Snow Day and Service!

Today the kids had a snow day! Madison was up bright and early asking if I had checked the news yet! It started snowing yesterday morning about 11am and for the most part it hasn't stopped. In fact it just started again! We accumulated about 6 inches over night and more since then!
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I took Travis to the bus stop this morning so he didn't have to walk in the snow! The bus came at 7am and didn't get into work until almost 10am! He said it was horrible! He's debating on going in tomorrow especially if the snow doesn't stop!
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This morning I had a desire to shovel snow! I know what you are thinking! She's 8.5 months pregnant she should not be doing that!! Well I needed to check the mail, so Zachary and I put our boots and coats on and I made one path down to the mail box. Well Jed and Eli C. came out and told me to stop, and that they would clear our driveway for me! They are such great boys and did me a wonderful service this morning! I thanked them with hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies!

Jed
Eli
Zachary felt he needed to help too. He had on his pjs and no socks! I finally convinced him to come in and put on warmer clothes!

Then Madison wanted to come out and play with Eli and Jed's sisters Amy and Alyssa! They built a snow fort, a snow man and a slide! They were outside for over an hour just playing in the snow! Zachary had frozen and dried snot on his face! (Think Dumb and Dumber!)

This is the slide/snow fort they made out of the snow from 1/3 of the driveway!

Zachary climbed the "hill" and said, "Look mom, I'm the Statue of Liverty!"

I think that is just pure joy on their faces! The hill was about 3.5 feet tall!

Zachary inside the snow cave! He thought it was pretty cool!


One of the last things they did before I made them come in, was to finish their snow man! The neighbor gave us a carrot for the nose, and we used wet sidewalk chalk to make a face and arms!

Thanks December 1st for the snow day! The kids had a blast!

Happy December Everyone!

Best Buddies and other news!

It warms my heart to see these two play together. Zachary is so gentle and loving towards his best buddy Ryleigh! They have a very special bond! We started watching her when she was just 3 months old. Now she is 18 months and to her no one is cooler than "Zaaaa" or "Buuuud-eeeee"

Zachary has taught her the love of trucks and fire engines. He even shares his stuffed animals with her! I look at this relationship and I see the future of him and Brynley!! He is a very special little boy and I love him to pieces!

Ryleigh was a little grumpy this morning, so I set her on the couch with Zach. I went to do some laundry and this is what I found! It was too cute pass, so I had to take a picture!!

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Thanksgiving weekend we surprised the kids with a trip to the movies. We never pay full price to see a new release! We usually wait until it comes to the cheap theater, where it's only $2 not $7.25 per person. A few weeks ago Madison saw a trailer for the new Disney movie, "Tangled!" And asked me everyday for 2 weeks when Nov. 24th was (release date) and if we could go and see it! I told her it was really expensive and I would have to ask daddy.
So we bit the bullet and bought tickets a few days ahead, and took them on "black Friday!" (I was very tired, seeing as I had been up since 2am and had only taken a short nap!) They were very excited, and since then they have been reciting parts of the movie, over and over!





I took these pictures while we were waiting for the flick to start! The flash was a little bright! Don't you just love Madison's new winter hat?!?!


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Baby News!

I had my 33 week appointment yesterday. It was a pretty normal visit except that I didn't gain anything, not even an ounce in the past two weeks!!! Both the nurse and Dr. R asked me if I had eaten over the holiday weekend and was shocked that I didn't gain anything! I assured him that I did!
Her heart rate was normal, and she is now head down and ready!! However she is measuring 34 weeks! So now I have one less week to prepare! I just have to make it through Christmas!! She is now about 5lbs and 17 3/4 inches long! Only about 2.5 lbs to go and a few more inches and Brynley (no middle name yet) McDowell will grace us with her presence!

Pow Wow!

Today, at Madison's school they had an Indian Pow Wow! It wasn't the most politically correct program I have ever seen, but I'm sure we all have done some kind of silly program like this before!

It was just the 4 first grade classes. They sang some songs and Madison even had a speaking part. After they had a "feast" of cookies and juice!! It was pretty cute and we had a good laugh.

Here is our little Indian Maiden!

Here she is with two of her class friends, Dana and Jada.

The next is a video of her speaking part. Since you may not be able to hear what she is saying, this is what she said. "The Indians used bows and arrows to shoot squirrels and birds, and bigger animals, like deer or bear."

That Time of Year!

Every year about this time Downtown Caldwell does their annual tree lighting. They also light up the Indian Creak area. This year it rained and snowed all day. However it managed to stop about an hour before we left. I loaded and bundled the kids up and we headed downtown in 32 degree weather!Being pregnant I do not have a winter coat that will zip up over the bump. And I am not about to spend a load on one so I can wear it for 5 weeks! To say the least I was pretty cold!

They always have a "Thomas the Train" ride for the kids and it's all decorated with lights. I think we waited 20 minutes for a ride that lasted about 45 seconds! Then we headed over to see the Big Man! That line was only about 10 minutes. As we approached Zachary noticed Mrs. Clause and stated, "Oh, there's Mrs. Clause, she's pretty!" It was cold but it was fun. We've gone the last 3 years and the kids look forward to it every year!

