Random...

Here are a few pictures to keep up my poor little blog as I'm crazy busy this week...but I have to give you something to look at to keep you coming back;)

My parents just moved into their new house last week...this is from right after they got their furniture in...it's much more decorated now. It's so fun to be there and to know all the time they put into every detail. Lots of big open space like this to have lots of people together hanging out!

Jakey watching the duck game on their new projector. Just a little screen;)

Andrew and the boys sent me this picture when I was our of town one weekend...don't they look like they really miss me?

And just to see if you read this far...that's really not the tv at my parents house;) It's our friends, but just thought I'd see if you read the whole thing! Love you mom;)

Water Slide...

I'm going back through some of our old pictures from Andrew's iphone, so I'll have to share some of those caught in the moment memories;) That is my favorite thing about having that phone, you can get those little moments captured!

Trimming the Tree...

It was fun decorating the tree this year with the boys. Noah helped me with all the lights and Jakey was a pro at putting on the ornaments. It's fun when we get out the same stuff every year when Noah is remembering things and asking about things. Special ornaments, decorations, and memories. It's what it's all about!

Above is Jakey's handy-work...he liked the small balls. Below is Noah's work...all the big ones;) And you know what? I pretty much left what they did because they were so proud. My perfectionistic side that sometimes comes out took a deep breath...

Cutting Down the Tree...

We went out to Redland today to cut down our tree as a family. It's always an adventure trying to get four people out the door and happy...especially when it's a full day. We did the gym in the morning, then out to lunch, then cutting down the tree. That means we have to have gym clothes, lunch clothes, and tree clothes. And shoes. But we did it, and although everyone wasn't smiling, once we got there, everyone was happy;) Tell me I'm not the only one who has mornings like this.

We found this farm from a flier up in New Seasons, and I'm so glad we went out there this year. It was the nicest couple who live on their tree farm out in the country. It's actually right by where we get our raw milk, so not too far! They had lots of beautiful trees to choose from, and any tree was $20, which is a fair price and much better then $5 a foot! They sold homemade jams and such, which were really tastey, and the farmer gave the boys rides on his 4 wheeler...they loved that!

Noah thinking he's a big man with the saw...

Watching Daddy...and helping!

Playing with Andrew's iphone 4 since our camera died after the first picture! Grrr....although I will say that it does take pretty good pictures in a pinch;)

We found our tree! Not too fat, not too tall...last year we had to cut off the top of the tree to get it in our house with the star on, and it took up so much space in our little place. So, short and skinny we went, and it's perfect. It's funny how trees always look so much smaller out in the field then they do when you bring them home!

Noah was really interested in helping again this year...Jakey was much more interested in the mud...I love that picture of him...especially for it being on the phone!

Me and my boys!

{this moment}

Laughter filling the new house...love it!

Thanksgiving...Souter Style...

We had a fun Thanksgiving yesterday, being thankful for all the blessings in our lives! My parents just moved this past weekend into their new house! It was so fun to be there with all our friends and family and have it finished and to see their "dreams" come to be! It's such a cozy, warm, gathering house, that was filled with laughter last night. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves...

Love Mindy's hair piece...that's a project on my list!

Lots of friends, lots of laughing!

True love..

Ok, these pictures are in the wrong order, I'll number them.

#3 and this...

#2 and it turned into this...

#1 It started with this...Andrew telling a story...

Love this table! We can all get around the table...I think it even goes one bigger then this?

Our family...we waited a little too late, I wish you could see the view from their outdoor living area, they are right up on the forest, it was so nice sitting out there by the fire listening for the owl.

My mom and sister, Nicole who got the turkey for us from work again!

My mom and me.

Having a drink with my handsome husband...

Hannah and Rachel

Nana and Papa with the boys...

Our traditional post-Thanksgiving meal game...Settlers...don't ask who won.

and Jakey eating some pumpkin pie!

Great Wolf Lodge

We went up to Great Wolf Lodge this last weekend, it was so fun. I brought my camera but didn't take a single picture because I didn't want to leave it around the waterpark all day. If I would have, you would have seen lots of excitement, wonder, and joy on the faces of my little guys! They loved every second of it, which made it worth every penny! We spent over 10 hours in the water between the two days, but they would have spent more if we weren't ready to go;) It was a memory I'll carry with me for a while, it's getting easier and easier to do things with our boys the older they get. It makes me look forward to the future!

Crazy Week!!!

What a crazy week it's been! I worked full time this week, with atleast 4 hours of volleyball in the evenings...that's way too long to be away from my babies! Good news is that I have ten days off of work, and that's going to feel good! Tomorrow is all about loving on my boys. We are going to the barn in the morning, and then leaving for Great Wolf Lodge for the night. Our only goal tomorrow is to fill their love tanks! Enjoy your weekend with your loved ones!

MIA

So I know I have been a little MIA lately...life has been SO busy! I feel like after Sunday things will calm down (sort of), which will be nice. I haven't been home but for ten minutes the last two days before nine pm. That's 14 hour days people! I miss my kids! But for now...just thought I'd send you over here to go and vote for my scrapbook layout (even though I really think my competition's is better;), but I don't want to have to make her a dessert...which is on the line for the loser;)

{this moment}

I don't have any new pictures from this week, but I was going through our pictures from the last year to print to take on my scrapbooking weekend, and I don't think I ever posted this picture! Two brothers, enjoying life!

Bikes in the Fall...

Our boys really enjoy riding bikes and being outside. And I enjoy it too, especially during the fall. It's definitly starting to get cooler now, but there is something about the beauty of this season that I love. I really do love every season, and I'm always ready for the next one, but fall just might be one of my favorites! Especially when we don't have rain!

We've found lots of caterpillers during our different rides...and lots of other little creatures on our adventures...

Is there anything more exciting to a boy then throwing rocks in a drain?

Noah is awesome at riding his bike, he'll ride forever!

Maui...

Oh how I miss being in Maui. We had a rough few days back. They actually were great for the night we got home and the first few hours of the next day. Then "it" started. Payback. I've heard lots of great stories recently...how when parents go away without their kids they get payback. Not our sweet boys...but oh yes. Our sweet boys, too. I finally feel like I'm done now re-potty-training, re-training behaviors, and back in to our normal routine. Wow...was it worth it, YES! But now I remember why we need that time alone more then ever...

We didn't take many pictures, and I really don't want to have to fix the order of these, but here are a few of our pictures!

Our view on our last night...

Sunset

Last night...

More sunset pictures...

Happy 25th Birthday Andrew!

Jeff and Christine, our small group friends who went with us for 1/2 the time!

At the Grande Wailea...

Shopping!

{this moment}

So thankful to come home to two beautiful boys and such a beautiful place right out our front door!