Halloween Festivities

This weeks has been full of Halloween festivities. I love the cooler weather (usually), the leaves all over the streets, the Halloween decorations, carving pumpkins, all of it!

My cute little pirates!

On Monday we had our friends the Smarts over, they have three adorable girls, who are the same ages as our kids (two of ours at least), so it is pretty fun. We carved pumpkins and decorated sugar cookies. The kids didn't do much of the carving however, it ended up being mostly us adults doing that, but they turned out great. They did however enjoy decorating the cookies. Gavin got pretty wild there at the end with the girls, hopefully they aren't too traumatized by his stick whipping...

Gavin, Saige, Addison
On Friday Brooklyn and Gavin both had parties. I helped out in Brooklyn's class and it was a lot of fun, then the kids paraded around the school in their costumes.

Our Mom/Tot class also held a party that day at the PG Rec. which Gavin loved, because it was "his" party and of course because they had a huge blow-up slide. After that I was pretty tired, so we went home to rest up before the rest of the night.
Every Halloween we go to my mom's for dinner, she always makes yummy soup and bread bowls, so we went there for dinner, and then went to their trunk or treat.


Mom, Brooklyn, Alicia, Gavin

My bro Ryan and his wife Whitney dressed up as pirates, I thought they looked pretty great,

My baby sister Alyssa was an 80's chick, which isn't much of a stretch since it
seems like they are back! Scary.

After trunk or treat we decided to do a little trick or treating in our neighborhood, so we went with our friends the Smarts, it was pretty fun, but a lot more work with a two-year old. Then off to Spencer's sister Shellie's house to veg and visit. All in all it was a fun week and Halloween.

Oopsie Daisy!

Gavin just dropped a little container of scented oil, which is glass, off the counter onto the floor, I gasped and he replied: "Oopsie daisy!" Where did he learn that phrase? Who knows he comes up with some crazy phrases!

Planting Acorns

My parents live at the base of the foothills, and when they built their house twenty something years ago there was a ton of oak brush throughout the backyard. My mom wanted the excavator to remove all of it and he refused to, he said she would regret it. She ended up leaving it and it is my favorite part of their backyard. It is so beautiful all summer long, and even better in the fall when the colors change. I want my backyard to look that great someday, so, instead of transplanting from new growth in my parents backyard, my kids collecting hundred of acorns and we planted them! We will probably be really lucky if any of them sprout, but the kids loved collecting them and planting them anyway.

Cascade Springs

I really love the fall, it is probably my favorite season, if only it were a little longer! I love all the beautiful colors of the leaves, our neighbor down the street has a huge Fiery Maple Tree that is bright read and so pretty. This past weekend we headed up to Cascade Springs to enjoy the beautiful weather. I have not been up there since I was a child, but I remember actually drinking the water, since it is a spring and thinking that it was so amazing that it was actually safe to drink from a outside source of water. When we got there we parked on the upper trail so we could take a longer walk. Two steps down the path Gavin says "I tired" and wants to be held! Where did all the energy he usually has go all of the sudden? I was mystified. Anyway, Spencer humored him and carried him on his shoulders. It was so much fun just being with my husband and kids enjoying the scenery, it was a great day, and I got some fun pictures as well!

Mr. GQ

How neat is this new growth below the fire-burned trees?

Brooklyn, always good for a cheese!

Bread-making Class

I am posting this for my good friend Jeanne, who invited me to this AMAZING class on how to make 4 loaves of bread in one hour. I have been married for nearly nine years, and through the years I have on occasion attempted to make bread. It has never once turned out. Anytime anyone ever mentions the word yeast (cringe..) I immediately know it will not turn out for me. I went to this class last Thursday, and in a weeks time I have made 7 loaves of bread, rolls, cinnamon twists, desssert braids, meal braids, italian bread and everything turned out amazing! I cannot believe it. This has changed my life forever, I can't image buying bread now. Spencer loves it, hence the 7 loaves in one week! I'm hoping this wears off soon, it can't be good eating that much bread. Anyway if any of you people out there want a really easy way to make great bread, click on Pantry Secrets. They teach large groups for FREE, or you can go to their house and it is $20. I did both and totally recommend doing either, it will seriously change your life.

