Counting Our Blessings....

What a busy October & November! We hit the pumpkin patch the same day as my 1/2 marathon- the family all came to cheer me on & I finished alive- wahoo! Next up was our Annual Art & Talent Festival where Clara did not disappoint- check out the video at the end of this post. Grandma & Grandpa Little mailed back Jake's "Flat Stanley" project from England and sent a great care package for the kids (below) along with postcards, great photos, and a report on Flat Stanley's stay in London. Thanks G & G Little!
Lucy turned 4 and had her party the Saturday before her birthday, so when the actual day of her birthday came around she kept asking, "Is it my birthday?" I'd tell her, "Yes." Then she'd say, "Where's the celebration?" I guess we should have planned a 3-day Tinkerbell Extravaganza. She sure loved her gifts and having friends over- thanks to all for spoiling her.
Grandma Etta was next with her birthday- she turned 29 (again). We then had a fancy Thanksgiving Feast at our preschool to learn about pilgrims and indians and counting our blessings (we learned numbers in November). We had a lot of fun and a LOT of food!
Jake had his army birthday party on the 20th complete with an obstacle course (indoors, it snowed that morning), a yelling Dad (Lieutenant Little), and a cake he helped decorate with dirt and rocks. He had a blast and is looking forward to his baptism next week. Enjoy the pix and keep in touch- we'll be mailing Christmas cards soon. xoxo-Steph

English gifts from G & G Little


The boy who started it all...

Silly Little #2

"The Clown"

"Tink"

Pumpkin Patch

Oh yeah, sugar baby!

Good times

The Corn Box

Scarecrow Nan

Loading up...

Jake entertaining us

The World's "Littlest" Pumpkin

Kissing her new love

Pumpkin lovin'

One more hug for her pumpkin named Tinkerbell (of course!)

Cute Clara

Happy trails

The Giant Pillow

Prison Break 1/2 Marathon

Daddy's Girl

Cousin buddies

Lu giving Uncle Danny a trim

Army partygoers

Make it a good one Jake!

8 candles! Can you believe it?!?

Lining up for the obstacle course

Tink and Tink

So pretty!

Mom's idea of ready for the snow...

Clara's idea of ready for the snow.

Enjoying our feast!

All ready...

...to eat!

Grandma Etta's birthday

(Oops! Got out of order- sorry). Lucy's party guests making bracelets.

Happy Birthday Tinkerbell!

Clara with her certificate and s'more on a stick after the Talent Festival

The Art Display

Clara eating lunch at the preschool table in her indian hat

"Fall"(ing) Behind

...I don't think I'll ever catch up, but here are the pictures from our fall adventures. School started on August 30th. Jake is now in 2nd grade and Nan in 1st (sniff, sniff). They are getting so big! Grandma Etta went to school with us the first day and kept track of Lucy and Clara while we figured out where to go. Such a help! The next week we began our "Little Girls Preschool" (Lucy, Clara, and three girls from our ward) here at home, two days a week. We have had so much fun learning colors, our letters, and now numbers. Good times. Halloween came and went and now we are on to birthday party preparations. Check back soon for pix of the festivities. XOXO- Steph

Ready for Nutcracker auditions and sooooo excited!

First day of 2nd Grade

First day of 1st Grade

Clara wearing Mama's shoes

Reading scriptures

Isn't she yummy?!?

Yet another outfit creation of Lu's

Clara loves to wear the trash can on her head and run into things- crazy girl!

First day of preschool at playtime

Primary color art

Clara gets into it

Jake (on far right) at football practice

Clara on the playground thinking she is soooo big

Lucy trying to copy Nan on the bars

bathtime

Our General Conference Tent

Our Blue-Eyed Girl

Clara the Clown

Tink

Little Cuties

Told you she was a clown!

A Little Summertime Part IV

This about wraps up our summer happenings. Summertime just flew by and we had so much fun. The last day of summer vacation we declared as "Yes!" day at our house, so as long as it was a reasonable request and didn't cost a lot of money, Mom and Dad would say "yes!" The kids loved it. We ended summer with our "Back to School Feast" complete with crowns, cupcakes (to make a wish on) and shared our favorite books. That evening Dad gave them their school blessings. Then next night for Family Night we took them to "Bounce" to get out all of the ants in their pants before school the next day. We had a great time- even Richard got sweaty. Enjoy!

Look at that smile!

Another outfit creation by Lu

Clara enjoying her cupcake

Grandma Etta tells us what she wants to learn this year

Queen Clara

Ready for the Back to School Feast

Aren't I cute?

Clara trying to "catch" Lucy (at the top) on the slide

Jake never stayed still long enough to take a picture.

Richard gets stuck

Clara loved this thing.

Can't wait to start jumping.

If only they stayed like this....

New dresses from Grandma & Grandpa West.