Random Pictures from November 2015

Here are our random pictures from November 2015.

Sometimes Ruth acts like a little mom to Claire. She's (generally) a good helper.

My other "mom" helper.

Sydney and her reading glasses. Super cute.

Brian and Wes doing sit-ups.

Wes and me after he "interviewed" me as his hero for a scout requirement.

My baby girls waiting at the bus stop.

Claire decked out for the fall.

Brian went on a quick little adventure to Alaska for work.

Ruth has gotten really good at - and loves - puzzles.

My little cheerleader and my little basketball star.

This was after Brian had been gone for a week. The girls needed a little of Daddy's TLC.

Sometimes Sydney takes Ruth under her wing and is so sweet to her. This day, Sydney helped Ruth do her hair.

I love North Star's Veteran's Day assembly. I always get emotional.

Me and my little Claire.

I like to take selfies with me and my baby. She is my last one after all!

Baby playing in the leaves.

Ruth pretended to be asleep on the stairs.

Me and my baby...again! I love baby snuggles...they are so rare.

Grandma Hanks, Brian, and Claire ready to watch Wes' basketball game and Sydney cheer.

Grandpa Hanks and Ruth.

Sydney got to be the flyer during their cheer stunt and she was SO excited and felt SO cool.

Grandpa Hanks helping Wes with Snap Circuits.

We had our first snow in November. My cute kids!

Baby eating yogurt.

We had popcorn and hot chocolate to celebrate the first snow.

We also made snowflakes.

And then we watched Home Alone.

One of our Cub Scout activities was to go to Eagle City Hall and meet Mayor Reynolds.

Daddy's girls.

We went to the tree lighting at The Village. We actually missed the lighting and it was freezing, but we had the experience!

Claire and I helped in nursery one Sunday.

If there isn't snow on the ground and the sun is shining, Sydney thinks short and a t-shirt is a good outfit even in November.

Ruth helping Brian play a game on his phone.

Claire and me. She's saying, "Cheese."

The kids were watching "Mickey Twice Upon a Christmas". They were all a little bit worried about some parts of it. I think it may have been the part when Huey, Dewey, and Louie were going to get caught doing something they weren't supposed to be doing.

James Wesley Smith's Funeral

Brian's grandpa, James Wesley Smith passed away on December 18th. He was 93. The funeral was December 29th, so after Christmas, we had Brian's whole family at our house for two days and a night for the funeral. It was great to see everyone, just unfavorable circumstances.

Brian, Kevin, and Craig were playing a game their mom and dad brought. Brotherly fun and competition!

Since Brian's grandpa was in the Air Force, he had a military funeral.

Ruth ate some combs while everyone watched the flag folding.

Grandma Smith standing watching the flag folding.

I think this is such a sweet picture of Brian helping Ruth put a rose on her great grandpa's grave.

Brian's cousins and uncle saluting grandpa.

Our Hanks family picture.

Our attempt at getting the whole Dell and Colleen Hanks family in a picture. It was the first time we'd all been together in a looooong time!

Brian and "praying hands" Claire.

Random Pics from October 2013

Here are all of the random pictures I took during October.

I can't remember why I took this picture, but here's Ruth in the Exersaucer! :)

She's got a little wave in that post-bath hair.

Sydney won a free trial of a cheer and tumbling class.

She had fun, but ultimately I don't think cheer classes are worth the money.

Sydney wanted to help do the dishes. She's a great helper.

I made some juice and it ended up looking like candy corn, which was appropriate for October.

Brian and Wes went camping, so the girls played.

Sydney wanted to watch Princess and the Popstar and Ruth was enthralled.

First time pulling herself up! Two days shy of 8 months old.

Wes on the Scout camping trip with Brian.

The kids thought it was so funny to scooter ahead of me to this corner and then fall in the grass and pretend like they fell asleep while they waited for me to catch up to them. They did this daily until it snowed.

Sydney finished this chapter book all by herself!

Date night with Sydney to get fro-yo.

Ruth and me going down the slide at the school. Someday she'll think it's exciting, I'm sure. :)

A non-selfie of me and Ruth at the pumpkin patch that didn't get included in that post.

One day Sydney let me know that she could do a really great impression of Princess Aurora. Indeed!

During our girls' outing to Disney on Ice, the boys played in the sand and water. It was the middle of October and about 50 degrees outside, I think.

Brian teaching Sydney how to play Othello.

Brian and I on a date to the Ropes Course. I was way more nervous than I thought I'd be! Ultimately, it was fine but I was sore afterward!

Grandma Hanks with Ruth. I think this picture is so cute!

Sydney climbed to the highest rock at the park.

Ruth's first time in  a swing. She was a fan.

Sydney had fun swinging with Ruth, too.

Ruth really would have preferred walking, I think.

Sydney got these pearly whites from preschool.

Four of my most favorite people in the world.

We had a quick visit from Grandpa Hanks, Uncle Craig, Aunt Sara, and Soren.

Sydney cuddling with Grandpa Hanks.

Soren trying to eat Wes' fingers.

Grandpa Hanks trying to help Ruth learn to walk.

For some reason when Ruth was grabbing this little toy it reminded me of a giant baby monster.

Ruth's first time sitting up in the cart (with me). Very exciting!

Ruth started pulling herself up in her crib when I'd lay her down for a nap. The only problem was that she didn't know how to get herself back down so she'd just cry and cry and cry. She'd smile when I'd come to rescue her though!

As a solution, we put boxes around her crib so she would have anything to grab onto to pull herself up. It worked great. It took a couple of weeks and then we were able to take the boxes away and she'd go to sleep just fine.

I came across this charm bracelet my mom gave me years ago (late high school or early college) and Sydney wanted to wear it. I thought these charms were pretty old-school!