Piggy-tails

After Anna's bath her hair always seems so long....so this evening I started playing with it and realized I could get it into two pig-tails....sort of. She looked too cute! I took her out to the living room to show Craig. He laughed. He loved it!

The only hang- up is after about a minute and a half she realizes something's in her hair and she pulls and pulls until it's out. This is a brand new girly experience for me. How long will this last, I wonder. Should I just keep trying to get her used to hair "pretties"? Parenting is always such a learning experience......haha!

Turning 30

December 17th was my 30th Birthday. Craig and I spent our first night without kids in a hotel since before Will was born! It was wonderful. We shopped all day at the Lincoln City outlet malls, had a nice, romantic dinner at Kyllos, and watched a movie....in the theater!! (another rarity:) We returned home Sunday very rested and rejuvenated. Ama and Papa were so kind to stay with the kiddos at our house. Turning 30 was great!

It's always an adventure!

Today we headed out toward the Alsea River to find the perfect Christmas tree. We had high hopes, and were bound and determined to get the most out of our $5 permits! Turns out the tree pickin's were slim, but the adventure was great! After hiking the mountainside we finally settled on this one (here's Will and I showing it off before Craig cut it down). Later, Craig felt bad I didn't get a beautiful perfect tree (it's more along the lines of a Charlie Brown tree, but I like to call it a "wild" tree:). We talked about the memories we made, and I reminded him, "honey, it's just the Button way". Which it truly was.

Plus we got TWO tree's for $10 and so the boys got to put the smaller one in their room and decorate it, which they LOVED!

Anna joined in on the decorating. She managed to eat, break, and take off several ornaments! I should be busy these next couple weeks :)

Getting out the ornaments.....

The three in front of the finished product!

Let her eat cake!

Anna is officially ONE tomorrow but we celebrated early with our families over Thanksgiving weekend. In true Anna fashion she took her cupcake very seriously. I can't believe my baby girl is ONE! She is close to walking 100% of the time and is cutting her 5th tooth. She is so much fun!!

Presents! Anna got lots of girly clothes, a little people plane, a new baby doll and doll bottles! Ama Button recovered a child size cushy rocker chair and Anna has spent HOURS so far sitting in it with her babies. I tell ya, girls and boys are SO different!

Anna and Gramme.......

Notice the family resemblance??

One year......almost

An early one year photo of Anna. She is walking around furniture and even taking steps to us if we hold out our hands. I thought I'd have at least 'til Christmas before she started walking, but that might not be the case. She is as sweet as ever and such a happy girl!

Pumpkin Carving Fun!

We got together with some friends and carved pumpkins. Will wanted a "spooky" one, Wyatt wanted a "happy" one, and Craig carved Anna's to look like her...complete with girly eyelashes and two bottom teeth! Happy Halloween!

One apple + two teeth = hours of entertainment for a teething baby

Anna found this apple that Wyatt at taken down and enjoyed gnawing on it. With only two teeth it was hard work, but she did a pretty good job.

3 little pumpkins

Here are our three little pumpkins! We visited the pumpkin patch again this weekend to let Will pick out his pumpkin. What a beautiful fall day we had. The sunshine and crisp air felt great.

Here is Anna in the cart full of pumpins!

Fun at the patch

Wyatt's pre-school class visited the pumpkin patch this week! I got to go along for the field trip. Wyatt had fun picking out a "skinny" pumpkin. "I want a skinny one 'cause the fat ones are more spooky, mom", he said. :)

He also got to choose indian corn and a gourd to bring home. He picked out another little white pumpkin and said, "I want to give this one to my Annie girl!" I thought that was so cute!

His MOST favorite thing was the hay slide! He rode down again and again, oh and he also loved making "snow" angels in the wheat pit! Only my Wy-boy!

I'm sure we will be visiting the pumpkin patch again this week (Will was dissapointed he didn't get to go) so I'll be posting more pumpkin pictures!!

