GRANDPA BEAR'S FUNERAL...11/1/10...

Michael's father (Grandpa Bear) passed away on October 30th. I debated posting photos from his service on our blog but it is a day we wanted to remember and especially be able to share with our children when they are older. I haven't really looked at these photos in the past month and it makes me happy now that we have the pictures. The day was such a blur these help us to remember the celebration of his life.

Aunt Karen holding Michael - she is like another Mom to him. We are so thankful to have her in our life.

TRICK OR TREATING - DADDY'S OFFICE AND THE MAC...10/29/10

I took Davis, Diana & Brooklyn trick or treating at Michael's office. They enjoyed checking out Daddy's space and had some very cute "treat bags" awaiting them that included books and a t-shirt in addition to candy. Mommy LOVED that!

Yes that's a witch and a robot trying to break into the vault (hehe)..

We then ventured over to the MAC where the kids rode in the elevator while Mommy & Daddy read clues to them about which floors had candy on them. This is them downstairs (our last stop). Diana was really working her "witch" skills trying to be scary...

This is where the woman with the candy appeared; you can see how excited the girls are...

Davis was ready to get to the car so he could go through his candy. He was out of there so fast Diana couldn't catch him...

This was such a fun and exhausting night for me. I remember coming home getting the kids in bed and telling myself I needed to get some sleep. Michael woke me up in the morning to tell me his Dad had passed away early in the morning. These pictures are special to me as they were taken the last night his Dad was alive. I wish he could have been there to see how cute they were.

HALLOWEEN AT SCHOOL...10/28/10

Davis had a Halloween parade at school. Diana came with me to watch and wore her costume too. She decided to join in as well ( I was not expecting that) and luckily everyone was very kind to her and let her join in on the fun. Here they are waiting for the parade to start. Davis told me he was a little squished in his suit...

If she's not playing the part in this picture. Look at that face!!!

Joining in with the big kids -she was so proud..

Davis doing his stiff robot walk down the hallway (he had been practicing at home)..

Davis' teacher was so nice she let Diana sing (or attempt to) with the kids and walked her back to the class for the Halloween party...

MORE SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PICTURES...

These are some cute photos that another Mom and Davis' teachers took..

Davis the Robot..

Diana the witch (they let her pose too - very nice of them)

The book Davis chose during the Halloween party...

This was the last photo of the day that I took. Diana was sad when she had to go home. She loves going to her school twice a week and CANNOT wait to go to Davis' school next year.

NATE'S 4TH BIRTHDAY PARTY...10/24/10

Davis went to a gymnastics birthday party for his classmate Nate and burned tons of energy jumping around on trampolines, in foam pits, and completing a fun obstacle course.

It was hard to get any action pictures as I was so far away but here is one of all the boys (plus 1 girl) attentively listening to the teacher explain the trampoline rules. They were all so well behaved; I knew Davis couldn't wait to get on that trampoline.

The new "cheesy" Davis smile that has emerged in the last few months. Luckily he didn't do this for his school picture...

All the kids enjoying some pizza...

Nate's cool gymnastics cake...

Davis and his buddy Gus - they look like they had a work out!!

DIANA FINALLY GOT A BIG GIRL BED....10/18/10

After a long time waiting, Diana finally got her big girl bed. Before I journal about the "big girl bed" excitement, let me rewind one full year. The first time Diana crawled out of her bed was on her brother's 3rd birthday in October 2009 (1 full year ago). I guess she could sense all the attention was on him that morning so she decided to showcase her great climbing skills. She was 20 months old at the time. We were getting Davis ready for his birthday party and she just came strolling out of her bedroom and said hi to everyone.

We have been meaning to get her a bed sooner but she was such a good climber she actually enjoyed climbing in and out of her bed and never got hurt. This could possibly be the reason she is our "acrobat" child.

She was very happy about her "big girl, princess, flower, butterfly bed" as she called it.

Davis (in his pirate hat) helping Diana celebrate...

Yes, I am finally in a big girl bed Mom & Dad! I've waited 1 year and 1 day for this!!!

She was so darn cute and happy when she laid down to go to sleep and even asked me to "take my picture sleeping Mom". She slept all night and has made a perfect transition since. She and Davis said we need another baby for the extra crib we have. I informed them we were putting the crib in storage and that big kid beds were just fine for Mommy right now :-)

Quick flashback to Davis on his first night with the big boy bed. He first climbed out of his crib at 26 months old and we promptly rushed to the store and got him a bed within days so he would not get injured. Funny how things change the second time around!! Davis is still an excellent climber - can't imagine had we left him in the crib longer - yikes!!

CELEBRATING AT SCHOOL....10/18/10

Davis was counting the days to celebrate his birthday at school. He turned 4 on Sunday and was able to celebrate with his classmates on Monday.

He took his job of setting up the napkins and spoons very seriously!

His dinosaur birthday napkin...

Making a wish and blowing out his "volcano" candles. I asked him later what he was wishing for as it seemed like it was a pretty serious wish. He said he was wishing he could see his friend Garrison soon.

Blowing out the ice cream cone volcanoes..

One last picture of Davis with Mom & Dad. He was so happy Daddy could stop in to celebrate with him.

THE BIRTHDAY BIKE....10/17/10

Grammy and Bumpa took Davis to pick out a bike on his birthday. He was so excited about this and made his choice very quickly; this was the first bike he sat on and his mind was made up.

Diana "helping" Davis try out his bike. She is always "instructing" him on how to do things and likes to be involved in all things Davis is doing.

This photo is so typical Davis & Diana. Davis has had enough of her telling him what to do and does not want her touching his bike. "Diana, stop!" are two very often heard words around her LOL! They are usually back to being best friends minutes later but this picture really captures their relationship best. So funny!

Grammy & Davis found a birds nest and a beehive while he was out riding.

And there he goes! He informed me he should be able to ride his bike outside alone at all times because no strangers could take him because he is "sooo strong and can yell really loud." I am loving age 4 much better than I will age 16!!

DAVIS' 4TH BIRTHDAY....10/17/10

We usually have a big birthday party for Davis each year (this is the first year we didn't) and decided to spend the day with Grammy and Bumpa instead. We let Davis choose what he would like to do and he decided bowling sounded fun.

Grammy, Diana, Davis & I made some dinosaur cookies before we went bowling...
Davis had so much fun at the bowling alley. He wanted to try without the ramp this time and did a pretty good job.
As you can see even Diana was beating Grammy (LOL)
Patiently waiting as the ball SLOWLY rolled down the lane. Diana kept cheering for Davis so his ball would go faster.
Diana and her best friend Bumpa (she's in love with my Dad)

MORE 4TH BIRTHDAY PICTURES...

Davis' godmother Crystal gave him a Bear's jersey. You know he was so excited about this!!! He just recently wore it to school and was so proud.
Seriously checking out the score as though she really understood what the numbers meant...
I love this picture of Davis - he looks so grown up and sweet at the same time. He is also of course checking out the score to see if he is winning.
Waiting for her ball to hit the pins...
My greatest memory of the day was during a bathroom break with Davis. I asked him if he was having fun and if he was ok with just hanging out with his family for his birthday ( I was afraid he would be disappointed about not having a party). His response "Mom, I am having a party tomorrow at school - look at this soap. I am so glad we came here because they have really cool soap THAT makes me happy. Take a picture Mom!"