Second Missing Tooth

Robby was so excited to come from school today with a loose tooth.  

It wiggled somewhat, but definitely not enough to really pull on it.  

So off to ice skating we went and later on that evening after dinner it was barely hanging on.

  One little pull by Mom and it was out free and clear.

Robby was ecstatic to have caught up to his sister in number of teeth lost thus far.

Maddie was NOT happy to have her little brother catch up to her and promptly inspected her own mouth to see if she happened to have any wiggly teeth {she did not}

Robby was also excited to be able to add his name on the tooth count calendar at school.

Maddie was not quite so unhappy when she found out that next month she is having TWO teeth pulled so then she will be back in the lead.

Robby also has ANOTHER wiggly tooth and is now working on that one in hopes he will pass Maddie up.

LOVE those two, even if they are just slightly competitive 

(can't imagine where they got that from....definitely not the parents :))

{We do have our fair share of fights around our house, but I love the fact that they also have their fair share of sibling love time.  For instance, I love the fact that they scoot their chairs as close as possible to each other during meal time.}

TP Ice Skating

One of our {meaning the kids and I} favorite past times in New England is ice-skating.  We have really enjoyed having a rink nearly in our backyard and in the dead of winter we love having frozen ponds/lakes to practice our glides, stops, and sometimes fancy falls.  Already we are watching our favorite ponds to see when we will be able to fit in some ice time.  

--our cute friends Candace and JJ with Maddie 

(I promise my boys and I were at the rink that night, just no pics due to a nearly dead phone)

The amazing Tuck Partner group arranged a special ice skating night at Campion Rink and we immediately signed up to go.  Although Jesse ended up missing it, the kids and I still had a great time skating around the rink.  Maddie basically stole the show (as always) and loved showing everyone just how good she has gotten at skating.  She always starts out with a full winter wardrobe and by the end she has stripped down to regular clothes and gloves.  She says that since she "never falls" she gets too hot on the ice and "the pretty girls that ice skate only wear tights and a fancy dress".  Maddie loved skating with our friend Carreau, who nicely took her to the center and taught her some figure skating moves.  Who knows, we may have a figure skater in our family?!  The boys focused on staying upright and we even pulled out a chair for Eli to push around the rink.  E really enjoyed falling to the ground on purpose and would proceed to lick the ice because "it tastes so nummy".  Robby is very serious and focused on everything he tries and tends to get frustrated if he doesn't pick something up right away.  He really is starting to get the hang of skating and although he still falls a lot, I can see the beginning steps gradually moving forward.  I think by next year he will be whipping around the ice like Maddie.

TT Christmas Party

***most of these pictures are NOT very good.  Let's just say my old camera is struggling right now and my camera on the phone is broken. Nevertheless I don't want to forget this precious time in our lives.***

Once again we attended the Tiny Tuckie Christmas Party, and once again it didn't disappoint.  Candace and Stephanie are the co-chairs for the Tiny Tuckies and they literally go ALL OUT when it comes to these parties.  Beautiful decor, amazing treats, cookies to decorate from King Arthur Flour, even a real, life Santa was there (he looked amazingly young this year....how does he do it?!).  My kids were thrilled to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.  In fact, I had to drag them all away so they wouldn't keep harassing Santa.  

One of my very favorite families to move in this year as "1st years" in J's business program is the Monteleone's. I have loved getting to know Candace through road trips, Museum and playground playdates, girls night outs, etc.  She is one of those amazing girls that is beautiful (obviously), talented, giving, and hilarious to be around.  We have spent lots of time together and somehow I think this is one of the only pictures we have of the two of us together :)  

Maddie thought it was fantastic that they could decorate gingerbread men and she was very methodical in how hers was decorated.  The finished product then came home and sat on our fridge shelf for a number of days.  The boys hurried through theirs a bit quicker and immediately went to town eating their creations....BOYS.  

After the cookie decorating was over, Robby picked up some treats and sat on the closest couch to Santa and wouldn't budge for the remainder of the time.

