Happy Birthday to us!

We started the day off with one of my favorite breakfasts... Cinnamon French Toast and Orange Julius ~ courtesy of our amazing 9 year old chef! We got ready and headed to the movies where we saw Planet 51!

After the movie we ate lunch at McDonalds - not my favorite place, but since I share my birthday with the (not so) little anymore man, there are a few sacrifices I have to make. Thanks, Tidwell Family for the McD's gift card!

We ate a delicious store bought Mickey Mouse cake... which he picked out all by himself! I refuse to make my own birthday cake ~ selfish, I know!

Thanks to everyone who helped make this birthday special for both of us!

Buffalo Days...

This morning, the little monkey and I were able to visit a local Tipi maker with his preschool class. The kids had so much fun walking around the grounds, feeding the horses, and looking at the huge Tipi.

We also had a lot of fun sitting inside the huge Tipi, getting warmed up by the indoor bonfire, and listening to the local Native American tell stories.

I thought he would be hesitant to feel (or pet) the different animals, but he surprised me and was very willing and interested in everything.

We felt a buffalo, coyote, and a little fox (pictured).

It was our favorite field trip so far... so interesting and so much fun!

Report card time...

She has a great attitude towards school and is anxious to do her best. She is working hard in Reading Block and has taken many Accelerated Reader tests already. She has also been writing more in her journal and always pays close attention to detail. In math, she can add sums to 12 and knows her double facts. She enjoys participating in class and is a great helper.

He has made a positive transition to fourth grade. I truly appreciate his hard work and dedication to excellence. He is a joy to work with.

Remember last year?

Plucking the Cello ~

This week they are learning to pluck a familiar tune...

Do you know what song it is?

Halloween Festivities ~

Friday was a very busy day... I woke up early to start a pot of my delicious chili for our church Halloween party and chili cook off. I had to start it early because we all know it's best if it simmers for a while.

After the oldest two kids were off on the bus, the little man and I headed off to preschool for his Halloween Party. He was very excited to trick or treat at preschool. My little clone trooper doesn't like attention (until you get to know him... then he becomes quite the jokester) so he didn't want all of the parents looking at him - He got a strange look on his face when they were about to start singing their cute holiday songs, and I knew something was about to happen. He bursts into tears and runs towards me... I guess he is not quite ready to perform! I caught this picture about 25 seconds before the drama began! Lucky me ~

After the preschool party, we headed to the first grade Harvest Party.

We brought in these yummy treats for the kids... while working wonders on these little crispy treats, I thought to myself... "Why am I doing all this? They are just first graders!" Then, my little lady comes into the kitchen and says, "Mom - I love the beautiful detail of the orange swirls!"

That made it all worth the extra effort!

The fourth graders also had a harvest party ~ one that was the most boring party ever (his words exactly)!! They colored small pumpkins with markers and had cheese sticks, grapes, carrots and asparagus - with a small cup of sprite! I'm all for healthy schools... but let them have a PARTY!

We ended the day with our church Halloween Trunk or Treat and Chili cook off. The kids were excited to dress up in their costumes and get a head start on candy collecting. It was a fun party!

** Saturday Morning **

Holiday breakfasts are big in our house and usually consists of colored pancakes transformed into a holiday shape of choice. This year I shook things up a bit! We don't eat much sugared cereal in our house...

so I thought these would be a big hit!

Just before noon, my big kid and worlds fastest trick or treater got sick ~ the bad kind of sick, the kind nobody deals well with... thankfully for him, his dad took his trick or treat bag out for him to collect some candy!

Happy Halloween!

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?