Apple/Pumpkin Picking 2012

Well, another Kendall/Nguyen/O'Brien tradition has become the weekend Apple and Pumpkin picking out at Kuipers Farm.    The Apple monster made another special appearance and we added another grandchild to the mix!  The kids had a blast, the weather was a little questionable at the beginning but it turned out to be a beautiful day!

 Run the apple monster is coming!!

 Brooke and Grandma staying warm - the wind was crazy out there!

 Inside Kuipers - Maddie and Daddy trying out the tractor!

 Ryker and Dad having a great time too!!

 Look at all these pumpkins!

 The three troublemakers :-)

 Another picture Mom!!  Haven't you taken enough?

 Cleaning the pumpkins with Dad

 The newest O'Brien (sleeping of course) :-)

 Grandma even "Made" her own pumpkin patch in the backyard - pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, it was picture perfect!

 Baby Josie just "hanging out" in the pumpkin patch

Josie and her great smile!! :-)

Our little Abby - she has become quite the character and her facial expressions are

priceless!

Thanks Grandma for a great day!!!

Halloween 2012

UGH - I can't believe how many months its been since my last post!

We have been to Green Lake and back...
We have spent an entire summer full of adventures and funny conversations...
We have gone to numerous dr appts and heard comments from Ry as he prepares to be a big brother.
and
lastly - we are currently enduring a MASSIVE list of potential halloween costumes that Ry would like to wear.

1.) A Robot - He was a robot last year - but he just can't let it die!  He would like to be a robot every year for the rest of his life if we would let him.

2.) A fireman (didn't last long - but I thought it would have been cute)

3.) A slurpee (he saw a cute costume on pinterest - but the interest lasted about 2 minutes total.) thank god - b/c I would have never been able to make it!

4.) The current choice: A GREEN Crayola Crayon.

I told him recently he had until October 1st to change his mind.  As we prepare for Cooper's arrival, which is getting closer and closer - I want to be sure we have that halloween costume purchased and ready to go! :-)

An interview with our 3 year old

Several months back, my dear friend Leslie did this again (with her now 7 year old) and I kept saying...I have to start this with Ryker and I figured today was a good day for it!  Leslie - I stole your questions too - hope you don't mind!!

What is your favorite color?
blue

What is your favorite thing to do at school?
Playing toys, drawing & cutting paper.  (He recently cut a bag full of "coupons" for his mom at school - we are starting him early :-)

Favorite....
Book?
The doug book (still not sure what book that is...)

restaurant?
Fries - McDonalds

Animal?
Butterflies

toy?
Stickin toys (also known as magnatiles)

TV show?
George

Fruit?
Vegetables.  Fruit Ry? Bananas

Snack?
Fruit snacks

ice cream?
sprinkles and ice cream cone

Breakfast food?
Cherries.  Breakfast? Pancakes

lucky number?
3

Favorite place in the whole wide world?
Ryker Nguyen's house

Do you like your name?
Yes

What do you love about Daddy?
Playing and Piggy Back rides

What do you love about Mommy?
Piggy back rides

What do you love about Grandma in California?
Going outside with her & eating chocolate

**I have to say the recording is much more entertaining.  I am going to try and upload it soon!

Ryker, Leo and Max

Sometimes friendship is just as easy as ...

hey guys, how the heck are we going to get this water out so we can all drink some?

Can't believe this is Chicago in March?!

A little lunch and the lake with my favorite 3 year old!

Chicago's First Snowfall of 2012!

It's hard to believe that the first snowfall of the winter didn't come til the 2nd weekend in January - but it came, it was beautiful and Ry loved it!

2012.....

I feel like I am going to blink and 2012 is going to be gone. Its only the 2nd week of the year and already I feel like our calendar is filling up fast! While I still can't believe I haven't blogged about the wonders of the holidays - please know they were wonderful. But as soon as Santa left the building, I took down the tree and replaced it with Gears & Robots! The theme of Ryker's 3rd birthday party!

We decided to host it at Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview. All the kids had a great time. Here are some pics from the big day!

The theme of the party and the colors - all came from the invitation that we picked!

My mom and I made the silverware holder, the robot banner and we had robot

piggy banks that the kids could paint for favors.

Here is a picture of the birthday boy! He had such a great time with his friends, he loved singing happy birthday (to himself), blowing out the candles and that little blue can of m&ms :-)

The birthday boy on his new "BIG KID" bike from Grandma, Aunt Brooke & Uncle Kevin!

Vince, Cathy & Lauren enjoying the museum!

Jess & Big Sister Katie got to join us for the big day too!!

Tyler working hard to help build the house! He will be ready for ASP before you know it!

Thankfully Kristi stopped us on the way out of the museum to get one family pic! :-)

While it isn't the best shot - it still shows - we survived birthday #3 & Ry still held onto that blue canister of m&ms til the very end!!

Thank you to all of our family & friends for helping us to celebrate!!