Joshua is 5!

Josh turned 5 this week! He has been on birthday countdown for so long and was so happy that his birthday was finally here.

Josh taking his cupcakes to preschool

I'm 5!

He was able to celebrate with friends this year and had so much fun!He really wanted to have a pumpkin cake and he helped decorate it. We had fun making it together
We also decorated Halloween cookiesand did pumpkin bowling
Lots of fun games and lots of sugar. What a fun day!
We love you, Joshy! Happy Birthday!

Pumpkins

Monday night was the long awaited pumpkin carving night. The past few years we have painted them, and the kids were so excited to carve this year. They did them all themselves (a little help for Alaria) and we love how their personalities came through in them!

First - Cleaning them out...

Next, the carving...
And finally, showing them off!

And pumpkin pie to finish off the night!

Halloween Take 1

Saturday we had our fun annual Halloween party with the Gillespie family. The kids were so excited to try out their costumes. Here is our '50's girl, Nerd, and NinjaAfter the costume parade, Trey's 'Michael Jackson' performance inspired a dance party. The kids really got into it!
Grandma and Grandpa Bellows
All of the kids look so forward to making the infamous root beer with Aunt Laura!

So many helpers!And this was just on my camera, but this is Josh's "Bacon Man" that he made out of play doh. He was especially proud of this creation!

Lots more fun Halloween and birthday fun to come this week!

Cole recently participated in the Pony Express jog-a-thon. He said he ran pretty much the entire time and had a blast! He "trained" the whole week before, he was so excited for it! It was fun to sit at the corner and see the masses come running by. Good job, Cole!And now Cole can start singing "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth"
My only wish was that he would get his tooth out before picture day because it was literally HANGING there. It was so gross. He came home from school after pictures and it was still there. Kris told him to hold it tight and then "oops" - bumped his arm and the tooth came right out. What a cute smile!

Baby Girl

We found out today we are having a baby girl! We are so excited and can't wait for her arrival! When she said "it's a girl" I don't think Alaria could have possibly smiled any bigger than she did. She is truly happy with the news. Cole has been going back and forth between wanting a girl and a boy, so he was also really happy. After we left the office, Joshua admitted that he was a little disappointed that it wasn't a snake. I thought we had explained well enough that a snake wasn't one of the options, but apparently he still had it in his mind somehow that there was still a chance. Anyway, this little girl will have such amazing big brothers and sister to take care of her! We feel so blessed!!

Birthday Boy and More

Cole had his 7th birthday! I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He is obsessed with BYU and is so happy that football season is finally here. He loves to play football with his dad and the boy seriously has some skills!He started playing soccer this year and is loving it! He has a great team and it's been so much fun!
Our best yard sale purchase of the summer...we got this great Razor Motorcycle. The boys love it and go so fast! Josh has had a few crashes, but wants to get right back on.

Girl Threats

Yesterday Josh and Alaria were fighting over which shelf to put a baseball on. They kept moving it back and forth. Finally Alaria picks it up, sets it down, and in a very calm and firm voice, I hear her tell Josh "Leave it here, or I will put on high heels and stand on you."

I don't know where she came up with that, but Josh didn't touch the baseball again. Go girl!

Tender Mercies

Poor little Josh has really been on a naughty streak lately. He has tried my patience far more than I can stand at times. Last night was no exception. He is so cute, but so naughty!
Anyway, I went in to tell him goodnight and leaned down to give him a hug and he said in the sweetest voice "Mommy, thanks for signing me up for my preschool." It was such a sweet moment and made all the bad stuff from the day go away. I sure do love my little Joshy!

What will it be?

Cole struck a deal with me tonight. He made me promise that if I go to the hospital and have the baby, and it comes out being an orangutan...he gets full reign over picking the name.

Deal.

Then Josh jumped in and made me agree that if the baby comes out a snake, then he gets to keep it.

Deal.

Here's to hoping for a normal baby!

Preschool

Today was Joshua's first day of preschool! He loved it and can't wait to go back.