Halloween 2011

It was a good Halloween this year.  Usually we have many things leading up to the real Halloween day, but, this year, we didn't have anything.  Our ward opted out of having a Trunk-or-Treat (boo) this year, so, we just had the kid's school parties, and then Trick-or-Treating that night.  I thought it was a good idea to help this year with both of the kids school parties.  I was up making lots of cupcakes the night before.  And, it lead to a very busy day too.  I think the kids were excited to have me there though, and it's nice to finally be able to put faces with some of the names I hear so often.

These are Rohnie's 2 best buds at school. They both have much older siblings, while they are the youngest in their families.  Long story short, Rohne likes them a lot, but, they've taught him some not so great things, which we have had to correct at home.  Oh, the joys of public school! 

 This is a picture of the whole Kindergarten class.  I felt like I didn't really need a picture of everyone else, but, I figured Rohne might enjoy it later. . . 

 In Tay's class, I was in charge of the station where they got to decorate the cupcakes.  Her party was much more organized, and way less chaotic.  Her teacher is absolutely amazing!  While I have been very unimpressed with Rohne's teacher, I am thrilled with hers, and this party just demonstrated that even more.  Typical first grade style, most kids just piled on the frosting, and sprinkles, and ate rather quickly.  Taylee took the entire 20 minutes making her frosting smooth, and artistically placing her sprinkles to make a real design.  I was quite proud.  She didn't even have time to eat it.  We had to take it home.

 Our little dragon-boy, Tristan.  We actually didn't even have a costume picked out for him, because he DOES NOT like to keep them on.  He seemed to get into the spirit of things that night though, so, I picked out the very warmest one, and he was happy.

 In true leopard and Ninja fashion.  This was right before we went out to Trick-or-Treat.

 Here's one with the dragon, with his trusty security blankie of course.

 The kids made off with an Awesome amount of loot.  Apparently, in our neighborhood, they go all out.  It was absolutely amazing the amount of kids.  The sidewalks were crammed full, while the streets were also lined with cars.  It's a great place to go because all of the houses are so close together, and many of the houses were decorated.  One house served hot cocoa and cider, there was a swamp monster, foggy smoke, strobe lights, spooky music, witches, you name it.  I even heard that there was a chainsaw murderer lurking in the bushes.  (I'm kinda glad we missed that one.)  We went with one other family, and after a good hour, the kids were complaining that their arms were too tired from hauling all the candy, so we went home.  Whit went with me and the kids this year, while Jake stayed home to hand out candy.  I thought we had enough to hand out, but apparently we didn't.  We ran out of candy after only 45 minutes.  I guess we'll know for next year!



Carving Pumpkins October 2011

 We carved our pumpkins for family night last week.  Everyone had a blast.  It's nice that we can almost trust the older kids to carve theirs all by themselves.  It's less work for the parents!  And, more pride for them.

 Of course Tristan was right in on the action.  He was most interested in the pumpkin guts.

 Oh, I love my crazy kids!

 This is how he spent the entire time.  Dumping the seeds from one bowl into the other.  Don't you love the gloves?

And, the finished product.  Quite the sight!

Pumpkin Patch October 2011

So, I figured that I've gotta start somewhere.  Expect these posts to be completely out of order, but, hopefully more coming in the near future. 

 'Tis the season that makes those drizzly, depressing days all worth it here in the Pacific Northwest.  Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year.  The falling, multi-colored leaves, the brisk morning runs, the lush green grass, pumpkins, corn mazes. . . . I love it!  We made our annual Jubilee Farms outing on my birthday this year.  It was perfect.  We left with 3 wonderful pumpkins, and huge smiles!  It was a great birthday!



Poor Computer

So, I know that many of you have been wondering, right?  Where are all of my wonderful posts?  My computer hard drive crashed about a month ago.  I cried, then cried some more.  Mainly because of the lost pictures, and all of my Primary files I had worked so hard on.  So, now, I have no computer.  My sister graciously lets me use hers sometimes, and Jake has a work one, but, let's just say, it's very limited.  Thank goodness for my iphone, or I would be completely shut off from humanity.  (At least it feels like that.)  Here's hoping to Jake getting a humungous sale, so we can buy a new computer for me.  Or just cough up the extra hundred bucks, and see if mine can be salvaged. . . Decisions, Decisions.

My Baby Turned 2!!

