Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving felt like three really long, full days!  It started on Wednesday, when we got to go visit our dear friends, the Armstrongs.  They live in Portland (remember the trip we took earlier this year) and were visiting Stacey's family at their ranch in Salinas.  The kids had a great time running around playing and we got in some good visiting time.  From there we went to my parents' house to visit Uncle Nate and his girlfriend, Cassandra, and Auntie Melissa and Uncle Judah (we weren't going to be there on Thanksgiving and they were all leaving on Friday morning).  It was a fun day, but we were all tired by the end of it (well, I was tired at the beginning of it)!

For a couple of years the kids and I have been talking about doing a race on Thanksgiving morning, but the only one that's local is kind of expensive and doesn't have a 1K for kids.  So, this year I organized a kids race; The Turkey Racers (Seth named it).  We did it at the beach on Thanksgiving morning and it was a hit!  I had been a little worried that we were all so excited about it (and I had spent a bit of time planning it) and then the kids were going to be disappointed, but it was so much fun.  My kids were superstar runners, and everyone that came had a lot of fun.  I think a highlight for everyone was when the dads did a bear crawl race!  There was definitely some fierce competition in that race! 

The littles, all ready to start their race!

And then it was the big kids' turn!

First place finisher:)

Ready for the bear crawl!

 We came home from the race, baked a couple desserts, then hopped in the car to head up to Grandpa Steve and Grandma Jackie's.  We had a great time chatting and visiting (and eating) with family:)  The best part was that all four kids fell asleep on the way home!

These cuties were so happy to play at home for a little while.

Hundreds, tens, and ones blocks aren't just for math!

Kacie got her first taste of food (it seemed like an appropriate day for the milestone)

Kacie liked hanging out with aunt Sue

 

Abby got a whole turkey leg!

A beautiful sight:)

 Friday morning we went back to Grammie Lori and Poppa Phil's house because my mom wanted a picture of all her kids together with significant others (and children)!  While we were taking the picture, I noticed a larger than normal mosquito hawk dangling off the bottom of a table.  After the pictures were done, the bug was noticed and Uncle Judah walked over, grabbed it, and put it in his mouth!  There was a collective scream and then Abby wailed "that's never gonna leave my brain"!

After a couple hours of much needed down time at home we headed out to meet some of the Webbers for lunch at a restaurant on the wharf.  The food was delicious, the company was wonderful and the wee Webbers were very well-behaved!

5 Months

 Get ready for cuteness overload!  Kacie Grace is seriously adorable.  And big.  And adorable!  Her newest trick is that she spits up a lot!  Not the greatest trick ever.  She especially likes to do a big spit up as soon as she gets dressed and is all clean!  Kind of like how she loves to poop in a freshly changed diaper!  She did roll over a couple times (tummy to back), but then never did it again!  She does great at tummy time, and has been getting a little more regular about her naps.  And she LOVES "the birdy song" (ask us if you don't know it).  She will stop mid-cry if you sing it for her!  Every time!

Kacie went to her first fireworks show (and slept through the fireworks)

Everyone's right...she looks like daddy!

She was a mermaid for her first Halloween:)

An Indecisive Halloween!

Oh boy!  This year choosing Halloween costumes was quite the ordeal with the three big kids being very fickle!  Actually, Abby and Haley were fickle from the beginning, and Seth only changing his mind a couple times, but once was about an hour before we were going trick-or-treating!  Ugghhh... at one point I was so annoyed that I actually threatened to never let them pick costumes ever again!

When the kids first started talking about Halloween in July, and at that point Haley was going to be a pirate princess, Abby was going to be a bald eagle, and Seth was going to be a Ninjago character.  Haley was the most fickle going from the pirate princess to Annie (the orphan), Matilda (from the Roald Dahl book), Laura (Little House on The Prairie), Punky Brewster, and finally, an ice princess!  Abby moved from the bald eagle idea to a bird watcher, Elsa, Margo (Punky Brewster's friend), and finally, Super Sister!  Seth stayed with the Ninjago idea for quite some time, but around the beginning of October changed his mind to a Storm Trooper.  He wore the Storm Trooper costume to school this morning and then, about an hour before we were ready to trick-or-treat he started digging through his dress up stuff and decided to wear some super hero stuff and be Super Brother!  Sheesh!  Through all the changes, Carey, Kacie and I stayed consistent (well, Kacie had no say, really) with Carey being Olaf, Kacie as a mermaid, and myself as a referee!

We didn't make it to a pumpkin patch this year, but we did make it to Trader Joes (where the pumpkins are only $2.99!) and as soon as we got them home, Seth was dying to carve them.  I was really trying to get all the kids to wait until closer to Halloween, but when the soccer games the week before Halloween were rained out and we had a free Saturday, they talked me into it.  I think we broke about 5 of those weeny little pumpkin carving knives in the process, but all of the pumpkins got carved, and Carey even roasted some of the seeds.  The finished products were darling, but were definitely looking sad and droopy by the time tonight rolled around (in fact, Abby couldn't handle hers any more and threw it in the greencycle yesterday)!

Pumpkin carving fun:)

It's really the only good time to be a mermaid...before you can walk!

A mermaid, ice princess, Super Sister and Storm Trooper, ready for a fun day!

My name is Olaf and I like warm hugs!

Webber girls ready to watch Seth's class in the Halloween parade.

Super Sister and Super Brother

Ready to trick-or-treat with some of our neighborhood friends.  The rain wasn't stopping us!

Fair Time

We love the county fair.  The kids ask me all year long "when is it time for the fair?"  This year I finally got it together to enter some of their art in the fair, and let me tell you, it was absolutely THRILLING for them to see it there.  We had a great time seeing the dog and bird show, as well as the turkey and pig races. 

Haley's penguin vegetable creature got a blue ribbon.

Seth made a "drill tractor" vegetable creation and got a white ribbon.

Abby made a dragonfly and got a white ribbon.

Abby and her wolf pastel

Seth's whale painting

Haley's blue heron painting

Abby got to be a volunteer in the bird show.

She threw some mango pieces to the toucan!

Can't go to the fair without enjoying delicious food!

4 Months

 As babies do, Kacie just keeps growing and growing!  She turned 4 months old at the beginning of this month.  She's seriously the world's best baby.  I think she has cried 4 times in her life.  Literally.  She will fuss a little to let us know she's bored or hungry, but very rarely cries!  She is quick to smile and freely gives out laughs to her mommy, brother, and her sisters.  And the love is so mutual.  They absolutely adore her.  It's really sweet.  I can't even believe what an amazing addition she is to our family.  She has brought so much joy and peace.  It's really like she has balanced everyone out.  Here's some pictures from her 4th month of life.

Sister love!

Hanging out with Papa Phil at the county fair:)

Ready for Seth's birthday party!

Auntie Melissa came home from Seattle for a visit:)

This girl is such a happy little Webber!