Turkey Day 2012

Ford man chowing some pre-dinner snacks.

Waiting for some food with some friends.

You're getting a feeling for the chaos and the fun, right?  Plus look at baby Ford sitting like a big boy in a chair.  Darling?  I think so.

Just so you can try to get a feel for how much food we had.  It was pretty awesome.

My cute Wren ready to dig in.  So maybe all she ate was the turkey...that how she rolls. 

Alex (who took the cute pictures) asked Judd to point at his favorite food -- it was everything.  

Holidays are a little hard and a lot happy.  Hard because family is so far away and happy because we really have some great friends here.  We had 5 families get together this year and let me tell you about all the food we had!  Wow!  And there were games and great conversation and pie.  really good pie.

And, after it all, I am thankful.  I have a happy life, surrounded by good people, blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ and especially with the promise that I can be together with my little family forever.  I am so grateful.

RenchaGen and the new header

Check out the new header!   Yeah, right up there.....ok, itsn't it awesome?

Gentri, my sister, created it for me.   I love it!  And, even better than it just being totally darling, it cordinates with a very special sign she designed for me and which with soon be hung in a prominent place in the Platt household.  More to come on that later.

My Dapper Dan Man

 All dressed up and ready for church.  

And he had on some smell-good.  I'm talking Johnson and Johnson purple baby lotion.  Mmmmmm, doesn't get better than this, my friends.  

Ninja Cobra, Ballerina, and El Guapo

 Happy Halloween!  Here's just a few shots of our fun day  

 Our pumpkins!  River (our buddy) did the cat face.  Wren picked out the cat sillouette.  Judd wanted the ghost.  Mom did the witch silouette (the pumpkin had huge wart-things all over it.  totally perfect).  And Daddy carved the spooky haunted house.  

 We had three families over to help us celebrate.  Steve was on call all night (BOO! --you know, in the sad-he-missed-it way and not in the I'm-a-spooky-ghost way--just to clarify.)  But we are so glad we have awesome friends that came and made it fun.  Somehow I got through the evening with only this one picture of everyone!  We made some witches brew and had it over homemade ice cream.  It was, of course, Heaven! but I wish I had been a little more shutter happy.....

 Allow me to introduce you to our ghoulies this year.  'Dis ees El Guapo.   He has a very sweet spanish grandma that watches him while I work out at the YMCA.  She speaks to him in Spanish and tells me, "I know he understands me because when I call him El Guapo, he smiles."  She also likes to tell him, in spanish but I don't know the exact words, "You live the handsome." And so he does.....:)

 The Ballerina. Up until one week before Halloween this graceful dancer was going to be a green faced witch, luckily, she realized her true vocation and let mom know in enough time to switch costume prep.  She is actually in a dance class and could not be happier about it.   Neither could I. 

 And finally, the Snake Ninja.  Modeling here, for your enjoyment some classified ninja moves.  

 And another one.  Its a dangerous job but he does it, and with style.  Did I mention that we live and breath Ninjago legos around our house? (sometimes that is extremely literal for Ford......A crawler who puts EVERYTHING POSSIBLE in his mouth.  I might have a heart attack before he learns and likes to walk!)  Anyway, possibly the coolest costume ever seen.

And finally, an attempt to capture the spoils.....not my best work but there you have it. River (purple coat) and her mom Kathryn are some of our best buddies here.  They played with us all night and even helped clean up.  Could not ask for better amigos (as Ford would probably say).   

Hope you all had a Very Happy Halloween as well!

A visit from the Gran and Grandpa

Mom and Dad Lawrence came to visit us the end of July.  

 Just look at these beautiful faces!  It had been almost a year since we had seen Grandpa and we were beyond excited to have them be with us.  We met them in Nauvoo (more about that later) and then we caravanned up to our home in Wisconsin.  

 Where we went to a baseball game and almost sweat to death.   

 Grandpa helped Judd put together some new legos

 And Grandpa finally met baby Ford.  I think they look alike :).

 And while they were here Ford had his first cereal at 5 months old!  He loved it and Wren was a great helper

And of course there was lots of loving and hugging and just being together.  Thank you Mom and Dad for making the treck.  We can't wait to see you again at Christmas!

Happy happy "birfday"!

Fordy-baby is lookin' to crawl.  This is how we see him most of the day--on his tummy with a smile and a little drool on his lips just army crawling like nobody's business.

The Judd making a silly face. 

Judd helped me wrap Wren's presents (and then threatened the tell her what was in them.....:)  What do you think of her name that he wrote on the box himself?  He was proud as punch over his big R.

And the present was......Cheer me up Cheerilee!   Wren's fourth (that's right I said 4th.  Don't judge us :))  My Little Pony baby.  But this one is also a doctor set.  Win-win.

And Grandma Chris is the best.  Ariel has not left Wren's side since last night!

Baby Fordie is really happy with just the bag.  Its so neat.

And Judd is showing us the last present, a mouse Calico Critter family which turned out to be a huge hit more with the Judd man then Wren.  He has plans in the works to buy the monkey tree house set.  

Three years ago yesterday little Wren was born in Oregon.  I remember looking out of the windows of the hospital just before she was born and seeing the morning mist sitting on the rolling hills.  Beautiful and one of those weird times when one small moment during a huge event is the thing you really remember.

We love our Wren-bird.  She is sweet and happy.  She loves to play with her brothers.  She will usually do what Judd wants to avoid a fight :) but when it comes to Ford Watch Out!  She  pretty much pretends he's a doll and moves his hands, ears, mouth, legs, arms, whole body.....you get the picture.  She still sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button.  She loves bags, "houses" (piles of everything she can find), painting her nails pink and eating tomatoes straight off our plants.  She is a cuddler and the best talker around.  She is so precious to us.  Happy Birthday to our Wren-a-len!

Preschool Graduation

Two weeks ago Judd-man finished his first year of preschool.  And his little graduation was one of those parent moments I can't get enough of.  I was almost bursting with pride at his little song performances even the "Ants Go Marching" song that went on....and on..... Judd jumped up and down with every "Hurrah! Hurrah!" and my mommy-heart just melted with his sweet enthusiasm.)  I remember last fall I wondered if I was making the right decision putting him in school when I knew he'd have another year of preschool after this but it turned out to be wonderful.  Judd loved his school and his teacher.  I loved spending time with first Wren and then Wren and Ford not to mention all the great/easy shopping we got done.  We can't wait to start again in the fall.

 Judd and his best buddy at school.  That's Judd's "Smile!" smile.  :)

A little sample of the singing. Judd is on the end. 

 A pretty cute fellow spectator.  

Another spectator that REALLY wishes she was a performer!