Christmas in April

Bridgey and Uncle Cole

My beautiful Mommy

The 76th pot of tea coming right up!

Studs

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A visual representation of personality differences - Lisby and Courtney

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Post Christmas dinner

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As close as you're gonna get to a good picture of 5 kids

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a huge gathering of about 25 people at my parent's house - my grandfather came up from San Diego and my aunt and cousins from Portland came down with their kids. There was enough food for about three times that many people, especially the pie!

Halloween!

We've been busy over the past few weeks, enjoying the beautiful Oregon fall weather and getting ready for Halloween. We visited Heiser's Pumpkin Patch and the kids got to ride at the front of the mule-drawn wagon down to get the pumpkins, which they were thrilled with. We've been reading the Little House books, so Aidan was especially interested in the size of the wagon and the speed (or lack thereof), as he imagined traveling across the country in it. He and Bridget also got to shoot the pumpkin cannon, which was a big honor. Bridget wasn't particularly impressed but Aidan was stoked (as were all the men in the family who secretly wished they got to do it.) On Halloween we went to Cole's football game at Linfield and then did a little trick-or-treating before heading to my parents for a little party. We ate great food and enjoyed the company of good friends and family. Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Zinabu Czarnecki the Zebra!

Aidan (Snake Eyes), Bridget (the princess) and their friend Jeremiah (the Clone Trooper)

Zinabu at Cole's football game on Halloween

Pumpkin patch hay ride!

Aidan off to find the perfect pumpkin . . .

Daddy and Zbu watching the pumpkin cannons

Massive Picture Post

We've had a busy summer, full of family gatherings, trips to Chapters and hanging out at the park. Here are a few snapshots of the past few months . . .

All three, tired from jumping on Aunt Courtney's bed

They can always talk Tim into reading to them at Chapters . . .


Grandma and Zbu

"Camping" with Grandpa in the tent

Grandpa and Bridgey

Aunt Courtney and The Bu


Bridget being Bridget

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McMinnville CityFaire was a fun Saturday at the park with police cars and fire trucks, free ice cream and hot dogs, and balloons. Afterwards we went to Uncle Cole's first football game of the year. It was about 95 degrees but we found some shade for the kids and had a great time.

Bridget and Aidan in a police car at CityFaire

Ice cream is good!


Zbu didn't enjoy the hat or the bright sun at CityFaire
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We had a great family picnic with Cole's girlfriend Lindsey's family to end the summer . . .

Aunt Lisby and The Bu

Uncle Cole, the coach


Uncle Cole and Lindsey


Aunt Holly and Grandma, drinking "tea" that Bridget made them

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Aidan got to go to "football camp" at Linfield with Uncle Cole in August

Running through the dummies

Getting a drink from the fountain thing was the coolest part!
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Stefan's family came over for a barbecue when Aunt Beth was in town . . .

Bridgey and Aunt Beth

Zbu finds her hilarious . . .

Aunt Mary finding blackberries with Bridget in the backyard

Have you ever seen a bigger ham for the camera?

Loving his Omi

Bridget and Poppop
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Stefan and Aidan had a "guys day out" where they went out to breakfast, to Evergreen Air Museum and then to see the new Ice Age.

Apparently ski masks are necessary when going out to a man's breakfast.

Future fighter pilot

That night they camped out in the yard, something Aidan had wanted to do all summer.