Reading with Dad...

Anna and Dad spent some time in the rocker "reading" books a few days ago. Anna has started to sit still for a few minutes and look at books. She also likes to just pull them all of her bookshelf and make a mess! Moments like this are sweet and I had to take a picture.

Also, you can see our nice front lawn through the window so this pictures serves as double duty for an update on our grass!

Little punkin

I've got the knitting bug again. It's been about a year since I've knitted anything and my friend Christi inspired me to try this pumpkin hat for Anna. Don't look too close, there ARE mistakes!

Now our little pumpkin is all set for the pumpkin patch!

Hunting in Lakeview Oregon

This was a pretty big year for us. The last time we were in Lakeview Will was 6 months old. It's been 5 years and we finally drew our tags. Craig has been looking forward to this since we found out in June :) We had a wonderful time, and I thank the Lord that the kids all did great and everything went smoothly for us. Memories in the making.......

JT's buck! He got an awesome three point on opening morning. It was very exciting to have a buck in camp. Wednesday morning before we left Jeff got a forky for Craig to tag and his brother Chris got a bear! Meat in the freezer.....yeah!

Little pink cammo girl! Anna was the perfect little camper. We set up this gate for her and when she wasn't playing in there she was sitting in her "saucer" around the campfire. She loved being outdoors, the weather was awesome, and the scenery was beautiful!

The boys playing on the quads.....

We went road hunting one evening and the boys rode like this in the back of the truck for about two hours! They loved helping Dad look for bucks.

Thanks, Darbi!

My friend Darbi always gets the kids a little present when she sees them. We met her and her fam Sunday night for pizza and she pulled out two HUGE jaw breakers for the boys. They were seriously almost the size of baseballs! She said, "this is something I would never let Blake (her 3 year old) have, so I got them for your boys!"

Thanks, Darbi! I think when we see you next we'll give your kids a jar of honey :)

Look....a friend!

Anna found herself in the mirror the other day. I am enjoying my two morings a week with just her. I kind of forget what that was like with Will. Anyway, it was so cute to watch her reach out, touch and babble to that "other" baby. I had to snap a few pictures. She entertained herself with her reflection for quite a while!

Lawn project....

Our front grass has always had problems staying green. No matter how much we watered and fertilized it always turned brown by the end of summer. So....Craig decided to take out a bunch of roots, till up the dirt, work in new top soil and re-seed. Now we have baby green grass sprouting up and he is so proud!

I'll keep you posted on it's progress, it is quite the main event around our house!

Wyatt's first day

Can it be? Pre-school already?? Wyatt started this week in Mrs. Porter's class and seems to love it! He was very excited and not the least hesitant on his first day....figures! My little social bug always seems to adjust well. I am enjoying my two mornings a week with just Anna.....girl time!.......but when 11:00 comes I am so ready to pick up my little boy!!

Soccer....

Today Will had his first two soccer games! They were so much fun! I wasn't sure how it would all pan out, but I had a great time cheering for him, Wyatt and Anna played well along the side lines, and Will even scored his first goal! He was a great encourager, always cheering for his team when he was on the side lines, as well. He really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to an awesome season :)

Oh, ya....I forgot to mention the best part of the day. Gatorade and a hostess cupcake after the game!

Pretty little girl

This is a pretty recent picture of Anna. She didn't look too happy in the last picture of her I posted, on Will's first day of school. She IS however a very happy and content little girl who is easily contained to the playroom and entertained by her brothers. She "crawls" (on her tummy....still!) and has just recently pulled up to standing a few times which the boys think is so cool.

Look at those tummy rolls! This is Anna's sweet but bashful look. She is such a little girl!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Well, I did it. I got through my first child's first day of kindergarten with just a few tears. (I had my meltdown early on Sunday night and got most of them out of the way :) This morning Will was excited and just a little bit hesitant. When I picked him up he went on and on about his day and told me everything from reading a gingerbread man book to having rectangle crackers for snack. He even got to see Dad out on the playground during recess. I think he will make this trasition easily. It was sure a big day in his life.....maybe even bigger though in mine.

