SnOw FUn!!!!

This weekend was warm enough for Ryan to play with Cole outside. They had fun looking at animal tracks (they found deer, dog, and rabbit tracks) in the snow, riding bikes, and just being together.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights

Cole greeted the reindeer in Grandma and Grandpa Sharrow's yard too.

Thursday night we took the boys to Bentleyville. This year it was set up in Bayfront Park, which was much more viewer-friendly. It was so fun to see Cole enjoying the lights this year and actually having some understanding of what was going on. We saw Santa Claus, although he stated firmly that he didn't want to talk to him, he just wanted to wook at him. Since there was no line to "wook," we didn't press the issue! Cole was also on a hunt to find Baby Jesus....we weren't sure whether he would be successful, but He was in fact there, right at the entrance! Grant took in all the sights as well, but at eight months was pretty clueless as to what was going on.

The neighbors across the street sold their house and have moved out, and we anxiously await for the arrival of our new neighbors! It turns out it is the niece of a teacher I work with, and her husband and baby girl. We are excited to have a young family near us!

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Feast for Four

We started off the day with a morning hike.
This is Cole imitating how Bailey goes potty.

Grant fell asleep in the backpack, so we stopped to let Cole play on the playground before heading home.

For the first time ever, we decided to celebrate Thanksgiving with just the four of us. We had planned to spend Thanksgiving with the Iverson side of the family, but since Grandpa and Grandma Iverson had to suddenly go to North Carolina to send Great-Grandma King off to heaven, our plans changed abruptly. Although we missed spending time with extended family, we rather enjoyed the peace and intimacy of the holiday with just our little family of four. We have so much for which to be thankful!!

Thankful Tribute to Great-Grandma King

Great-Grandma King and Cole, June 2008

Four Generations....June 2008

May 2009

On Tuesday, the boys' Great-Grandma King was welcomed into heaven. She died peacefully at a beautiful hospice facility near her home in North Carolina. I am thankful that despite the distance that separated us, she was able to meet both of her great-grandsons: Cole in June of 2008 and both boys this past May, when Grant was just 6 weeks old. She lived a long, full life of 88 years and will be missed here on Earth. She was a spitfire down here, so I am sure the other angels have their hands full with the new feisty one! We will miss you Grandma!

Family Photo Session

At the end of October, the four of us drove to Hibbing to Emily Law's photography studio, Flom Designs and Photography. All of the framed family photos in our house were missing our newest member, so it was time for an update! Emily did an amazing job with the photos, particularly working with Cole who was very uncooperative at first. He did NOT want to have his photo taken. She did such an amazing job that I think we'll have her come to our house next summer and take some 3-year-old and 1-year-old pics of our boys in our backyard. It's hard to believe that they will be 3 and 1 next summer already! Perhaps Cole will be more cooperative on HIS turf! Here are just a few of over 200 shots Emily captured of our family!

To Infinity and Beyond! There's a Snake in my Boot!

Of course Cole HAD to be Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story for Halloween. There was no question. So, we may as well dress Grant as Sheriff Woody! We had fun taking the boys to UMD to trick-or-treat in the dorms. We met up with our friends Josh and Amanda and their kids, Firefighter Max and Lila the Duck. They had Disney games, cookie decorating, and lots of trick-or-treating for the kids, and we got to stay inside! Afterward we trick-or-treated at Grandma and Grandpa Sharrow's house and their neighbor's house. Lots of candy was eaten. What a fun Halloween!

Grant on the run!

Sleeping angel...

Hey! Why did you wake me up?

I think this is the glare I will get when I wake him up as a teenager...only worse!
Luckily he wasn't crabby for long! Back to happy Grant!

We are back to the baby gate these days as Grant is just starting to try crawling...but he has mastered the army crawl - scoot! He loves being mobile and able to get where he wants and what he wants....we are not so sure! We can't let him out of our sight!