Quick cousin visit and Happy Birthday big brother

We got to see my brothers family one more time during a quick stop through :).  It was fun to see the kids start right off from where they left off.  It happened to be my brother's birthday, so we had a little celebration with him.  I can't remember the last time that I spent his bday with him.

It is nice to have a super full table! Happy Birthday Rob!

 Chess challenge. 

 J & L playing. 

 The 3rd borns, poor N was sick...

 C & C playing with the dog.  

We miss you all!

Farm Maze Church Trip

Our church had an outing to visit a local farm maze.  The weather could not be better and we had the place to ourselves.

Albuquerque North Valley... it is some kind of city community garden.  Beautiful!

 Everyone gathering for instructions. 

 The boys are ready for their first maze.

 heading back for a craft.

 We can pretend we are in the country!

 Kyle catching something.

 Resting at the gazebo.

 The kids playing on the hay. 

 Josh being goofy with his friend. 

Zoo with TWO!

Now that school is back in swing, I have 2 days a week where things seem simple.  Carter and Austin are my companions on those days- this particular day, we went to the zoo.

It really seemed so easy... And quiet ;). 

 We took the train, because there was only 2. 

 They love each other. 

 Do you know what happens when everyone is at home and the 3 year old blurts out that he went to the zoo today?!  We.go.again.on.Friday.with.all.of.them :).  It was fun too, just a little more noisy!

Into the Wood

I didn't get any Bosque pictures this past fall... BUMMER! But I got a few last September at a wooded area that we like to visit. Nothing beats play time in nature.

Sweet Jacob is always my good poser.

 All the ideas on how to play start being spoken!

 Oh, they are growing so fast!

 Now, if only they were all this cooperative with pictures!  

 Sticks and stones can be anything in make believe world!

 The Big Man.

 And the littlest man... Based on the previous post, now you know why he is usually locked up in the stroller ;). 

 K is always investigating.

 Looking for wildlife in the pond...

 Mallard duck and a Red Eared Slider turtle!

 Family Swing!

 Weeeeee!

Boy Joy Troubles!

Austin's nick name is Boy Joy... He is exactly that, but as you will see in the proof of the pictures- he is also a curious, high energy trouble maker!  He is always into something, but has this certain charming character/sense of humor to him that allows him to get away with his troubles.  See for yourself:

This is how he eats just about everything!  Pizza, oatmeal, bread with butter...

 He looks sweet and cute and calm... don't let that fool you!

 Always on the move and climbing... Big Rock!

 Uh oh... He was quiet for too long!

 And now that I found him, he is going to start a TP fight :)!

He dumps the toy box out to have his own place to drink his bottle! 

 Paint.Markers.

 Ahhhh... There is a green monster in our house!!!!! Oh wait, it is just Austin :)!

 The only time he is calm... Drinking a bottle, he just may end up going to Kindergarten with a bottle in his backpack ;)

 There is his sense of humor charm!  Don't you just love him?!

 Oh no, someone left their cereal bowl out... The scavenger got it! 

 He has given us a lot of lessons on putting our stuff away! If it is out, he will find it.

 Even such, he is so lovable!

 A little terrorizing when projects are to be done...

 But definitely the apple in all of our's eyes!

 And he knows it!

 Someone better move that project, FAST!

We love you so much, AUSTIN!