The White Elephant

2015

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2013

Kimball, The Goofball

This boy has got so much personality and is always making faces or saying silly things, anything he can do to get someone to laugh. And it somehow amazes me how his pictures are rarely a good normal, smile. He's always cracking up the facial expressions.

This $1 investment on a tube of glow in the dark bracelets was worth it. I've had a hard few days being patient with the kids, either that or they are extra whiny and ornery. Probably both. But I'm thankful for little things like this that give all of us a break.

Trick or Treat!

One of the fun things they did at Cora's school was let the kids wear their costumes and go trick or treating from classroom to classroom or therapist. She loved it and started grabbing anything she could to put in her bag. One office had some stuffed animals on a shelf by the door and Cora went straight for the puppy and put him in her bag.

 These are my matching supermen! I'm too cheap to buy costumes so I found Cora's outfit and decided to match the kids. Kimball's is actually pajamas and both are a win-win because they can wear them as many times as they want to instead of just once a year.

Lance and I revived the old hillbillies, or as he told everyone at the ward part, we dressed up as the Cox ancestors.

Kimball's 4th Birthday!!

Here he is in his birthday suit, haha. In the morning I let him drive his cars in the bath tub through the car wash (shaving cream).

 We played with lots of balloons all day long and I forget how much kids love balloons until a birthday rolls around.

Here's the birthday boy in front of the finished cake! Of course as soon as I took the picture the back of the engine fell off and it was beyond repair at that point. The engine didn't look very good to begin with but Kimball didn't care and it was delicious! I did a train cake because his present from us was a set of train tracks.

 Thanks Grandma Julie!

 The trains and tracks which he loves!

 And Daddy took him on a special Man Trip for his birthday. The two of them went to Wonderland, a game/arcade type of place.

Happy birthday, Buddy! You are an excellent big brother to Cora and absolutely adore her. Your favorite food is meatloaf which you constantly request and love playing with your cars and trains. You like to build and create stuff, even in the middle of the kitchen with all of the canned food and it sometimes drives me crazy although I've never seen a better castle made of evaporated milk. You like music and singing and making any kind of silly sounds with your mouth. Burping and tooting instantly gives you the giggles. Daddy is your best friend and you're just like him in that you love to make people laugh. We love you, Kimball!!!

Random Photos

Last year I found this shirt on clearance for $1 so I got one for Kimball and Zander.

 Fort making!

 When was the last time you folded in half?

 For one of the busy bags I finally found a magnifying glass to go with our miniature animals. Kimball thinks it's really cool.

For My Own Record

These cute little flowers were displayed at the reception's desk at Kimball's speech. Aren't they cool?! I just took pictures for myself so I can make one for myself...one day. Love the branch!

Harvest Festivities at Green Bluff

A few weeks ago for FHE we drove out to Green Bluff and visited Walter's farm. The 20 minute drive was beautiful with all of the trees changing colors, once you get out to the bluff and see all of the farms it's just like a dream. A bit of nostalgia hits as you sit on the wooden rocking chairs on the porch and look out across the farming valley. It's beautiful! We also had dinner and ice cream and pie as well as picked out some pumpkins to carve and paint. The kids didn't like feeding the goats because the goats were starving and a bit aggressive. I would've been too.

The kids only look this grumpy because the sun was in Cora's eyes and Kimball didn't want to sit next to the skull. But I promise they had a great time!

 In the pea pit

Lately

I don't know where the time has gone, especially since it is almost NOVEMBER!! I have been frantically finishing up the majority of our Christmas shopping as I'd like to send the gifts with Donna when they come next week to visit. Oh yeah, Grandma and Grandpa Cox are coming to visit next week! Wahoo!! Anyway I figured Donna would save me at least $75+ (and hassle) in shipping by taking advantage of her drive to/from home. I have every body's gifts bought and wrapped except Lance and Cora so I think I'll make the deadline, cross that off my list.

Cora and Lance have been sick with a cold, I've been making regular appointments to the dentist which are never fun, and Kimball celebrated a birthday. Also out of the blue and very spontaneous, we bought a brand new couch today. As in a couch from a furniture store.....I didn't think that would happen for at least another 10 years but our purchase qualified us as winners of a Hawaii trip. We'll see if we ever actually make it across the ocean.

General conference was enlightening and I was able to listen to all five sessions, I'm always amazed at the size of our church and the spiritual capacity of these apostles.

I taught a jewelry class for part of our ward's Super Saturday event. That was fun and stressful at the same time but I'm also glad it's over. I've got two sewing projects to start and finish as part of Kimball and Cora's Christmas presents....also hoping Donna will help me with that because I don't think I'll get it done otherwise.

Oh! And I redeemed my birthday gift from Lance! I stayed at the Oxford Suites with my own view of the Spokane River downtown, had 24 hours to myself with no kids or husband, and had spending money. I bought a sweater. And the rest of my time was spent running errands-gathering supplies for Super Saturday, getting the oil changed in the car, got a hair cut, etc. I'm still amazed at how a simple 24 hours to myself can really refresh, reset, and refocus myself to our family! I'm hoping this will become an annual tradition. HINT, LANCE! And thank you, Pookie Smoooo for knowing exactly what I needed and giving it to me. I love you!!

Random Photos

This is my absolute favorite smile of hers!

 I found some washable paint on clearance and let the kids go to town painting in the bath tub. They loved it!

 I found Kimball's selfie on my phone.

Speech & Mommy School

Kimball has just started speech therapy this past week and he loves it! Mainly because he gets to build train tracks and play with the trains but his therapist, Shelby, has been great to work with. I do wish it was more than once a week or at least longer than 30 minutes but I'll take what I can get. So on Monday mornings when Cora has therapy, Kimball goes to Speech (at a different company) and then we go on a date together before heading back to pick up Cora. I wish I knew how to better help his stuttering but he participates really well with Shelby which I'm thankful for.

Thursday during Cora's therapy, Kimball and I come home and do Mommy School together. (Because I didn't know what else to call it that name just stuck). I got some workbooks from the dollar store and we work on numbers, letters, a craft that has to do with that particular letter of the day, and lots of reading. I absolutely love having this one on one time with him!!!!! This was our first day of Mommy School and we painted with apples.

Thank You, AFO's

This girl almost weighs 30 pounds. She's heavy. I'm really tired of packing her around everywhere and am so anxious for her to be walking! On the upside of that I have amazing biceps in my right arm. But, now that we are about two weeks into wearing the orthotics, she has been walking a lot more! I'm hoping in just a week or two it'll be official "walking" as her main mode of transportation. That'd be nice.....