HaPPy HaLLoWeEN 2007

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

Yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Cake

This is my new favorite fall recipe. I found it here! I attempted to make it look like it had spiderwebs all over it! I can't say I am all that talented in the cake decorating arena, but I had fun doing it! The kids loved helping me push the spiders into it too.

GTU!

Yes, we actually did go watch Good Things Utah. So we are all big nerds, but it was a good girl's day out! We took Char for her birthday to watch it in the live studio audience. So it wasn't quite as exciting as hoped, but we still had fun. The day we went was a pretty lame show. They had a card-making segment, made a pasta dish, and had a lady on who wrote the book "Farm Girl." Ever heard of it? Nope, I doubt anybody has or ever will again! We had fun going to lunch afterward and shopping at Gateway. A day out without kids is alway a good thing. The ladies were just as pretty in person as they are on TV and were kind enough to pose for our pics.

My sisters and I took the kids to Cornbellys. I wish we could buy a yearly membership and go play here once a week. The kids were entertained from the second we got there until the time we had to bribe them to leave with McDonalds. Natalie was amazed by the freaky dinosaur and couldn't wait to get inside. Little did we know that it was very dark inside with lots of scary noises. She didn't cry while we were inside, but she let it all out once we were back in daylight! The boys did not dare go in. We went on a hayride, trainride, went through the maze, which Mckay said "was a-MAZE-ing!" The kids all sat and were thoroughly entertained by a chicken show with fake chickens. It really was cute! So we had a great time and can't wait to go back next year.

Favorite Pictures

These are a few of my favorites of the pictures we had taken. I can't wait to get them up on my walls now. It seems it takes me so long to actually get pictures framed and then hung. I am hoping to do better this time!

HaPPy BiRThDaY ChaR-kY

Today is my favorite "big sister's" 32nd birthday. Happy Happy Birthday Char! I love you! I love that we live so close to each other and hope that we always do. I have always wanted to be like you for as long as I can remember. I always wanted my hair just like yours, and I tried for a long time (even getting the same hair girl)! I have always wanted to play the piano as good as you could. I remember listening to you play and couldn't wait until I could play the songs you could. I was so happy when I finally made it into your books. What an accomplishment!
I'll never forget the time when I went with you to the grocery store to say "hi" to one of your boyfriends and I peed my pants! AHHHH! I would have killed Linds if she did that to me.
I love the memory of hanging out with you at Snow College. You were so nice to let Ash and I come hang out with you and "the boy" who named you Charky! We thought that was the funnest weekend! .
I guess we have changed a lot from the "curler" days, but I still look up to you and am thankful to have such an amazing "big sister!"
Thanks for puting up with us this morning and letting us surprise you. Thanks for keeping us from embarrassing you at CPK! lol!! It still is making me laugh when I think about it.
Love you Char!

Watercolors

Have you ever wondered if you could paint your hair? Well, Natalie discovered that a little goes a long way when it comes to CrAyOLa water paints. Nick, our blossoming little artist, left out his paints and Natalie went to town painting her hair various shades of blUeS and GrEenS. Luckily it all washed out easily, though I am trying to figure out how I can incorporate this look with Halloween!

"Feel Good Foods" and PuMPkiNs

We had a wonderful conference weekend! I am once again motivated to be better in all I do and say! I can't believe how fast conference goes now that I am older and actually internalize what is being said. I truly look forward to hearing the words of our Prophet and Apostles. I am thankful for them and their words of wisdom we received this weekend.
I love this time of year! I was telling Nate the other day that I feel like eating "comfort foods" everyday in the fall. He asked what is "comfort foods?" So I had to explain what "are" comfort foods to my 30 year old husband. For some reason he has never heard this term! As I was explaining, I realized that most everything is a comfort food this time of year because I love food! Ok, not really, but I did have a pretty good list going. Since we have been home from our trip I have made Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, Apple Crisp, and Peanut Butter Cookies. Yes, I know, so much for eating healthy! Nate keeps asking me "is this a 'feel good' food?" Yeah, I feel pretty good while eating them don't you?!!
I took the kids to a pumpkin patch with my mom and sisters while the guys were at priesthood session. It has become a little tradition and the kids love it. It was rainy and 40 degrees out, but we got some good pumpkins. I had to talk the boys into getting big pumpkins. They only wanted ones that they could carry "all by myself!" 3 little pumpkins on the front porch- doesn't look so good, so I convinced them to get big ones that daddy could help them carve! Hopefully they will appreciate my wisdom when we go to carve them in a few weeks.

There's No Place Like Home!

We are finally home and happy to be here. Thanks to the 8 days away, I am a bit more patient and trying to enjoy the tantrums and whining. Nate and I had an amazing time away. It ended up being a little longer than expected and as we almost didn't get on the flight home my eyes welled up with tears because I needed my babies! We hiked through a rain forest with swinging bridges, hiked down to a secluded snorkeling cove, and laid by the pool enjoying some yummy drinks and reading our books. It was a little slice of heaven! While I was relaxing and enjoying my peaceful bliss, I couldn't help but notice the adorable children all around (yes they were all extra adorable because I was missing mine!), and think what a better mother I need to be. It is so easy when your not in the thick of it to realize all the things on which need I need to improve upon. It was easy to sit back and watch the parents getting frustrated with their little ones being silly or whiny and think- just calm down. They are just children! So I promised myself that I would say the same to myself daily. That is why a week away on vacation in Maui can be so great. I recommend it to every one! Or just some time away wherever it may be! It is good for the body, mind, soul, and your children!

Still on the Island

We are stuck in Paradise! Lucky us!! No flights home!