Like Father Like Son

I don't know if Ryan would approve my posting of this picture, but I just couldn't resist. Don't they look so much alike?! Same expression and everything, and both soo cute! Love you guys. :)

Mr. Independent

So lately, (since having baby number three) I have been encouraging Carter to become more independent and do more things on his own. So the other day when he wanted to help make his own peanut butter and honey sandwich, I gladly showed him how. A few days later while I was busy nursing Austin, Carter announced that he was hungry and wanted to make his own sandwich so I let him go for it. What I didn't count on was my two year old deciding that he too, could go ahead and make his own! Thats what I get for encouraging independence I guess. He didn't really do all that bad. Luckily I was able to intervene before he got to the honey part.

Our New Addition!

At last our long awaited little Austin Robert has arrived! He came on Sunday February 7th weighing 7lbs 5 oz. and 20 inches long. He is a happy healthy little guy and we feel so blessed to have him here. So far he has been a very calm and contented baby and we are hoping he stays that way.

Carter and Brandon meeting their little brother for the first time

My Boys!

There's definitely no shortage of people looking to love and hold him. Most of all his two big brothers!

A few of me in my sleep deprived perma-pajama state.

He already has daddy wrapped around his little fingers

Proud Grandma

A few close ups

So far he reminds me a lot of Carter as a baby. He is usually very chill.

He loves to munch on his fingers when given the chance.

Haloween

Haloween was fun this year with both boys really getting into dressing up and trick or treating. Like every year I feel like I didn't quite get the pictures I hoped for, but I'll take what I can get I guess. Here are my little monsters...


My cute little puppy dog. He loves puppies right now, so he was very excited to dress up like one. Although some people did mistake him for a cow. (which he was last year)

Carter was dracula

puppy kisses

Carter was not so sure about touching the pumpkin guts. I failed to get a picture of the finished product.

Carter and Daddy, both with their cute litte grins. This is Carter in the same little dracula costume that Ryan wore when he was a boy. (His mom made the costume.) He made such a cute little dracula.

Showing off the teeth. He actually kept them in a lot more than I anticipated. I think he liked them because they were glow in the dark.

The full getup would not be complete without some sort of weapon of course.

Beautiful Sedona

We had a wonderful time in Sedona with Ryan's parents. It is a beautiful place. The kids loved the good weather and the awesome hikes we went on. Sorry these pictures are not always in the order I want them. I guess I still have a lot to figure out when it comes to blogging!

At the end of one of the hikes we went on the kids found this little bridge which they loved. It had very shallow water running under it, and was just right for playing a game called "pooh sticks" (For any of you who have read "The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" you know what I am talking about) It is simply each throwing a stick in to the river and then seeing whose will come out on the other side of the bridge first. The boys love it. This shot is of them bending down to see if they can catch a glimpse of their sticks.

Carter hiking along with the gorgeous scenery in the background.

The pictures really don't do it justice. The sky was so blue that day and the rocks so red it was amazing.

stopping for a well deserved rest.

It is hard to see but all around me there are piles of rocks piled on top of each other. We saw these all along our hikes because people here believe they can create a "vortex" or a place with good spiritual energy by piling the rocks that way. (I think that is how the story goes anyway)

Ryan forging the river. We wanted to hike back a different way then we came, but to do that we had to cross the river. Ryan's parents were good sports and hiked down a hill and came across the river too!

Brandon wanted to explore every nook and cranny.

Yet another river. This time there were stepping stones though.

Another day we went on a hike to the "water slides" They are natural slides that are smooth rocks that the river flows over. At certain times of the year there are lots of people that go down I think but while we were there the water wasn't quite right and it looked a little dangerous. We still made a couple "sliding" attempts at other areas though. And Ryan almost went down right here.

My little mountain climbers

A beautiful Sedona sunset

Carter and Brandon appropriatly sporting their dirt shirts that grandma got them before jumping in the bath. It is actually cupcake that they have all overthemselves though. The brithday party aftermath!