Patio in Progress

Dan is working on our backyard patio expansion. It will be flagstone clear around to the side yard. Eventually I will have a covered swing and shed :)

Anyway, this day - Saturday, October 27 - Dan had an Ethan Helper ;)

They worked on hauling the sand for the flagstone base and putting in the edging stones.

Ethan was a hard worker.

Come on, Ethan... hurry up and fill that wheelbarrow! ;)

Dad and his happy helper

Krystin 2 Years Old

I tried getting Krystin's 2 year pictures taken using my camera at a friend's scenic yard. They turned out cute - just not the official "head & shoulders" shot. ;) (more like the "back, side, top of the head as Krystin explores" shots!)

Saturday Morning - 10/20/07

I (Britt) was the one to get up with the kids this Saturday. We ended up making cinnamon coffee cake for a late breakfast. One of my treats on the weekends is taking the time to make myself REAL coffee (not instant). Ethan loves to push the start button on the coffee pot and watch it brew.

While the coffee cake was baking and the coffee brewing, Kaylin and I vacuumed the living room.....

.... Krystin played with the springy pumpkin (from Gpa and Gma Collingwood a couple Halloweens ago)

... and did I mention Ethan watched the WHOLE pot of coffee brew?!

Krystin's getting to be a big girl now. If the pogo ball has lost enough air and she sits just right - she can bounce on it.
She also is starting to carry over her own plate at meal times (most times with help from Mom or Dad) :)
This Saturday I decided it was time to re-set up the GeoTrax again. It kept the kids busy for a good 3-4 days. :)
During afternoon rest, Dad and Ethan played some Castle

Ethan's Sports Class

Ethan is currently enrolled in a sports class at our local "Little Gym". He attends once a week for an hour on Tuesday afternoons. It has been a wonderful experience for him. So far he has done a 4 week session on soccer and just finished up a 4 week session on basketball. Next up is football. Half of the class time is focused on the basic skills for that sport and the other half is more focused on gymnastics skills. Ethan enjoys doing somersaults and walking on the balance beam.

October Video Clips

The first video is of Krystin enjoying her Chicken noodle soup.
The second video is Kaylin "reading" to Krystin
The last video is Ethan hauling the wheelbarrow... (helping Dad with the back patio)

MISC September Pics

Saturday, 9-22-07

A new "tradition" has been forming in our house. Britt is very excited about it.

On Saturday mornings Dad gets up with the kids and they make breakfast together (usually muffins or coffee cake). The kids' duties include stirring and muffin-cup placing.

Dan was inspired by memories of his Dad (Lyle) getting up and making Dan and his sibs a "Saturday morning fruit plate"

Thanks Lyle... and thanks Dan!

Love,

a well-rested Britt :)

PS - note my (our) new corner shelf and curtains!

9/24 - Krystin has joined the ranks of "Vacuum Lover"

Dan putting together a LEGOS Star Wars ship.

2 things on this picture.

1) Our Wal Mart now has re-usable bags to help the environment. (The U.S. is starting to hop on the "European cloth bag thing".) Of course, did I remember to TAKE these bags the last time I went to Wal Mart?...... hmmmm.... is it the THOUGHT that counts?!

2) Tell me if I am wrong, but isn't this a very "Kari-esk" picture of me?? (meaning a cute pose to display some object)

Papa Masson's Visit

Mid-September Papa was able to stop in on his way through to deliver a load out west. It was such a blessing as at first we thought we would only get a couple hours together, but God worked it so Papa was able to spend 2 whole days with us!

Papa on a "break" ;)

I took this picture because it brings up good memories. No - not that he smokes, but I always enjoyed talking with him and remember him with a smoke in one hand and the paper on his lap. (Here it happens to be a cook book - He cooked us a nice beef roast and french onion soup supper his last night here)

Rocking with the girls.

Strawberry, Banana, and icecream dessert. yum :)

Thanks for making a point to be "routed" through, Papa. We all enjoyed your visit. (Dan and I especially enjoyed being able to win at "Settlers" again! ha!)

Tickle Time

"Tiii-ckle, Tiii-ckle"

This is the latest and greatest Dad time game.

Kaylin is being "SO Bra-ave" (in her words)

Here she is being "So Bra-ave" ;)

Painting Leaves (9-5-07)

This activity is a pseudo-annual tradition. (Meaning this is about the 3rd time in 6 years. But it started when Ethan was ~ 18months)

Anyway, we gather leaves as we take walks and then we paint them. Then they adorn our back sliding doors as Autumn decoration (though I have yet to tape this years "crop" up yet...)

Enjoy the progression. Note Krystin's colors and water just turn to all brown. Ethan was very neat and thorough in his painting, and Kaylin loved being creative and painted the most.

(side note - this is NOT my tablecloth - but an old hand-me-down bedsheet table-protector!)

1st 2 columns = Ethan's (big purple +6)

3rd column = Krystin's (1 big "dotted" + 3 little)

Remaining 12 = Kaylin's :)

The Last Supper.... accordng to the book of Kaylin

Kaylin has a wonderful kids Bible with an easy to understand format and great pictures. She knows the titles of several of the stories by sight as we read them fairly often. This one is entitled "The Last Supper". One day as Kaylin and Ethan were having their quiet book reading time, I overheard Kaylin "reading" to Ethan. Below is what I heard from the other room......

"The Last Supper..... One day there was a last supper. It was a good one. There was only tacos......... (thoughtful pause)......... AWww.... that is Sa-ad........ there were not enough tacos for everyone!"

If you look at the picture closely, you will see that it DOES appear the disciples favored mexican food...... and that Jesus got the only 2 tacos! The other men are looking hungrily at the tacos! :) ha ha ha!