This past Sunday we went up to Mt.Hood and did some sledding. Both kiddos had a blast. Gwynn's favorite part was falling off the sled she was laughing so much. We all had a great time. We took a little break for a picnic lunch and Gwynn said Mom do you think after this we could try that again..sledding of course! We all had a great time. It was so much fun to watch them both having such a great time.






Gwynn and Payton and there new snow outfits grandma picked out for them.



Gwynn had her Thanksgiving performance at school on Monday night for parents. Gwynn did a couple songs, prayer and then we all enjoyed pumpkin pie with apple cider. Gwynn was front and center and did an amazing job. She sang all the words to the songs and did all the movements she learned in school. We are so happy with Gwynn's preschool. She has learned so much and is doing an excellent job. Gwynn's school is very family oriented and its so much fun to watch Gwynn grow and learn!

Gwynn was dressed in her turkey costume she made in shcool. It was so cute!

Charlie, Tiffany, Gwynn & Payton MacDonald

Halloween

Our Halloween started on Friday with a fun party at our local Y. We met up with Gwynn and Payton's Aunt Tarah and cousin Beau. I would post pictures but I broke my camera while at the party and can't download the pictures. Gwynn had a blast at the Y with cookie decorating, crafts and many activities. We then went to Charlie's work where the kids were spoiled rotten and had a nice lunch with Daddy.

On Saturday we had a very busy day that started with a hair cut for both kiddos. The salon was having some great deals if your little one came dressed up. We took advantage of the sale and festivities the salon put on. We then went to Grandma Sherry's home and had a wonderful lunch and cookies with family. Gwynn had a great time eating some cow cookies Aunt Libby had made from Gail's famous sugar cookie reciept. They were wonderful! We then took Gwynn and Payton to Bridgeport for some trick or treating and festivies with adorable Evie, Libby and Brian. It was so fun to watch all the little ones in costumes. Payton had a blast running and Gwynn had fun making friends and dancing a lot. We then headed to our friends Bri, Matt, Carter and Jackson's house where we had some festive jack o latern pizza, spooky punch and dirt with worms for dessert. Gwynn then did more trick or treating with her friends while Payton slipped into his diaper and handed out candy with Charlie. It was so fun to watch Gwynn have such a blast. She would have gone all night if we would have let her. She was so happy and had so much fun! Payton also had a blast running like crazy. I am so excited for all the fun to come with these two little crazies...it just gets better and better!

Gwynn after her hair cut!

Today was a very hard day with the kiddos. Payton has had a cough at night mostly for three weeks and has developed a nasty rash. I took him to the doctor today and of course in my children's typical manner they charm the entire office. Oh, he sure doesn't look like anything is bothering him... all the nurses and staff said. He smiled and got every one's attention. After many how cute and what a little man! Payton was checked out by the doctor. He informs me Payton seems fine with the exception that he will probably always need a steroid for his skin or some type of cream, lotion or potions. As the day wore on Payton was in time out six times and Gwynn double that. While Gwynn, Charlie and I were having tea tonight I told Charlie the kids gave me an ulcer tonight joking of course...Gwynn corrected me and said NO MOM...we gave you a run for your money!!!

This past weekend was awesome. We had a great day on Friday with Grandma, Libby, Evie, and Aunt Rachel. We went to the most amazing pumpkin patch. The kiddos also got spoiled rotten by their aunts and Grandparents. On Saturday I went on the most beautiful run and enjoyed the sun and amazing fall colors. I took Payton and Fritz with me which doubled my workout. Charlie and Gwynn went to the Barber while we were running. We then met Sarah at the Portland Children's Museum and enjoyed playing with the kids. We had a nice picnic with some great sandwiches from the Pearl bakery that Sarah picked up on her way to the museum.

On Sunday Charlie made a great breakfast and we went for a walk to the park and walked a local trail. Sarah then headed home for Seattle. It was a great visit with Sarah and I think she got an opportunity to see how much Payton and Gwynn's personalities have changed over the past couple months. Charlie and I enjoyed the rest of our Sunday by spending time as a family. It has been a truly great fall so far we are truly enjoying the season!

This past week was a blur..... but a very good one! Gwynn is doing great in school and it's nice to have some one on one time with Payton. We had a wonderful week going to story time at the library and making a trip to the Zoo to visit the new exhibit. The kids were great and loved the animals. Gwynn's favorite animal to look at is the big alligator. I don't think Payton has a favorite yet but he is very afraid of the fish. He wouldn't let go of my leg and was holding on for dear life and looked very concerned. Gwynn is at a great age where she loves to learn and look at all the animals...Payton on the other hand climbs on everything and is trying to kill himself the entire time.

