Thankful Thursday

I can still be thankful on Sunday right???

1. A new work schedule.
I am finally up on the senority list a little bit more at work, and have a little bit more choice in when I work. That combined with that fact that someone dropped the shifts that I could work make it so I wont have to work on Sunday anymore. (At least for now, in the medical field you can't always get away from it completely.) I'm really glad, especially for Trevor. Bless his soul for taking five kids to church by himself every other Sunday for as long as he has. And going to church every week will be nice, although I'm really really going to miss the five minute sacrament meeting at work.

2. Forgiveness.
I hurt someones feelings this week. Someone I love and would never want to hurt. I'm so thankful that she forgave me and didn't hold a grudge.

3. A warm house, warm bed, and warm socks.

4. Our Christmas Tree.
When we moved a couple of years ago we somehow lost the box that held all of our Christmas tree decorations. Everything. (This is the only box we lost in our move, and believe me we have looked everywhere.) I had made everything that was on our tree, but the thing that makes want to cry to this day is my button ornaments. When my Grandma passed away I inherited her button box. There were tons of buttons that she had collected for years. I put her buttons in clear glass ornaments and they were so cute tied with a little raffia bow. Sigh. I still miss those ornaments. I just haven't loved our tree as much since then. So every year I feel a little bit bittersweet about our Christmas tree. I love it, but it feels like something is missing.

5. Chapstick and lotion.

It's Official

I am a 30 something college student. I have been at my job for almost two years and my goal has always been to start school and get my nursing pre-reqs done and then go to nursing school when Cole and Cagney are in first grade. (or around there somewhere.) When I first started they were only 18 months old. First grade seemed worlds away. So I put off school, and put it off and put it off. But lately I started feeling like I really needed to get started. But there was one problem. I was SO intimidated by it. It just seems too scary! And I'm not one to back down from a challenge. But I finally (after a lot of help from girls I work with...thanks Ashley, Kaley and Britt for helping me figure out all of the computer stuff and Elsha for loaning me your book) got myself registered! It's only one little online class, but it is something.

I'm pretty darn excited! And seriously thanks again girls for walking me through it, I couldn't have done it without you. This is the beginning of a LONG road, but at least I'm on the road now.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,
Thank you for coming to our family party last night. I know that you and Mrs. Claus must be so busy this time of year. The kids were delighted that you would visit them in their own house. The songs were fun, the candy canes sticky, and the kids loved having a second to talk to you about what they want you to bring them when you come back on Christmas Eve. This however is where I was not so delighted.

Imagine my surprise as I heard my little darling children tell you about their Christmas wishes and they weren't all the same things that they told ME that they were hoping you would bring. I guess they were holding out on me and wanted to tell you about it themselves. But what I really had the problem with was your response to their wishes. "Sure, I can do that." Is not an appropriate response. Did you not see the not so subtle signals I was giving you??

Don't you know that you are supposed to give them very vague responses to their wishes? (We are supposed to be partners remember?? I sometimes give them vague responses when they ask about YOU.) Let me give you some ideas for appropriate responses. (Please keep these on hand for future reference.)

"Ho, Ho, Ho. Well that is a very popular toy this year!"
"You keep being a very good little boy/girl and I will see what I can do!"
"How about if Santa surprises you?"

See? Any of those would have been better. No commitment. Now you have put me in a very sticky situation. I'm really trying to keep the magic alive, but it is HARD! I know, I know, you have a hard job too. I shouldn't complain too much. But don't worry. We still love you. Just please try to remember for next year, okay?

Love,
a very tired mom (who up until last night had all of her Christmas shopping done)

Favorite Photo Friday

Wow it has been awhile since I posted one of these. Which seems so odd because I have have absolutely nothing to do that past few weeks!


December 2006. Meeting my parents at the airport. They were returning from their mission to Nigeria.

Thankful Thursday

1. Holiday movies.
There are certain movies that I love to watch every holiday season. I especially love movies that make me laugh like...

And I always love a movie that makes me cry, and while this is not necessarily a Christmas movie I still love to watch it this time of year...


2. Our extended families.
We have both of our families Christmas parties this weekend. I'm so glad that we actually love to spend time with our families. It's nice to not have the holiday stress of spending time with people we don't like! I'm looking forward to seeing all of our siblings, parents, nieces and nephews this weekend.

3. A new microwave.
While not exactly what I would want to be spending money on this time of year. Our 14 year old microwave (that we got when we got married) died yesterday. It went out with a bang (quite literally) and a fireworks show.

