Elitch Gardens

Every year I get company sponsored tickets for the family to the Elitch Gardens amusement park.  This was the first year that we were able to take the kids.  So much fun!

The "amusement park" was required bedtime conversation material for months afterward.

I was terrified that 14 month-old Clara was going to jump out of the boat.  She did fine. 

July and August

After we got home from Ohio, our family officially started a paleo lifestyle by doing a Whole30.  The results were incredible and we never looked back.  We've had weight loss, less joint pain, more energy, less tummy trouble, less mental fog - it's so good!

The quiet summer travel season gave us some good times at home.

Andrew started to enjoy talking on the phone.  Here he's speaking to Uncle Devin.

Flying a rocket to outer space on a rainy summer evening

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Nana came to visit!

Then Grandma and Grandpa visited right after!

Grandma's toy horse

Happy 70th birthday, Grandpa!

"That cake was paleo?  I couldn't even tell!"

Sibs

Hail storm!

Overheard in the Kitchen

Mama: Look out for Clara.
Andrew: Oh!  I like Clara!

Climbing and Sliding

The kids have really been enjoying the elephant slide that Grandpa built for Travis when he was a baby.  Andrew is getting very good at taking turns, and loves to take turns with all of his stuffed animals: "Tigey turn!  Tow truck turn!  Andrew turn!"

Clara likes to crawl underneath it and watch brother go up the steps, but recently she has made it to the top, both by climbing the steps and climbing the sliding board.  She is quite the climber these days, climbing anywhere she can find a foothold.  She can make it from the main level upstairs in approximately 8.2 seconds.  And it's faster if you've walked into the other room and aren't paying attention...

Early November

Lots of cute pictures...

I know it's not quite in focus, but... love the grin!

Big brother is SO FUNNY

Who doesn't like to read the paper while sitting on the throne?

This is Andrew's camera smile

We went for a walk in the snow to visit our neighbors.  They were butchering a deer and gave us some venison.  Yum!!

Andrew is getting more adventurous in the kitchen.  Here he decides to bake a turnip in the toaster oven....

...and saute up some goldfish crackers.

I have a much longer blog to do on our most recent home improvement project, but for now... aren't these the cutest safety glasses and ear protection you've ever seen?