Christmas is Coming!

Let's just pretend that I did the fall posts I intended to do as well as the swimming video from the end of summer.  ; )  I decided to go ahead and put up these winter pictures because if I keep waiting to catch up first its not going to ever happen.  Finding time to get pictures off the camera (or phone) and edit them and put them on the blog has definitely taken a back seat.  We'll just pretend that I'm using that time for playing with the kids instead of being on the computer : )  I thought once we made it to October life would slow down a little but it has not.  I can't believe it is nearly January.  Before we know it we are going to be packing boxes and saying good bye to Columbia.   Anyhow, we have been up to lots of Christmas things around here lately.  We've been to visit Santa, made ornaments, Christmas crafts, Christmas concerts at school, gone to see the Magic Tree, and even played in the snow.  I have more pictures that may or may not make it to the blog (they haven't made it to the computer yet ) but these two have so you can see them.  We are definitely excited about Christmas here at the Ogles house.  We move our candy cane and take a link off the chain everyday.  Caden can certainly tell you how many days are left until Christmas.  I don't think we will miss it! 

 

 

Visiting Santa at Bass Pro.  Everyone really was happy but fake smiles commonly happen around here.

Sledding down Mr. John's hill

Amanda's Wedding Weekend

We had a blast celebrating Amanda and Clinton's wedding.  It was a great weekend and the weather was great for the outdoor wedding.  Things got a bit windy for the veil : )  but I think everyone would agree that if that was the worst thing of the ceremony then things went very well.  To be honest it seemed much more distracting while standing up there then it looks captured in the pictures so I think it was likely on my mind (and the other bridesmaids minds) much more than everyone else watching the ceremony.  Here are some of my favorite pics that I captured from the weekend.  I don't have any of the actual ceremony posted here since I was up front and Ricky didn't take any since he was in charge of the two kids after they came down the aisle and were done "on stage". Amanda has like 1,000 (literally) more that the photographer captured but here are some of the ones I got.  The last ones are of Avery Lynn and Issac.  Issac is Clinton's nephew, his sister's oldest son.  My kids had an absolute blast playing with Issac and Austin (Clinton's nephews) that weekend and can't wait for many more get togethers in the future.

My mom, Amanda, and Avery Lynn at the rehearsal

The night of the rehearsal was also my grandparents anniversary so Amanda got a cake for them to celebrate.

Caden fishing with my dad the morning of the wedding (with the fishing pole my dad got him)

Avery Lynn fishing with Papa (with her fishing pole)

Avery Lynn and Amanda in the shirts Amanda got us all to wear while getting ready

Avery Lynn, Amanda, and Caden

Bridesmaid's and Bride's shoes

Avery Lynn did so good getting her hair done.  I was impressed!

Lacing up the dress

Avery Lynn and her kissing ball

Elliott Phoebe (Avery Lynn's cabbage patch) got a dress too, that matched Avery Lynn's

Avery Lynn

Our family

The Wedding Cake

The groom's cake

The first dance

He's a singer : )  Clinton singing to Amanda

Amanda and Dad

Grandpa and Amanda

Avery Lynn and her new favorite person (Issac)

She is TOO Young for this!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my two little ghosts!

Gone Picking

We enjoyed eating lots of fresh picked fruits and veggies this year.  While I don't think that I took any pictures of our garden at home this year we did pretty well (with our Rubbermaid buckets).  We had lots of lettuce, strawberries, zucchini, and tomatoes.  We also enjoyed picking blueberries in Cape with MaMa Dewrock and we pulled Daddy away from studying the other morning to pick some apples in Mexico, MO.  The kids love eating the stuff that we grew and/or picked.  We ended up with lots and lots of apples so what are we to do..... make an apple pie.  I wasn't sure how it would turn out with myself and both kids in the kitchen while Ricky studied but it was a SUCCESS!  It was delicious and we ate it all in just a couple of days.  The apples are supposed to last in the fridge for quiet some time so I'm hoping to make another.  I'm trying to make myself wait until after I fit in a bridesmaid dress in two weeks : )  Here are some pictures from our fun.

Picture after blueberry picking.  It was very hot so the kids are very sweaty and yes that is two huge bags of blueberries and a box full.

It was such a fun place.  They let us use their golf cart to drive to the apple trees.  Obviously the kids thought this was cool.

Delicious!  Avery Lynn enjoyed an apple while picking.

Caden has no problems finding "good" ones

The trees were a great size.  The kids could reach and pick the apples without much trouble.

Posing by the apple trees

Proof that we made it!  Yummy!

Back to School

Last week Caden started Pre-Kindergarten and Avery Lynn started Preschool.  Both will just be going in the mornings, Caden two days a week and Avery Lynn one.  Avery Lynn was very excited to get to stay at school with Caden and she had a blast.  She went right in the room and was ready to play.  She liked the fact that she got to eat lunch there and play on the playground.  She loves feeling big and getting to do the things that Caden gets to do.  Caden was excited to move to a new classroom, which put him in Pre-K with Mrs. Kristin.  He has now gone two days and is loving it.  I think he likes the fact that it has kindergarten in it since so many of his friends are now in Kindergarten.  : )   Here are the pictures from the first day.

She was very excited even though she looks a little timid in this picture

5th Birthday Bash!

Caden is now 5 years old, believe it or not.  It is crazy!  He is full of energy and most would say never has a dull (or quiet) moment. He is a happy and healthy 5 year old.  When we went for his 5 year check up last week he weighed 37.5 lbs and was 42 inches tall.  Which puts him right around 25th percentile, which is about where my kids live.  He is all boy and on the go constantly.  He is a great eater but also is on the go so it is not surprising to me that he burns off a lot of what he eats.  We celebrated Caden's birthday this year with a Chuck E Cheese party.  We had a Jake and the Never Land Pirates theme but really that just consisted of Jake and the Never Land Pirate cupcakes and goody bags for friends because Chuck E Cheese does the rest (of course you pay them for it but at least you don't have to get the stuff).  Caden had a lot of fun at his party and having everyone there to celebrate him turning 5.  We even got the full Chuck E Cheese birthday experience as Caden and Daddy got to do the ticket blaster!  It looks a little insane in the picture but Caden got the 1000 ticket so we got much more elaborate prizes this time than when we usually visit Chuck E Cheese.  Caden had lots of fun playing games, hanging out with his friends, eating pizza and cupcakes, opening presents, and doing the ticket blaster.  It was a fun evening.  

Chuck E Cheese and the kids

Avery Lynn  on a ride

Caden (notice the blurred hands) moving fast to feed the frog

Fun Jett Rider ride

Caden working hard to smash something : )

Fun at the table

Blowing out the candle

Ticket blaster fun

T-Ball Spring 2013

Caden also played on his first T-Ball team this spring/summer.  He had a blast playing the game (and digging in and throwing the dirt).  He learned how to play the game and I learned how to clean white baseball pants, lol.  They typically did two innings each game with everyone batting (then running one base at a time) until they finished their line-up.  Everyone played the field each inning as well. Caden really enjoyed playing t-ball and is already looking forward to playing again next year.  

Soccer

I know I've been neglecting the blog...... but there is always something else that needs to be done.  But none the less Soccer will start up again in Sept so I figured I should post some pics from the Spring before the Fall season starts : )  Caden did soccer in the spring and had a blast.  It was his first team sport and he loved running around chasing the ball with his teammates. He was number 7.  Most of these pictures are from practice which they did for the first 30 min and the last 30 minutes was their "game" where they played another team, but you get the idea.  It was fun to watch.  We all had fun going to his soccer games.

Caden is the last one in line in this picture.  Practicing dribbling the ball.