Just maybe...

I haven't posted this earlier because I didn't want to jinx it but I think we might have a potty trained little guy!  We are sooooo proud of Isaac.  It has not been an easy task but one day it just seemed to click like everyone said it would.  This is not without months of trying and doing every trick we have ever heard off...we have done more M&M's, skittles, halloween candy, stickers, potty dances, clapping, cheering and acting crazy more than we care to admit. :)  Isaac wears his big boy undies all the time now (although we haven't mastered the nighttime yet...one step at a time!) and even is doing well at school....yeah! :)

These cute photos of Isaac are from last weekend.  My cousin Jamie was here visiting so we have lots more pictures to share...check back tomorrow!

Isn't he a cutie?!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!  We know that we are many miles away from many of you but know you are in our thoughts today and we are so thankful for you!!

Marc is working today but mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies are already made and ready to be shared tonight at the Brunssum Chapel with many dear friends!

Enjoy this wonderful day that the Lord hath made...rejoice and be glad in it! :)
Love-
Team Shafer
Marc, Kelly, Isaac, Ava & Isabella

Fall Fun Times

 What better way to enjoy the leaves than from right in the middle...Check out iMan's work gloves...he was all ready to help out Daddy...

 Here's iMan gathering up a couple of handfuls.

Doesn't it look like iMan is having fun???

 Just laying it out real good!

 iMan wanted to fill his very own pail...

 Can you tell how proud he is of helping Daddy with his pail?

 ALL DONE!

Time for another ride around the backyard...

Some backyard biking cuteness...

*In our last post we did not note that it would be almost impossible for the girls to turn on the burners and they were soon off that stool, it just had to be documented. :)
Anyway, we have had beautiful fall weather here lately so we have been able to be outside a lot!  The kiddos each have a "vehicle" to ride and they have been having a blast!

Traffic jam!

Isaac taking a break.

For Isabella to "ride" this trike I have to push the handle in the back...we go around and around the yard this way and she loves it!!!

Double Trouble

I was at a ladies function the other night and Marc was home with the kiddos.  At one point in the evening Isaac had used his chair to get something from the counter.  The next thing that Marc knew the girls had climbed up into Isaac's chair together and were at the stove top tearing it up!  These pictures are all from his iPhone.

They took all the knobs off (they went back on just fine) and...

then started throwing the knobs...see one in the steamer? :)

Isabella was thrilled with their adventure.

Ava was completely focused on the destruction and Isabella is showing Marc another knob she had just pulled off.....oh, double the trouble & double the fun has begun! :)

400th & 17months

Can you believe that this is our 400th post??!  WOW!  It is fun to have so much documented!
The girls turned 17 months a few days ago and I can't believe that either!!  They are doing awesome and just soooo sweet.  If it's possible, it feels like they get busier everyday.  They are still not walking on their own but when holding onto something they are all over the place.  They love to walk and push furniture and whatever else they can get to move.  I am finding things all over the place...the high chair made it to the living room earlier this evening. :)

They also LOVE these stairs and the minute the gate is open they are up or down them.  They both do really well so we don't worry too much about them but we do keep the gate closed as much as possible.  They love anything that is Isaac's and don't seem to care about anything girly yet.  They love to be outside in the dirt (well, Ava does...Isabella is not a fan of being dirty) but they both love riding on the toy car and trike.

They are looking more and more like toddlers everyday and talking up a storm.  Ava talks more than Isabella but they both are doing well.  It seems like Ava can say anything.  They love their brother and he loves that they are getting bigger and he can play more and more with them.  They giggle up a storm and it is really cute.  They love seeing each other...today after I got Ava up from her nap and Isabella saw her she squeeled with delight.  Ava likes to say "sister."

They are rarely still and this is how it is most of the time with them.  The whole time we were taking pictures Ava was trying to do this! :)

West Point & WSU

I found these t-shirts from when Isaac was this age and I was able to pull them out and put them on the girls.  The West Point shirt is from Marc's parents and my parents gave us a WSU (Washington State University) shirt, which says "Start 'em young, raise 'em right".  Fun times!

Ava says "Go Cougars!"

I am not sure what Ava is saying here but Isabella is pretty excited about the Black Knights.
GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!

