Merry Christmas!

I haven't sent out any cards yet because I'm not happy with any of the pictures I've gotten of the kids. That, and we've been busy celebrating Keithmas!

Keith and Laura are here from Las Vegas so having the whole family all together is the best gift!

Have a wonderful Holiday!
love, Amanda, Greg, Zack & Emily

Oh Christmas Tree!

We got our Christmas tree on Saturday! We went to a tree farm in Poland that was offering horse drawn wagon rides out to the field. We we just missed taking a ride with them as they were done for the day when we got there, Zack was more excited over riding on a "bull-dozer" anyway. I really like this tree farm, their trees are a flat price no matter what kind or how tall and they've got a nice set up. We ended up with a Norway Spruce.

Zack had a great time and I hope this turns out to be one of his fondest holiday memories.

She dresses herself...

Happy 5th Birthday Zack!

Zack is 5 years old today! We've been celebrating his birthday for almost a week now! First we had a party with some pals from our playgroup. It was Mickey Mouse themed since Zack & Mickey share a birthday.
At one point or another, Zack said he wanted a football cake, so I made one in the shape of a helmet for the family party.

This morning I blew up a bunch of balloons and piled them on him while he was sleeping.

And then we celebrated with his classmates today and when daddy gets home, we'll go out for a birthday dinner (betcha pizza is involved).

We love you!

Tricks & Treats!

Trick or Treat Night, Friday, October 31, 2008

Emily age 3 & Zack age 4 Emily GAVE away candy!
and she got plenty!

Zack is proud of his Jack O'lantern, it's the pumpkin he picked out of Uncle Joe's garden, he was trying to get passersby to stop and take a look.

Halloween 2008 ~ Zack's Costume Review

At one point Zack told me he wanted to be a superhero for Halloween, so I was happy to find an Incredibles costume on Ebay for a steal. Everyone at the Trail of Treats event got a kick out of his mustache (pronounced moose-stash by Zack). Mr. Incredible also went to the Scrapper's Field trick or treating event. He wore this train conductor outfit to our first Halloween event of the year and it ended up being the outfit he wore trick or treating, to the library and to school. I had bought those overalls just hours before so this was a total spur of the moment costume!

He had also mentioned fireman and firetrucks are one of his current interests so I'm really surprised he didn't wear this more often (turns out the pants were to big).
I already posted a picture of him at Borders Bookstore in his UPS costume from last year.

For Christmas last year, Uncle Kirk & Aunt Meghan made Zack his very own Super Zack cape so I covered the I on the Incredibles costume with a Z that matched his cape.

Halloween 2008 ~ Emily's Costume Review

We kicked off the Halloween season with a party at a friends house. I couldn't get Emily to put on her costume or anything in her dress up box but she agreed to the Steeler Cheerleader dress.

She wore a set of fairy wings to the library, mall and Zack's school program.

The cat outfit was worn to Borders, dance class and trick or treating at Scrappers Field, Deerasic Park, the nursing home and around the neighborhood.

Finally, Emily wore her Shirley Temple dress to Uncle Kirk's & Aunt Meghan's party.

Pumpkins!

Uncle Joey grew pumpkins in his garden this year. He invited his nieces and nephews over to each pick one out. His square watermelon turned out cute so maybe we can talk him into square pumpkins for next year! This is at the pumpkin patch we go to every year, we thought this one looked like a butt! We also visited a pumpkin patch with Zack's class but it was such a rainy day there aren't any great photos.

Our Jack O'Lanterns!

Trick or Treat at Borders bookstore

One of the hundred Halloween related activities we've done in the past 2 weeks was a storytime at Borders. After the story, the kids were taken around the store to trick or treat.

Emily rejects any treat that is not candy by handing it back (or to me) with the comment "I don't need this".

After trick or treating the kids made a craft and played a musical chair type game. During the game some of the children were bopping along to the music and the clerk said "oh you can dance along if you want" so Zack gets in the middle of the circle and does his breakdancing.

Happy Birthday Mason!

Mason is 7 today!Hope your day is a real treat! We love you!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan is now 6! Hope you had a great day! We love you!

Flu Shots

I took the kids for their flu shots yesterday. This Tribune article sugar coats Zack's experience as his screams are still echoing in my ears!
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/512796.html?nav=5021

Zack must have cried"I'm never coming here again" 50 times while Emily left the center skipping.

Happy Belated Birthday Wishes

I'm behind on wishing Happy Birthday to my sister, Jessica and sister in laws Mandi & Meghan. Hope you guys had great days!

Grandmas

Sunday was both my Grandma Olmstead's birthday and the 50th anniversary of St. John's Lutheran Church of which my Grandma Tollefson was a founding member. Here's my dad with his Uncle (her brother) and my Grandma. Thanks to my mommy for getting me this photo!

I'm glad we managed to get up & at'em nice and early to attend the service. It was nice to see some of the photos other members shared.

I know this church isn't anything spectacular to photograph but I kinda regret not getting a photo in this spot when Greg & I got married. This picture of my first born will do (I only wish my second would have posed too!)

Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!

Our baby girl is 3 years old already!Newborn Emily Pauline
First Birthday Party
Birthday Breakfast at 2 years old. Daddy fixes a special breakfast for birthdays.

Earlier this week at Chucke E Cheese. We're going to have a little party this afternoon and tomorrow I think we're going to take her to Build a Bear to make her present.

Our Little Prince!

The Lordstown Apple Cider Festival was this weekend.

Zack entered the Little Prince competition.