Some Christmas highlights

Matching pajamas opened on Christmas Eve. 

Wise men. 

Angels!

Shepherd. 

We are good at supporting roles here in this Cinquini family. 

Stockings are always fun!

We checked Craigslist for weeks looking for a gymnastics mat that was reasonably priced and in good shape. The boys are constantly jumping off furniture and wrestling around. We consider this present an investment and a way to avoid large medical bills in the future. We shall see about that but as you can see here it was an instant hit!

We had the great opportunity to spend time with both sides of the family this Christmas. It made things a bit crazy but we do love the times we have together!

Growing boys

I feel like it is hard to keep up with the boys and how fast they are growing and learning. 

Corbin's vocabulary astounds me. He will always ask if we use a word that he doesn't know and then will start trying to use it almost immediately. Sometimes with hilarious results but sometimes he does well. He also is drawing more and more recognizable objects and loves to count out loud as high as he can while we drive. He skips 16 a lot but we have gotten as high as 250 on the way to school. And I can't keep up with his shoes and clothes! 

Cole is becoming a two year old a little early for my taste. His vocabulary is very limited - mom, mine, me, bye, dog, and a couple others. But he knows what he wants and that mom should move faster to get it! He hates being buckled into his car seat and grocery carts.  He loves to follow Corbin and do as he does. He does not like to go to sleep at night but would rather play into the night. 

Here are some pictures of our latest adventures- 

Busy days

With the weather being so nice the boys and I have gone on many adventures! 

More pumpkin patches. 

Children's museum in Salem with cousin Phoenix (and Grammy - not pictured)

Trick or treating in a torrential downpour. (Wettest day of the year so far - Halloween! Bummer!)

The zoo!

I am really enjoying being able to spend more time with them. And I do believe I am a better teacher too. 

I can't believe it's November already!

Pumpkin Patch!

The boys and I went to a local pumpkin patch on Thursday. They had a hay maze, a small play structure, goats and chickens. Plus we got to do a hay ride out to the pumpkins. It was a fun morning!

So when did they just start putting all the pumpkins in a big field? No vines anywhere. I was starting to think they shipped them in from China or something. Still not sure. 

But it was a beautiful day - and we got ice cream after. Good times!!

Busy Days

Half time at work feels like a dream. I am still exhausted but I get to spend long days with my children every other day. And I also still get to teach and interact with my high schoolers too. I am really enjoying it. The paycheck was a bit of a reality check but we knew that was coming. 

Here are some pics of our adventures.  We always find ways to fill our empty days as Corbin calls them. 

Petting snakes at the zoo. 

Checking out the fish. 

Comparing our heights with the bears. 

Hiking up multnomah falls together. 

Admiring the view. 

Look what showed up under our chair at lunch! 

Lots of fun times!!

Camping!

Lots of fun in the dirt this weekend. Dirty boys! Happy boys!

Half time!

School has started and this year I am there half time. Every other day. 3 classes instead of 6. 90 students instead of 180. Maybe sanity instead of insanity. 

And these two are my driving motivation-

The goal is more time with them. So every other day we will try and figure out an adventure. Small or big but something for us to enjoy time together. 

Wednesday - 

Cuddles on the couch at a time we are usually at school. 

7 mile bike ride. (Cole fell asleep very early on)

Picked grapes at Grandmas and Grandpas. 

Played some baseball. 

And had a dance party. 

Today we went to #firpointfarms and had so much fun! We fed chickens and goats and bunnies. We went really high on the tire swing and played in the hazelnuts. Corbin's quote: This is the life! 

And then tonight it rained. Like really poured. 

You can see the boys thinking about it--

And then they went for it-

Never a dull moment!

Water!

Trying to squeeze all the fun we can out of the last few days of summer before I head back to work. 

Bike rides -

Water parks

Playgrounds-

Visiting cousins -

Eating berries-

Playing to exhaustion-

Only a week left!

Late nights

Me and Cole hanging out after everyone else is asleep. Does he look tired to you?

Me neither. 

My Zulu Warrior!

Toms parents recently came home from South Africa where they served a mission for the LDS church. They brought home Zulu outfits for both of the boys. Corbin wasn't interested until we looked up pictures online and he saw the tough boys wearing them. Thank you Grammy and Popop!