HaPpY 2nd bIrThDaY COLTON!!!

My "baby" is turning 2 today!!!

He is one handsome little man. Funny, sweet and smart. He has a wonderful sense of humor, great cheesy smile. He is the baby of this family and he lives the part.

This picture captures the very essence of Colton-funnyman!

He is much loved and cared for by his older siblings.

Adorable!

Handsome!

Sweet!

Naughty!

(hard to discipline him when he makes that cute face!)

He loves his daddy!

Colton next to our family's 1st Christmas tree since he was born.

He looks up to his big brother and wants to be just like him!

I can't believe it's been 2 years since he was born! Time sure flies. We are so blessed to have you our wonderful, wonderful baby boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLTON!!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Countdown to Christmas fun activities! part 1

The kids and I embarked on a new adventure this December. We do one fun activity (crafts, baking, play fun, etc) every day until Christmas. The kids are always so excited to see what activity we have planned for the day!

December 1st- ornaments from G. Dodie (thank you!)

December 2nd- baked and decorated sugar cookies-yum!

December 3rd-- snow man and Christmas tree picture.

December 4th- went on a play date at our friend's house

December 5th-played in the snow!

December 6th- made sticker books!

December 7th- made snow men out of baby socks

December 8th

We had our homeschooling group over to make cinnamon/nutmeg ornaments, beads ornaments and paper snowflakes.

For snack, we decorated our own sugar cookie and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.

MORE to COME...

Thanksgiving 2010

The Hoben sisters-n-law.

Kate(the original Hoben), Carley(the future Mrs. Hoben) Me(thebabymaker Hoben), Nicole(the wild card Hoben) :)

Looking at adds in preparation for our Black Friday shopping spree.

My sons and I :)

Daddy with his precious little girl

The food was delicious!

Here's a sneak preview of the Hobens Christmas card this year(i have Jill's permission to post this pic) Carley is joining us in the Christmas card this year, because she and Dakota are ENGAGED!!! WOOOT! :)

Wood cutting

A couple of years back, my in-laws installed a wood burner to heat their home and shop in the winter. There are great benefits to it, but the only down fall is that Bryan has to do a lot of wood cutting to keep it going.
Last year we asked what he wanted for Christmas and he said he would like it if all of us "kids" help him by having a day of wood cutting. This is how the tradition began.
One day over Thanksgiving break we cut wood as a present from us for his birthday.
Over Christmas break, we also have one day when we all get bundled up and head outside to cut wood. This is our Christmas present for Bryan. It works well for everyone, it is a fun time of family togetherness and plain physical work and Bryan is always so pleased to not have to worry about cutting wood..it's a win-win!

This is the wood pile at the beginning of our work day
This is one of the piles at the end of the day...

...and this is the second pile.

The wood burner is the red and black box.

Two of the little ones came out with us for...20 minutes or so. It was cold and not much fun for them do to, so they went back inside with grandma!

The Hoben girls (minus Carley)

One of the wood splitters we use

Second wood splitter

The headsets had radio and we were jamming to the music...and we were being silly :)

Lunch break!After lunch, we cut down a tree and here are Brett and Chris cutting branches off the tree.