Wyatt and Anna sending Will off to school this morning.....

Will was blessed to have both Mom and Dad walk him to his class today! Here is is dutifully hanging up his backpack and coat before heading into class.

A NEW tradition! Wyatt and I made brother chocolate chip cookies for a special treat after his first day.

Anna Update.....

Anna just had her 9-month check up. She now weighs 21lbs. 13oz.! She is creeping everywhere and is so content to crawl around and let the boys entertain her. Last night Craig and I went out and my parents watched her & the boys. I was a little worried at how she'd do since we have only left her twice before, for a night out. But she did great! She took her bottle and was asleep when we came to pick them up. What a good girl!

She has also popped her FIRST TOOTH! Craig discovered it a couple nights ago and yelled out "did you know Anna has a tooth?" It's her bottom left. It'll be exciting to see her "look" change when she gets more.

I'll post more pictures soon.......

Muley Country

Craig and Will, along with Papa, Ama, and our good friend "JT" headed to Lakeview, OR. this weekend to scout out the terrain and look for bucks in preparation for our hunting trip in just a few weeks. Will LOVED getting to go with Dad, on this "guy" weekend. Well, they did have Ama along......you gotta have a camp cook, right?

This picture is overlooking a 7,000 ft. viewpoint of Warner Canyon! What a sight!

Target Practice

If I'd have been there I doubt I would have let Will shoot this 22, .....but as soon as he told me he got to shoot a gun for the first time he was quick to follow it up with all he learned about gun safety. It was definately a highlight and a teachable moment. Good job, Dad!

What a view....this picture is priceless. I know Craig is so enjoying having a son to take on adventures with him. Soon it will be Wyatt's turn as well.

Our last Hoorah!

This weekend we took one last camping trip as a family (for the summer) to Waterloo, outside of Lebanon. We camped with our good friends, the Arritola's who have a son, Will's age and a daughter Wyatt's age. The kids had so much fun playing in the dirt, water, and riding bikes. We had a relaxing time to visit and enjoy the great outdoors.

Anna's swing was a big hit. All the kids (especially Wyatt) enjoying giving her pushes. She loved it and was a very happy baby!

Will and Ayden digging holes and making roads for their trucks in the dirt.

Bike Riding......

Wyatt is learning to ride the little bike Will started on. Here he is in his Peter Pan top and Larry boy cape. At his age, it's all about being a super-hero. He is doing well, but hasn't learned the brakes yet. That could be a problem :)

Look...no training wheels

Over our camping trip at the coast last week Will learned to ride without training wheels. I had to take pictures of him back at home 'cause I forgot my camera on our trip. He's doing great.....he got the hang of it right away. Craig took them off and off he went! He loves being able to ride fast and do through the dirt and grass. What a big accomplishment :)

Wildcat Hoop Camp

This was the first year Will was able to participate in Wildcat Hoop Camp. He was the only kindergartener there! He learned a lot and had SUCH a fun week. Today was the awards ceremony. He kept saying it was ok if he didn't get a trophy cause he already has one (actually one of Craig's old ones). But he ended up earing 1st place in the cellar dweller competition and got a trophy along with his medal for participation. He was so excited!!

Dad was so proud of his future basketball legend!

Bikini Baby

Anna has no hesitations about showing off her rolls at the pool this week....we welcomed our cousin Reilly home (from 6 weeks in Texas at ballet camp) with pizza and a pool party. What fun! We are so glad she's back!

Dedication Sunday

On Sunday we had Anna dedicated at church. She is now officially 8 months old. We are so blessed and thankful for her life and the joy she brings to us every day. I can't believe how time flies. I'm trying to savor each day and each special moment....