Presents arrived from out of state and I was all worried about Emma wanting to open them right away, it obviously wasn't a problem. This box will last until Christmas Day when they'll open all sorts of fabulous gifts that will bring them even more boxes to play with...
This is Mike's nightly routine. A chocolate shake. Most people think I mean some sort of health shake when I say that. But no, it's a good old ice cream, milk and chocolate syrup kind of shake. This particular night we were running a little short on milk so he had all containers on the counter to make the proper "balance."
Here is Emma helping "doc" cousin Kim. Apparently we can't officially her dr for another year and a half but we've never been a family to follow silly rules like that. Aside from being a med student she is also sought after for her pie making skills. We stole her from our family in Kingston and enjoyed every minute of it.
Now, you're probably looking at this picture going "what the heck??" Let me explain. Our POWER went out. And it went out at the worst possible time, about 45 minutes before dinner hit the table. No whipped potatoes. The turkey was finished in the bbq, the greenbean casserole was cooked on the stove top (we have gas), food was warmed one at a time on the stovetop, no one cared.
It was actually very beautiful. We put out candles thinking the power may still be out when we sit down for dinner.
It was.
So, Emma is still at the age where helping mom is cool. I try to be grateful and have her help, even though it generally takes longer. When she starts cleaning the floor she sings like Cinderella and everyone knows you can't sing like Cinderella unless you're dressed like Cinderella.
After cleaning the playroom floor, it was time (Cinderella announced) to make chocolate chip cookies. Apparently milk is one of the main ingredients in chocolate chip cookies. Fortunately most of the cookies were already in the oven when the last, crucial ingredient was added.
I have to admit that the meticulousness of this four year old can be unnerving. I don't think I want that many eyes on me while in the bathroom...even if they are plastic.
What, no silverware? I'm not wholly uncivilized. My hands will get all dirty! Someone must serve me!!
Thank you Aunt Julie. The frosting will be sufficient....chop chop!
Okay so there actually IS an explanation to what you're seeing. 
Sometimes we enjoy the outdoors in a quiet, peaceful way. Sometimes we do this.
I thought this would be really cool with all the leaves on the trampoline. I was a little disappointed that they didn't go everywhere, Emma however, was thrilled with the effect.
This really has been the most beautiful (weather wise) fall that I remember up here. I'm not sure what that means as far as precipitation this winter. We don't want rain. We DO want snow.
I know Emma is hiding something on the table...
something she doesn't want me to have...
OHH! It's Pink it must be hers!!
Gramma - "Come on Jack, let's crawl!"
Jack- "But I don't WANNA!"
Gramma - "Come on Jack!! Lookie! Balloon!! It'll be fun! You'll be a big boy!!!!!"
Gramma - "I'll even HELP you!"
Jack - "Whew! I win again ;)"
Heels to the left, scoot bum.
Switch.
Heels to the right, scoot bum.
I know, I know, right now you're asking yourself, "Who is Jenny?" and "Why do we care about her wedding?"
Jenny (formerly Naujoks) was Julie and Steve's FES (foreign exchange student) a couple of years ago when she met Dan who she married yesterday.
And you care about her pictures because I took them and I have to say that I think they're great, oh look at my modest self. I think they spent about a week planning this wedding. They were going to go to the courthouse by themselves and about a week before their court date, friends and family decided to throw them a wedding. It was fun, wildly romantic and about what you'd expect from two people obsessed in love.
This is the LDS Church's campgroung out in willow. It's behind the church where Mike and I were married. Our ward (the group we go to church with) had a campout. We didn't campout but we did GO out.
Some of the minnows were catchable by Emma, that's great 4 year old fun.
Even Jack had a good time, he got to play a little in the water too but mostly sat in the sand.
The train tracks run right through the trail, you can see Denali (McKinley) in the background.
Mostly we go for the petting zoo. They have this huge indoor pavilion where the animals are and besides her very own ice cream cone, that's what Emma thinks the fair is about.
Lucky little Jack got to hold his sister's balloon, for a while.
And this is our reward, a drive home in peace.
STYLE - Thanks Stuie for having a mom with such good taste :)
FIRSTS - Here is Jack eating his first "cookie," he bit off a small piece, spit it out and coughed up the rest. You can see the quizzical look on his face. Mike is begging me to never do it again.
SECONDS - How long I was not paying attention while Emma did this. Fortunately they're children's paints and wipe off fairly easily. Thank goodness for Behr paint.
So Jack would take a bottle when he was tiny, then we didn't bother, now we want a date that lasts longer than like an hour and a half but he's no longer interested in the bottle and gets angry. We thought if it was HIS idea in his chair with something other than milk, he may re-get the hang of it. 
He didn't do too bad but I still think it's a lost cause.
My favorite :)
