it!". She practically BEGS me to eat the candy!! This is how she is with everything- she LOVES to share!

Carrot cake

mommy the witch with red ranger and tinkerbell

at the firestation- a favorite place at halloween

Grandpa with Grams snack box! Jackpot!

Grandpa & the kids

Grandma & kids

the friendliest hunters you have ever seen!

kids favorite house. most of the littler kids had headed home. addison is still with us- just not up for the picture!

telling us all about her candy.

next morning- candy counting and sorting and trading and looking and loving!

partner in crime!

Superhero Birthday Party -Jackson 5, Parker 4

This year (second year in a row) we celebrated Parker & Jackson's birthday together. They got very excited about their Superhero Costume party! Joan sewed the capes and then Heather & I attached the initials for each child as their take-away gift. They loved them and were SO FAST while wearing them!

Uncle Robb made the Justice League cake and it was a huge hit- very yummy and the kids dream. I printed off a picture for Parker about 2 weeks ago and he has kept it on his bulletin board this whole time.

When asked what Jackson's favorite part of the day was he said "opening presents, no, no opening my garbage truck". He LOVES garbage trucks and auntie got him one he'd had his eye on for weeks. It was a HUGE hit!

It was a very fun day!

the cousins

the birthday boys

Addison & Jaelyn outside talking

Will the superhero

Jackson & his garbage truck

Jackson's 5th Birthday

We had a fun packed day on Jackson's actual birthday last thursday. Started off the day with chocolate chip pancakes. Mid morning daddy came home and we took Jackson to pick out his new fish. We brought home two fish (not goldfish as we had intended b/c they grow BIG we learned). Below you will meet them- Goldy & Spot. And after about 30 days we can go back and get more. We are "testing the water" literally. Goldy & Spot are said to be hearty fish!

After lunch & naps we headed to Bonkers for some BIG FUN! A bunch of our friends met us there and we had a lot of fun (once the daycare of 30 kids left!!). After Bonkers we met family at Jackson's favorite mexican restaurant! It was a fun filled day and Jackson was so happy!

This was just the beginning of the birthday celebration!

Meet Goldy & Spot

Getting introduced to Jackson, Addison and Jackson's room- their new home!

Jackson at Bonkers

the boys at mexican

Jackson being very silly- and he hadn't even dug into his fried ice cream!

My 4 year & 364 day old...

My heart is SO full tonight! Jackson turns 5 tomorrow! I have had such a great time with Jackson tonight. We let him open his present tonight (fish tank) because tomorrow morning we're going to pick out his fish for the tank. So, we wanted to get it set up and filtered tonight.

Out of the blue (as he often does) he says "mommy, thank you for getting me this present" in his sweetest voice ever. Then we were talking about his day tomorrow. We have a lot planned and I'm nearly as excited about it all as he is!

Before he went to bed tonight we looked through his birth book. He is such a sweet child. And has been so easy to raise! My heart is SOOOO full!!