Cole's Preschool Picture 2013

What a stud!

Happy Halloween!

This past weekend was our ward trunk-or-treat, and I think this is the first time Cole has really enjoyed dressing up. The candy was a big incentive too. ;-)

Cole was a Sully from Monsters, Inc., Lexi was the most adorable little owl (the pictures don't do her justice), Aubrey was a fairy and Dave was a hippie.

Here are a few of Cole's best "ROAR"'s. You can almost hear him through the pictures...

This is Lexi's model pout face. We try and get her to pose for a picture and this is what she does. 

Cole and Dave had a great time carving pumpkins as well. Cole especially loved the Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin. He must have spent 45 minutes putting the face and arms in and taking them out and putting him back together again, and he could not stop kissing and hugging it. We have to keep an eye on Cole when friends come over or they will get a little extra lovin' that they didn't bargain for.

Lexi wasn't so interested in the pumpkin carving this year, but she sure did love her BBQ Chicken. It's hard to get pretty much anything past her iron-clenched jaw, but for some reason this is one of her favorites.

Fall Fun

This past month has been filled with lots of wonderful weather, long walks, zoo trips with friends, and park days once again! Lexi and Cole are learning how to play with each other better and I can see their love for each other growing every day (at least Lexi's love for Cole - he's still trying to accept the fact that he has to share his toys, but getting there). Lexi is crawling around like a pro and walking with her little walker toy, almost ready to do it by herself. Cole is LOVING preschool, making new friends, and learning new things each time he goes. Here are a few recent pics:

Backyard Water Slide

Dave surprised Cole with a fun new pool for our backyard, and he loved it (yes, still swimming weather here in Phoenix - 105 degrees outside when these pictures were taken). What he loved even more was turning his backyard slide into a water slide and doing crazy jumps into the pool. Lexi had even more fun watching him and laughing at him with her daddy though. Gotta love family time on a Saturday afternoon!

 

 

Cole's first day of Preschool

Cole started preschool this month for the first time, and so far so good. I'm not sure who loves it more, Cole or mommy. ;-)

He's definitely the cutest little boy in class. Don't you agree?

 

 

Summer in Albuquerque

After our Hawaii trip the kids and I spent a good month visiting Grandma and Grandpa Blacker in Albuquerque. Phoenix weather was absolutely unbearable and Dave had a rough work schedule, so there was no reason not to take off for the hottest part of the year. We had lots of adventures while we were there, the biggest of which were probably potty training Cole, getting Lexi to take a bottle, and teaching Lexi to sleep through the night. Can I get a "Hallelujah!!!"?! Let's just say that as a young mother I feel like a whole new person since we've returned home! Our kids are growing up so fast!

 

Here are a few snapshots from our visit:

 

Lots of time spent in this little spot reading books while Cole was learning how to use the toilet.

 

Modeling his new underwear...

 

 

Rock climbing on Grandpa's wall:

 

 

Grandma took us all to see an old locamotive being restored in down town down Albuqueruque, and Cole wasn't quite sure what to think of it. He loved the train but all the workers and noise were a little overwhelming for him.

 

We also took a trip to the fire station to meet the firefighters and check out their cool trucks. Unfortunatly the firefighter blew the air horn instead of the regular horn on accident and scared Cole to death. He would not stop crying - so sad!

 

Cole feeds Lexi like he's feeding the ducks at the pond down the street. The funny thing is, Lexi eats out of his hand just like the ducks. ;-)

 

I love this picture because it captures the way that Lexi looks at Cole with pure love and admiration. She adores him!

 

 

 

Bedtime stories with Grandpa.

 We LOVED all of the overcast skies and thunderstorms while we were there! Dancing in the rain is one of our favorite things to do together.

 

We were so glad that Dave came out for a weekend visit - we missed him! Mom was thoughful enough to have an early birthday party for him. Happy 33rd honey!

 

 

He got a good workout in too, helping my dad with removing concrete from his broken pergola.

 

 

 

Lexi thought she was such a big girl, getting a ride in the dump truck and playing tractors with Cole.

 

 

 Cole loved making pancakes with Grandma - teddy bears, ducks, frogs and fishes, all covered in sprinkles!

 

 

Shantae also got her mission call right before we left. Sister Blacker is going to San Fernando, California, leaving the end of October. Congrats Shantae!