4. School glorious school.
After being off track for the last four weeks Jared and Gabe went back to school on Monday. Sigh.

5. Putting my Christmas cards in the mail today.
I love doing Christmas cards (and getting Christmas cards) but it is a lot of work! I'm glad I will finally be putting them in the mail today.

Stop the madness...I can't take it anymore!

We went to the Festival of the Trees on Thursday evening last week (post to come). As we were leaving there was a group of piano students having a recital in the lobby. There were two young girls playing a duet...jingle bells. I imagine that their pep talk to each other before playing went something like this...

"Remember, just play as loud as you can and as fast as you can and everyone will think we are GREAT!"

It was painful...I wanted to run screaming from the building. But it was loud and fast...and a whole mess of sharps and flats. Which got me thinking about Christmas songs that I just cannot listen too.

1. Christmas shoes...or any other sappy sappy Christmas song. ICK.

2. Simply having a wonderful Christmas time. Does this song even have any other words??

3. George Michael...Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away.....(shudder)

4. And it doesn't matter how many times I hear it, I just can't believe that all Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is me.

What about you?? Are there any Christmas songs that just make you cringe????

Thankful Thursday

1. Christmas decorations
I'm kind of a scrooge about putting them up, but I LOVE having them up. Especially our tree.

2. Christmas lights
This is the first time we have put Christmas lights on this house and I just love love love them. I go outside two or three times every night just to look at them. I'm thankful for my husband who put them up. And for Jared and Gabe who helped.


3. Granny Smith apples
This time of the year they are so good, especially sprinkled with a little bit of salt.

4. Snow
We had a tiny bit of snow this morning and it was so pretty. It's all melted now, but I feel ready for more. Bring it on.

5. A second Thanksgiving dinner
My parents and brother came over on sunday for a second Thanksgiving dinner. It was so yummy and so fun to have them here.

Christmas did you know....

I received this via email and I'm really bad about responding to these types of emails...so here it is on my blog.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. I actually hate wrapping, it is probably my least favorite part of the holidays.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Fake, always. All of the pine needles would drive me crazy.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Within a few days after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Within a couple of days after Christmas. Sometimes the very next day if it is driving me crazy.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes, love it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A red headed Cabbage Patch doll named Arabella Doralyn. My mom convinced me that she had looked everywhere and couldn't find one so it was a huge surprise.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My boys.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My girls.

9. Do You have a nativity scene?
Three. An olive wood set from Jerusalem, the Little People nativity set and a wooden set from Africa (and the baby Jesus looks like a little monkey baby.)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail definitely, every year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A slim fast bar in my stocking.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? 
Elf. "Buddy the elf what's your favorite color?"

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually in October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? 
Ribbon jello, toffee, and our Christmas morning breakfast.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes, but they must be only white.

17. Favorite  traditional Christmas song?
Bring a torch Jeanette Isabella

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Growing up it was an angel, now it is a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One gift Christmas eve, the rest in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year. 
Wrapping presents, not enough time to do everything, small talk at holiday parties.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Our tree has santa's, snowflakes, stars and bells.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner?
Roast beast.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Trev and I are buying each other a new camera.

100 Things

I have seen this on a few blogs and wanted to see how many I had done so I decided to put it on my blog...
Bold the things you have done

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (this will never happen, they skeeve me out more than any other bug.
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (if you count sitting in the airport)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own
How depressing, I've only done the most boring ones.

Thankful Thursday (on friday)

This week I'm thankful for...
1. A husband who is level headed, keeps me grounded, makes me laugh, went running with me yesterday morning (it was fun right?) and is going to climb on our roof this weekend to put up Christmas lights.

2. Kids who teach me things that I could not learn any other way. Love those stinker snots.

3. The biggest loser. I participated in Tib's biggest loser and our last weigh in day was Wednesday. Cole and Cagney are nearly 3 1/2 and I finally reached my goal weight after having them. Hmmm...took nine months to put in on and only 3 1/2 years to take it off. Tib is going to do another round of biggest loser starting in January. I totally recommend it.

4. My niece Goo. She called me on Wednesday and told me about a great deal at Bath and Body Works. I have been squeezing the last little bits out of my shower gels and lotions and it was great to stock up again. Yum.

5. Boys who let a girl play
Yesterday before we stuffed ourselves the men went outside to throw the football around. They were nice and let me join in. Sorry again Craig for hitting your Durango that one time (okay twice).

