Halloween Costumes..Alice in Wonderland

We wanted to do a family theme this year. I saw a queen of hearts costume for Ava I couldn't pass up... but I did... because it was $95 on Etsy! What!?! So I decided to make one myself. Then I thought about how cute Dresden would be as the White Rabbit and this is probably the last year he will let us choose for him! (When we went into what he called "the scary store" he kept saying he was captain America or Ironman!) But I told him I would get some of those costumes after Halloween. We just went on from there. And I some how convinced Eric to be the Mad Hatter!

I was so proud I made Ava's whole costume for less than $25! Tulle was on sale! I even sewed her top all by myself. Don't look too close! Haha Thanks to my wonderful friend Stacie for letting me use her amazing sewing machine. I made Dresden's bow tie and Eric made his hat and scarf. I found a tutorial on his things so it just took some time. I was super excited to find my skirt at a thrift store. I just added some black fabric around the top. Most the other stuff was also from a thrift store. Ava's favorite was her wand and of course her red lips! And Dresden loved his glasses, bunny ears, and tail. It was fun putting it together and adding all the details.

I knew we weren't going to have time to take pictures before any of our Halloween parties so we went out to a place by our house and took some pictures. Plus I have been itching to take some "nice" pictures. There are so many great places for pictures here. So here we are...Mad Hatter, Alice, Queen of Hearts, and the White Rabbit!

Ava giving her mean face since the Queen is mean!

I like her best as the happy Queen though! :)

He reached around to show me his tail.

I just think Ava looks beautiful in this one.

We took the family ones with a tri-pod and the timer. We couldn't get Dresden to scoot in! But I was just happy to get any!

My very handsome Mad Hatter

Pumpkin Patch

The other day we attempted the pumpkin patch with some friends. Unfortunately we didn't make it in time before they were closing. Well we actually did but they said it wouldn't be worth it for only 45 minutes. To say that Ava was crushed would be an understatement! She was crying forever and then fell asleep on the way home. :( So Eric got out of school early the next day and we decided to try again. Ava and Dresden were so excited. I don't think it would have mattered what they even had, they were just happy to be there. Of course it turned freezing cold that night but they still had a blast! There was way more to see than we thought and some of it had even closed for the night. The kids loved the big slides and the giant trampolines! They had music playing and Dresden was quite the dancer. He always makes us laugh. And I think Ava had a smile on the whole time. Except of course when we went though the haunted house. It was 3D so she like some of it but she got a little scared too. They also had a house to walk through that was all cartoon characters painted on the walls, and a petting zoo area where they feed some goats and see some pigs. We had a great time! Ava asks everyday if we can go back! Next year we will give ourselves more time.

Dresden dancing

Conference Weekend

Conference weekend was great. We had a tradition of going to the park during the Priesthood session with all our friends in Vegas. I really missed them over the weekend. But I am glad we have made some great friends here and we all went to a fun little park here. There were no lights and it got dark fast so I have no pictures but the kids had fun running around.

Saturday session was so good. I loves so many of the talks. We got together at the Roberts house for some delicious cinnamon buns. The kids were given conference bingo cards to hold them over.They did pretty good but eventually ended up playing instead. We took a break half way and let the kids run. Mikail set up some balls at the end of their "backyard". for the kids to run get and when they got back they got a treat. We had a great time hanging out and listening to a wonderful conference.

Sunday session was just as good! I printed some fall leaves with pictures of the twelve apostles and some of the seventy on them. Each time there was a new speaker they tried to find his picture, color it, and of course get a treat. They also each got a packet to color. All of which lasted about 45 minutes! Can't wait to actually read all the talks.

Dresden just being a goofball!

life in Lincoln

I saw one of my friends who moved to a new place do something like this so I thought it would be fun to remember what's been happening since we moved a little over three months ago, and a few of the new little things.

-The weather has been great so far. Summer was super hot and now it's perfect. We did hit a few days where it was 50 degrees. Everyone here said it felt great and I was ready for long johns and a parka! I'm extremely nervous about actual winter.

-One of the first things I noticed when we drove into Nebraska was that the traffic lights are horizontal on the bar not vertical. I don't know why but it was so different to see it that way.

-The green trees were great when we moved but now that's it's fall and the leaves are changing it really is so beautiful here. I need to take some pictures soon. I'm sure the kids are going to love jumping in the leaves.

-We had to switch cell phone service as soon as we got here. They don't even have a T-Mobile and we were getting almost no service.

-I still really miss Costco!... and Cafe Rio, Home Goods, Ross, and H&M. Love that there is a Hobby Lobby though.

-There are alot of one-way streets downtown. That was hard to get used to. I don't know what I would do with out the GPS!

-We live only 5 minutes from our church. That is so nice. Less than 5 minutes from our YMCA and Library.

-I got a calling as Relief Society Secretary. It's been really fun so far.

-Eric got called as Sunday School teacher for the Laurels and Priests.

-We have a great neighborhood and area close to stores and restaurants.

-We have only driven on a freeway one time since we've been here and that was to take my mom to the airport in Omaha. It's just to small a town to need one.

-Dresden and I eat lunch at least once a week at Eric's school. We eat with our friends the Roberts and Nehrings. They have a big grassy area the kids love playing on. There are so many squirrels here. It's fun to visit and hang out since Eric gets home a little later now.

-Ava is loving school. We really have been spoiled too. The bus comes right to our house and they feed her a snack and lunch! It's kinda weird but kinda nice. She loves asking what she will be eating and at least I know it's always heathy! She also goes every day. Although most months she has at least three days off. We just had parent teacher conference and her teacher said she is doing great. She is so smart and did awesome on all the testing they did. She isn't under an IEP at the moment and her speech is wonderful. We are still working on her listening skills though!

-I love my time with just me and Dresden. He loves to sit on my lap and play computer games. I can't believe how big and smart he is getting. He says the funniest things too! I am a little sad that he is slowing down with the naps. He only takes about 2 or 3 a week. And Ava had the great idea to teach him how to get out of his crib! BOO! So now I put him down and a few minutes later he walks out with a big smile on his face! It's a good thing he's cute! I guess it's time for a big boy bed anyway.

I'm just going to throw in some random pictures from the last month!

This is lunch at Eric's school. The girls are at school so it's just boys! They love finding big sticks and chasing each other. William, Dresden, Talmadge, and Wesley

And one of Eric just cause he's cute!

The other day we checked on Ava and found her like this. She fights sleep til the very last minute! Pencil still upright in her hand!

Dresden loves his trains! He likes when I take pictures of him and always gives he weird poses.

When we can't see or hear Dresden this is usually where we find him. He just climbs up and starting looking through books. Recently I found him in his crib reading books!

He was in need of a serious haircut!

My handsome boy!!!

Eric's new mode of transportation

So I have been seriously losing the blogging motivation but I need to get updated. So I guess I'll start here. About a month ago Eric decided to get a bike so he could ride to school. It's nothing fancy and he already wants to upgrade but he really enjoys riding it to school, and it's great exercise. Now he leaves at 6:30 and doesn't get home til about 6. (I am really missing regular dental school days and the occasional early out day he used to get). It's an 18 mile ride there and back. Lincoln is all about bikes. There are alot of bike trails that lead almost anywhere. One day we will all have one and be able to go on bike rides as a family.

Here are a few pictures I grabbed one day when he got home.

I love his helmet :) his brother even gave him some biking shoes. He just took it off but he also has to ride with his backpack on. He is pretty sweaty when he gets home. Ha!