Nice try!

My house is a mess. And I don't mean a little one. I mean, it looks like a tornado blew through here. I am embarrassed to admit that there isn't a clean room in the place. So I've told my kids that we are cleaning bedrooms today and nothing else until they are done. Well, I had to take the recycling out and empty it because there was no more room for more and we were coming across lots while working. While I was out I stopped by my moms to pick up something I left there. Rachael and Allen came with me. We walked in just in time to see my dad starting to decorate a popcorn tree for us. I needed to get home to get stuff done so we were in a small hurry, but Rachael wanted to stay and help them so she came up with a great plan. She whispered in my ear. "Can I stay here and help Grami and Bopa? You can go home and come back for me later and surprise me with my room clean." Nice try little one!

Kids....they think they are so smart! :)

Halloween update

Hmmmm...So it's 2 days until Thanksgiving and I haven't updated Halloween. We had a GREAT Halloween. Especially since Kirk was finally home. I will never let him leave for so long again. It is really hard to be a single mom, but more importantly...I just really missed him. I think both of us learned a lot in this trial. I knew I loved him, but I REALLY realized how much when he wasn't around. I more fully appreciate what he does for me and what having him in my life means to me. I'm glad for the lesson...but I still don't want to EVER do it again.

Anyway, back to Halloween. The weather couldn't have been better. It has been years since a Halloween in Utah hasn't been cold. Last year Brayden got frostbite on his hands. This year we barely needed a jacket. In fact, I was hot in mine. It was wonderful for the kids to go out in their costumes not having to cover them up under a coat.

My years of trick or treating with all my kids is slowing dying however. Just like she did last year, Brianna helped out in a friends spook alley and didn't trick or treat at all. Just as we were getting into our costumes, Brayden's friend David came by and they wanted to go "alone". They invited Tanner as well so the boys went without parents and thought that was very cool. I missed going all together though. I'm just not ready for my kids to all grow up on me. So I was left with just Allen and Rachael. Atleast they haven't outgrown me yet. We had a good time. In fact, I think they all still have candy hiding in their room somewhere.

After we all were done, we went to my parents for carmel apples. Brayden modeled our toilet costume. Tanner had decided that it was too hard to move around in and trick or treated as Dracula instead. My dad had never seen it before and laughed so hard that he started to cry. It really is a good costume.

It was a great Halloween!!!!

Christmas Music?!?

Are you kidding me? I am driving to go vote today and I hear Christmas music on the radio. Apparently Fm 100 is now Utah's Christmas Music Station. ALL DAY LONG FROM NOW UNTIL CHRISTMAS!! Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music. I own plenty of it. But I think it should be against the law to play before Thanksgiving. For heaven sake! We were just trick of treating a few days ago. Please people, give Thanksgiving it's time in the spotlight.

trunk or treat

Our ward had it's annual Trunk or Treat last night, except it wasn't really the "trunk" end of it. Instead, all the organizations decorated a room and a door in the church and the kids went down the hall, door to door. The young mens had a whole spook alley in the primary room complete with smoke and strobe lights. I think the kids had a great time. Brianna dressed as a skeleton to be with the Young Women in their "cave" room. Julie came to help with her makeup. She wasn't even recognized! Brayden went as a Hershey Bar, Tanner was a man sitting on a toilet, Rachael was a fairy princess, and Allen was Batman. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but...I didn't. I will have to remember better on Halloween.

This is my favorite costume that we have ever made. Brayden wore it last year and it makes my laugh everytime I see it!!!

I really need to get better at taking pictures, I don't even have one of Rachael's face. :(

Forget the Countdown!!

Get rid of the countdown!!! I was sitting on the livingroom floor with Brayden yesterday working on his social studies project when someone knocked at the door. Kirks parents had called and said they were coming up to visit for Allen's Birthday. (I'll have to give the rest of the birthday story later.) Anyway, I told Tanner to answer it. I heard him open the door and looked up just in time to see my handsome husband coming down the hallway. HE'S HOME. He's really home. It took a minute for it to compute in my brain before I burst into tears and ran to him. I just can't tell you how happy I am that after 6 weeks my husband is finally HOME! Allen was thrilled to have him home on his birthday. I can't think of a better surprise!! :)

