Happy ThanksgivingOn Saturday morning Caleb/Ainsley/Aubrey slept in until 7!!! I knew it was going to be a great day. We came downstairs, looked out the window, and it was snowing!!!! Aubrey watched from a FAR warm distance while Caleb and Aubrey danced and tried to touch the snow.
After all of the excitement we packed and headed to Winsdor for a Griner Thanksgiving Feast!

After the Feast the kids had a Turkey Race and the adult placed bets (M&M's) in hopes their child would win. "Toddler" Jane won! Aubrey and Caleb loved the M&M's. Aubrey spent the entire day with cousin Faith, Caleb kept busy with excitement (with only one "popcorn" accident), and Ainsley slept.
Caleb went and saw Grandpa Griner and had another x-ray on his front 2 teeth. They are still holding strong!
In the evening we had planned to attend the annual Moonlight madness (Parade, lights at the park, and Santa) but with the cold rain we decided to just see Santa. We got there early, the line wasn't very long, and the kids were excited. Ainsley was the most excited. While we were waiting our turn she would leave my side, walk up really close to Santa, laugh, and walk back. By the time we got to Santa and she realized I was going to put her on Santa's lap pure fear kicked in.

Aubrey loudly and clearly asked for a TENT and Caleb (2 times) yelled A TRAMPOLINE. Last year we waited in line for an hour and Aubrey was to shy to sit on his lap but whispered A Purple Castle. Caleb sat on his lap and asked for a CAKE. For the next 25 days he told everyone he wanted A CAKE for Christmas. On Christmas morning as the kids eagerly climbed the stair so see what Santa had brought them Caleb said "Did Santa bring my Cake?" In the end Aubrey got a pink doll house and she said "I love my purple castle" and Caleb got a Red Wagon (we were lucky/smart enough to have an extra Christmas cupcake close by in case the red wagon wasn't a hit). Will the kids get what they ask Santa for this year??? I guess we will have to wait and see!!!

Since Ainsley sat on Santa's lap (very shortly) he gave her a candy cane. She loved the candy cane! Overall, we had a fun time with family. We are so thankful and feel blessed to have a healthy family, a paying job, and the gospel to help guide us during times that are tough. Last year at this time we were stressing about Finals (which also made us wonder What are we going to do? Where are we going to live?), had 3 kids in one room, and had 2 kids in diapers. What a difference a year makes. I am so thankful and count my many blessings.

*Gas was $1.39 in Lone Jack!!!

Prep-for Saturday's Thanksgiving Celebrations!!
Today started at 5. I was so tired so I plopped Caleb down on the couch and we watched a Clark favorite: Iron Will. I hadn't seen that movie since I was little. After Iron Will we watched Home Alone and by that time Aubrey/Ainsley were awake.

After breakfast, snack, and bath time I left the kids upstairs so I could start my usual load of wash. 5 minutes later I walk into Ainsley's room....Where is Caleb??
Oh, a child's mind. As if I couldn't see the chubby blond boy stuck in a infant bouncer.
And YES Caleb wore his foot pj's all day...he likes to be naked and I thought that his foot pjs would be to hard for him to take off. Wrong.Since we are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow down in Windsor we had some family cooking to do today! Caleb helped me make the KEY LIME pie.

Ainsley wanted so badly to participate. I had her help me with the pumpkin pie. She spent the entire time pointing and smiling!! It was my first time making a pumpkin pie...Thanks Betty Crocker!Aubrey was in charge of making the Apple Pie. I was surprised at how she wanted to measure, pour, stir, and cut everything herself. I was fully intending to make the pie dough from scratch until I went to the store and saw that they had pie dough a dollar off. I saw that as a sign (my pie crust making has been a disaster the last 2 years).
During "nap" time I set up the Christmas tree. I wish I would have video taped Ainsley when she first saw the tree lit up. Pure love!!! The kids couldn't wait until dad came home so they could decorate it! Caleb spread his ornaments all over the place.
Aubrey focused on one small area!
What a fun day we had. Only 2 minor "Caleb accidents" one involving body fluid and my new couch cusion and the other involed a jar of sugar. We made 3 pies, Deviled eggs, and 4 loaves of Whole Wheat Bread!!! Yum...now is all we need is Grandma's jam and we are set!!!