Jared @ 10

I'm a little late on doing this post for Jared's birthday. Here are 10 things about Jared on his 10th Birthday.
1. He loves Pokemon. He has close to 400 cards and knows the name of each character. I can hardly pronounce them.
2. He plays the violin. He has a great ear for music, loves to play but doesn't always love to practice.
3. He is very athletic and coordinated. He has tons of energy when it comes to sports, yet at church can hardly keep himself in an upright position for an hour because he is "so tired".
4. He is so sweet and has a very tender heart. He is always willing to share his treats with his siblings.
5. He has really cute longerish hair and doesn't like getting his hair cut.
6. His favorite dinner right now is salmon and crash hot potatoes.
7. He loves to build things.
8. His favorite color is orange.
9. He can out eat me anytime. Heaven help us when he is a teen ager.
10. He has a very hard time keeping track of jackets and drives me crazy because he looses them so frequently.

Thankful Thursday

We are moving in hyper speed here! It's already Thursday again!
1. Jared
Today is his Birthday. He has reached double digits! I look back at my labor and delivery with Jared and think that it was the closest I ever got to natural childbirth. I was dilated to an 8 and in transition by the time we got to the hospital. After waiting for about 30 minutes for a nurse to come in the room and "check" me (she kept telling me to just relax and they would check to see if I was really in labor or not) and then finding out I was already dilated to an 8 I immediately yelled, "get me an epidural!" Sometimes when I think back on that I wish that I had just done it natural. I really think I could have done it. Although if myself now was to have told myself then that I probably would have punched myself in the face. Huh??
Oh and just in case you are wondering, we had decided not to get him the nerf gun. And what really tipped the scale was just thinking about all of those DARTS. This morning I overheard Jared telling Gabe that he really hoped he was going to get the gun for his birthday. I called Trevor and told him he needed to run out and get one on his lunch break. I'm such a softie. I'll be cleaning up nerf darts forever.

2. Jared's birthday cake
It is chocolate peppermint. I just pulled it out of the oven and it smells absolutely heavenly.

3. My parents
They babysat four of my kids yesterday so I could do some more Christmas shopping. (And even bought them happy meals for lunch. ) See, I've become kind of obsessed this year with getting my shopping done early. I'm so close and it is lovely. Have I saved myself a lot of stress? Not sure, but I think so. I told someone at work yesterday that I was nearly done shopping and she was just astounded that I would start to shop before Thanksgiving. She said I would get much better deals if I waited. Deals schmeals. I would rather be done and have my gifts sitting snug under a big blanket at my parents house.

4. Cell phones
I love my cell phone. I just got a new one after using hand me down phones for a couple of months. It is so nice to have my very own phone again.

5. Scrubs
I love being nice and comfy while I work.

The end! What are you thankful for this week?

Oh, you are one of THOSE people...

I know that you have to be really careful talking about religion and politics and well...this. But I don't feel like I can go on any longer without saying something. I have stayed quiet long enough and it is just too important a subject to keep my mouth closed. Plus it has been a little while since I was up on my soap box. Wow, it is really nice up here. So, I realize that I might lose friends or alienate people...that is a risk I'm willing to take. I would not be true to myself if I didn't speak up and make my voice heard!

(Deep breath) Here goes....









I listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I think I even did it a couple of times in October. No, I know I did...I'm just going to own it. Phew, there I feel so much better.

This is my favorite right now...I could have it on all day from now until Christmas and not get sick of it.

I also LOVE this one...

and this one...

and this one...

and this one...

and this one...

and this one...gotta have something for the kids...

Here's the story...

Recently we were having Family Home Evening and it was Cagney's turn to choose the opening song. She thought for a minute and said, "Brady Bunch!" So we sang the Brady Bunch theme song for FHE, and that my friend should give you a bit of an idea of what Family Home Evening is like around these parts.

And speaking of the Brady Bunch, the other night I called Miquelle to come up for dinner. She said she was watching the Brady Bunch and didn't want to miss it because, "it is a NEW one!"

I bet you have the song in your head now huh? Sorry, me too.

Do I? Or don't I?

