Spring Update

Here is a truly random assortment of the last few months....(in a truly random order....)

Ezra turned 4! We celebrated with a room full of balloons, a Lego Ninjago cake designed by the birthday boy, and a ninja training course for a few of his friends. We love Ezra!

My new blondy bob..so much easier to do!

My parents came to visit for Spring Break and to watch the boys while I went to a conference for my Childbirth Educator certification. THANK YOU Mom and Dad for being willing to watch the hooligans for us!!We celebrated my mom's birthday with fantastic carrot cake.

My dad happened to be here when all the garter snakes decided to leave their winter hibernation spots in our yard. With the help of Ginger the dog, he caught at least 2 every single day! (Please don't let this discourage anyone from coming to visit us...)

Griffin a few months ago..I couldn't resist.

Way back around New Year's Uncle Jake came to visit on his way to college in Utah. (Hooray for living in the middle of the country so we can occasionally get visitors who are passing through! Because really, does anyone vacation in Nebraska? No.) It was great to see Jake and the boys had a blast showing and telling him everything they could think of. Come back soon Uncle Jake!!

Max had a Book Parade at school where he got to march through the halls in a costume from his favorite book. If you haven't read Chicks and Salsa, we recommend it! Its hard to believe his kindergarten year is almost over. He's excited to be a "grader" (as he calls it) next year.

Griffin looked so cute dressed up in the pirate get-up from a friend's birthday party. This baby is now 7 months old....where oh where does the time go?!?

If Ezra's not playing with Legos, chances are he's covering himself in mud. He loves to be outside and get dirty.

We are loving the beautiful weather and the chance to play outside everyday!

Wrapping Up, Part 4

As evidenced below (in no particular order) we had an awesome Christmas together.

Snuggling in a new blanket from Grandma.

Ezra excited about jeans (not really but he's trying!)

Max is a great big bro!

Over 1,000 Lego figure stickers!

3 Christmas boys

Traditional Christmas Eve Pageant

Griffin's delighted with his new barn.

Christmas Eve jammies.

Ezra could hardly stand the excitement of getting his Sensei Wu lego guy.

A silly grin.

The telescope Max asked Santa for (or was is Ephraim that asked Santa for it? I'm not sure.)

Checking out the scope.

Griffin's 1st Christmas= A huge success!

Ezra asked Santa for a Samurai Castle. On Christmas morning he walked straight to our room and asked, "Did my samurai castle get here?"

Proof that I attended Christmas (and even wore my HoHoHo jammies).

Wrapping Up, Part 3

On to the Christmas season!

We went from this:

(beautiful fall sunsets and weather)

to this:

A winter wonderland!

A few Christmas festivities:

Ezra topping the tree.

Christmas cookie baking extravaganza....

These sugar cookies were the first of several dozen cookies baked and consumed by us. Sugar cookies, cream wafers, ginger snaps, mint brownies, geology candy, cherry coconut...it was a sad, sad day when the freezer was finally empty.

Wrapping Up, Part 2

September and October brought more visitors and fun!

Ephraim gave Griffin a baby blessing on October 4 at our home. We were happy to have my parents and sister and her boys join us for the occasion.

A snapshot Max took of Lindsay, Mason, and Calvin at our favorite park.

Griffin loved meeting Grandma Lillie and Grandpa Cory!

Wrapping Up, Part 1

Wrapping up the highlights of 2011 will take a few posts but for now, here's part 1. Way back in August when Griffin was only a few weeks old, we had a great visit with Ephraim's parents. We were so happy we got to see both of them since Ephraim's dad is working in Mexico right now.

They toured Ephraim's work.

Big fun at the Nebraska State Fair with lots of exotic animals.

Tiny and yellow Griffin enjoyed lots of snuggling with Grandma while Grandpa entertained Max and Ezra with books and roughhousing. We can't wait to see them again!

Hamkey. It's What's For Dinner.

In a creative effort to appease smoked-turkey-leg-loving boys and parents desiring leftover ham instead of leftover turkey, the hamkey was born. All the creation's components were delicious, as was our garlic bread stuffing and other traditional fix-ins. The hamkey may very well become a permanent Thanksgiving fixture at the Garner house.

We feel really grateful to be healthy, happy, and together in our new home at this holiday time of year.

New Home

So, we weren't planning on buying a house right away but in August we stumbled upon this place and fell in love. We were sold as soon as we drove up the tree-lined driveway and saw the shiny, red door. We knew we wanted a wooded acreage but we were hoping to still live close to town and that's exactly what we got. We closed on the house at the end of September and so far, we've loved our new home. The boys love traipsing around the 2.5 acres and we love the privacy of not having close neighbors. We have plenty of space so come visit!!!

BOO!

We have a few months of blogging to cover (such as Griffin's baby blessing, visitors, moving to our dream house, yadayadayada....) but for now, here's a Halloween recap. Our first Halloween in Nebraska was a huge success! We had a great party with friends and fun treats, trunk-or-treating at the church and trick-or-treating with our friends, the Andersons.

Sheriff Griffin

Ancient Ninja Spirit Max (if you know Max, you know he came up with that one all on his own) and Transformer Ezra. Also pictured: witches hat cookies, cupcakes, and pumpkin cake balls.

Witchy me and Thor

Max and Ezra love their friends! (Notice that Max decided to change to a Ninja Turtle...he totally takes after me with the multiple costumes.)

2/3 of our cute boys

Griffin's Growing Up!

He's nearly 7 weeks now and since he's a decent sleeper at night and super cuddly, we have no complaints. Max is loving his nightly homework (here's hoping that lasts!) and Ezra is happiest when we leave him alone with his legos and action figures.

It was a big week around our house...

Max started Kindergarten. Here he is posing in his school clothes.

Ezra was quite excited for it as well and actually seems quite content with having the house all to himself during the day.

Griffin is already 1 week old and is contemplating life's great mysteries.

He got to wear his awesome glowing suit for a couple of days which somehow cured him of jaundice.

And his brothers are already working hard to teach him all of their greatest tricks.