Christmas 2015

This Christmas we were lucky enough to spend with Evan's family in Dallas. Everyone in the family was able to get together for at least a few days and it was so nice to have the entire family all in one place.

Even with a trip to the emergency room on Christmas and the flu/ food poisoning making the rounds through almost the whole gang, it was a really fun trip. It's so nice to have a break from the routine and just spend time as a family. We were able to have a good mix between fun activities and lazy time.

We also took this opportunity while everyone was together to take some family photos. This was by far the largest group that I have ever taken photos of and it was even more challenging because I was in the photos as well. It was a bit of a trick getting a shot where everyone was smiling, but thanks to my remote, we were able to take about a bajillion pictures and I had a lot to choose from. There were quite a few more, but these are my favorite so far.

Pumpkin Patch

I love Maine. I love, love, love, love Maine. I know that there are pumpkin patches other places in America, but New England is just so beautiful in the fall, the drive out to the pumpkin patch was almost as good as the time we spent there.

I'm crazy about all the colors around here.

Orange pumpkins. Yellow corn. Green grass. Red noses.

We had a really fun day with two of our very good family friends. They have been so welcoming during our stay in Maine and we've loved spending so much time with them over this last year and a half. We're going to be very, very sad to leave! I try not to think about it.

Here are some pictures from our outing!

Dad was a good sport and rode on the tractor train with Alex. He probably could have done this all day. Alex, not Evan. 

Another favorite activity of Alex's was this corn pit. Basically anything that involved tractors was something that Alex was really stoked about, which were a lot of things at this pumpkin patch.

Alex won't kiss his mom, but he will kiss a bunny. 

Shooting the corn husk gun, trying to win some free kettle corn. Theo was not a very good gunman.

Another tractor. Alex was very disappointed that he couldn't turn it on. 

Rubber duck races.

Our trusty guide.

These two just melt my heart. They have such a special relationship.

I had to make sure I got in a picture! Please excuse the bit of spit up on Theo's mouth. Yuck. 

We were in the corn maze for a little longer than this guy could handle. 

We found our way!

Just happy to be alive. 

Swings are the bomb. I don't care how old you are. 

Another tractor.

Another corn pit with more tractors! Could this day get any better?

Theo's finally joining in the fun.

We would later find a whole bum-load of corn in his diaper (pun intended)

The hayride. 

Alex went to each pumpkin, tried to pick it up, couldn't and threw up his hands and said, "higher." In Alex-speak, that means "it's too hard."

How do you get a kid to stop whining for pictures? Tell him there's a plane.

All the kids!

The whole group

Cute little family photo

Everyday Is Pirate Day

Recently it was pirate day. Which, we don't really recognize formally in this house, but it seems to be something we just do every day. This is how Alex celebrates pirate day:

• Wear pirate hats. Sometimes multiple pirate hats at a time. 
• Wave around the Bulgarian flag. I'm sure if we had the Jolly Roger that he would wave that instead, but we just have Bulgaria. 
• Steal toys from weak, unsuspecting brother.
• Sometimes push brother over to make him even more defenseless. 

Pirate day is typically only fun for one person. Alex. But pirates rarely care about other people's feelings. 

Thank Goodness It's Saturday

Being a med school spouse can be rough, and that is why Saturdays are my absolute favorite day of the week. I like Sundays too. But we get stuff done and Evan is HOME. Even if he has to study or work or whatever, he is home, home, HOME!!!

I had always heard the saying, "she/he is like a breath of fresh air." I never knew what it meant until now. When Evan is home, the kids can still be crazy, the house can be a bit messy, but everything just sighs in relief.

Even though this whole medical school adventure can be taxing, it sure makes me grateful for my awesome hubby. So that's something to be thankful for. I'm really glad that the trials in our life are strengthening our family instead of driving us apart.

So, after preparing 8 freezer meals for my freezer meal group exchange, we all headed outside to keep Evan company while he finished up the bench for our kitchen table. I took this opportunity to take some pictures of Theo for his 7 month photo shoot, and then I started practicing manual focusing. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Can't believe he's 7 months!

This boy has eyes for his daddy... and from his daddy.

Daddy's little helper

Sweeping off the sawdust

Alex's new pose 

This, my friends, is the look of pure joy from a toddler who has seen his 5th plane today.

MMMMMMMM.... that's a good looking man. 

This is me desperately wanting "just ONE" picture with my children.

Our "obedient child" ;)

Throwing a basketball on the roof is surprisingly entertaining for a 2-year-old