Fire Station

We had another Fun Friday activity at the Waukee Fire Station. This is one of Cole's favorite things to do, so we were really excited! Cole had to wear his fire truck shirt and his orange fire fighter gloves. (I have no idea why the gloves are fire fighter gloves but he is convinced that they are). I didn't think Elise would really care, but she loved it as well. She pushed everyone out of the way and climbed up into the fire trucks with a big smile :) Ellie and Brigham were all smiles and not afraid the whole time!

We got to look inside an ambulance and a few fire trucks. Then the firefighters gave a short fire safety demonstration and modeled their protective fire gear for us.

We got to go for a ride in one of the fire trucks today as well! Cole had ridden on one before, but this was a first for El and me.

We are so lucky to have such nice fire fighters here who love us to come visit. They always tell us to drop in whenever we are in the area. We love to go and you can bet we will be back soon!

Mom's Day

It was Mom's Day at Cole's preschool today. So, I donned his backpack, Cole took a picture, and we headed off to preschool where I got to spend the whole morning in Cole's world. We had a great time playing, making crafts, meeting friends, and reading stories. Cole even made me the cutest rainbow bracelet I have ever seen, and I love it :)

In honor of the moms visiting school all of the kids answered some questions to spotlight their mom. Here is what cole said about me:

I laughed so hard I cried when I heard this. I also realized a lot from this:

*In Cole's eyes I am a huge 3 yr old. A giraffe? Really Cole? At least he didn't say I weigh just like a hippo. And his teacher was nice enough to cross out "pounds" :)

*Cole doesn't constantly think about himself. He was the only kid to realize that moms don't love all of the same things their kids do, and he thought about his answers. All of the other kids put their own favorite food and colors, not their moms. Cole's answers to the food and color are not accurate, but at least they aren't his own.

*I must play more than I work. The majority of the kids said their moms like to clean or do laundry, probably because that is what they do all day.

*I knew Cole was a goof, but "a frog and ladybugs"? Miss Stacy said "You must have a problem with frogs and ladybugs at your house." Everyone laughed. And then I realized, we do get frogs and ladybugs in our house, but if you know Cole he will not go near a bug so that is not what he helps me with. This proves he will say anything to get a laugh :)

*Cole must misinterpret everything I tell him. I'm pretty sure I have never asked Cole to hold a caterpillar or told him that I like it. In fact I remember telling him NOT to touch the caterpillars this summer when his cousins were smashing them with their fingers.

*Cole doesn't hold grudges. I'm pretty sure I get mad at Cole on a daily basis and he couldn't think of ANYTHING that I don't like him too do? He is either very forgiving or very forgetful :) I guess I shouldn't get mad that I have to lecture him on the same things over and over.

*Cole is the sweetest, most loving, and hilarious little guy! I am so lucky to have him!

Thanks for letting me go to school with you today Cole. I had so much fun and you took such good care of me so I wasn't nervous :) I love you so much and I am glad that you are my little buddy!

This week...

We danced,

We were patient,

We snuggled,

And we broke in our winter coats,

All while I was sick. We should have sick weeks more often :)

Thanks for letting me rest and recooperate this week my cute kiddos.

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben is 28 today! I was so excited his birthday was on a Saturday this year...until he told me that he had signed up to volunteer all morning and had a lot of studying to do. Darn medical school is always getting in the way! Oh well. He got to open presents when he got home from volunteering and we get to go on a date to Texas Roadhouse tonight, so hopefully it's still a good birthday for him.

Ben, you are the best daddy and husband! I don't deserve you, but I am so glad that I have you :) Love you babe!

Maple Grove

When our Maple Grove Branch was organized President Pence came up with the idea to plant an actual Maple Grove that would grow along with us. We didn't get it done before he was released, but he still came through with his plan. A few of us from our branch went to his house where he had prepared some land to plant the Maple trees. He showed us what to do and we went to work. Even the kids were able to help. Our family planted 4 trees tonight, one for each of us.

