Creative Outlets

I've found it very flattering to get some cake requests from friends! :)

I'm learning a lot & having fun... here are the latest 2

Frog pond theme with frog smash cake

Dora & friends

The Holiday's Part I

We had breakfast with Santa!

This was the best photo we got & it's GREAT for two reasons: (1) Ian was giving it his all considering how nervous/excited he was and (2) Audrey isn't screaming her head off!

Brian & the kids chatted with Santa... Ian wanted to know where the reindeer were, naturally!
Audrey wasn't so sure about this guy but since he gave her a coloring book, she was happy.

We did see LOTS of her signature "stink eye"

...and when the cookie plate was taken away we got her signature meltdown.

(but she is pretty darn cute even when she's grumpy)

The best part of the weekend? Inspite of a blizzard in our neck of the woods AND major snowfall/freezing rain in MN - the Renneke's were able to visit! We always say that being together with loved ones is the real gift. We're so happy they made the long, snowy drive... safely!

The kids are all growing up so fast!

Ian was beyond thrilled to hang out with his cousins, Aunt Jody & Uncle Scott... and of course with his new presents! Here he is with his new giant Toy Story play-doh set. He was so excited that we found him on the table tearing into it.

Audrey received lots of wonderful items for her beloved dolls. Bitty Baby has never been so clean (new doll tub) and comfortable (new crib)... and filled with fake medicine (new Dr. kit)

I'm sure Grandma Carol is happy to see Audrey carrying on the tradition of enjoying American Girls as much as Hannah used to! It's neat to see the little mommy in her.

We feel so blessed. It was fun for all of us to celebrate Christmas - snowed in - a little bit early.

Thank you for everything guys!

Thankful!

We are particularly thankful this season! We love that the kids are getting old enough now to understand the meaning of the holiday's and talk about what they're thankful for. Ian has been learning all about Thanksgiving at school - here he is beaming with excitement, showing off his school projects and anticipating company! He would be most thrilled if the house was bursting at the seems with all our loved ones. Thankfully we got to see several beloved family members in person... others via Skype... and the rest of you we held in our hearts across the miles.

Uncle Pat was the guest of honor for Ian... it had been a while since we saw him but Ian jumped right in to update Pat on everything. Here they are watching something on his phone.
We got to have a real turkey dinner (complete with baked squash, stuffing, rice pilaf and cupcakes) at Nana's - the kids had a blast & we all left with FULL bellies!

G'ma & G'pa joined us for dinner - we opted for steak this year since it was just us. Everything was delicous! Menu: Steak, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, corn pudding, stuffing, pumpkin bars & of course pumpkin pie. Audrey tried everything, Ian ate 3 dinner rolls... sounds about right.

We decided to put up the tree a full month early! The kids were SO excited to help. One thing we notice each year is how special the ornaments we've accumulated are. Some are from when Brian & I were little, some mark other memories - the kids' milestones, our wedding and even our beloved Oliver. Ian was thrilled to hang an ornament with Ollie's picture on it - we still talk about him a lot and thankfully we know he's happily enjoying the holidays with his new family.

One thing Audrey was NOT thankful for - new clothes. She's funny about her clothes. Right before I started filming the footage below she was saying, "NO! I non't like em!" as she tossed them into a pile angrily. She's wearing a new outfit today & doing fine :)

Halloween Treats

So, as I mentioned before, Ian got to fly to Kansas with mommy to have a fun filled fall weekend with Colleen, Greg, Greyson & Lyla. What did we do? T-Rex restaurant, Fun Run (think giant character inflatables, video games & miniature town/maze), wine, Chipotle, Papa Murphy's, Yogurtini, wine, Pumpkin Patch/Autumn-palooza-petting zoo-rides-play systems-hay maze-etc, wine, playground, Lego's, Tetris, and a small (but amazing) breakfast diner with the best cinnamon rolls in the world. I think that's everything! DOUBLE Buzz trouble - one Buzz is waiting for a flood ;)

The other Buzz is taking autographs & doing interviews
What a handsome family & even Lyla is smiling (or gassy?)

"Hey, Ian - let's just keep doing this over & over again?"

"Okay yeah!"

"Hey everyone - I smile a lot now! But seriously this photo makes me look like a chunk-a-lunk & I'm actually super tiny & petit. Must be the camera angle or outfit... not sure."

A farewell breakfast of eggs & waffles filled with good conversation (about Transformers) & lots of giggling.

Finally... The ZARUBA Halloween

We had a fun weekend including a Halloween party, Halloween movie night w/ friends, trick-or-treating & a pizza party with friends to wrap up the weekend. It gets more fun each year!

Audrey refused to wear the "Fairy" costume I had planned. Instead she complied with the hand-me-down "Bee" suit. Cute as a bug!

Buzz was all smiles & cute as can be! This was most of the gang we trick-or-treated with... something adorable about kids in costume running around excitedly collecting candy!

Autumn is here! Right?

Quick side note: Audrey developed a big interest in the potty this month. Not sure when she'll officialy be "potty trained" but we've had lots of successful potty experiences - so proud of her! We're just following her lead. If we had our choice we wouldn't have brought out the potty until 2011... but if she wants to do it now I guess that's cool with us.

It has been crazy warm here these past couple of weeks... 70 degrees & sunny! The funny part is that I sort of enjoy Autumn's crisper temps which we haven't gotten much of... but I can't complain.

Some of the fun stuff we've enjoyed: pumpkin picking, daytrip to Door County, apple orchard field trip with school & lots of playing outside in the neighborhood!

Welcome Lyla!

We recently made a roadtrip to Kansas City to visit Colleen, Greg, Greyson & new baby Lyla!

Sadly, Ian got really sick so he & daddy had to stay home. On the bright side, Ian gets to FLY there with mommy next week... stay tuned for that post!

Here she is & she is just gorgeous :)
Grandma & Grandpa snuggling the youngest grandchild.

Audrey also got to play with her adorable cousin Jonah - he is the happiest baby you'll ever meet!

and here's handsome big brother Jameson... Mr. Smiley Pants

Audrey filled in for Ian by playing with cutie pie Greyson. They were a blast to watch... being sweet...

playing...

and being SILLY!

Audrey had some fun tubbies with her cousins. She & Jonah have the same size heads & similar hair... so inspite of the year age difference they sort of looked like twins.

Audrey's gonna pose while Greyson has a snack...

A brief, rare gathering of the clan. So happy Audrey got to meet Lyla & play with her aunts, uncles & cousins. Same time next year?

School & some other tid-bits

Here's our bashful schoolboy with his teacher on his 1st day of preschool.

He loves it!

It seems the "Toy Story" bug has bitten Audrey too. She especially adores Woody, Jesse & Bullseye. She now sleeps regularly with a soft Woody doll and Bullseye. Here's a photo of what we resorted to one night to get her to sleep. She curled up tight with Ian's dolls :)

It's so cute to hear her blossoming vocabulary include her beloved toys. She's slowly growing strawberry blonde hair, talks a blue streak & says full sentences now like, "Give it back Ian!"

Interesting thing about 4 year old's...

I watched Ian very carefully draw this picture on his friend's birthday card. He was very pleased with himself when it was done. I praised his good work & then he said, "Finished!" with a huge smile as he proceeded to turn the card upside down.

This is the image that was revealed:

He said it's him in his new Buzz Lightyear costume (note the helmet), holding hands with his friend in a Woody costume (note the cowboy hat) Hee hee. I see it! I guess it's common for kids to draw upside down - fascinating!