Jared turns 10 next week. This is my child that doesn't always have specific things that he asks for, makes it nice shopping for him as he is happy with everything. But it also makes it harder because we can't always think of things. This year he does have a specific request. He wants this. I'm torn. Let me explain. When we first had Jared I had very strong feelings about him playing with toy guns. We first said he would NEVER play with toy guns. Well you know what happens when you say, "my kid will never do that." When he got a little older he would bite his sandwiches into gun shapes and shoot those, sticks were guns, legos could be made into guns. So we relented, we bought toy guns. He has been fine with them. We have a standing rule in our house that you don't point them at people. He has been very careful about this even coming to me at times very sadly telling me that he very accidentally, not on purpose, aimed is gun "toward" someone. (This kid is compelled to confess every little thing to us...hmmm, wonder if that will continue when he is a teen-ager.)

So I'm torn about this gun. It is BIG, and it looks a little too realistic for me (ok, I'm sure that real machine guns aren't orange and yellow...are they?)and it is BIG, and I can just imagine little darts all over my house, and it is BIG. But on the other hand he really wants it and he doesn't ask for a lot and he is a really sweet kid and I'm sure he would love it. So what do you think? Should a get my kid a machine gun for his birthday?

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday just seems more fun in November for some reason...

1. Jared
This morning I was outside for two hours cleaning up leaves in the yard. Jared got a picnic lunch ready for himself and Gabe, Cole, and Cagney. After he was done he said, "I even cleaned up the kitchen mom." What a sweet boy. I can't believe he is almost 10.

2. Off track time
Having the boys off track is challenging at time, but overall I really like it. It is nice to be more relaxed and not have such a busy schedule all the time. I'm especially loving sleeping in a little bit and mornings that aren't so crazy busy.

3. My neighbor
While I was out cleaning leaves my neighbor came out with her little girl. It was SO nice to have an adult to talk to for awhile, and it made the leaf cleaning up project easier too! We talked about the lesson that I am teaching at church on Sunday. It was so great to have another brain to bounce ideas off of and to brainstorm with. Thanks for your brain Rachel!

4. A fixed garage
Trevor fixed our garage and it is wonderful! We haven't had a working light in our garage forever and that is especially nice now that it is dark so early.

5. Early Christmas shopping
Every year it seems like I am shopping at the last minute and I hate it. I promised myself that this year would be different. We starting putting money away for Christmas last January and it has been so nice to shop early! We bought our first Christmas gifts in July and I have been trying to do a little bit here and there since then. I'm sure that I will probably end up looking for some things at the last minute, but I hope to be done with all of the major things pretty soon!

Girls Overnighter

This time for girls day we decided to have a slumber party in Park City. Thanks again Stacy for getting the hotel reservations all set up. There was a chick flick, dinner and lunch out, snacks (swedish fish, my all time favorite) shopping, talking and tears, and at one point even a group hug. Aw.

The first part of our group (me, my sister, my mom and my niece) arrived on Friday evening and while waiting for the rest of our group to get there we watched "Return To Me". Cute show, predictable, but cute. After the rest of our group (two more nieces) got there we went out for a very yummy dinner at Redrock. I had a Chinese chicken salad. Yum. We went back to the hotel to finish the movie and some of us painted our toes. Mine were badly in need of some fresh paint as I was still sporting my Halloween black. We stayed up late talking and laughing, I think this was probably my favorite part of the whole trip.

I feel a little bit guilty about how well I slept because I don't think everyone else slept all that great. My mom had my old Holly Hobbie pillow case on her pillow that I had when I was a little girl. I had no idea that she even still had it. I got so excited and she let me bring it home! What memories. I had two Holly Hobbie dolls with yarn hair in little braids, gosh I wish I still had them.

After some breakfast we headed over to the outlet mall...I LOVE outlet stores. This stems from my love of sales and clearance racks! Whohoo! I get so excited when I find good deals. I just get a little thrill from seeing how much I spent compared to how much I would have spent if everything was full price. Gosh I get all goosebumpy just thinking about it. So, you wanna hear about my good deals?? At the Gap outlet store (all clearance was 40% off) I got a pair of jeans, a pair of cords, a sweater, a short sleeved shirt, seven long sleeved shirts, and a cardigan for $114.78!!! Phew! I got my good deal shopping fix for awhile. Oh and just in case you are wondering...full price on these things would have been about $300.

We went over to main street in search of a place for lunch and didn't find anything that sounded good to everyone so we headed back to Salt Lake and had a late lunch at Marie Calendars. I had the salad bar, another favorite of mine.