Carving Pumpkins

Tonight for Family Night we decided to carve pumpkins. Kirk still isn't home so I was sad about that. But, he's not coming home until midnight on Thursday and since Friday is Halloween, we really couldn't wait. After homework was done we went to the store to find pumpkins. All that was left were HUGE ones. Luckily, my mom voluteered to come help us. It would take forever to try to clean out 5 pumpkins and help 2 kids carve all by myself. Brianna, Brayden and Tanner carved theirs all by themselves and did a great job. Rachael carved some and Brianna helped finish it. Allen told me what he wanted and I did my best to make it match. I thought they turned out great!!! The kids were happy and we had a great time. We really missed our Dad though :(

If I Can't See You...I'm Invisible

My parents invited my kids to have a sleep over last Friday night. I realized that Allen hadn't had a bath since Sunday. (I know, bad mother, yeah, yeah, what ever...) So anyway, I just mentioned to him that if he wanted to sleep over at Grami's, he REALLY needed to have a bath first. He used to love them, but for some reason he is now in an "I hate baths" phase and never wants to get in. I went on with my morning, running around getting things ready and realized I hadn't seen Allen in a while. We started looking for him and here is what we found next to the piano. He told Brayden he was hiding so he wouldn't have get in the tub. He was probably there for at least a half hour. When ever I walked by he would hold really still, apparently thinking that if he couldn't see me, I couldn't see him. What was even funnier is later the kids finally got him up to his room. I could hear him playing with his cars and so I called his name and started walking down the hall. I heard him scurrying around and as I walked in the doorway, there he was, standing in the middle of the room with his blanket on his head again, holding VERY STILL. I had to laugh out loud at that one. Funny kid!! I love that they honestly think we can't see them.

And don't worry, he eventually did get in the tub! :)

SNOW!?!?

Ok, this one's for Kirk. He's in Texas in a balmy 85 degrees and we woke up to this:

The kids were completely excited and got on all their winter gear to go outside. You have to admit, change in seasons is always exciting, for me anyway. I'm just not QUITE ready for snow yet. There's got to be a little fall left doesn't there?

What a Difference a Day Makes

Allen is loving preschool. There are 4 words I never thought I would say! He didn't even want to come downstairs the first day...but he did, and loved it! He cried and didn't want to go when school was at Camerons the next week...but I made him go and he loved it!! Today he came downstairs at breakfast and said, "We gotta hurry mom. I need to eat and get dressed so I'm not late for school!" What? Did my ears decieve me?...Allen WANTS to go to school? Sure enough, he was asking all day if it was time to leave yet. He was actually sad that he couldn't go right after breakfast. YEAH!!! But I have to say that quietly to myself. If you make a big deal of anything and say "Yeah, Allen, I'm so happy you like school!" He will wrinkle his forehead, stick out both lips and say something like "UGNMP". And never want to do it again. The moment is forever ruined. So you just act like it's perfectly normal for him to be excited and go with the flow. Heaven forbid he be the center of ANY kind of attention. Goofy kid!!

This is Allen and Kai after getting home. They made binoculars and friut loop necklaces and went on a "C" hunt. How fun!!!

Crazy Hair Day

Every year for RED RIBBON WEEK the kids school has days of the week with themes. They have crazy hat day, wear red day, camo day, those kinds of things. Well today was Crazy Hair Day. Rachael wanted Brianna to do her hair so she got up early before Brianna left. Boy am I glad she did...I could have never been that creative. She looked like little Cindy Lou Who. The boys messed theirs up pretty good too. Even Allen had to get into it. He wore crazy hair to preschool.

Salmon Run

Yesterday was conference and the kids can only be in the house for so long. If the boys don't get out and run around they tend to self destruct by bedtime. So we decided to take a drive in between sessions and check out the salmon at Strawberry Resevior. They are spawning right now so they are bright red which is kind of cool to see. They look almost fake. The pictures
don't really do them justice.



As we were driving up the canyon, we were commenting on how all the leaves were gone. Then just around the corner we saw beautiful ones. The aspens are just turning and the bright yellow with the evergreens was amazing.

When we arrived at Strawberry it was FREEZING COLD. I am not quite ready for winter yet. The fall weather has been great. But as we got out of the car, this is what we saw...