Pumpkin Land!

Today Brooklyn had a kindergarten field trip to Pumpkin Land. She had a lot of fun, here are some pics from the day...

Playin' in the ginormous pumpkin!

Going through the "Light Up Alley"

Brooklyn's Class

Story of our Lives...

Here is Gavin with a tape measure and staple gun ( I know, safe!) hooked to his underwear, and Daddy's "special" pencil.
I cannot even express the OBSESSION my son has with tools, keys, weapons, etc. It has started to become such a big deal it rules our lives! Case in point, Gavin just walked in stripped down to his undies and said: "Wook mom I got all my tools: tape measure, staple, and pencil!" I digress...

Hee Haws with Gavin

So I take Gavin to a Mom and Tot class once a week while Brooklyn is in school. It has been really great because we really get some one on one time together. Today we had our first fieldtrip to Hee Haws in Pleasant Grove. Gavin was so excited to go on his very own fieldtrip, since Brooklyn is going on one too this week.
Hee Haws is basically pretty similar to Corn Belly's at Thanksgiving Point. They have some bunnies, chickens, and goats. Gavin liked petting the bunnies and chickens, then he fed the goats some food. They have a couple big slides, which he loved and would have stayed there all day if I would have let him, and the reason I didn't is because when he'd get to the top he wouldn't come down, he'd just sit there and laugh and then none of the other kids could go down, sometimes he is such a little punk! Then we played in the corn box, similar to a sandbox but better because it is a lot less messy. He wouldn't go on the hay ride because for some reason he has a real aversion to these things, for what reason I have no idea, because those hay rides can get pretty scary? Last we went a picked a pumpkin in their pumpkin patch. He kept telling me "mom all the wittle pumpkins are don (gone), wets go back now" All in all he had a pretty good time, and it was nice to go with just him and I.

Feeding the Goats, I was surprised he actually did this, he is usually more afraid of animals.

His expression of delight after feeding the Goats!

Eating the corn! He is doing it to tease me because I'm telling him not to! But how can you get mad at such a cute little face...

Gavin going down the slide, his favorite part!

This is Gavin whining because he kept telling me: "hold my pumpkin mom its to hebby!"

I'm NOT ready for snow...

When I woke up Sunday morning, this is what I saw out my back window, I could not believe it...well actually I could its Utah! You never know what you're going to get. Luckily it was gone by noon. Gavin was thrilled about it, he said to me: "Mom, the twampoline is white! thats awesome!" With this snow comes the reminder of what's ahead. Don't get me wrong I really do like winter in many ways. I love sitting inside snuggled up on the couch with hot chocolate watching huge snowflakes fall to the ground, or going to see Christmas lights, they look so pretty lit up when there is snow on them. I love snow during the holidays, it wouldn't feel the same without it, but come January I want it gone! After New Years I start to really despise the snow and the cold weather that comes along with it. So lets enjoy this nice fall weather as long as we possibly can.

Dads and Donuts

This friday was "Dads & Donuts" at Manila Elementary. So, Spencer took Brooklyn to it. There they went to the book fair and then had donuts. While the kids ate donuts, the dad's read to them. Brooklyn was really excited to have Spencer take her to school, but Gavin was upset he was getting left out. Luckily that morning he didn't wake up in time to see the two of them leave. I took a pic of the two of them before they left, and it is a good thing because I sent the camera with Spencer to take some pics, and he got to busy chatting afterwards with all the dad and didn't take any! So here is the cute picture I got of them before they left for school.

FHE gone wrong...

