Halloween 2013

Erik the Zebra, Marcus the Train, Raquel as Snow White and Natalya as Dorothy all enjoyed Halloween this year. We went to the ward Trunk or Treat, Raquel's School Party, Trick or Treated downtown Blacksburg and with our friends Nick & Luke in their neighborhood.  It was a perfect night for trick or treating. The kids got way too much candy, more than 5 gallons worth but I'm sure they will be able to handle eating it for the next couple of months.

Carving Pumpkins

Our finished pumpkins

Snow White & Dorothy

A wild Zebra

Thomas the train

Raquel with her friends at her school halloween party

Too much Candy

Erik dressed up in Sammie's costume
All our boys have worn this 

Bugfest 2013

The kids enjoyed another year at Bugfest. It was inside again this year which was good, it helped contain Erik. More than once he ran off, once resulting in a 8 person man hunt for him.  The kids minus Marcus loved the haunted bug house and making all the crafts.

Buggy Natalya and Raquel

Buggy Marcus & Erik

Jackson, Gracie, Raquel, Natalya & Marcus

Chinese

The kids are all taking Chinese language lessons. Raquel takes private lessons after school on Tues. and  Natalya and Marcus are in a class for toddlers. They are all doing well and have learned their colors, names of family members and numbers in Chinese

Watching a video at Chinese class

Here I'm trying to get them to talk a little Chinese but they were all a little distracted. 

Its hard but they are learning.

Playing outside

The kids all had a great time playing outside together.

18 months

Can you believe it Erik is 18 months old already. He is getting to be a big boy and wants to make sure he gets to do what everyone one else is doing. He had his 18 month check up and he is gaining and growing well. He enjoys cars like his brother and loves to snuggle! He knows how to get into everything with his brother and they can tear the house apart in no time. Erik is a good eater, loves shoes, necklaces and his binky.  And we all love him!

18 month stats

Weight: 24 lbs 2 oz (25%)

Length: 32 inches (50%)

Head: 19 inches (50%)

All I Want for Christmas...

Is my two front teeth!  Raquel lost her other front tooth today at school during lunch. She came home off the bus pretty excited and wanted to show everyone.  Her other front tooth hasn't come in yet so she has a pretty big gap in her mouth.  Raquel wrote a note to the tooth fairy asking for some pixie dust in exchange for her tooth.

Elder Project

Raquel gave her Elder project about her Grandma Clinger today at school.  She did a great job making a poster and telling about what she learned. She enjoyed learning about Grandma but she thought her favorite was the idea of a party line phone which she thought sounded pretty cool.

Raquel and her poster

Bath Fun

Erik loves the bath!

Preschool

Natalya and Marcus started preschool today. They are attending the same play school at the Blacksburg High School. Natalya likes to tell everyone that she gets to go to High School. They have lots of fun and their are about as many teachers as their are kids so lots of one on one time.

Natalya ready for school

Big boy Marcus on his 1st day.

Our Preschoolers

Erik wanted to be in the picture too.

Having fun at school

Swim Team

Natalya joined the swim team and is having lots of fun. She is doing great and has made lots of improvement already. Marcus also started swim lessons and likes being able to get in the water and play. The rest of us enjoy watching them swim!

Marcus during his lesson

Erik likes putting on Natalya's goggles.
He is good at it too and doesn't it all by himself.

Natalya doing the backstroke

Enjoying his lesson

Owensboro

The big news at our house is were moving! Mike has only about a month left at his job here in Blacksburg and then he will be unemployed.  He's currently looking for a new job and the family took a little trip to Kentucky to check out one of the opportunities.  We had lots of fun exploring Owensboro, loved the community and even found a house we'd love if we ended of moving there.  Owensboro has a wonderful River Walk with a huge playground the kids loved playing on, lots of fun stores to shop at and beautiful farm land.

Marcus, Raquel and Natalya over looking the Ohio River

Natalya 

Marcus

Marcus & Erik

Marcus, Natalya & Raquel

Hanging out on a huge fish

Soccer

Natalya and Raquel both had soccer games this weekend. 

Natalya is on The Green Goblins and had so much fun! She was a great little soccer player and even scored a goal!  

Practicing before the game.

Natalya played her first game against her friend Jackson (in the orange)

The Green Goblins

Natalya after her first soccer game.

Raquel is on The Blue Lightening with a couple of her friends and had lots of fun. She even got to play goalie!  

Raquel playing goalie

Raquel and her teammate waiting for the ball

Erik enjoying the game

It was so much fun seeing both girls enjoying their games, its going to be a great season!