Harry Potter Party for Bradley

Bradley's birthday isn't until after Thanksgiving, but we decided to throw him a birthday party before the craziness starts of the holidays and special days to our family at this time of year.  He has been very into Harry Potter, which he doesn't really know that much about.  Gabrielle read the 1st book a few months ago and so we watched the first Harry Potter movie after that and he has been hooked ever since.  The party was just four neighborhood friends and some cousins and half of the party guests really didn't know that much about the magical wizardry world of Harry Potter, but it was such a fun party to throw!  I got all sorts of ideas from the internet - games, party favors, decorations, etc.  Andrew made the cake and he did such a good job!  It was the sorting hat.  I had jars on the table of yummy and gross things I could find from my kitchen, the kids loved looking at them trying to figure out what they really were.  We did potions class, care of magical creatures class, Quidditch game and decorated our own wands.  It was great.  Here are some pictures of the party . . .

Happy Birthday Bradley!  

Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween!  My kids loved it, of course.  I'm enjoying these years being together Halloween night, because I know all too soon my kids will be older and trick or treating w/ friends or just too old to trick or treat! We had a great night as a family.  I loved it!

Gabrielle was Felicity, an American Girl Character

Beck was the cutest puppy ever! Although he did get called a cute cow a couple times that night. :)

And here we have Harry Potter of course.  

This was a cousin Halloween party a couple of weeks ago.  Happy Halloween everyone!

Pumpkins!

Pumpkin Patch October 2012

Our kids favorite thing is the hay maze where Andrew chases them. Always good times!

Bradley going in to clean out the pumpkin!

Beck's face says it all, "this is fun, but gross!"

Andrew carving with power tools!

It's a . . . . GIRL!

So . . .  we are expecting in March 2013 and we are very excited as my last pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.  So this has been long expected and wanted.  At 16 weeks of my pregnancy my Dr. took a quick ultrasound of the baby and it looked to both he and I that it was a boy.  My Doctor said, "you are still early enough to not know for sure but you are seeing what I am seeing." And sure enough, I did.  I thought I saw an extra "appendage" for sure and was sad that Gabrielle was not going to have a sister.  At least this time around. :) Well, at 20 weeks Andrew and I went in for the real ultrasound and to our total surprise it was a girl!! I kept asking the technician, "are you sure?" "How sure are you?" She said that she had gotten several really good shots and in her opinion this was 100% girl!  So we stopped on the way home to get a pink balloon and pink, strawberry milk for Gabrielle and as soon as she saw the balloon she squealed with delight running up to her Dad to give him a big hug!  It was so cute.  Here are some pictures that our friend captured for us, who was watching our kids.  Thanks Joell!  Although Gabrielle did tell me, "Mom, I'm worried that next time you go to the Doctors they are going to change it and say, it's a boy." I guess you never know for sure!  Either way we will welcome this baby with open arms!  Yeah!

First Day of School 2012

Here they are - first day of school!

Beck is ready to go as well!

Summer Pictures

Pictures of our summer happenings!

Bradley at the Narrows - I just love this picture