This is how we kept Eli from running off for the rest of the party.  #thankheavensforkindles

We are a Family

We were so excited to get to take pictures during the fall in New England {the most beautiful place to experience fall beauty in my opinion}.  We were just slightly bummed when a ton of leaves fell off the trees just days before our scheduled pictures.  Nevertheless, when we got our proofs back we ended up thrilled with the results; especially since our children were little demons during the photo session

Although taking pictures was a stressful time, I love having these memories to look back on and remember our time out here in New England.

*I love the missing tooth in Robby's mouth----his first of many.

*I love how lovable Maddie is right now; despite her sassiness she really does think the world of her Mom.

*I love Eli's goofy smiles and pictures of him laughing because that is so my Mr E

*I love the Connecticut River that is in the background throughout quite a few of our pictures.  Growing up in Utah and then Arizona, I never had any rivers close to our house.  The only time I would see large bodies of water would be vacations or trips to the lake.  I have never understood the tranquility and soothing power of being near water until now.  I love my daily drives along the banks of the river; they are so relaxing and calming to me.  Now as the ground is blanketed with snow and with the cold weather the top of the river is frozen, I enjoy the beautiful scenic view.  I know this is going to be something that I really miss when we move.

*I don't love the bags that were/are under my eyes in nearly every picture {although I do love photo editing software that Jesse is a pro at using}, but I do know that I will always remember how little sleep that I lived on during these graduate years and wonder just how I survived.

*I love how all three of our kids are a little troop together, they play together, they fight together and they love together.  I hope they will always remember the feelings of love that they have for each other and I hope that when they look back upon this time they will remember the laughs and cuddles, the joy they brought each other and not the tears and anger during the daily sibling fights.

*I love how we have become our own little family far away from the rest of our family.  I love how we have learned to depend on each other and have grown closer to one another.

*Most of all, I love the people in these special pictures, my loving and supportive husband and my fun loving, excited, thriving children.  They all mean the world to me and I'm thankful every day for the blessings and joy they bring into my life.

Maddie at 7 years old

Robby at 5 years old {and a half}

Eli at 3 years old {almost 4}

Turkey Crafts

One of the best parts of my children going to school, are the adorable crafts that they bring home to me.  I especially enjoyed all the turkeys made from little hands, colorful corn on the cobs with tissue paper and finger paint turkeys.  

Maddie brought a handful of fun items home, but the one that struck me the deepest was this sweet little turkey shown below that depicts what she is thankful for.  

I am thankful for...."my friends, my God, my family, and my Church" were the four noteworthy items that she thought important enough to list on this paper.  The first thought that floated through my mind was "Wow, I have taught her at least a few things right".  I am thankful for a daughter that recognizes the power of God in her life, that recognizes the importance of her family and our Church.  I am also thankful for what a good friend Maddie is to everyone around her.  For the most part, she always takes the time to welcome other children into her circle.  She is sweet and loving to the younger kids and she loves to dote on them.  In turn, she has many pre-school age children in our neighborhood that idolize her.  I am grateful that she is a good example to them in turn.

My favorite picture that Robby brought home was this finger painted apple tree (sort of completely unrelated to the Holiday?).  I love how hard he tried to capture the leaves on the trees and even added apples in the trees and a few falling out.  He has really taken off this year with his creativity and love of art work.  It was a long time coming, and I am so grateful that he is finally there.  I also enjoy seeing any writing that he does (such as his name written within the tree).  

Uncle Ben

It was a sad morning today when my children had to say goodbye to my brother.

He was the perfect guest/buddy/friend/brother/visitor this weekend.

*He was perfectly nice to my kids after driving all night to get to our house and then being woken up after only TWO hours of sleep on Thanksgiving morning.
*He hung out with us for 3+ days and went along with whatever plans we made without a complaint.
*He came with us to our huge friend Thanksgiving.
*He went ice skating with us and helped my kids nearly the entire time.
*He spent loads of time letting my kids wrestle with him.
*He watched the ASU football game with us after kids went to bed.
*He played game after game of Rummicub and Memory with the kids.
*He played Xbox games with Robby and helped him with his Kindle games.
*He went on a hike to Boston Lake and then around it's perimeter with us.
*He put up with kids walking into his room and announcing it was morning and time to get up (Miss M)
*He complimented all of my cooking.....bonus points!!!
*He went for a walk with us up to the Dartmouth Green with Starbucks Hot chocolate to see the Xmas tree.
*He got to see it snow on the walk back to the car and then the drive home.
*He was willing to stay up a bit later and played a game of Skipbo with me....my hubby is NOT a game person so we rarely play any adult ones at our house.  I love games and grew up playing many at my house as a child so this was a fun little treat for me.

