Happy Thanskgiving

Luke, Ethan, Elsa, & Joshua on the slide....

Dearest Joshua and Luke,

From Halloween to Thanksgiving.....here we are.  Even though Thanksgiving has not yet arrived on the calendar, we have had a fabulous time celebrating and being thankful for family.  Last weekend we were blessed with Uncle Luke's family from Minnesota.  Although it was a short visit, it was jam-packed with fun.

Luke, Elsa, Ethan & Joshua waiting to open the presents.

The highlight was getting to celebrate Elsa's 12th birthday and Ethan's 10th birthday.  We had a girls day where Aunt Lisa, Grammy, Elsa, and me got manicures.  Then, we had a fabulous girl's lunch at the Chinese buffet.  It was full of girl talk and fun....something I have enjoyed so much of with Elsa especially over the last several years.  All of the boys had fun staying home and playing together.  In the evening, we had a birthday dinner, presents, and fun with our special niece and nephew.  Other highlights of the weekend included swimming at the hotel, sliding down the steps on a huge bedroom comforter, Legos, and lots of fort building!

Grammy, Luke, & Ethan working with Play Doh.

Then, the next weekend we were blessed with a visit from Aunt Amy's family.  We celebrated mass together, played cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, and drove through Christmas lights. 

Ethan, Joshua & Luke ~ the boys

While we were waiting to eat at dinner, Joshua found a piano that was not being used ~ ready for a performance with chairs for people to sit in as well as a crowd.  So....as you can imagine, Joshua started playing Christmas songs on the piano... Cousin Isaac joined him for a few songs.  After lots of clapping, Joshua continued.  At the end, he came out and bowed.  What a ham!  I am trying not to brag, but Joshua really has talent for playing the piano!  And he loves it!  I think playing the piano and building Legos are two of his very favorite things right now. 

Joshua playing Christmas songs for a
small crowd at the light display.

Joshua informed me recently that when he grows up he wants to be a scientist or an astronaut.  He also said that he better start working on doing cart wheels and back flips so that he can be the best astronaut.  After a good laugh to myself, I told him that he better start working on science skills and learning more about outer space. 

Joshua, Levi, Luke & Isaac at the nativity scene.

During the last few weeks, we had our first parent/teacher conferences for the boys this year.  Miss Vicki, Luke's teacher, had all good things to say about him.  She even referred to him as the "perfect child."  What a good feeling that he behaves so well at school and that he is learning so much.  It is a little difficult to imagine Luke being a perfect child at school because we do have our challenges at home.  :)  But I am so proud of him.  He has a kind heart and a rule follower - especially at school.  Also, Miss Vicki had a picture of him outside the classroom that showed him sitting in the author's chair reading one of his nursery rhyme books to the class.  He is very much into making his own books right now.  And he loves the chance to read them to an audience!

Joshua's conference went equally as well.  We were surprised to find that Joshua has been working on some extra work in class with the Swiss Family Robinson book.  He did not mention it, but he has been working on it for a few weeks.  Joshua's teacher has been a great fit for him.  He still loves school every day, and he is learning like crazy.  He especially enjoys the science and social studies themes. 

I love you both more every day.

Love,
Mama

Halloween Fun!

Luke & Joshua ready to trick-or-treat!

Dear Joshua and Luke,

Recently we attended a play for Joshua's very good friend from school, Ashton.  Ashton starred as Snoopy in The Great Pumpkin.   Ashton did such a good job, and Joshua was so proud to be there and watch him.   Ashton and Joshua have been friends since the first day that Ashton moved here and started kindergarten in Joshua's class. Ashton and Joshua have many things in common .  They eat at the same lunch table every day since they both have food allergies.  They usually play together at recess, too.  They have had several play dates at each other's houses.  It works out well that Ashton has a little brother about Luke's age, too.  They are all very good kids, and play well together most of the time. Ashton's mom and dad are lots of fun, too.  We are all very lucky. 

Mom, Dad, Joshua & Luke Walking Toward a Cure

We also completed our second annual walk for Moving Toward A Cure.  I am so proud of Joshua for wanting to advocate for himself and for other people with food allergies.  Both boys dressed up as Yellowstone Park Rangers even though Joshua's team was named Joshua's Jedi's.  We hope to get a few more people to walk on our team next year and help us to raise even more money for research on food allergies.  I am definitely proud of Joshua for wanting to teach others, too. 




Grandma Nichols visited us this weekend, too.  It was so nice to have her over since it has been  a long while she she was able to come over and visit us.  Grandma Nichols has been sick with colon cancer.  She had the cancer removed about six weeks ago.  She appears so strong and seems to be doing very well.  You both often tell me that you hope I am  like Grandma Nichols when I am 81 years old.  Me too.  I think you say that because you both really like that she draws with you, plays with you, and gets around pretty big.  She can outrun most of us when we go shopping with her.  You do not even know all of the amazing things Grandma Nichols has done in her life. (I probably do not know either.) When I was growing up, she built a porch and car port, remodeled a garage into a bedroom, installed a furnace, rebuilt a motor in a car, and countless other things. She painted many beautiful pictures.  She has a lot of talent in so many things.  There has never been a job too big for her.  I am very proud of her.

Daddy proudly walking with Spiderman Luke and
Park Ranger Joshua.

Halloween has been fun, too.  You walked in a Halloween parade in town, too.  Luke decided to be Spiderman  for the day.  After the parade, you both played games with several other kids from around town.  Daddy stayed home to give out candy to the trick-ore-treaters this year while I took the boys out.  We were happy to have Ashton and his brother, Levi, and their parents and grandma trick-or-treat with us.  It was a very exciting night that involved lots of candy and fun. 

Ashton, Joshua, Levi & Luke after trick-or-treating.

I love you both more today than yesterday.

Love,
Mama