Sweet M&Ms

I know they don't look overly happy but trust me the boys loved Halloween. We call the boys M&M sometimes and so when I mentioned to Mitch making M&M costumes he got so excited. He wanted to be a green M&M because that is his favorite color but I finally convinced him green was not the best color if you want to be an M&M and blue was his next choice. Monte didn't really express an opinion so I gave him red. I think it looked good on him. I think I could have done a little better making the costumes but, I am still learning.

We also had fun with Cousin Charlie at the pumpkin patch riding on the little (very little) train and picking out pumpkins. Monte was very deliberate about which pumpkin he wanted. He went straight for a small, cream colored, left leaning pumpkin. He wanted to hold it back to the car but, he kept dropping it so we had to hold him and the pumpkin. Mitch picked a green pumpkin so we did not have a traditional orange pumpkin this year.

Another first for Monte was his first lollipop shown here with Charlie. It is an adorable picture I must say but, the sticky slobber all over Monte's cheeks, hands, and cloths were not as adorable.

What a Big Boy! Mitch turns three.

On October 16th Mitch turned 3 yrs old. He requested a Train party, so we had did or best. We had family and a few friends over to celebrate. I tried to make cakes in bread pans so they would look like train cars. Mitch was convinced. I hope he will always be so easy to please.
I can't believe what a big boy he is becoming. He keeps impressing us with his loving nature, intelligence and sense of humor.
by the way, how do you all like the large knife we left in reach of kids, oops, well, no one got hurt.

The most wonderful place on Earth.

In September we went to Disneyland for a day because Heather (my sister) and her family came from the Seattle area. So Grandma Claudia, Grandpa Dale, Jameson and his family all went too. It was Monte's 1st time and Mitch's 1st time he might remember.

We had a great time. Mitch loved it. We didn't get on a lot of rides but more then enough for two little guys. They were so wiped out at the end of the day. I must say, we were too. It is a little addicting to see your kids get so excited and have so much fun, to bad it costs so much. I guess they have fun and get excited just going down the slide at the park for free.

The best part of the whole trip was being together.

Most importantly MONTE'S 1ST BIRTHDAY!!!

Monte turned 1 on July 23. The year has gone by so fast. We threw him a birthday party with family a few friends. The theme was aqurium because Monte loves the water and loves looking at fish (the few times he has). He loved the decoration of 4ft whale and dolphin images on the wall. For the four days I had them up he pointed at them over and over saying "Da, Da, Da". That is his way of saying he liked them. At the party the kids played in the kiddie pools and adult ate. We had a fish pinata and watched a slide show of pictures of Monte set to music (only family would want to sit through that). I had hoped that Monte would love to gooble up his cupcake but, as you see he didn't get into it. He loved the Ice cream we had a few days before though. Thanks to Kristy who spend 9 hr with me making 50 + cupcakes look like whales, sharks, penguins, fish bowls and octopus. I still owe you.
I think I can say for Dave and myself, Monte, it has been a sleepless year but, you are such a blessing and a joy and we are so happy Heavenly Father sent you to us.

Grandpa Pitman would be glad

To know that his boat was bringing happiness to his little grandsons. We took the youth from Jameson and Marci's ward out on Dave's Grandpa's boat. While the Young men and women were on the boat Jameson and I dragged the Mitch and Ella around on the little tube. Later we got our chance to go for a ride. As you can see the kids were brave. Dave liked the picture of Monte at the front of the boat the best. Don't worry, we had a life jacket on him this was just for the picture.

Baseball and apple pie (or hot dogs)

So, we were all American this summer. We took the boys to a baseball game with are good friend Jackie. Mitch loved it but, I think he liked the free hot dog, soda, and 15+ ft slide he went down. Monte liked it as long as we didn't make him wear the baseball hat. Did Jackie like it? If she did it was not because of the skills of the players because I don't think she saw much of the game.
A few weeks later for Family night we went to the batting cage. I tell you no lie, Mitch hit 6-7 balls in three rounds. We were so impressed. Dad told him to keep his eye on the ball and he did and hit it (an he could barely keep the bat up). I wish he listened that well all the time at home. We definitely have little league in the future.

Visit to Sacamento

We visited Grandpa Birrell and Tootsie (Gail) about two weeks ago. We went there and back by train and the boys again loved ridding the rails. I enjoyed it too. If you look at the pictures you will see pretty much what we did. We got there and went right to the pool, napped then did so more swimming and went swimming almost the entire next day. Even with the sunblock we all got a little dark. Thanks for the good visit.