Bowling!!!

During our visit to Virginia, we decided to go bowling. This was a first for our kids and they seemed to really like it. For about three frames. After a few frames, Parker and I were bowling for ourselves and for one of the kids. We all had fun but we will probably wait a few years before taking the kids again :)

Who knew they made such little bowling shoes? These are Paxton's feet.

A Very Virginia Thanksgiving

Parker's sister, Aimee, lives in Virginia and invited us to Thanksgiving-- we accepted.  The drive was 7 hours (with $17 bucks in tolls-- so ridiculous) and BEAUTIFUL! The last two or so hours are all small, back road highways so you really get to see the beautiful state that Virginia is. Aimee and her family were the perfect hosts for the few relaxing days we were able to stay. Aimee and her husband, Dave, have two girls (I think ages 12 and 9?) who played and played with my boys. It was such a treat to have my boys occupied for long stretches of time. I hope we get to go back sooner rather than later.

Aimee and Ashley making rolls.

Dave made sausage stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer. You don't see any because I ate them ALL.

Paxton didn't care to cook. He just wanted to wear the apron :)

Dave carving a beautiful (and tasty) bird.

The feast.

Happy and full of good cookin'.

Our Family Pictures

I set up my camera and had a friend snap away. These are the best of the bunch. I will have to post the bloopers later. The kids made for some funny pictures.

A Photo Shoot

Some friends of ours needed pictures for their Christmas card. I came to their rescue!

"Big Trucks!"

Our Church held an emergency preparedness fair for the community today. There was loads of information on 72 hour kits, food and water storage, gardening, and first aid. Parker and I went to get some good ideas on really getting serious about food storage, the kids went to see the fire trucks! Our local fire department brought an ambulance, brush fire rig, and a huge fire engine. The fire fighters took us on a tour of each, the kids loved it!

Here is Colton in the back of an ambulance (and hopefully this is the ONLY time), he thought it was great that they had equipment to help animals in case of a fire. 

The $90,000 brush fire rig was from a government grant the fire chief wrote. It was SWEET. It carries close to 300 gallons of water and they let the kids spray the hose. The boys thought it was AWESOME (as you can see from Pax's face!)

Sitting in the bucket seats on the back of the brush fire rig.

On the front of the fire truck. This was the best picture I could get...

Inside the church, they had a kids station. The play dough kept them occupied for a solid hour. I guess it's time for me to start making some!

Shiver me timbers!

Halloween was so much fun this year. Colton and Paxton LOVE the show Jake and the Never Land Pirates that is shown on the Disney channel. I thought it would be hilarious to dress them up as Captain Hook and Mr. Smee and lucky me, my dream came true! It was a battle to get Colton to be Captain Hook. He insisted on being Smee. However, once I brought home the hook from a costume store, he was sold on being Hook. We had a great time going to our ward trunk or treat the Friday before Halloween and again on Halloween night around our apartment complex. People really loved their costumes which made me feel good.

I found Colton's Captain Hook coat at Salvation Army for $10. It's a little girls pea coat from Target! It worked out PERFECTLY once I added a bunch of trim. I sewed some ruffles onto a white t-shirt he already had which he wore under his coat.

I found Paxton't hat and shirt at Salvation Army for 2 bucks total. We had the sweats already :)

Colton HATED this wig. I snapped this picture as fast as I could because I knew it wasn't staying on long.

This picture was taken immediately after the previous one...not happy about the wig!

Trick or Treating around our complex with the shark (their friend, Ethan).

Colton carried his bucket on his hook the whole night!

These brothers were SO HAPPY to be out past bed time AND getting candy!

We walked around our complex for about 45 minutes. These two were so tuckered out after that they slept between 11 and 12 hours that night. Such a bonus to the tired parents!

Cleverly's in Kirtland

One other place we went with Nicole is Kirtland. A visit to the Lybbert's isn't complete unless there is a visit to Kirtland (a historic site to our faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The kids had fun walking around the sites together.

And shame on me not getting a picture of just Nicole and I!

A Cleverly Visit

My sister, Nicole, and 3 of her 4 kids came for a visit from Indianapolis. I was so flattered that she would drive six hours to come stay in our small apartment (well, small compared to her house!) while she had a break from school (my rock star sister is in dental hygiene school--with four kids!). First on our to-do list was a trip to Lake Erie. It's a few short minutes down the road from our place and it never ceases to impress. It's so massive, you feel like you are at the ocean.

Sticker Party

Colton: "Mom, come quick! Pax and I made you a sticker party!"

...they threw me a party on the fridge...

Days at the Park

We are sad that days at the park with our friends are limited. Colton and Paxton LOVE going to play group each week. It's going to be rough having to stay inside more often as temperatures continue to go down.