More Fall Fun

I took the kids to the local Amusement Park to enjoy Fright Fest!

It was a pretty cold day, so we layered up our warm clothes.

We love to walk around and see all the Halloween decorations.

The kids loved this pumpkin... it talked, well mostly insulted those who walked by - and was actually quite funny!

Another great part of Fright Fest is the little Trick-or-Treat route.

Although this year, I think they were trying to get rid of some of the junk that didn't sell in the vending machines or something. Each kid got two packages of Jalapeno Cheddar Tortilla snacks (sick!) - but the few chocolate bars and skittles that they did get made up for it!

The little monkey waited very patiently in the cold while his big brother and sister rode the big and more exciting rides, then he was able to enjoy his favorite - the motorcycles!

Cello lessons

We were given a beautiful cello by my parents... and look who is learning to play! He has a 30 minute lesson once a week at school with about ten other kids. This is what I get to listen to nearly every night. You'll get a kick out of the ending ~ also what I have to listen to every night!

First of the Fall Fun!

My mom usually makes an annual trip to NY in the fall, and we always try to go apple picking. We all love this tradition... apple pie, apple crisp ~ YUM! We also took the kids on a little adventure to a gondola lift. My oldest studied Italy last year in school and thought we were going on a gondola boat. It gave us all a pretty good laugh when he realized we weren't going on a boat! We always have so much fun when Grandma visits.

My little lady...

Since she was born, we have always called her our little lady.

Today in church my little lady gave her first talk... all by herself!

(she didn't even want me to stand close by... just in case!)

When we were in Utah this spring, she went shopping with a special aunt who let her choose something to take home. She chose this cute ladybug bracelet and necklace... and wanted to wear it today!

My little lady is growing up.

"The sun is in my eyes!"

09~09~09

They all went to school today... I had two and a half hours all to myself.

These are the three first graders at the bus stop. They were all in the same Kindergarten class last year and this year they are all in different classes.

These are the two handsome fourth graders at the bus stop.

Here's to hoping for another fantastic school year!

Family Fun...

We spent the day at the local amusement park and had a great time!

The older kids are getting pretty brave and will ride most of

the rides that they are tall enough for.

This little guy still likes the Wiggles and Looney Tunes rides!

We all LOVE the waterpark, especially the lazy river!

The big boys riding the Tornado!

She loves the little slides ~

Backyardigans ~

They've trampled over our corn, eaten a few of our tomatoes and pooped all over our lawn! We've tried to scare them away... they just keep coming back. Be warned, the paintball gun has been brought out of storage!

(I was assured that it wouldn't hurt them... just get them to leave)

Palmyra...

Last weekend we were able to take the family to Palmyra for a ward temple trip. I was very excited... in the ten years we've lived on the East coast, we've never taken the kids to see the Church History sites (don't even ask what my excuses are, they are all lame!). We were able to walk around the temple grounds with the kids and attend the temple together while a friend watched our kids for us! It was a beautiful (hot and humid) day!

The kids loved playing around the Hill Cumorah. I think they liked being able to identify the scripture stories to an actual place. The kids went on a geocache(?) hunt/hike. I am not sure what geocaching is all about ~ but my kids absolutely loved it, so I better figure it out and take them more often.

The Sacred Grove was a fantastic experience for all of us... except for the first 10 minutes when our rambunctious 3 year old threw a fit! (We have it on video - it is priceless!!) I think we'll try harder to make this more of an annual family tradition and not wait another decade to go again!

Such a Tramp!

We broke down and bought the kids a trampoline and they love it! I love all the exercise they get from jumping ~ they come in all hot and sweaty (and it hasn't even been that hot this summer).

Our little jumper boy!

The first few weeks of Summer...

Last week the kids started swim lessons. This is the first year that all three of them have participated. They go everyday for two weeks and it can sometimes be exhausting (for them and me). With all of the uncooperative weather we've been having the pool is freezing! One week down, one to go!

The kids have also been attending a half day summer camp program in our town. Notice the lovely Tie Dye T-shirts? It's one of the most popular days - next year they say they might try to tie dye a pair of socks!

(The picture is actually from last week when I had to take all three kids to get the truck inspected... they made it interesting for everyone there!)

These two love to paint and draw. They have been asking for months if they could finger paint. Aren't I great for allowing such a mess?

End of the school year...

This morning was the Awards Assembly for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at our elementary school. We were given a note last week letting us know that our 3rd grader was going to be given an award. Way to go, kiddo!

He came home with four awards ~

We are so proud of all the amazing things he has accomplished this year!

After lunch the third graders celebrated the end of the year with a delicious looking dessert buffet. We made two large trays of his favorite chocolate mint brownies and they were gone when we left! Yummy ~

Later, the Kindergartners celebrated the end of the year with an Ice cream social. We love, love, love our Kindergartner teacher. She is such a special lady and does such a great job with the little kids.

We couldn't leave without watching her do all of the fun tricks that she has learned this year on the playground.

I am worn out... Is it summer yet?

School Fun Day ~

I spent the morning watching these cute Kindergartners playing outside. It is actually the first time I have been to the school for Fun Day/Field Day and I am so glad I made it. The kids had so much fun with their friends and it was a beautiful day to just sit and watch. Go Blue!!

After driving home for a quick bite for lunch, I headed back to the school to spend a little of my afternoon watching the Third Graders... they are old pro's at Field Day and know how to play the games, so there was much less explaining and much more playing. Way to go, Red!

The little guy was so good, I had to reward him with time on the playground! What a beautiful day - Rain is expected the rest of the week!

Anniversary Gift ~

Although my previous post would indicate that our Anniversary was lame, we did do something special for each other and bought a new piece of art for our home ((which is something we rarely do)! We've seen this picture a lot recently in our monthly Deseret Book brochures, but it wasn't until Costco in Utah was having huge sale (with personalization & shipping) from www.culturalhall.com that we decided to go out on a limb and get it! Thanks Carrie and Mike for helping us get it ordered. (Either the picture is crooked on our wall, or I wasn't holding the camera straight...)

Our Anniversary

Our 12th Anniversary was last Saturday.

We really wanted to do something special, just the two of us...

We also wanted to spend Memorial weekend in Vermont with my in-laws,

and wanted to do something fun for the kids while we were there...

so we took them to Billings Farm and Museum.

The horses were huge... and incredibly stinky!

(we are making our best "eew, it's stinky faces")

The cows were just as stinky as the horses...

Apparently my kids don't really care to see a cow being milked.

Once the cows started pooping ~ the laughter didn't stop!

No wonder it stinks in there...

The baby cow was pretty cute... and not nearly as stinky as the others!

It was sheep shearing weekend and we saw the whole process,

which is actually quite disgusting...

I guess we will have to wait for some other time

to go out just the two of us!

~

Happy Stinkin' Anniversary to us!