 Tristan turned 2 last week.  We celebrated with a very low key party, including a few presents and cupcakes.   

 This boy loves balls and trains.  So, we got him a little soccer goal, which he really enjoys, and some balls.  Aunt Whit got him a Thomas Train, and Percy too.  He was in heaven. 

 He was a little apprehensive about the hot firey candles at first, but, he eventually blew them out.

 Here's my wonderful attempt at making baseball cupcakes.  They turned out alright.  Not fancy, by any means, and you can tell which ones the kids helped me do.  But, Trist knew they were balls, and that's all that matters.

Grandma and Grandpa stopped by for awhile to say hi, and bring a few gifts.  Grandma also knows his love for balls, and brought him a golf set.  I'm sorry to say the golf clubs have now turned into swords, and they spend most of their time on top of the fridge in "time out."

He is by far my spunkiest, most energetic, craziest child.  But, I'm thankful every day for him.  He keeps me runnin', and tries to drive me insane, but, I'm still here.  Happy Birthday Baby Boy.  We love you oh so much!!

Fun 4th

We really enjoy our 4th of July tradition of going to Jer & Mo's house. Last year, with the rain, it was a little dreary, but, this year, the weather was absolutely perfect. It was such a fun day. We had an extra family with us this year, which made it that more crazy, but, we always like new friends to play with!

Here's the boys, after a little sprinkler action.  Oh, how I love them!  They're best buds.

Ya gotta have Pop-Its!  Always a hit.  That's actually all we bought this year.  Sparklers, and Pop-Its.  Jeremy and Jess went all out, and made quite a show for us.

Whitney had fun decorating the banana bars all festive.

Playing Red Light, Green Light.

Trist was glued to Jake the whole day, when he wasn't busy playing with the boys.

Trist did not enjoy the sparklers.  Maybe next year.

I love this one of the girls watching the fireworks.  It must have been a really good one! 

The fireworks at the park didn't start until dark, which was after 10:00.  The kids were pretty wiped out.  Rohnie dozed in and out on Grandpa's lap the whole time.

I was surprised Tristan stayed awake, and so calm.  He wouldn't let us plug his ears or anything.  The glowstick helped.

It's always fun to have Jessi and Aarom with us!  And, they are such a cute couple. . .

I think Bubber liked the fireworks.

Just to prove that I was actually there.  Man, I look way old next to my sister. When did that happen?

Hawaii Trip Part Deuce

So, one day the boys decided it was a good idea to go golfing.  With 2 ladies who have only gone once or twice in their whole lives, without a golf cart -to save money-, in 80+ degree heat, and mega humidity, AND uphill most of the way hiking.  It was a blast!!!!

 Notice Jake's shirt?  Yah, it was hot, and hard work.  He looked good doing it though.

 Me, on the other hand, just tried.  Good thing we had Clark there, who really is a great golfer, and we played a sramble.  Otherwise, we would have been there all day.

 Do not tell me that my form is impeccable.  I know that it is.  I might be a prodigy.

 This was our nice body boarding beach.  I loved it because I could always touch bottom.  The guys, not so much, because they would get slammed into the bottom of the ocean.  They would always come out with bumps and bruises.  We loved this one too, because there were tons of big sea turtles.  And, they would ride the waves right along with you.  A couple times we could have reached out, and touched them.  Too bad none of the pictures I took of them every worked out.  My friend, Lisa, got some good ones though.

 On our last day, we decided to fork over the dough, and do one excursion, so we wouldn't feel like we missed out.  We took a float tube tour, down a river.  You just put on these helmets, sit, on a tuve, and float away.  We spent about 70% of the time in dark tunnels.  Thus, the headlamps.  It was pretty cool.  We ate lunch up there too, and then came back.  Maybe not worth the $100 per person price tag, but, whatever. . .

 We took an open air truck up there on really bumpy roads. 

 This area behind us is supposed to be one the rainiest ones in the world.  It was so pretty and green.  And, it did rain on us a lot.  I thought I would work on my tan.  Instead, it mainly rained, and, we were in tunnels all the time.

 The two female guides on the tour, were both members.  One went to BYU-Hawaii, and the other went to SVU.  It was so fun chatting with them, and learning about LDS life in Hawaii.  They were really nice, and fun.

This Hawaiian guy was so nice. . .  He let us pose with him and his puppy.

Here we are in front of the truck.  It did wonders for my hair.