Thanks
Thanks Steff for talking to me while I tried to put the tree togther!
Dad/Mom you are awesome!!!! Thank you for walking me through, descriptively, how to make the bread!!! Also, As stronge as Spencer is I do not think that he could kneed the bread for 45 minutes. Impossible!

Pre-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day was a lot of fun. Andy worked in the morning and in the late afternoon Andy's parents, Sister Ella -Matt-"Toddler"Jane came up to eat taco's, sugar cookies, and spend family time together!

The day before Thanksgiving was MAJOR laundry day. I usually do about 3 loads a day, since I have not folded the clothes all week they have accumulated into about 10 loads piled on top of my bed. During "nap" time Caleb/Ainsley wouldn't sleep. I let them out of their room and put a cartoon on for Caleb and tried to feed Ainsley. It was very quiet and after about 10 minutes of quietness I went looking for Caleb. After searching every room I opened my bedroom door (it has a taped child lock on the door handle)and there Caleb was. Andy's guitar case was open on the floor and Caleb was on the bed plucking away. My first thought was "Oh, no! Andy is going to be so mad!" but after looking around the room I was amazed. How did Caleb open/close my bedroom door without me hearing, How did Caleb know Andy's guitar was hidden under the bed?, How did he open the case?, and How did he get that guitar up on top of the bed (our bed is really high off the ground)? I ran and got the camera because I knew Andy would never believe me!

On Thanksgiving day Marlene brought up cookie dough so the kids could make sugar cookies! I thought it was going to be a big mess because of the sticky dough.....oh no....it was the flour that Caleb loved and he made a big mess! He said, "Mom, I am making a big mess!"

Aubrey was as clean as could be.

Aubrey's aproach to decorating the cookies was equally clean.

Caleb's was not so much! The more sprinkles the merrier!!

We had such a fun day. It was nice to see Marlene, Paul, Matt, Ella, and Jane. We can not wait for our Thanksgiving celebrations on Saturday! We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and have a fun Thankgiving weekend!!

Congrats to:
Ella and her little one on the way!!!
Seth for getting into Medical school!!!

SATURDAY

Saturday is a special day, it is the day we get ready for Sunday (and squeeze as many projects in as possible). Raking the leaves ended up taking much much longer then we thought. We started at 11 and ended at 5:30. We had a lot of leaves (really a lot). We were only able to get Nate's yard and our side yard done...what a long cold day. We filled 20 big black bags, saw the first flutter of snow fall, and ended up with sunburned cheeks!! The kids had a blast!!! Now that Ainsley can walk Aubrey/Caleb just assume she is one of them. They show no mercy!!!Ainsley is such a good sister. She quietly (with a smile) let Aubrey/Caleb cover her with leaves over and over again.Caleb held that orange lollipop diligently. Mary Lou (our neighbor) gave it to him at 11am and he was still licking it at 1:00. Gross!
After raking the leaves we headed to Home Depot for blinds, lights, and a paint color for the fireplace trim. We had every intent on doing all those projects tonight but "tired" hit around 8:00 while we were leaving Walmart.

Something humbling...
Today we received Caleb's final hospital bill from last spring. The bill listed individual items/procedures. What an ordeal....awful. I am so grateful for my children and our little family. Often I feel overwhelmed and I do not take time to step back and enjoy the simpleness of the day. Between all the craziness and cleaning life is simple....I love you Caleb!

One Cold Week.
This week I bought Ainsley a coat. She was confused and did not like the fluffy thickness that surrounded her small body.

Caleb and Ainsley have been getting a long a little bit better this week. I constantly heard
"Come here, Ainsley"
"Hold this, Ainsley"
"Play with me Ainsley"
"Mom, Why doesn't Ainsley want to play with me?"
They would travel from room to room quietly destroying it. I could follow them cleaning....so the cycle went.

On Saturday October 8th Ainsley started to walk. Really walk. It is has been fun and funny to watch all week. The excitement that Aubrey and Caleb show towards Ainsley's new accomplishment is Exciting/Loving to watch.

Now that Ainsley has mastered walking and the "pig coin" toy she has moved onto Peek a Boo. She always gets a bib out of the kitchen drawer and hands it to me when she is hungry and she always knows when it is time to put the clothes in the dryer. I can not do a load of laundry without her "help". Last week she cut all 4 big teeth (I think they were 2 year molars) and didn't even cry.

