Too cool

to be caught dead sitting next to your parents at

the High school Basketball game!

Well, actually, they requested to

sit in the student section only because that is where

the free t-shirts are thrown...so they say. :)

(left center of pic- Kingston, Brody & Barker)

Happy 7th Birthday Barker!

First things first...cupcakes for breakfast!

Then Cousin Colton called to wish Barker a 

Happy Birthday via FaceTime...

Which lead to a series of silly faces all around

After dinner, Barker picked his birthday desert to be

a chocolate dipped oreo ball while being sung

the birthday song. (Being sung to on their Birthday's 

had always been the most favorite thing for both boys).

And next weekend Barker will have his very first 

sleepover with friends as his birthday party - and boy

oh boy is he counting down the days!

The Merriest of Christmases!

(Meredith, Barker, Kingston, Henry, Kiera, & Ava)

(Kingston, Barker, Meredith & Lindsey)

(Meredith, Kingston & Barker)

(Kingston, Stubby, Barker & Daddy)

zzz

(Barker, Grandma & Kingston)

(Henry, Barker, Kiera, Ava & Kingston)

Hey, when's our turn!?!

Daddy does Prime Time Football

Pretty sure Daddy has died and gone to Heaven!

Prime Time football

The afterschool care program at Barker's school

is called Prime Time and for the last several weeks

they have been playing an all ages football game

during their 'outside' time. Barker loves playing

with these kiddos so much, he begs to go back after school

even on the days he doesn't have to go to Prime Time.

So after we get home, snack, and do homework-

back to school we go for football. It's so fun to watch.

The older kids (5th graders) are so kind and gentle

with the younger kids. They invite Kingston in to play

even though he doesn't yet go to school there. 

Melts my heart seeing everyone treating each other

with this much respect and kindness.

kingston

I don't think he even knows how stinkin' cute he is!

He found Daddy's old headphones in a drawer and 

asked, 'Do we have a plugger-in that works

for these? I need to hhhuse it.' as he clutched 

it's plug close to his chest. To him, he had just found

treasure. I made him stop in his tracks to snap 

a quick photo. I want to remember this moment.

barker

My sweet, snuggle muffin.

Showing off the 'weapons' he made at MHM today.

He was so proud of them and had the whole family

play a game with them before bed tonight.

He just looked so cozy and sweet in this moment

I wanted to take his picture.

The jammie pants with the sweater and the beanie...

Cops & Robbers

I visited Kingston at school today and got to

assist while all the kiddos were grouting tiles

they are making for parent holiday gifts.

Boy was that a hoot! Mud was flung

and laughs and smiles were had!

I stayed for lunch and recess and even though it

feels like 40 degrees below zero, the kiddos

had no trouble staying warm.

These 2 are part of the 'good guy' crew and are in 

hot pursuit of some 'bad guys.'

It was comical to watch as they attempted to put them in 'jail'

and do there best at keeping them there.

Who knew 'bad guys' could be so squirmy! 

ninja hamster

I had lunch with Barker today, and at recess

he and 3 pals were playing a game they called 

'NINJA HAMSTER!'

Apparently the object is to throw yourself through the

larger holes of the soccer goal net before the opposing team

tries to 'score' by getting you with the ball...

Needless to say it was a hoot to watch, and no

ninja hamster was scored on or harmed - phew!

Here is Barker post-hurling himself through the net. The ball

was kicked unintentionally VERY sideways so it and the other players 

are far off to the side, but as they approached Barker wasn't taking any

chances! So through to the other side he went ;)

drainage ditch wiggle extraction

We took Spike out for a walk along the Indian Creek

Trail and when we turned the corner and stumbled upon

this drainage ditch - all 3 of these guys lost their mind!

They thought it was so fun to run up and

down the walls. Just back and forth and forth and back

and over and over again. It wiped them all out.

Just like that. Done, done and done. All wiggles extracted.

So naturally I'm now in the market for a drainage ditch in the backyard!

swoon!

Be still my heart.

I hope they always sit this close together when

reading to one another.

It was so hard for me not to squeeze in between

them and get the ultimate snuggle!

Oh Christmas Tree

A clear, crisp day...

perfect for picking out the Bolland Family

Christmas tree!

Recess at May Street

 Notice most of these kiddos are either wearing a light 

jacket or no jacket (Barker included

he tied his light jacket around his waist).

It was COLD outside - I had to bundle up for sure!

But they kept warm by running amok playing somewhat of

a soccer/kickball game that was so fun to watch.

I have so much fun getting to have lunch and recess dates 

with both boys - they really are pretty 

amazing kiddos (and I'm not at all biased)! ;)

Hood River Christmas parade - Mt. Hood Meadows style

We got to be in our very first parade!

All decked out with our pals Alana and Eli and got

to hand out goodies. How cute are we!?!

Disco Dabbin' Dudes

We stumbled across our old Disco Ball the other night...

these boys caught the fever!

Recess at Bright Beginnings

Even cold, rainy weather can't keep these wee ones 

from having fun!

Here Kingston is trying to pull his buddy Torsen 

up the rock wall with a rope.

 Watching King do this about gave Mama a heart attack...

He said, 'But Mom I do this ALL the time.'

(still...YIKES!)

 And here is an epic tug-o-war battle of boys against girls.

Too cute!

Trip to the Moon

It was a very soggy weekend so we had to improvise.

With a roll of duct tape and several cardboard boxes

and the imaginations of 2 Bolland boys, we constructed

a space ship and set off for the moon.

All was good until we crashed landed and now

the boys say we are stuck on the moon.

Barker and Kingston said our ship needs some major repairs

and we could be here awhile...send snacks!

Their imaginations

never cease to amaze me.

They made up a game while I was folding laundry

in the bathroom. One of my most favorite things

is that they both prefer to be in the same room 

as Jake and I no matter what we are doing and can

entertain themselves quite easily. They really are 

pretty darn good kiddos.

Finley came over for a playdate!

One of Kingston's best pals from school came

over today and these 3 were peas in a pod.

They had so much fun even though we were cooped

up indoors and there wasn't even any

arguing or whining - it was magnificent!

Chapter books

Barker's teacher was very impressed by him, or

at least that is what she said at his conference. 

She has placed him in a higher reading group

at school and has requested he read at least 1 chapter 

book a month. At the conclusion of each book

he is to do a special project on it and present it to the class.

So here we are getting started during Thanksgiving break.

No more picture books - but King doesn't seem to mind,

he's got enough imagination for all of us!

Barker's bouncing playdate with his twin

Noah and Barker have been friends since their time 

at Little Learners Preschool. Over the years

and through the various sports they've played 

together each of us parents (and Noah's Grandma)

have mixed these two up and tried to hug or

take the wrong kiddo home a time or two!

And today when they were leaving school they said the 

office girls got them mixed up too!

Basketball practice

The boys had their 2nd week of basketball

and are making some good progress!

Here is Barker working on his lay-in.

And here is Kingston working on his 'between the legs' dribble.

It was such a hoot to watch and they both enjoy it very much.

Can't wait for next week!

Lily, Emily & Adam came for a visit!

So much fun playing and coloring and running and

basketballing and drone-ing and singing

and giggling and dodging spike toots!

We wish the night never had to end!!