Baby!!!

We are so happy to announce we are expecting our third baby in November! Here is Baby's first photo.

Cousins!

 Angie and I decided that we needed to get a picture of the cousins. We put them in the jerseys my parents got them for Christmas.  Its not easy taking a picture of a baby, 2 yr old and a 4 yd old. Here are our favorites!

 Jake started to help Angie. He started playing peek-a-boo and trying to get Oliver to not cry.

He cried anyway.

 The more Oliver cried, the more Derek slowly scooted away. Jake was told he needed to help Oliver sit up and make sure not to let him fall. He did great!

Fun at the Farm

Angie is in town so we thought it would be fun to go to the farm! I thought Oliver would like all the animals. Who knew he would be terrified.

Derek has liked having Oliver here. Jacob has been ecstatic Oliver is here! He is so cute and patient with him, there is a reason he is the oldest.

I think the cows where the highlight of the farm. Aunt Rachel was a bad example by climbing the fence.
Then Angie started to climb the fence so she could pet the baby cow.

It was only a matter of time before my kids started to climb the fence like a jungle gym. If the Aunts are doing it, why not them?? 


Look... The cow is close to Oliver and he isn't crying!!! YAY!!! I think it helps that he had a bottle and was in the security of his stroller. 

We got a little goat feed and fed the goats and sheep. Jake does the " toss the food" method because he doesn't want to get his hand dirty. Aunt Rachel let them actually feed out of her hand.

Yea, Rachel was nervous with the lamas. She was afraid that if she turned to face me for a picture they would spit or bite her.

Here is a rooster who was quite vocal. Angie thought is was a good idea to let Oliver hear the
" cokoodoodle-doo " from a few feet away. Oliver didn't seem to agree.

 Derek thought it was cool, especially when Auntie Rachel gave her own rooster call.

Jacob decided that he wanted to talk to the rooster , so he joined in . He has an impressive rooster call. 

Look, Oliver is smiling!!

Oliver is sad again.

The kids had fun playing in the little saloon and jail. Derek enjoyed climbing through the windows while Jacob tried avoiding Rachel who had the camera.

We then went into the farm where they started the cow milking They even let the kids and adults try milking a cow.

 Angie, Rachel and Jacob milked the cow. Derek and I where good with just watching. 

Babies!!

 My guppie gave birth!! Right after we got the fish tank a girl guppie had babies, Jake and I loved them. We then acquired a few more fish thay loved them too. They loved to EAT THEM. It has been about a month since that tragic day. Now we can find joy in our new little baby fishes. We put the two super pregnant girls in the separate "mommy space" and where so excited when we saw babies. Then one of the girls ate a baby. I acted as quickly as possible. Putting the pregnant fish in the blue net. This kept the babies safe.

 The mommy fish took over an hour and a half to have all the babies. Dan and I took turns standing above the fish tank waiting for another baby.  This way I could take my little measuring spoon as scoop them up and into the 'baby safe zone'. They make me so happy!

Valentines Surprise

My parents have installed a true love for holidays in me. Something that Dan had to get used to when we first got married. My parents where always trying to make us feel important and loved. They made a point in celebrating even the smallest and commercial holidays with their own flair. I hope my kids grow up knowing they are loved and celebrated like I was. Valentines Day as per Glassford ( now Astin) tradition is a celebration of all loved ones. Dan and I got each other cute little gifts and got the kids Valentines presents. We had a Valentines day dinner ( heart shaped pancakes) and Jake had fun making valentines for family and friends.
But in Grandma and Grandpa Glassford fashion they wowed the kids with this.They tagged our door with hearts and candy. Leaving cute little notes and wonderful presents. Jake saw it and was speechless for a bit, not knowing what to do. I read him the note and told them that his Grandparents loved him and they wanted to give him and Derek a surprise valentine. He looked so happy, he got a four headed orange dragon! He adores it. It is his favorite color AND his favorite number if four!! After about an hour playing with their new toys and having Dan read them their books Jake got a concerned look on his face. " I haven't given them their valentine Mom!! I love them too and they need their candy!!" I explained to him that we where going over for our traditional Valentines Day Dinner with the Glassford family later. That the Grandparents just wanted to surprise you. He then responded, " they are very sneaky." Then he kept playing with Derek and the Dinosaur.

Snow!!

It has been a cold winter, but with very little snow in the valley. It was nearing the end of January and we hadn't had any decent snow storms. We finally had snow that stuck to the ground plus had the quantity to make a snowman! Jacob was thrilled. So was I, Dan was home and HE could go out in the cold and have a Father -son bonding experience. I bundled up the kids and sent them out with Daddy.

Yes, Jacob has pink gloves on. I realized I didn't have waterproof gloves in his size, so he got my gloves.

After building a great snowman they had a snowball fight. Which consisted of Dan throwing snowballs and me and Jake. Jake throwing them at Dan, and me throwing them at Jake. Derek kept running around the yard just enjoying the snow. All the snow melted the next day and we have yet to have snow again. Weird weather.

Dereks Birthday Party

Yes I realize Derek is only two, but everyone should have their birthday celebrated, even little ones. We invited the Grandparents and a few Aunts and Uncles. Jacob had fun helping me decorate for the party. He wanted the dinosaurs to be in a pattern, and refused deviating from it. Aunt Rachel Made the cake and cupcakes, they turned out great! After Dinner we opened presents. Since his birthday is right after Christmas, my wrapping skills have turned into complete laziness. As you can see I even resorted to throwing a sheet over one, refusing to wrap it at all. Jake even got a gift from the Glassford Grandparents! Oh Sweettart Hearts, how you play a part of my childhood!

Then it was time for cake! Derek even blew out his candles without help! That is right, Jake and my sisters didn't blow them out for Derek!

My kids are notorious for being clean eaters. They do not like getting messy, and when they do they need assistance right then to get it off. Most of the time this is a good thing. Birthday cake is meant to be eaten in a messy way when you are small, thus the removal of the shirt. He didn't like picking up the cupcake with his hands, afraid of the mess the icing was making. So Aunt Heather held up his plate so he could just eat it with his face.

  We then gave the kids ice cream. They where excited because then they got the spoon!

We then had fun hanging out and enjoying a fun birthday game I like to call " The Dino Egg Hunt"! It is the exact same thing as an Easter egg hunt but with dinosaur eggs. The kids and Aunts also had fun playing games in the castle. Thanks to everyone who came, it was super fun.