Although she has growing and doing new things every once in a while she just wants to be a baby.

Fun things for the week:
1. I finished the second coat of paint in the family room.
2. Andy took Aubrey/Caleb to Aubrey's school pizza party! I can not wait until Caleb gets to go to pre-school next year. OH HAPPY DAY!!! Do you remember those old KMART commercials that used to play right before school started....the one with the dad shopping for school supplies and singing "I AM SO HAPPY"? That will be me!!!
3. Ainsley says HI now!!!
4. Sunday Aubrey was in her very first Primary Program she had a small part but she did wonderful!
5. Aubrey loves the ABC song. The only probably is when she wants me to sing with her. I do not know the version she was taught in school. How many versions are there?

Freezing...

3 days ago I brought all their bikes, toys, and the slide in from outside and put them in the basement because the weather was suppose to turn cold and raining. Well, the rainy part ended yesterday and Caleb really wanted to go outside. So I took their slide and bikes back outside (which is no easy task) and I located all their winter mittens/hats/heavy coats. It took me almost an hour just to get the kids dressed. They kept jumping and wiggling in anticipation of OUTSIDE FUN!
I told them over and over again...
It is really cold outside. You wont like it. You do not like the cold.
Aubrey/Caleb said...
We love the cold. We love the outside. I am so excited. This is so exciting MOM!Caleb loved how "FLUFFY"he was in his coat!!

I realized Ainsley needs a winter coat/gloves. She had 2 sweatshirts on and her church coat.

They only lasted 20 minutes. It was windy and cold and...
I TOLD THEM SO!

Since today is History....

Since today will be one for the books I thought it might be nice to document the day.
1. Ainsley walked 5 steps without holding onto anything at least 5 times!
2. Caleb or Aubrey... I am not exactly sure who...took a brown marker and colored on my newly painted stair rail. I ABOUT DIED!!!
3. I finally taught Caleb the correct response to "How are you doing?"
He always replies "I am Caleb" or "3".
Now if you ask "Caleb, How are you doing?"
He will reply "I am doing good!"
But you have to say his name with the question. Baby Steps!
4. Since Aubrey didn't have school today she helped me sort threw her old clothes. She found her brown boots from last winter and her pink tutu that she said still fits her (I will let you be the judge of that...scroll down).

I tired to tell Aubrey that her tutu and boots were too small but once she saw them and squeezed them on there was no going back!

* Also something historic...for the books!! ---I finally finished painting the front inside of the house....TADA (basically at the exact same time the President was announced)!! Andy finally said "I like the color" after a month of saying he didn't. Like it or not there is no going back. If ever I have to repaint we will just move. I hear Florida is AWESOME!!

Happy Halloween!

The week of Halloween was a lot of fun for our little family. We drove down to Clinton for the Trunk or Treat Carnival. I do not have pictures because I forgot to put the memory chip back in the camera. But the kids loved all the games, food, and candy. Caleb diligently did the Cake Walk for 10 minutes waiting for his number to be called!! The kids got to see Marlene (aka. Grandma Griner) and we filled up the car for $1.95 per gallon!!! It doesn't get any better than that!
The kids missed out on Andy's big work party and our Ward trunk or treat due to a virus/flu shot reaction that has plagued our house for the last 2 weeks. Aubrey missed 4 days of school and all 3 kids were sick with misc. fever, fever rashes, throwing up, and body aches/pains. Luckily Friday morning everyone woke up HAPPY and FEVER free. It was unbelievable!
So, Friday Aubrey had a Halloween party at school and then we went to Andy's work so his patients could see the kids all dressed up! The kids loved the attention and it helped kill time until the main event! While we waited for dad to get home we colored in special Halloween Coloring Books, read scary books, and made Halloween cookies. When dad got home it was finally time to start....

Painting Pumpkins was a lot of fun. Pumpkin carving was exciting for Caleb. Slime and Yuck! Aubrey did not like the Slime....

Waiting for it to get dark seemed like FOREVER to Caleb.
Trick or Treating was a lot of fun, October is over, now on to Thanksgiving.
Let the Holiday season begin!