Elise was a really big helper because she loves to play in the dirt...Cole quickly deserted us to play on the "tractor"

After the planting we had a huge bonfire to get warm. We roasted hot dogs and ate them in the Pence's cute barn.

We had such a fun night. It was neat to be a part of such a special project and to be able to do it as a family. Hopefully we can watch this maple grove grow, and be able to come visit in the future and remember our amazing time here in Iowa with our branch. Thanks President Pence!

Happy Halloween 2010

The kids' costumes turned out pretty cute, even though they were thrown together last minute. Cole was supposed to be Spiderman, but apparently ordering the costume online 7 weeks early was not soon enough because it still hasn't come. So, thanks to Aunt Mindy's hand-me-downs and the dollar store, Cole was a Fireman. I wanted Elise to wear her cute pink tutu, but the temperature here dropped and her crown broke, so that costume idea fell apart and she ended up wearing the inherited Dumbo costume. She filled it out quite well though so I was happy :)

Once again, Halloween was a week long event here in West Des Moines. To start things off we had a Halloween party for Fun Friday with all of our friends Friday the 22nd. Almost everyone we know here in Iowa, and a few people we don't know, showed up for this. It was quite the event and we had lots of fun!

Monday the 25th we carved pumpkins for FHE. Daddy and Cole carved an awesome spider, and Mommy and Elise carved a happy face. Then we had a lesson on eternal families since there isn't really a spiritual lesson about Halloween. It was a fun family night!

It was a busy week, but we always make time for the library. Cole made an adorable spider hat there. It was a fun craft and we were glad we didn't postpone our weekly trip.

Cole also had a Halloween party at preschool Thursday the 28th. They made fun crafts all week, he got to dress up with all of his friends, and then they had a costume parade so all the parents could see the cute kids. {You'll notice Cole picked a pink pumpkin for trick or treating this year :) }

Ben's school also had a Halloween party for the kids on the 28th. We met Daddy at the school and played lots of fun games. Cole liked them all, but Ellie stuck to the ghost one with the balls. One of Ben's classmates asked me if El was a rhinoceros. He thought the hat was a horn. Apparently he has not seen Dumbo before :) We all laughed pretty hard about that one.

Friday the 29th Our branch/apartment complex had a trunk or treat. We only caught the end of it because we were at birthday party #2 for that day, the last of Cole's 3 birthday parties that were also the week of Halloween. We couldn't miss out on another chance for candy though :)

Saturday the 30th was Beggar's Night. That is the night the kids go trick or treating here in Iowa. We visited a few friends in our apartment complex, then we headed to the big houses for the good stuff :) Ellie just stared at everything and sucked a sucker, but Cole knew what to do and wasn't afraid. {You'll notice Cole has now switched to a purple bag and let Ellie use the pink pumpkin}

We are officially tired and sugared-out! But it was worth it :) What a fun holiday!

Cole's Bracelet

Dr. Hong, Cole's rheumatologist, decided that Cole needed some orthotics for his shoes and a leg brace to help straighten out his right leg and correct his gait. So, we made a trip downtown to see the orthotic man, Mike, where Cole had his legs and feet casted and then the casts sawn off. Mike was very impressed with what an awesome patient Cole was. He is always very cooperative and easy to work with when he has to see a doctor or someone for his arthritis. After the casting and cutting, Cole got to pick out designs for his brace. He picked fire trucks and dinosaurs. He wanted pink for the foam, but Mike changed it to blue after we left because he thought it would look weird. He doesn't know that pink is Cole's favorite color :)

I was skeptical that Cole would actually wear his night brace or the orthotics. I thought I would have to fight and/or bribe him to wear them. We talked it up the night before he got them, telling him that he was lucky to get such a cool brace. It worked. Cole loves his brace, especially the dinosaur straps! He calls it his bracelet and has to wear it every night all night.

He also loves his "cool new shoes" that Mike got him. His orthotics came with a brand new pair of New Balances. They aren't what I would have picked, but they are a good pair of shoes that insurance paid for and he loves them! Hopefully all of this helps him so that he doesn't have issues in the future.