Tonight for Family Home Evening Spencer decided to give the lesson on Priesthood. Keep in mind our kids are age 5 and 2. However, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and let him proceed. He gave Brooklyn a picture of Jesus healing a blind mind and was explaining about being blind, then he placed his hands on her head with his thumbs on her eyes mimicking what Jesus did when he healed the blind man. He then told about Jesus giving the Priesthood to his Apostles. Then he talked about how he has given the kids blessings. Then the following conversation took place:
Spencer: "Have I given you a blessing?"
Gavin: "you're gonna poke my eyes out?"
Spencer: "No, I gave you a blessing to make you better, when you were sick?"
Gavin: (concerned and ready to cry) "I don't want one!"
Mom: "Gavin, Daddy gave you a blessing when you were sick to make you feel better"
Gavin: "No, I don't like that, I don't want it!"
OK...so anyway apparently the healing the blind thing was more than Gavin's little two-year-old brain could handle, and he thought Jesus was poking the man's eyes out, not healing them, so for now he does NOT want any blessings...period.

4 Things About Me

4 RANDON THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
1. He is a SUPER hard-worker
2. He is the BEST daddy
3. He treats me like a Princess
4. He has a strong testimony and very knowledgeable about the gospel

4 JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. Gold's Gym
2. KeyLabs
3. Nurse Consultant Beehive Homes
4. RN for Heritage Residential Treatment Center

4 MOVIES I CAN WATCH OVER AND OVER
1. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
2. Sweet Home Alabama
3. Meet the Parents
4. Bourne Identity

4 TV Shows I Watch
1. The Office
2. Biggest Loser
3. 48 Hours
4. Forensic Files

4 Places I've Been
1. Mexico
2. Hawaii
3. Jamaica
4. Florida

4 Favorite Foods
1. Fresh fruit: mangos, raspberries
2. Yogurt
3. String cheese
4. BBQ chicken

4 Places to Visit
1. New Zealand
2. Nauvoo
3. NYC
4. Ireland

4 Things Looking forward to this year
1. Halloween
2. Trip to AZ
3. Holiday Shopping & Parties
4. Christmas Lights & Snow
I tag anyone feeling like they wanna be tagged!

Happy Birthday!

I want to give a shout out to my FAVORITE, one and only bro Ryan! Isn't he cute? It is also my Grandpa's birthday, and Spencer's brother Scott's birthday. Happy Birthday Everyone!

One of those days...

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to pull your hair out? Well today is only half over and I'm about ready to SCREAM! My kids have started to argue a lot lately. Now I realize this is not necessarily abnormal. I also know from experience this in NOT a temporary phase and can and usually does last through adolescence, which just makes it that much more depressing!
After I picked Brooklyn up from school, we came home and I started making some lunch. Brooklyn wanted PB & J so of course Gavin said he did as well. I realize that what a two-year-old says isn't necessarily what they want either, but I made him one too. NO, that's not what he wanted. I agreed that was fine. We went on with lunch, Gavin left and I didn't think much about it, because he didn't ask for anything else, so I figured he must not be that hungry. Well next thing I know I find that he has stuffed his sandwich in a cup full of water till it is soggy and then smeared it all over my hallway rug. Then there is the peanut butter water all over the hardwood floors and walls...love it.
Next comes the fighting, yelling, hitting, screaming, chasing, you get the point. I decide to occupy my kids to keep them from fighting. I hop on www.familyfun.com and start printing out some activities. All is well till Gavin starts cutting up Brooklyn's picture search...and it begins again...aahh! I decide to take a shower, because it is now two'o'clock and it would probably be a good idea. I guess while I was occupied my kids thought it would be fun to crack eggs all over my kitchen floor...kill me now.
Okay, everyone in the car! I decide to take a drive to see if I can get Gavin to sleep and get a little peace and quiet! After 15 or so minutes he's out. Ah...what a great feeling. As I drive up our street I see Spencer's truck. He's home? It's 3:30? How great is that? I get even more of a break than I thought. I turn into the garage "Crunch!" what was that? Oh, don't worry I just SCRAPED my bumper across the brick and made a huge dent and scratch in my car! Are you kidding me? Next Spencer walks out in his biking clothes, so I guess he isn't staying home. I go to get Gavin out of his seat, he went pee in his pants..yuck! As we are walking into the house Gavin hears Spencer talk to Brooklyn wakes up and starts to bawl. Will this day ever end?