Sidney's Thankful Song

Sidney sang this song in front of EVERYONE for Thanksgiving dinner at the Hansons' house. I was so proud of her for not being embarassed to sing in such a large group - I would/could have never done that when I was 7. I would have been too busy hiding behind my mom or grandma. I loved how calm and soft she sang it, too. That's Nikki and her son Carter behind Sidney.

Alyssa's feast @ school

Alyssa (right) with her teacher and her best friend.

The kids singing their cute Thankful song.

Alyssa and her friend Naomi.

My guitar

The guitar I cannot play is very attractive to my girls - they SO badly want to learn to play it. Sidney asked me a few months ago if I could teach her to play before Christmas so that she could play for us on Christmas. I wish I could. I'd have to first teach myself, then teach her. Oh, and put on the missing string in the middle. But while they're just playing with it, aren't they so cute and concentrated?

the B-I-B-L-E - BIBLE!

For a brief moment, Jack thought it was fun to finish this song. Since this video was taken, documenting his second or third time doing this with the girls, he has not been willing to show it to anyone LIVE. Will he do it for Grandma? No. For his Sunday School friends? No. But hahahaha, Mom caught it on video. Enjoy. He's so dang cute, in my objective opinion. This video was taken about two weeks ago.

new names?

In the kitchen, where we chat the most, the girls and I were talking about our names and how special they are because they mean things. I told them the story of WHY I named them Sidney Elise and Alyssa Mae. Then, stupidly, I told them what my OTHER ideas for names for them were - I told Sid that if she were a boy, she would have been Carson. No biggie. She liked it. Then I told Alyssa, who I knew was a girl the whole pregnancy, that she didn't have a name until she was three hours old because we could not decide between Heidi, Mae, Kelly or Alyssa. It was only when I WROTE the name Alyssa Mae out on hospital paper that both Bobby and I looked at it and said, "that's the one."
Well, now Alyssa wants to change her name. She thinks Heidi suits her better. Then tonight at dinner Sidney announced that she, too, wants to change her name. She says Sidney is too much like a boy. I tried not to laugh, and told them their names are my favoritest and that is why they have them. Then Sid said, "well, I think I want to change it to something like....Helen."
Wow, Helen?
Just one of those super cute stories with no point.
But seriously, Helen? I mean, it's a good name and I know a number of wonderful people who go by it....but I can't imagine a name that would fit my Sidney LESS than Helen!
My kids are so weird sometimes.
Good thing we didn't tell Sid her name was ALMOST Sidney Ryan - talk about a boy name! LAST MINUTE that name changed to Sidney Elise. Good for her. Maybe she'll just go by Elise, and then we'll have an Elise and an Alyssa.

Halloween around here

My niece Amelia, almost 2

sleepy jack

my friend marti and her family

our friends Jason and Shelly and their family


My sister Cherie with Jeremiah, Amelia and Adrianna


Alyssa was a snow angel princess.


my parents with Adrianna and Miah (the glasses were NOT part of their costumes, but a goodie bag piece)


my mom, with "heads up Harry" that Bobby bought.


Bobby, me and the kids


Me, with my grandpa Myron


my parents with Jeremiah

Me, with a beer stein to show my authentic german-ness

Sidney and Caitlin

Sidney and great-grandpa Myron

up the mountain to grandma's

Bobby was called out a lot this weekend, so since he had lots of sleeping to catch up on, the kids and I headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's to gather acorns and pinecones and silly stuff like that. Our hike was WONDERFUL - we even brought Lucky. It was COLD, which is exactly what I needed.

Way too much thinking going on today regarding voting, so instead I will take my time posting some pictures. These are from Saturday, day after Halloween, when I took my kids down to Balboa Island to ride bikes (them) and rollerblades (me). The weather was PERFECT (too hot with a sweater, too chilly with a tank) and the clouds made it the most beautiful day for a sunset stroll down the pier. We loved it. Topped the day off with a trip to Ikea, and everyone was happy!!!