It was a great two days. I love these girls. They fill my bucket when I feel like I am down to my very last drop. They are great examples to me and I just love spending time with them. And a little note about the tears that I mentioned earlier. Yes, we did have some tears this weekend...for a few reasons including, pregnancy, tender subjects that we were discussing, low blood sugar, and frustration. I loved this weekend and I loved the tears too. Simply because it shows that there isn't any pretense. Or any pressure to be a certain way. We are able to be sincere and comfortable even if those tears may not seem "rational" at the time. It just doesn't matter. Thanks again girls, loves to everyone.

Family Christmas Party

Hey, everyone from my side of the family. I sent an email out this morning about our family Christmas party. Grandma and Grandpa are spending Christmas in Jerusalem this year so we want to make sure and get it on the calendar so we can have the party before they go. So I'm posting this because I'm not positive that I have current email addresses for everyone. So check your email and if you don't have an email from me, respond here or email me back. Let me know if Saturday December 13th or Sunday December 14th would work for you. Thanks!

Thankful Thursday

First this week I am thankful for...

1. The right to choose. And for short lines when I went to vote. That I was really thankful for since I had two three year olds with me.



2. ANOTHER new baby! My brother John and his wife Diana announced this week that they are expecting baby #2 in June! Wow, we are so excited for all of these new babies! And I'm really excited that I get to hold and love them but I don't have to take any of them home with me!

3. My job. It is a struggle to balance all of the things in my life that I try to be, and to do a good job at each one. Sometimes it is really hard to work outside the home, but I really LOVE my job. I learn new things every time I am there. And one thing that I didn't expect when re-entering the workforce (after not being there for 11 years) was to make good friends. That has been a wonderful blessing.

4. A garage
Last week in church we had a lesson on being thankful. The teacher challenged us to think of things that we aren't thankful for and to try to turn it around and think of a way that we can be thankful. So I am doing that here. Our garage door is broken. Well actually the opener is broken, the door is fine. So every time I leave or get home I have to use my muscles to open or close the door instead of pushing a little button. Gosh, I sound so whiney! But it is a pain. Especially now that it is snowy. So I have been griping and grumbling about having to manually open and close the garage door and I'm trying to be thankful. So I'm thankful that I have a garage, because if I didn't have a garage I would have been out in the snow this morning cleaning off my van.

5. Thankful kids
Each year for the month of November we really try as a family to think of things we are thankful for. I punched out small squares of paper and told the kids that we were all going to write things we are thankful for throughout the month and tape them on our pantry door, and see how much we can fill it up by the end of the month. They have been very enthusiastic about this project and it has been so fun to see the things they write down. Some of the things so far....ice cream, pokemon cards, the church, family, warm socks, and school.

How true, yes how true

Tib had this link (Bob Lonsberry) and it perfectly sums up how I feel....

"Barack Obama was not my choice, but he is my president. That is true of all Americans. For the last eight years, there has been an ongoing campaign of destruction meant to handicap and hobble the last president. I refuse to be part of an effort to do the same to the next president. Those who didn't vote for Barack Obama must set a higher standard of civility and citizenship than those who didn't vote for George W. Bush. In defeat, there must still be nobility.

That doesn't mean silent servility. It doesn't mean differences and principles are ignored.

But it does mean the new president gets a new chance. It means we all must pray for him and work with him to make our country stronger and safer and better.

Pretty speeches notwithstanding, there remains a great divide, much of it created by the recent election. To the extent it needs to be bridged, it will be bridged by an effort by the president-elect to reach out to those who don't trust him, and by an effort by the people to reach out to a president who might not trust them.

The last eight years have taught us what happens when you set out to destroy a presidency for political gain. You help your candidate, but you hurt your country. That pattern must not be followed with this new president. America must treat Barack Obama better than he treated George W. Bush."

Thanks Bob, and let's all remember the words of a wise little rabbit named Thumper, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Halloween

This was one of the most fun and relaxing Halloween's that I remember for a long, long time. I think it helped that it was a friday, Trevor and I were both off work, and it was a beautiful day.

We started out in the morning by going to the elementary school for the Halloween parade. I love seeing all of the kids in their costumes. This year we saw a lot of Dorothy's, Vampires, dead people (brides, cheerleaders, zombies), Mario's, and we even saw John McCain and Sarah Palin. Wow, and this close to the election! After the parade I got to help in Jared's class party. I love helping in holiday parties. The kids played games and decorated cupcakes and had snacks. I was the most popular mom there. I'm pretty sure that it was me, but it might have been the cupcakes and m&m's at my table.





