November 2009 - Picture Purge

Gavin's field trip for November. He got to make his own pizza at Papa Johns. Coolest field trip ever.

Sauce, pepperoni, and cheese, mmm-mmmm.

Gavin and friend Carson

Annika and her curly hair. It is naturally curly. She does have this layer on the very top that is stick straight. I curled the top layer here!!! So beautiful.

Thanksgiving 2009

With the Urvina's

Grandpa and Grandma gave all the families a Little People Nativity set. They are a hit.

Sam with his two daughters Tara and Ila. Ila is with her mom Heidi.

Great nativity for kids.

October 2009 - Picture Purge

The last months have been very busy with many activities. Here is our October summary.

The older kids we think got the H1N1. They camped out on the couch for a while. Annika was not sick, she just wanted to do what the big kids were doing. I couldn't let her up there with the kids so I got G's little couch and she thought it was great. She loved it.

Gavin's first field trip to a pumpkin patch.


Gavin was feeling a little nostalgic when he saw his old dalmatian costume. He just had to put it on. When he was 3 and actually fit in this costume, I couldn't get him out of it. He had to wear it everywhere.

Madi's Elphaba pumpkin!

Gavin's bat pumpkin.

Annika as a leopard kitty. Madi wore this when she was this age!!

Madi as an arctic fox!!! My first attempt at a homemade costume. Definitely fun but way more expensive!!!

Cousins are always fun to go trick-or-treating with!

Jeff and Val as John and Kate Gosslin!! Love it!

Visit from Grandma and Makayla

While Joe and I were in Canada my mom and my niece Makayla came from Utah to help out with our children. They had so much fun with grandma and Makayla. They don't get this opportunity very often. They enjoyed every minute and barely missed mom and dad while we were gone. I think Anni missed us a little!!! The first few pics are not the best quality. We took them with our older camera.

Makayla, Madi, and Gavin decorated this stump that is in our yard.

Starfish we found at Kopachuck State Park.

Makayla and her sand dollar. There are so many here we couldn't not step on them.

Grandma and Annika after a picnic lunch.

Madi and Makayla in the midst of all of those shells. So cute.

So hard to say goodbye to such a good friend.

Grandma, Makayla, Madilnn, and Gavin in our backyard.

... and 3 kids in a pear tree.
(Our pears are starting to look really nice. I can't wait to eat them.)

Makayla

Flowers and Greenery from Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens

Finally, pictures of our trip back in April. We went to Butchart Gardens on our anniversary. Here are a few from our trip. We took so many so here are some highlights. I will do another post of just flowers. The gardens are just gorgeous. We weren't even there for the rose blooms. I have only been there in the spring.

Joe entering the Japanese gardens.

The main house. This is now updated and turned into shops and dining.

Adrienne in front of the rose gardens. They were not in bloom while we were there. There were rose bushes and vines all over. I am sure it is quite spectacular.

It is so incredible to think that these gardens were a once a private residence. Joe and I really enjoyed ourselves there at the gardens. We walked around for hours. It is such a peaceful place. I am hoping one day I will have a beautiful garden of my own. If it is a 1/8 of what Butchart Gardens is I will be happy.