Cousins Monday

I can look but can't touch those adorable red curls!

It was so fun to have Tyler with us again today to play with. Everlee and Tyler played "pool" by rolling the balls back and forth. 

Tyler also had a fun time flying Rich's helicopter. He even landed it on the blade of their ceiling fan. Another milestone a mother can be proud of;) Wonder if I'll be as proud when first semester grades come out tomorrow?!

Super Saturday

Cha cha slide anyone?!

Grampa showing a new magic trick that didn't go quite right. 

I love these two peanuts. Being a parent is the greatest gift but there is something very special about being an aunt. 

Saturday we came to Sioux City and had the whole Devos clan over for the evening. Once again the food was delicious and the time spent together was fabulous! My cheeks are still hurting from all the laughing. A huge thank you to mom and dad for hosting, cooking and opening up there home to all of us:)

Fun Friday

With Steve working, Jason opened the up the Fox Hole for Fun Friday. We love entertaining and having family over. 

The reason for the season

Our first Christmas in our new home was perfect! It is so wonderful to have family gather to eat, drink and be merry. We've enjoyed playing cards and watching movies with Tyler home. Being able to be a part of Chloe, Cooper and Everlee's lives on a daily basis is simply breathtaking to watch them grow. Steve loves having a small nook in the house where he can hang out with the guys. Lastly, I love that the women are able to share and have girl talk. This is what the season is all about:)

Finger painting

Concentrating very hard...

Now both hands were smearing the paint all over. 

Saying "cheese!"

We had a busy day today. It started off with play dough and finger paint fun, then Smith's came over for a play date, and it ended with more play dough fun with Tyler. It was just enough entertainment to keep this energetic 20 month old occupied. 

Memories

I forgot to post this pic last Friday when I spent the afternoon with Cooper. This moment reminded me of when Tyler was little. We used to watch Toy Story together in the recliner. Now, 15 years later, I am watching Toy Story 3 with my nephew. 

...we're here for a good time.

Sunday Steve made a table out of an old crate from work. It turned out really neat. It's fun having Tyler home and we've enjoyed hanging out in the Fox Hole;)

She's free!

Rich and Andrea decided it was time to drop the rail of Everlee's  bed this morning. Everlee could hardly contain her excitement at nap time. We did our usual routine and I shut the door. I watched her in the monitor and she got in and out of bed two times before eventually falling asleep. She snuck out of the monitors view without a peep. so I'm unsure what she was doing. When she woke up she was out of the monitors view again. So I opened the door with my camera ready. I heard her run back to her bed and this is what I got. Her standing next to her bed yelling "cheese!" LOL

Play dough play

After lunch Everlee went to the drawer to get her purple play dough. She spent 20 minutes sitting there making balls, snakes, and putting a chunk under her nose and saying "DaDa." Sometimes I love to just watch her play and see what she comes up with on her own. 

Fun Friday

This is the official Christmas Smith family photo. Everyone is smiling and looking at the camera. Cooper even said, "Cheese!"  Since Steve lived with them for 2 months he's an unofficial member now;)

The kids taking a break to watch George. 

We definitely had a Fun Friday watching the ISU/UI game last night with the Smith's. We shared so many laughs that as I type this we are still laughing. Thanks for another fun night in the Fox Hole. 

My Day

While getting ready to head over to the Kneifl's, this is where Maci went, the Elmo potty to read. 

Everlee loves her yo yo(yogurt.) so much so that she was using a spoon in her left hand and scooping it with her right hand fingers. 

Tyler getting second row seats to watch ISU play tonight. Rich and I wonder if he gets to class two hours early to sit in the second row?!

You always greeted me at the door, helped me with clean up after Everlee's lunch and kept me company during nap time. Boy will I miss you. 

Good times

Anthony and Steve played cards and Anthony came out on top. 

We enjoyed our visit with the Krier's. After dance we ate at jethros, shopped, and the men went to sky zone and then home for supper and a movie. 

While the girls enjoyed ladies night at the Fox Hole. 

Tylers first camping adventure...

And it was totally worth it!!!

Thursday night after the ISU game Tyler camped until this am to get a voucher for an assigned seat for the upcoming ISU vs kansas game. He said it was a phenomenal experience and was so worth it. 

Thank you to uncle rich again for coming through with providing him with a heater, more propane tanks and some deer sticks. 

There were 50+ tents wrapped around Hilton. For all Tyler's efforts he will sit second row seat seven. He is definitely making the most of his college experience;)

State Dance

Yesterday our best friends, the Kriers, were in town for Alicia's team dance competition. The team got first place in their large group hoopla routine. Afterwards, we ate at Jethros and back to our house for a beverage at the Fox Hole. It's always so much fun spending time with good friends:)

Living the Dream

Trying to get a pic of all 3 looking at the camera is harder than you think. 

Air was coming up out of the popper. Everlee and Cooper giggled hard when they put their head over the air. 

Playing "night night" time. 

Today I had Everlee and Maci. We met Hollie and Cooper at the library, went to Smith's afterwards for more play and lunch. Thanks to Hollie for having us all over.  The kids played so well together. I enjoy my days so much:)

Today Tyler stood in line to get front row seats at the ISU game tonight. 13 years ago he went to his first game with Uncle Rich and he has been a fan ever since. He is finally living one of his dreams. 

Indoor Playground fun

After nap time we checked out the indoor playground. I've taken the Smith kids before so I was familiar with the set up but this was Everlee's first time. I was a little unsure how she'd like it. Needless to say she loved it! Fortunately, she had a lot of stairs practice at our house so the first thing she did was belly up to the tree house and start climbing. This pic was at the second level. She kept going to the third level which was all the way to the top! Then she came down, all smiles:)

Next: the pint size slide. 

Everlee quickly made friends with a young girl. They were so sweet. 

Then it was off to do some more climbing. 

Then some crawling through a caterpillar tunnel. 

When we left Everlee kept telling me "more, more." We will definitely be back over the next winter months:)

The stockings were hung...

...by the chimney with care. 

Steve and I had a great evening shopping/decorating our home for Christmas last night. 

Fun Friday

The men babysitting the kids all day;)

Since turkey day was so fun we turned right around the next day and did the same thing. Steve smoked some delicious ribs, mom n Hollie did some shopping, and we all had plenty more laughs. What a great two days with family!

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Steve has done a wonderful job of providing a home for us and Tyler is loving college life. 

We had everyone over for a wonderful meal. Thanks to everyone for contributing the delicious food and drinks. 

After dinner we gathered in the Fox Hole. It's the smallest room in the house where the most people gather;)