 Ben with Eli, Robby and Maddie saying their goodbyes

We love you Uncle Ben and can't wait to see you again next summer!!!!

A few of my favorite things

1. Reminders such as this one to NOT freak out when things don't happen the way I envisioned them to within our country, or specifically the White House.  The most important thing is to focus on my family and what I do as a parent with my children.  Our apostles seriously know what is going on and what needs to be said. End of story.

2. Little boys that eat themselves into a candy stupor and fall asleep like this.  Thank heavens this was the official last bit of candy and now we are on a Halloween candy detox program around here.  The antidote is..............PUMPKIN PIE and WHIPPED CREAM! YUMMY

3. Having a little girl that wears a crown on her head ALL DAY without a care in the world.  This is on the way to the movie theater where she proceeded to wear her crown all through the movie, to the grocery store afterwards and then back home :)

4. Hikes to Boston Lot Lake with my crew and the simple pleasures of a little boy.  I am always amazed at how much entertainment is provided by rocks and water.

5. Watching my children color together without ANY fighting whatsoever.  I love how they are all at the age where they finally enjoy doing this.

6. My PERFECT place to store all of the lovely art projects that come home from school.  I specifically love the hand print turkey that Eli made in preschool last week.  It is genius.  I was also impressed by the cob of corn that Robby made in art class.

7. My family.  I have missed them so much since moving to New Hampshire and specifically miss them during the Thanksgiving holiday.  I feel like I am never more like myself then when I spend a hefty dose of time around them.  My family brings out the crazy silliness in me, my most outgoing self, my dorky humor, and my "fashionista" fancy self.  I love them so much and I wouldn't be who I am without them.  I cannot wait until the next reunion together {unfortunately our last time together in August was under sad circumstances} 

8. My "little" brother Ben.  He was so sweet and drove all the way over from Michigan to spend this Thanksgiving break with our little family.  The kids were so excited to have him come and have loved spending lots of time with him.  He has been so patient and kind with each of them and I know they will always cherish the memories we have made.  

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was truly wonderful and a new experience to me.

Although this is our second year away from family on the holiday, last year didn't really count because I worked the entire holiday.  I was beyond thrilled to find out that I got the entire holiday and weekend off work and even more excited when my little brother announced he wanted to come to our house for Thanksgiving.  Double bonus!

Thanks to some really amazing friends, festivities were planned far in advance and we even had a fancy Google Doc set up to sign up for food.  It was so nice to get a large variety of dishes for the feast and not have to be in charge of preparing all of them!  I signed up for mashed potatoes, Turkey, gravy, apple yams, and corn.  This was my second year making a Turkey and I felt like it really turned out well this year.  I brined it several days before hand and then roasted it in the oven with basic spices and covered with a tinfoil tent. I felt bad when we arrived at the club house and found out these same amazing friends had decorated the place so cute with fun centerpieces and place settings.  Thanks girls! 

All in all, it was a success that included: fun times, lots of laughs, crazy kids, boys men watching football, kids watching movies in one of the study rooms, yummy food, DESSERT, and some really good memories made.

I feel so lucky to have my Tuck Family out here in New Hampshire.

**thanks a million Stephanie for taking all of these pics, I have 100% "stolen" them from you** 

 I loved all the decorations at the feast!

 The spread: jello, apple yams, Mare's salad in a trifle dish, Candace's amazing homemade Mac&Cheese

 The women: Steph, Candace, Tiff, Maren, Michelle, and Andrea

*there are really no words to describe how much these ladies mean to me.  They have been there for me through my ups and downs.  They have seem me at my very best and also my very worse; and somehow they still love me for who I am.**

Candace was dead set on getting a "candid" photo of all of us. She had all of us laughing so hard.  I am not sure I am loving how "candid" I look but I definitely won't forget this :)

---Oh those men and there football