It's a Wonderful Life

We went to Target to try to find red socks for the boys' Halloween costume.  The only thing I could find out of every dept (boys, babies, women, men, girls) were these red cotton tights.  When we got home, Jackson and Wyatt immediately put them on and had quite the evening! Jackson said they were gymnasts now, and they were jumping and moving so fast.  The expression on Erik's face when he walked in the door and witnessed all this was priceless! Sometimes, I just can't stand how cute my Anna girl is! Gotta get pictures of her little Halloween outfit! Good big brother And tonight was the ward Trunk or Treat!  It was great fun.  I love my little superheros!! Erik, the master candy hander-outer Someone set up a very spooky set up.  It was actually against the rules that were set by the Bishop (no scary masks, nothing to creepy), and I don't think I saw one child make it all the way into the truck.  Jackson decided he wanted to try, but did...

Anna trying to stay warm at Jackson's soccer game.  There was a cold breeze most of the morning that I could of done without! Wyatt: "Get the ball Jackson!  C'mon!" Jackson is so much fun to watch!  He helped his team a lot on Saturday.  He has not lost his enthusiasm for soccer one bit.  I, on the other hand, will not be terribly sad to get my Saturday mornings back :) After the game, there was the soccer picnic for the whole league.  I brought some chocolate cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting.  I finally was able to use the nice big Wilton frosting tips that my mother-in-law gave me.  They really transform any cupcake!  I thought I took a picture of them, but I guess not. Later in the day, Wyatt got a birthday package from Grandmother and Grandpa, and I took the kids to Target so Wyatt could pick out a toy with the birthday money from Grammy and Poppy.  That boy was loving life!!

I finally got my Virginia driver's license in the mail today!  As I've been carrying around my Idaho one for the last 4 years, this is a nice change.  Oh and if you've ever wondered how a driver's license picture would turn out with a DMV worker barking at you, "Tilt your chin up.  Keep your mouth shut tight and no showing teeth.  You can smile if you want to though. . . *click*" . . . . this is how it would look: haha, not my finest picture! 

Thursday evening we celebrated Wyatt's birthday.  It's time like these that I hate living so far from family.  I love a birthday celebration that includes uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins.  However, we are lucky to have good friends here that will come and help us out! :) Since I wasn't quite ready to do a full on "friends birthday party" this was nice and low key. Jackson worked really hard at making a birthday banner for the party.  Wyatt and I helped a bit too.  The theme of the party was "Rock Star."  Every day leading up to Wyatt's birthday, he would change his mind on what kind of party he wanted.  First trains, then construction vehicles, and then one day, Jackson suggested rock star; after that it never changed again.  It was cute to see how excited both boys were in anticipation of the party. Cute Anna ready for the fun to begin! The first game we played was pin the electric guitar on the rock star. Our rock star: a pictu...

 Happy Birthday Wyatt!  This day was very much anticipated in the Nyholm house.  I was sad that Wyatt is still sick with a cold (he was sick around Halloween last year too!), but sick or not he enjoyed his 3rd birthday!  Wyatt loved eating his special birthday breakfast that he picked out.  When he I told him he was three now, he excitedly asked, "I'm big now?!?!"  Yes, Wyatt you really are big now! :) Every morning I put the local NPR station up on the computer while we eat breakfast.  Yesterday the station celebrated its 50th anniversary, so "Happy Birthdays" were said quite often.  One of the hosts sang the whole Happy Birthday song.  Wyatt's eyes got huge and he exclaimed, "Mom they're singing Happy Birthday to me!!!"  So thank you WAMU 88.5 for helping Wyatt's birthday morning be extra special :) Proving that 3 year old Wyatt really is bigger, later in the day, he rode on the BIKE (not the usual tricycle) all ...

As any mother can relate, I often have a "to do list" running through my head of things that need to get done in the next couple of hours.  I'm often interrupted in my quest to get these things done of course, so the list must be repeated over and over again until it becomes sort of a mantra.  This morning, I had my little list running (it was something dumb like shower, give Anna and Wyatt a bath, make lunch, switch laundry, pick up Jackson, haha that is just enough for me :); it occurred to me that everything on my list was something I would actually enjoy doing and that even getting interrupted wouldn't be so bad because I would be interrupted by my wonderful, lovable children.  Of course not everything on my to do list is something I enjoy (bathrooms, bills) and not every day is easy (no sleep, grumpy kids).  However, day in and day out there is absolutely no other place I would rather be.  I am so lucky to get to do what I do....

We have been enjoying the most gorgeous weather this past week.  As you can see, it has made us very happy! :) Anna pulling a Zoolander face. Jackson doing the Pee Wee Herman dance (or Fosse, whichever pop culture reference you like best :) All was well during our picnic at the park until a little girl pointed out to me that a bird had left me a present.  Blech!! Saturday we enjoyed soaking up the rays by watching Jackson's soccer game.  He scored his first goal of the season.  Go Jackson!! Right after the game, we went over to a ward service project of apple gleaning. The kids and I continued our out door fun in the backyard. Because I couldn't get my full work out in during our busy day, I had races with the kids in the back.  We each got to pick how we would run that race (skipping, leap frogging, galloping, dribbling the soccer ball, etc.)  It was a great work out and a lot of fun- I think I'm going to do that more often!