On Friday we had a nice dinner with friends and family. My aunt and Uncle came up from Medford and we were joined by Tarah, Brodie, Beau, Matt & Bri for a nice dinner at one of our personal favorite restaurants Thirst. Then the adults went to Oliver twist in the Pearl for a martini. It was great to get a chance to chat and relax while grandma took care of the kiddos!

On Saturday we went to our local pumpkin patch and in the evening Charlie went to watch football with friends. While Charlie watched football the kiddos and I had a movie and ice cream night. The kids had a blast playing in the corn maze and riding the tractor at the pumpkin patch. Payton didn't want anything to do with the pumpkins he just wanted to run to the tractors. Gwynn also had a field trip today to the pumpkin patch with her class. Tarah and Beau wanted to check out our favorite pumpkin patch so Gwynn made her third trip to the pumpkin patch. She loves it so much she was so bummed when we left for the second time today. I told her not to worry we were going again on Friday with her aunts, baby Evie and Grandma. It calmed her down she said "O.k. Mom, cool!" put her head down and fell asleep.

On Sunday we went for a walk to our favorite donut shop and then to Church. We had a great weekend & week. It feels so good to be home again and on a schedule.

















Charlie, Tiffany, Gwynn & Payton MacDonald

Charlie, Tiffany, Gwynn & Payton MacDonald

Gwynn's first day of school!

Gwynn was exceptionally well behaved this morning and did everything Charlie and I asked her the very first time. She was so excited to go to school and smiled for all the pictures. Today when Gwynn showed up for her first day they had a welcome sign on the door that read "Welcome Gwynn"!. When we went to leave she was almost too busy to say bye. She gave me a small kiss and ran away to circle time. When I came to pick her up she seemed less then excited to see me. I don't think she was ready to come home yet! Her teacher told me Gwynn did an amazing job today and was a great listener. Gwynn's teacher also gave her a special card telling her how excited she was to have Gwynn in her class and what a great job she did on her first day. When we were in the car I was so excited to hear about her first day..... but she was to tired for a proper chat. When we got home she asked me if she could go to bed! She took a long nap and when she woke up she was ready to chat. She told me she read a book about a frog who played basket ball and also learned letters and numbers none of which she could remember. Next Monday she gets to go on a field trip to the pumpkin patch! I think Gwynn is going to love going to preschool. It was a great day to see our little lady so confident and independent...and of course not a lack of sappy moments from Mom....and a little from Charlie too! I don't think Payton even knew what to do with out his big sister today and just stayed attached to me all day...I felt like he kept looking at me like Mom what are we going to do now!

This past week we made a trip to the library, the children's museum, the park and McDonalds on the very rainy Tuesday! We also made Aunt Tarah some birthday cupcakes and had a mini birthday party for her. Gwynn was all about the details...Mom we need cupcakes, flowers and we need to sing her happy birthday! The kiddos had a blast and were very well behaved.

Last weekend we did mostly chores, we got all caught up on many neglected items around the house and unfinished business. On Sunday we did our weekend big breakfast and walk at a nearby park in Wilsonvile. I also put up some pictures of our weekend hike the weekend prior. I got some really great pictures of Gwynn, Charlie and Payton.

















MacDonald's-Charlie,Tiffany,Gwynn & baby number two!

Our long lost blog!!!

I have really missed our weekly blog but hope to start again now that life has slowed down. I wish I could write about all the details of our summer but it would be a novel so here is the short version with some pictures.

I posted some pictures from my sister Erica's wedding where Gwynn was an amazing flower girl. It was a beautiful wedding and Gwynn was so happy and excited to be a flower girl. She really did perform well too considering she had a major melt down prior to showtime. Erica was the most amazing beautiful bride.

I also posted some pictures of our summer fun activities. We have had our busiest summer to date but had a great time in the process. We have had a wonderful summer. The kiddos have been riding bikes, scooters and many park, zoo, and museum visits. We also had to post the cute picture of Miss Evie she is just so darn cute!!! We also have a new addition to our family....a cute six month old puppy we adopted from my mom. His name is Fritz and he is an amazing dog who fits right in to our family. I have three kiddos now!!!

We had a great weekend. Gwynn had a sleep over at Grandma's house on Friday night. While Gwynn was at Grandma's we went to dinner with Payton at one of our favorite restaurants. On Saturday I had a wedding and the kiddos got to play with Libby, Brian and Baby Evie. In the evening we took Grandma and Grandpa out to dinner to thank them for saving me last weekend when I forgot the bridesmaids dresses for Erica's wedding!!! Today we went for a nice long hike at Silver Falls and did some shopping. It was so nice to be home and spend some time with family.

This week I have promised Gwynn a mommy date. She has been asking me everyday if we can go on our weekly date but with Charlie's work schedule it has been hard. We are going for sure this week. I miss my one on one time with my smart little cookie. It's so fun to talk to her. We also plan to meet with Libby and Evie for a hike and get everything all geared up for Gwynn to start pre school next Monday.