Welcome Kenzie!

We were thrilled to welcome a new baby girl into our family. Kenzie Ann Cookson was born on December 21 at 3:07 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Happy Birthday Aunt Laura!

We are in the Holiday Spirit!

We are definitely in the Christmas spirit here at the Cookson house! We have been having a lot of fun getting ready for Christmas and going to different events in the area.

Kylee was very excited about putting up the tree this year so we decided to get it up right after Thanksgiving. We got back from Thanksgiving on Saturday and got the tree decorated on Sunday. Kylee was very into it this year and helped put A LOT of ornaments on!

Then December hit and that meant we were ready to start the Christmas countdown calendars. Kylee is in charge of moving the tree on the countdown that Nana and Grandad brought us from Ireland. (Ryland doesn't quite get the excitement of this yet.) She usually moves it in the morning and announces how many sleeps are left until Christmas. We are almost to the second column now so that is getting very exciting too! We also have a tree with doors that Aunt Amy gave us. The doors each have candy in them and also countdown the days until Christmas. This time though Kylee and Ryland take turns opening the doors (Ryland DOES get excited about this one and getting the "piece candy" from it.) The rule we have is that one person opens the door and the other gets to pick their piece of candy first. So far so good with that! : )

Last week, we went to Zoo Lights and the kids loved it! It was really a great display and there were lights everywhere! Most of the trees had lights on them but there were also a lot of tunnels and stuff that we could walk under. The kids really liked the different animal lights that were there and they were both even content riding in the stroller the whole time! There was a train set up in the Visitors' Center too which was a big hit for both kids.

Our next holiday stop was Season's Greenings. (Well actually we did the Bull Run Festival of Lights too but I don't have any pictures of it.) Season's Greenings was an event at the Botanic Gardens in DC. They had a huge train display to walk through. All of the buildings and structures were made completely of different plant materials so they were pretty neat to look at -- especially the ones of the historical buildings. The kids were, of course, most amused by the trains that were running. There were so many different tracks and types of trains going that you could see one almost everywhere that you looked. It was definitely a good trip (thanks for the tip Julie!) and one that we will likely repeat every year!

After going to the Botanic Gardens, we went over to see the National Christmas tree! There were a lot of people there so it was hard to get some good pictures by the little trees but we managed. Kylee was very interested in all the little trees and asking what state each tree was for. She was keeping a very close eye out for Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Although you can't read the signs that well you can probably guess which picture goes with which tree. Pete and the kids took a picture by the Massachusetts tree. The kids and I took one by the Pennsylvania tree (and Kylee was yelling Pennsylvania when we took the picture!?). And Kylee got her picture taken by the Virginia tree. They kids also liked watching the different trains going around the National Tree. Kylee liked the "money" train that was going around! When she looked at the big tree she said, "Mommy it look like someone bite that tree!" Ha ... it did kind of look like it was missing a piece. : ) It was a good end to our day's adventure (even if the parking situations before us were a little daunting!?)

We still have a lot of holiday activities planned so it should be a fun few weeks including ornament and cookie making with our friends! Stay tuned. : )

A few pics of Baby Cookson

I went for another ultrasound today just to make sure everything was going well (which it is!) and we were able to get some good pictures of #3.

Here is a good ole profile shot.

This one I love too ... it is a straight on picture of his/her face. It might take a minute for you to focus on it but once you do you can clearly see one eye, the nose, and mouth ... along with what looks like some very chubby cheeks. : )

Halloween

Halloween this year was a huge success on all accounts. By the time Halloween night came both kids were all excited about wearing their costumes (It took Ryland a few other events before he wanted to wear his but Kylee was ready from the first time she put on the vest!) First we had a few houses that we drove too. Kylee had been prepping Ryland all day that he needed to say "trick or treat" when he went to someone's house to get candy. Well he said it at the first house (Miss Melli's) and got a bag of M&Ms. After letting him eat his M&Ms he was sold ... he had the whole trick-or-treat thing down and there was no stopping him. Kylee had been practicing and talking about Halloween all day so she was ready to go! She did a great job walking up to the doors and saying "trick-or-treat" loud enough for us to hear. : ) After we got home and the kids were emptying their bags she said, "Halloween is my favorite holiday." We'll see if she feels the same way after Christmas. : )

The picture with the pumpkin is from one of our neighbors that carved a real 901 pound pumpkin! It was huge!!! I also love the picture of the two kids walking together (notice how Ryland's candy bag is so heavy for him that it is draggin on the ground! He would not give it up though.)