Fall leaves and snow? Ready or not, I think winter is on it's way!!

Leaves

Every year it is my favorite thing to go up in the mountains and look at the leaves changing. I love to get a family picture in all the fall colors. Last Sunday we went with my parents up to Casgade Springs. What a beautiful place!! It was crazy busy, I guess everyone else had the same idea. I managed to lose 2 of my kids while we were there...that was an adventure, but we found them and all is well. We got some nice family shots, too bad Kirk still isn't with us. We sure miss him. We had a great time though and the leaves are gorgeous. If you haven't already driven around to see them, you should!! Allen hurt his elbow and walked around with it bent like this for an hour and a half. Goofy kid!

Preschool

A few of my neighbors and I have decided to start doing preschool with our boys. Since Allen was the most reluctant of the group, I decided to do it at my house first. And by reluctant, I mean, he "hates school" and "never wants to go". On Wednesday I told him we were having school at our house and that I was going to be his teacher "won't that be fun?" His reply, "where are you doing it at?" Me: "oh probably down here in the kitchen or maybe in the living room." Allen: "Well, then I won't come downstairs." Lovely. Might be a long preschool day. But, as he watched me get pictures ready, the puzzles and crayons out he decided maybe he would come. Once all the boys showed up he had a great time. Though he will never admit it. Kirk called to ask him how school went and if he had fun and Allen just answered with a simple "No." Stubborn little twit...he couldn't possibly get that from me. :)

Anyway, the boys were so cute!! I made a weather chart so we could talk about what it was like outside and had a rocket that they put their name on when they come to school and then we sang songs. I let each of the boys pick a song to sing and take a turn leading the song they chose. I was expecting Wheels on the Bus, 5 Little Monkeys, things like that. But these boys all picked primary songs. William sat on the piano bench and just belted out as loud as he could If Jesus Stood Beside Me and soon all the others joined in. OH!! My heart melted. Those 5 boys singing that song was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I could have kissed them all!! We also sang I am a Child of God and Called to Serve Him. Kai, who was leading the song, sang the chorus as "Awkward, ever awkward". I loved it!! What a good group of kids!

Doing puzzles while we wait for everyone to come.

Cameron

Cameron, Jaxton, William

Allen and Kai

Dillon...really didn't care for puzzles, but he loved my turtle!

I Love the Dough Boy!!!

To those of you who may not know me well, I love the dough boy. I'm not sure why he is so appealing to me, I just know that I love him. I remember having a toy of him I would play with in the tub as a kid. He is so cute! Commercials, not so much, but him as a whole...LOVE HIM!! I have a cookie jar of him, a Mr. and Mrs. Salt and Pepper shaker, numerous refridgerater magnets, a towel and a hotpad. Really, if you don't get it yet, I love him. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon HIS ENTIRE FAMILY at my aunt's house last weekend. If stealing was allowed, they would be in my kitchen right now!!

I SO have to get me some of these!!

Weekend Getaway

Ahhhhh.....I got to relax a little over the weekend. My Aunt Sally had a girls night at her Bed and Breakfast in Spring City. All the girl cousins were invited. So Brianna, Rachael, and I took off with my mom, Julie and Ashlyn for the night. It was so much fun! We ate dinner with everyone when we got there and stayed up late eating treats and talking. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time! And I don't think I will need to eat for the next 3 days!!! We sat in the kitchen talking so of course I just ate everything there because it was in front of me. Not because I actually needed anymore! It felt nice to get away from my own life for a while though and relax. We were able to catch up with cousins and aunts I haven't talked to in a while and just have a great time. The kids ran around playing games, watching movies...they all got along great as well. It's fun to rediscover friends in your cousins. Hard to believe though, that I used to be the little kid playing games in the basement. Time goes by fast! Now I'm the grown up sitting around the table talking. Crazy!!
The next morning was still full of excitement as the girls found 2 salamanders in the basement with them. After breakfast they got to ride Sally's horses. What a great trip!! Thanks Aunt Sally. I say we make a tradition out of it and do it again!!
If you are wondering about the boys...they had their own "Boys Night" at my dads. They had just as much fun as we did, flying kites, playing games and helping Bopa with odd jobs around the house. They'd let us girls take off again if it meant more hanging out with Bopa.