Back in Action!

We have a new cable to download photos = back in action!  Here are some action shots from today.  Check out the new front child bike seat that we were able to get this week from a friend who was selling it.  Also, check out Ava's first time in pig tails...adorable!!!

Here is Marc and his part of the crew.  Ava is ready to go! She held onto the handle bars the whole time & was lovin' it!!!

Isaac and Daddy share a laugh and Ava is wondering why they aren't moving. :)

Isabella was on the back of my bike...yes, I was scared for her too!

I don't have a great history with bikes (2 bad bike accidents, and one involved a mean dog...don't laugh too hard at that Brenda!) so I am always a little cautious. I think the next purchase is bike helmets for the crew!  With all that said Isabella was enjoying the ride!!!  

Maastricht Pics

I was able to get a few pictures from Marc's iPhone of our day in Maastricht on Saturday.  A friend of ours had given us a gift certificate to get family photos done at a studio in Maastricht.  The only opening they had over the weekend was close to the girls naptime so we knew it may be difficult...well, difficult it was!! :)  The girls were not having it!  We got a couple of good family photos and some great shots of Isaac but I have to take the girls back on Friday to see if we can get any good ones of just them.  Say a prayer for us! :)  Isabella really, really likes to be held these days and doesn't like strangers, so it is up in the air if she will smile at all or cry the whole time. :)

Isaac did awesome for the photos and got a little ice cream treat when we were done...that he was lovin'!

Here's Miss Cuddles!  She only likes a handful of people right now.  She's looking more and more like a toddler.
Ava was with us but she didn't make the pictures.  Check back for more iPhone pics tomorrow. (I'll get the NY pics up eventually...ha ha)

Swings and Sand

There always seems to be some sort of delay in getting posts up!  Currently, it is the downloader cable that is choosing not to work! :) I was looking back at some pictures and realized that I hadn't posted these ones and I also have a few from our New York trip still to do.

We went to a park a couple of Sundays ago (the leaves still hadn't changed) and the girls were have a GRAND time on the swings!  They are such a fun age! :)  Looks like Isabella is a little concerned about what is holding her up.

But soon she was all smiles!

Ava in swinging action. 

Isaac was really into the sandbox.
Going to the park is always fun!

The little things...

Sometimes with pictures it is hard to see the personality behind the eyes or share the little things.  Daily these kiddos of ours are full of laughs and (sometimes tears).  This little blog is a way to document it and say "remember when."  Sometimes what we share isn't very exciting but hopefully we will look back and smile.  Although these pictures are from a couple weeks ago they really capture some of the "little things" around here.  Ava is happy 99% of the time but what you don't always see is this...

When something happens that doesn't go Ava's way she can turn it ON! :)  We wonder how this is going to work out for her (or for us!) in her teens. :)

Isabella loves to use her hands and she likes to talk with them.  She also loves to "knock" on things. Lately when we come home and up to the front door she always reaches out to knock on it.

Have you heard the saying "talk to the hand because the face ain't listening!"?  :)

This was hilarious because we were all in the girls' room and I think Isaac decided "enough of these girls" because he went to the door, shut it and left.

This little guy has been saying the cutest things lately...two of my favorite are "happy cake"(for birthday cake)....he is really into birthdays and we always need to have a "happy cake".  He is also really into tunnels and if trees are arching over the road he says "tunnel tree". :)

More Halloween fun...

We had a good combo of fun times this last week.  We did the Halloween party last weekend and then on Friday night we did "Truck or Treat" at the local base.  Isaac was lovin' his bike as you saw in the video.  The girls are sporting a new stroller...we still love our red one (it's great for walks & runs)  but this one is a little easier to use for a quick trip and the girls can interact more. This little elephant is a new little buddy of ours. :)

Isabella chillaxin (she hasn't been feeling well and has been in recovery mode) and Ava was showing off her first piece of candy of the night.

Isaac enjoyed meeting Batman.

Ava was happy to be out of the stroller in the activity center crawling wherever she could...check out her new friend...I am glad it was plastic!  Check out the girl in action:

On the way home I asked the girls to hold hands for a picture and it was so cute when they did it.  Isaac is way zoned out there in the back watching a video. :)
Hope you had a good Halloween!