Sweet girl...

Couldn't resist a few holiday-ish photos of Mia.....love, love, love her!!! Her smiles are priceless!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rob,Kelli,Grady, Brian, Mia, Jill, Jake, Kirt....lots of DeMichiels!

Mia's first Thanksgiving

Our Family has gotten bigger since last Thanksgiving!

Jake and his Thanksgiving "hat"

Cousins....so cute!!!

It was a fun Thanksgiving....we all gathered at Mom and Peter's for good food, good company, and good times! LOTS to be thankful for! I'm almost ready to go to bed as I write this post and am really wishing I brought some leftovers home with me! I need a late night snack!!

Getting ready for the slopes!

Jake got his first pair of skis.....he LOVES them! We're hoping he'll enjoy using them in the snow half as much as he has enjoyed them on the family room carpet! He has been "skiing" (scooting across the floor) and the first couple of days he wanted to do EVERYTHING while wearing them. You'll see him watching Sesame Street while standing in his boots and skis...he did this for the whole one hour show ;) We are so excited to take him skiing this winter.....it'll be interesting!

Ice Skating

getting ready!

hot chocolate....yum!

having fun!

loving it!

mike, zoe, brian & jake

Jake had his first day of ice skating today.....so cute. They have some outdoor ice rinks set up for the holidays this year, and it was lots of fun. Jake was able to do some skating with his favorite neighbor/crush, Zoe. He didn't like it at first, but of course didn't want to leave by the end of it!

Mia is 5 months!

Mia is getting cuter (and chubbier!) by the day.....she is just full of smiles and we continue to enjoy each day with her! We attempted to take the same pics of her that we did of Jake at this age.....and here it is! Nothing cuter than a baby booty :)

San Luis Obispo

Brian was doing some recruiting at Cal Poly for new grads, so we decided to make a weekend out of it.....we thought it was going to be SO fun! Apparently that was not what Jake had in mind! Let's just say that the weekend could be described by the phrase "If Jake ain't having fun, ain't nobody having fun". He is normally such a fun and easy going kid.....but he pulled out all the stops with his tantrums and attitude over the weekend! We're happy to report that he has returned to his normal self, with just the usual 2 year old grouchies every now and again....thank goodness he was not actually possessed. That being said, we did actually have SOME fun! We went to Pismo Beach and Avila Beach.....Jake couldn't have been happier about watching the "surf guys". It was a long drive with the kiddos, but it is always fun to get away. And while it wasn't a perfect weekend.....as Grammie would say, we made a memory :)

To post, or not to post?

I was on the fence about posting this picture, but decided to go for it! It's discreet :) This was Jake's quote while sitting on the potty when we asked if he was ready to get up...."No Mommy, I'm waiting for the poop to get out".

This week when we were going about our day....I was on the phone with Auntie Kelli and Jake said he wanted to go sit on the potty....so I got him all ready and down he sat. While I was chatting away on the phone, I looked down and he was going to town! Voila...poop AND potty! We did some MAJOR celebrating and he was so thrilled and entertained by my over the top reaction.....I was hoping it would encourage him to try it again, but so far it was a one shot deal. In any case, when he's ready, he'll do it!

Trick or Treat!

Ah, the sugar rush has worn off and I'm exhausted from a full weekend of Halloween festivities!! There were too many cute pix to choose from, so I'm posting a ton! Here is a cute one of Mia in her flower costume....don't you just want to squeeze those cheeks!!

A visit from Auntie Julie....
Jake and Zoe held hands up to each house....SO cute! I really do think he's in love. Will this pic be in the wedding photo slideshow 20 years from now??
Amazing that Auntie Kelli was able to snap this pic, as Jake was NOT into being cooperative during picture time!
The cousins!
Here are Grady and Mia....the cooperative ones! So sweet ;)
Houston, we have a problem....Jake wants to wear his astronaut helmet everywhere!!! It's a little bit cumbersome for most activities, but he LOVES it!
Grammie and Gramps with the munchkins!
Great Grandad and his first great-grandDAUGHTER!
Carving pumpkins in our pj's....good stuff! Jake wanted to help, but didn't like the feel of the pumpkin "insides"
Visiting Daddy at work......whoever got him to wear the group costume should get an award.....you know how he loves that stuff!! He was happy to show off his cute kiddos :)