Thanks to Tib I found this cute idea on her blog and when the room mom called to see if I had an idea for treats the kids could make, I did!

Miquelle had the day off school so Trevor and I were able to go out to lunch. It was BLISS. We went to Mimi's cafe and it was delicious as usual.

In the afternoon we carved pumpkins. It was so fun. I love pulling pumpkin guts out. The best part was that it was so nice and warm outside that we were able to carve our pumpkins out on the front porch so I wasn't stressed about the mess. Gabe said at one point, "this is so fun, why have we never done this before?" I knew it had been awhile, but didn't realize it had been that long! (is it bad that we had twins three years ago and sometimes I still feel like we are "recovering" from it?) Our jack-o-lanterns turned out really cute. I didn't have any candles to put in them though, maybe I will remember that next year.







We had italian sausage soup and breadsticks for dinner. The kids devoured their dinner and it was nice to go out trick or treating with full bellies.

It was great to have a nice warm evening for trick or treating. At one point we felt just a couple of tiny raindrops and Gabe said, "this is the rainiest Halloween ever!" Cole and Cagney we totally enthralled with the whole process. "You mean all I have to do is look adorable, say "trick or treat" and people give me candy???" I came home a little early with them while the older kids stayed out with our neighbor. Once they were home it was time for candy sorting. (This was my favorite part of Halloween when I was a kid.)


I usually let my kids eat a bunch of candy on Halloween night. Then after that we put it up and they have a couple of things a day. What kind of candy mom are you? I just cannot let them eat all of the candy they want everyday. I just can't relinquish that much control. I know some mom's say "just have at it" and the candy is gone in a week (or a couple of days). I usually throw candy away in December. Hmmm, I do like the idea of getting it all over with in a shorter period of time though. What is worse, a ton of candy everyday for a few days, or a little bit of candy everyday for a much longer period of time??

Thanksgiving Point

This post has tons of pictures. Sorry. Does anyone know how to do photo mosaics or collages using iphoto? I need to learn how to do that.

We love Thanksgiving point for fall fun. We planned to go a couple of weeks ago but it was really rainy. Last saturday was beautiful and a great day for it. We started out on the jumping pillows. They are so much fun, and great for the whole family. Cole wanted me to hold him and it was a lot of work! The kids did the jumping pillows many times during the day.




I was jumping when I took that last picture. Can you tell??

There was a little wooden train that Cole and Cagney loved climbing all over.
Cole could peek through the smokestack...

Cagney could peek through the smokestack...

Two at the same time!

They had go-karts. (I was so tired after pushing Cagney around the track and she excitedly exclaimed, "I did it all by myself!")


There was a big scary creature that we walked through. It was pretty much dark and loud. Miquelle, Cagney and I exited early. The boys liked it. I'm missing the "enjoys dark and loud things" gene.

There was a huge mountain of hay bales with all kinds of slides coming off. They kids played there for a long time. It made me nervous because there were so many different ways to get up and down that it made it hard to keep track of everyone.




We went on a hay ride and for a ride on a cow train. Yes, a cow train. Last year I rode with Cagney and we had to ride in one of the small cows. It was painful. I said I wasn't going to do that again. There were only a few people in front of us in line. Surely we wouldn't have to ride in a small cow again.

Jared and Gabe in a big cow.

Miquelle and Cagney in a big cow.

Me and Cole in, Yup...a small cow car. It was painful. Not doing that again. Nope, not doing it.

There was a little princess playland and I think Cagney was in princess heaven. They had all kinds of princess dresses to try on. Cagney would put on a dress, run over and look at herself in the mirror, climb in the playhouse, go down the slide, and run over for another dress. I think she completed this cycle about 20 times.

The kids all loved this corn box. Playing in a box full of corn, the greatest thing ever! While we were sitting there watching them I realized I was sitting right by Nicia De Gering (of Good Things Utah). We had a conversation about whether letting our kids play in a box of corn was less gross or more gross than letting our kids play in a ball pit (like at a fast food place). We decided that the ball pit was much more gross.



Jared's head is under the bucket. Silly kid. He wanted to wait for some poor unsuspecting kid to climb into the corn box to play and scare the daylights out of them. We advised against it. That would have been pretty funny though.


It was a very fun (and beautiful) fall day. We stayed a lot longer than we had planned but the kids were having so much fun we didn't mind.