Halloween (You're welcome Candi, my STalker)

Let us begin this tale with Spencer's preschool. They were so adorable marching around the block. Ms. Karen was brilliant in her cute witch costume and Spence ate it all up!! For this march he was a pirate Jengo Fett. Nice, huh.
I put in two of pretty much the same pictures because I couldn't resist sharing this one! Braden reminds me of Princess Laya.. "Obi Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope." And yes, I just butchered the spelling of ALL of those names.. Nerds everywhere are lamenting. ..sorry. ..
I realized when I downloaded this role that I didn't take any pictures of Sydney.. oopsy! If she hadn't of screamed and cried and sweated so badly when I put her in the lamb costume I think I would have just taken a shot today of her, but I'm not putting myself- I mean, her through that again. Again I have to apologize to my blogviewers out there. But too bad! BTW they have so much candy that I think it will last us forever, or else next time you see me, NO I'm not pregnant, its just fat! Pure fat! From all the Halloween Candy, cursed Halloween!! Jk. Its always fun!

Pumpkin Carving Festivities,,,

Pumpkins.. They're AMAZzZing!! You can eat them, carve them, bake them in a pie or bash them. Btw- I don't really like people who do the latter, so don't do it. Anyway, a week before Halloween, we CarVed pumpkins. Yeahh! And it was A BLAST! Ice cream, pumpkins and stained hands. fun fun.



So I am still abit of a paranoid Mom and won't actually allow my kids to carve their own yet, but they drew the faces, and the adults carved, thank you Jay for helping.

Brandon got his miter or whatever it was powertool out and started hacking away at the pumpkin. We had quite the pumpkin dust pile flung all over half of our kitchen. Thank goodness, he noticed, I hate pointing out the obvious...! That only lasted for one pumpkin needless to say! If its not broken, don't fix it, right?- knives work BEST! None of this taking-after-my-dad-Brent-the-tool-man-power-tool-man.. :) Love you Brent.

So we couldn't have the kids sitting around while we carved away (and next year I think I'm gonna brave letting them have at it themselves..shudder)~ They had a special treat.. What says its-colder-than-we're-used-to, like ICECREAM?? MMmm vanillaey goooness (my favorite and I do the shopping. HaHa).

Then they chomped down their cones. It was a fun night.

Nostalgia.. San Diego Days

So..Here we are (from left to right) Becky, Heather, Me, Heather, Emily, Kirsten and Crystal. I haven't seen any of them for at least 11 years!! Wow. It was fun to see what everyone is up to. I couldn't remember half of the people they talked about, but that was ok.. I remembered names.
We are sitting at the dinner table, sampling Crystal's food storage-made desserts. The chocolate cake was my FAVE!!! It had pureed black beans in them..MMmm, nothing like alittle bean action in your cake.. I don't think I recognised any of the side effects beans have the next day though :). And just have to mention.. I don't know what I was thinking, but I sure look like I got caught in some headlights or something.. :) Anyway, it was fun, we might do it again sometime.

In Case you were Wondering..

We are pretty much settled into our house, to the point anyway that I can't blame the mess on unpacking, but back to the 'ole dang kids response. Although I have yet to decorate. I am enjoying work, I am finally getting a schedule that doesn't cost me a fortune and I fall in love with almost every kid that I take care of! Its refreshing! Brandon's stress seems to be subsiding alittle. I think he was feeling alone in his struggles with work and school. One of his professors has a reputation for liking students to flunk- Brandon's dealing with it though. Now that I am getting the hang of the change, we help each other out.

Braden is excelling in school, homework is a breeze for him and he is done with all but six of the books on this year's reading list (he is only two months into school). I am hoping that maybe he can start the 2nd grade list next week when he finishes this one. Spence is loving preschool. He comes home with his homework and is excited about it- I think this was the right road for him because he is beginning to take pride in learning. Thats all I can ask from him right now. Syd is saying soo many words it seems... "mine".. "more".. "blanky".. "binky".. "drink".. "mom".. "dad".. thats just a few and then of course monkey talk.."ooh ooh".."aahh aahh". .I didn't make it sound like shes exactly a linguist (and I didn't type the words the way she phonically says them), but I wonder sometimes if we're the ones saying them wrong :) Syd can run now and takes advantage of it quite often when we ask her to come. (ps running toddlers are even cuter when they have thigh rolls and are pigeon toed). She has about 12 teeth now and they're big and gapped. Her Albert Einstein curls in back are getting more mad scientist-ish and I think she is about due for her first haircut. I am not embellishing my little supermodel either, pure truth, eat it and weep other Moms out there :).

I don't have much else to say. I kinda get alittle lonely for my pals in St. George sometimes and I'm glad that I have nocturnal friends, because we kit when I'm working. (ps I'll take anyones cell #s that are interested). I am really nervous for the snow and looking into alternative ways to work, but I am excited for the coats, sweaters and scarfs. I love winter clothing! I will be keeping you posted on Halloween, I'm not really creative enough to dress up, but Braden is being a Jedi, Spence Jengo Fett, and Sydney is going as quite the opposite of her personality..a lamb. Yes, I know adorable. We are pretty lacking in the scary dept, but who cares, right? And for not having much else to say, I've said alot. Till next time..

The 2ND Generation (on my side)

Sydney.
(mine)




















Spencer.
(mine)



















Braden.
(mine)



















Talon.
(Ben's)
















Sienna.
(Ben's)



















Eden.
(Candi's)

Tribute: My Dad

Meet my Dad, Clint. Isn't he so CUTE?

And this is the famous hand upon hand move..

He always has a smile on his face. I love it. He is the most easy going guy you'll ever meet.

Not embarrassed to put a little baby girl's hat on his head, and keep it there- even when a stranger kindly tells him that it doesn't fit ;) (Btw thanks Stranger, what an epiphany).

We strolled around temple square while he was here. And it was amazing. My bro and my Dad were captivated by the statues and locked into discussion about history and philosophy of their beliefs..

He teases my kids, just like me and I smile. How do you not smile when you realize that the crazy quirky things you do have an origin?

..My Dad.
I think we are all parts of our Fathers and they are pieces of us.
I love you Dad!