Kylee's School Picture

Kylee's first school picture is in. Definitely more of a smile than I expected. : )

Who would have thought?

Kylee has been asking to get some more finger paint lately. She had some a while ago but used it all up. So when she got a Halloween card the other day with some cash in it we told her she could take it to the store to buy something ... she chose finger paint!

She had a BLAST using the finger paint and made a lot of different pictures. She even used a paint brush to paint her hands. Here is the crazy part. Kylee, who likes to be very "neat and clean" and doesn't like to have dirt or anything stuck on her hands (remember the beach?!?!) had absolutely NO problem dipping her entire hands in the paint bowls and rubbing them together. Ryland, on the other hand, did not feel the same way. Yep, our "I don't care if my socks are wet or my hands and feet are dirty" boy (remember him at the beach!?!) was very hesitant about the paint. he used one finger (maybe two) and painted very delicately on his paper. Ha! Who would have thought this would be the case with these two? : )

Boo-Stravaganza at the Farm

This year we decided to give the Boo-Stravaganza at Frying Pan Farm a try. We signed up to go with our friend Brayden (and his mom, dad, and baby sister of course!) It turned out to be a great event and a lot of fun for everyone. It is definitely something that we will do again next year. Throughout the farm there were tons of games set up ... there had to be at least 20 games for the kids to play. From tractor bike races to throwing apples (or pumpkins or corn) into the "mouths" of wooden animals the kids had fun trying all of activities. Some of the games allowed you to win tickets too. If you won a ticket you got to spin a prize wheel. Kylee won a free ticket for a carousel ride (which we have already used) and a free ticket for a future wagon ride. (Ryland won a pencil!?) Here are a few pics of the kids trying out some of the activities. As you can tell from the pictures we were there for a while since some are nice and light and the others are after dark. (This was also when we had to figure out how to "winterize" the Diego and Alicia costumes.)

Kylee's Preschool Songfest

Kylee just had her Songfest at preschool and it was great to go and see. All the kids wore their costumes and performed for the parents. I knew that Kylee knew all the songs because she has been singing them at home for the last few weeks but I really didn't know if she would actually sing when she was up front. Well she DID!!!! She even did all the movements that went along with the songs!

First the kids all paraded around the Big Room to show off their costumes and get set-.up

Then the singing began.

(Just try to ignore the lady that seemed to move into every one of my pictures!?!)

"Gray squirrel, gray squirrel ..."

"place a nut between your toes"

The 4 year old classes sang their own song about Christopher Columbus while the 3 year olds sat and listened. (Later the 3 year olds got to sing about the animals on the farm.)

The kids paraded around and out of the Big Room and headed back to their classrooms.

The parents got to go back to the classrooms and take a few pictures before we had to de-costume the kids for the rest of the day. This is a picture of her class ... and yes there really are only 4 boys in the class!

Halloween Party

This year the group of moms (and kids) that we always play with decided to have our "2nd Annual Halloween Party." With everyone's preschool schedules being different though we opted for a weekend which worked out great because the dads got to join in on the fun! In total we had 14 adults, 12 preschoolers and toddlers, and 2 babies!

Everyone made some festive foods to bring and the spread we had was amazing -- in looks and taste!

Before it got to be too dark we decided to get the kids in their costumes right away and try to get some pictures. They all seemed excited to get dressed up and this was the first time they all got to see each other's costumes.

Then we tried for the infamous group shot -- much easier said then done! At least all of the kids (except the babies) are in the same general area. : )

We tried to get a picture of Diego and Alicia together. Surprisingly, Kylee was all into getting her picture taken. She was putting her arm around Ryland and smiling like crazy. Ryland however, did not share her enthusiasm.

