Preschool Field Trips

We have loved our preschool experience! We are lucky to go to a free class that is for Jacob & I and then Allison gets to participate as well. It's a great deal for all of us: Jacob has found some fun friends, I enjoy chatting with the other moms, and Allison learns from the older kids' examples. Perfect.

This semester we have gone on several field trips:

This karate teacher has come to visit class several times to teach about respect, self defense, nutrition, etc. We went to visit the studio and Jacob did GREAT following the commands. I think I might be sold on the benefits of karate for kids...

Police station.

We went to visit the coolest pediatric dentist office ever. They gave the kids a glove (to keep!!) that smells like watermelon and then squirted water in their hand. Then the "Mr. Thirsty" straw 'drank' it up: a fun way to describe how the dental equipment works.

Right before Halloween, we visited Underwood Family Farms. Can you tell I love the shots when Jacob & Allison are being cute together? And then these are Jacob's preschool pals: AJ, Jett, & Daria. Yeah for fun kids activities!

A Visit from the Deans

We have had so many fun experiences lately! I am way behind in recording them, but I really want to have them posted. So here goes:

In October, we had a fun visit from Tom's sister + family. We went to Santa Monica Beach:




And to the California Science Center:


Melanie & Allison bonding in the toddler play area--so cute!


Tom tries to lift up the truck to the left using all his strength. He was unsuccessful.

We had a great time with them! The cousins were so cute together--they are finally growing up enough to interact and play together. Too bad we don't see each other more often!

Halloween

Ninja Turtle Jake & Little Ali Lion ready for the ward party & Trunk-or-Treat.








Learning to toss a beanbag at the party.















The ninja finally gets a sword.














The seconds following Trunk-or-Treating...
















Halloween night with Aunts Katie & Jenny! (Note how Allison is sucking her thumb and holding her mane--she couldn't get to her hair that she usually holds while sucking.)







The family before a quick trick-or-treat around the block.

The Move

Old news, but here it is anyway. We had a very smooth moving day, mostly thanks to LOTS of help from church friends. They were so quick: the whole process to pack up and then unload the truck took 2 hours (just the break between General Conference sessions)! We were amazed.

Jacob's job the morning of was to label the final boxes. I love that he is learning to write. These were the cutest boxes ever!

The kids loved to help out with everything. Tom found some things for them to do while waiting for the moving crew to show up.

Anxiously awaiting the "moving guys." Last moments on their favorite sitting spot--the outside steps. They were supposed to be over at a friend's house during the whole move, but they wanted to see the action. (Once everyone arrived and they found out they had to just stand in the corner out of the way, they wanted to go play with friends.)

A few treasures we found while unpacking!

A fun week of 'sleepovers' on the floor together before their bunkbed was set up.

Here's the new place! (The extra family members are Tom's brother and sister--more on that fun visit later...)