We parked near the fire station, and they had a truck decorated with lights and a tree. The Firemen were also handing out hats and stickers! Zachary couldn't miss the picture opportunity!!

All along the water there are these light up figures and music playing. Everything is LED so it's really bright and fun to look at!

And here they are with Santa and the Mrs. The kids were upset that Santa didn't ask them the usual question. "Have you been good?" "What do you want this year." So I told them that this was just one of Santa's helpers and the real one would come a little closer to Christmas. Good thing they bought the story!!

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Weekend!!

Fun with Friends!

Our good friends the Crockett's came up for the weekend! They used to live here, and now live in Utah. The last time they were up here was 2 years ago! The kids had a great weekend, even though us parents were completely exhausted!

Madison is only 7 months older than Carly and Zachary is 2 months older than Brandon! Kristen is also expecting a girl and is due 2 weeks after me! It's great to have good friends with kids close in age (even if they live in Utah!)! I totally spaced taking any pictures until Sunday morning before Church!

The girls would only take a silly picture!

Aren't these boys just the cutest!

"Do we have to have our picture taken?!?!" We had such a great time this weekend! Thanks, Robert, Kristen, Carly and Brandon for the visit! Now it's our turn to come to your house!

Baby Update!

Yesterday I had my 31 week appointment! And so far all is well on the baby front. She is measuring 31 weeks, weighing in at about 3.5lbs and about 15 inches long. My doctor told me that I should be ready to go at then end of my 37th week!! That's 6 weeks people! I think I am just about ready! I have only gained 10 lbs which is awesome! I am down to two, 2 week appointments, and two, 1 week appts and she will be here!!! Madison and Zachary are super excited to meet Brynley! Zach says that he will be her buddy and Madison says that she'll just be the big sister! She's pretty good at that!! So here is the 31 week belly shot!

Go Ducks! Happy Birthday Beth! & What????

Well most of you may know the Ducks played the Washington Huskies today and won!! 53-16! Shannon, Devin and Ryleigh came over and brought homemade blackberry ice cream to share! Although the first half of the game was low scoring and intense the 2nd half of the game was awesome!

Zachary got to lick the huge dasher! (Sorry Shannon, you looked and I snapped!)

Today was also our good friend Beth's birthday! She also happens to be a Husky fan! So all week Madison planned to make a sign to hang on Beth's door that said, "Go Ducks, Beat the Huskies!" So this morning we did just that! We taped it to their front door so they would see it as soon as they got home! Beth is also one to document things that happen and so in true Beth fashion I remembered to bring my camera!!! (Beth, if you want to use these pictures you can!)

Madison also needed to add a duck saying quack and a husky saying woof!

She was so proud of her work!

Zachary didn't want to be left out of the fun! So Happy Birthday Beth! And we are so sad that your team lost!! GO DUCKS!
In other news. Before we go to bed we check on the kids. Travis went to check on Zach and he wasn't on his pillow and he couldn't feel his legs. He was also completely covered. So Travis pulls back the covers and finds this....

And this.........

Don't you love his Agent P jammies!!!

Skipito Friskito and an Army Police Man!

Since Madison and Zachary's trip to Oregon this summer, they have fallen in love with Skippyjon Jones. We now own 4 of the books and we read them at least 3 times a week! The books have some Spanish words in them and since we read them so often Madison now thinks she can speak Spanish. She adds "ito" to the end of everything, and thinks that magically turns every word into a Spanish word! What a nut! Anyway, in honor of her favorite book she went as Skipito Friskito the Great Sword Fighter!! It was a fairly easy costume to make and put together! I think I spend $7 total! Some people knew who she was and some she had to tell!

Zachary went back and forth quite a few times on his costume decision. First he wanted to be Bumblebee from Transformers, then an Army man, then law enforcement. So Travis convinced him that he should be an Army Police Man! I think what sealed the deal was the face paint! We already had the camo clothes and hat. So I made him a utility belt, so he could carry his handcuffs and walkie talkie!

He told me that Army Police Men are brave! So this is his way of being brave!

I asked them to pose and this is what I got!

The Loot!! This was after 2 days of trick or treating!

We also did a Trunk or Treat at Church on Saturday night (we forgot the camera!). We had a pretty good turn out and a ton of people were there! Since our beloved Ducks were playing at the same time, Travis agreed to come with the family. It was hard for him but he made it through! His sister Shannon recorded the game so he was able to watch it start to finish! And what a game that was!!!

Our friends Josh and Emily out in Oregon sent us this years spirit shirts for the Ducks! They say "Quack Out Loud!" We usually wear them on Saturday's or whenever there is a game! We have been "quacked" at in the stores before! It's pretty fun! Madison gets a kick out of quacking back!
So this picture is for Josh! I had gotten mine a size big! And good thing I did because this kid is growing fast! Thanks Josh!