We took off the costumes (before they could get too dirty) and got ready to enjoy the other party activities ...

... decorating cupcakes ...

... decorating pumpkins ...

... and just playing! We had great weather and the kids were able to play outside the whole time!

Before we left we decided we also needed a picture of the mommies ... especially since we had the extra hands to watch the kiddos. : )

It turned out to be a fantastic party with great friends!

*Thanks to Lucius and Gould Photography for all the great pics!*

More Fall Fun

We have been having a lot of fun at the different Pumpkin Patches this fall. Crazy that we haven't even needed coats (or long sleeves!) for many of our visits.

We went to Ticonderoga Farms for the first time this year. Grammie, Pop Pop, and Aunt Laurie were visiting so they got to enjoy the fun with us.

We have been to Burke Nursery Pumpkinville A LOT too. We got the family pass so it has been nice to just stop by for an hour or two here and there and let the kids run around. They love it there.

We met up with our friends Brayden, Taylor, Grayson, and Molly one day and had a lot of fun!

We went back again the other day after it rained hoping that it wouldn't be too wet or crowded. Well we got one of the wishes ... there was nobody there when we got there. Yep, had the whole place to ourselves! Of course we didn't get our full wish on the "not so wet" part. Pete was a trooper and tried to clean off the slides (by using them himself first) so the kids didn't get too wet. Kylee, of course, was still apprehensive about everything and the thought that her pants might get wet. Ryland, however, didn't have a care in the world! : )

Ryland has become quite a fan of the big slides that you use rugs on. He usually points and asks to go to the "castle" as soon as we get there. Although he may not show his excitement he does ask to go again and again!

Some of the smaller slides are actually really fast and if the kids aren't ready for it they will slide right off. This happened to Ryland a lot the first time we went there to play. Then he got smarter and started using his feet against the sides to go slow enough that he could catch himself. Well this last time I guess he forgot or it was just too wet because this is how he landed. Ha! He was frozen there for a while not sure what exactly to do next. (Check out the back of his pants too!?!)

Kylee's new favorite thing at this Pumpkin Patch is the rope swing. She LOVES it! Of course I didn't realize the difference in the way Pete and I push her until he looked over one day when I had her on the swing and said, "Oh my gosh! I can't watch!" and walked away. Ha! Needless to say ... Kylee usually asks me to push her instead of Daddy. The picture in the middle is of her swinging, you just have to look in the middle of the trees to find her.

Even though it was wet and muddy in spots the kids still had a great time playing everything.

This trip they were both really into rolling the big tubes up the hill too. Although they have yet to get in the tubes and go for a ride they do like pushing them. Ryland started out pushing and didn't want to stop. It took Kylee a little while to get into it because they were all muddy. At first she tried to use the edge with just one hand, then she moved onto the very edge of both sides of the tube. Her favorite part was watching them roll back down the hill!

I kept trying to get a good picture of Pete coming down the slides (to dry them off) because it is usually a pretty tight fit and I was always amused. Every time I tried though it seemed like I just missed the perfect shot .....

.... then I got it! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Happy Birthday Pop Pop

Happy Birthday Pop Pop! See you soon!

(sorry this got posted a little late.)

Leesburg Pumpkinville

Last weekend we headed back to the Leesburg Animal Park for the opening of their Pumpkinville. It has rained a lot the night before so we had a bit of a rough start as we got used to the rain and some of the water that had collected on the slides (Kylee does NOT like to have wet feet!) but it turned out to be another great pumpkin patch adventure.

The kids enjoyed the slides,

the hay maze,the talking tubes,
and all the other things that we set up around the park.

It wasn't very crowded which was nice, especially since it meant that Kylee and Ryland got the bounce house to themselves!

There was also a pumpkin painting station which Kylee LOVED!

We also made sure we stopped to feed the animals. Both kids were interested, and willing, to feed the animals today.

Kylee even fed Ryland! : ) (Notice Ryland gripping Kylee's arm to make sure she didn't take the apple away.)

Another great Pumpkin Patch Adventure! : )