Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Brian's 32nd Birthday

I find it rather fitting for Brian to have a fall birthday.  The rest of us are in the summer time, so it's nice to break things up and have cake in November, too.  Additionally, it's football season, and Brian is a big BYU football fan.  So, he always gets a football cake!  This year, I added "Y" brownies to the party.



I'm thinking he's getting too old to "light the Y".  Next year, we will have to cut it a few candles short.

By the time we got back from dinner and had dessert, Sadie was tired and grouchy.  She would have NOTHING to do with singing the happy birthday song!



Catching Up on November

Brian and I recently saw "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."  So, so good!  But, that's not the point.  There's a line in the movie that I liked.  It's at the very end, and Walter has traveled all over the world in search of a picture (and the photographer).  He finally finds him, high up in the snowy Himalayas, trying to catch a picture of a snow leopard.  When it finally comes out of the cave, the photographer pauses, watches the cat, and never snaps a single photo.  Puzzled, Walter asks him why he didn't take the picture.  Here's his reply (the line I liked): "Sometimes I don't.  If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera.  I just want to stay in it."  

So, sometimes, I take out the camera to get a picture (probably still too often!), but, a lot of times, now, I don't.  I just want to enjoy the moments.  Because, I'm starting to realize, that, as much as I'm excited for them to grow (I'm loving having NO babies around!), my kids are only little for so long.  And, I want to remember getting on the floor and playing games with them.  Not the picture I took of them playing...without me.  


But, these pictures are all from before I saw that movie.  And, they're cute and fun. So, I included them on our blog!  


With both the girls in school, it's usually just Carson and Mommy at Costco.  I can pass on a lot of things at the food court, but not the Churro.  And, Carson also shares my love of Costco churros.  "My Chew-yo!"

I remember this being an especially challenging morning.  My only thoughts were: "He's not the only one praying for a good nap!"

 We will sure miss our Disneyland passes when they expire in April.  It's been such a fun year!

We spent Halloween in AZ.  For Trick or Treating, the kids went with our good friends, the Hursts.  Our kids line up almost perfectly in age and we all have so much fun together!  Wish we lived closer, though.


 Here's Sadie and Grandma Boring cutting the potatoes for hash browns.


 We went to a train park and the kids wanted to ride in the caboose.  After a LONG (wasn't really, but they thought it was) trip around the park, they said next time they'll let someone else have the caboose.


 The high school does a fundraiser each year and the elementary school kids attend a cheer workshop and get to perform at a high school football game.  Here are our cheerleaders and their biggest fans!


Only in California will you find kids playing at the splash pad in November!   

 And, then, sunbathing afterward, because mom didn't bring towels!


 Isn't he so handsome?


 To Sadie, Lulu is more than a stuffed animal.  She's a dear friend.  A comfort and companion.  I love how she makes her bed and makes sure Lulu is comfortable for the day.  Makes my heart smile!  :)

 Oh, you know, just another Disneyland trip!  We've had an exhausting year, but so much fun!

 Stone soup.  Yum.

 Sadie's Thanksgiving pilgrim hat from her Kindergarten feast.

 Because riding a scooter inside is okay if you remember your helmet?


 That boy!  What else can I say?

 Me and my cute girls!


 Love these kiddos!  


 Our rule is if we make it through Disneyland with NO tantrums, we stop for a treat.  This day, they picked ice cream at Ghiradelli.  Excellent choice, but interesting selection of flavors (they chose!).



Our annual "Thankful Tree."

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween.  My most dreaded holiday every year.  The kids LOVE the Halloween Fairy, so, the uber-practical side of me says, "why not talk them out of even dressing up and just hand over their pajamas at the beginning of October?"  But, then, I remember they are kids and they LOVE to dress up, so, I can't be a total scrooge and take all the fun away.  

So, this year (2 years in a row!), I decided to go with a family costume again.  I made the girls poodle skirts when Morgan was in Kindergarten (for 50's day), and, they are starting to get a little snug, so, we hurried up squeezed one more wear out of them!  And, with felt on sale, and 50% off coupons, I was able to make my skirt for under $10.  Add some tulle ribbon for scarves and bows, and we were good to go!  

Here we are just before the ward party.  It's a lot of fun--a chili cook-off, and the youth set up a bunch of carnival games for the kids.  Too many cupcakes, too many temporary tattoos, but, lots and lots of fun!


Morgan and her friend, Eliza, from school.


Carson was drawn to the speaker, playing (way too) loud Halloween hits!

Then, there was Daddy's work party.  We have 3 of about 25 kids in the entire office, and everyone loves to decorate and pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters, so, the kids scored way too much!


This year, they did a photo booth, and this is my favorite picture.  I wish the quality were better because I'd love to frame this!

After only 2 nights, these kids had more candy than they knew what to do with!  After all, Morgan only got 7 pieces, Sadie 5, and Carson 2.  That meant a LOT for the Halloween Fairy.

By the week BEFORE Halloween, the kids were done.  After Daddy's work party, they asked if I could call the Halloween Fairy and ask her to come early this year.  They would leave all their candy from trick-or-treating with the Hursts in Arizona.  And, since they came up with the plan all on their own, the Halloween Fairy came early, bringing new pajamas!  

And, they still went Trick-or-Treating with the Hursts when we went to Phoenix!



October in a Nutshell

We have a general rule in our house that when you turn five, you are too big to ride in the stroller.  On occasion, we let that rule slide (tantrums trump to save my sanity!).  So, we improvise, and, Carson climbs in the bottom of the stroller.  

So, are we playing basketball, baseball, or dress up??

"My Chew-yo!"  (I'm regretting ever sharing my Costco treat with this cute boy.)

When the only TV is in mommy and daddy's room, and, there's a HUGE cabinet in the living room, where you normally play...you spend a lot of time on mommy and daddy's bed watching Disney Channel.

Papa Dale and Grammy Tammy BBQ'd in Dana Point, so we went down and camped overnight.  Complete with a tent, sleeping bags, and s'mores!




Carson is always looking for an opportunity to build something!

On the first, cold, rainy day of fall, this is how I found Carson napping.  (Hey, he was asleep!)


Just doing homework.

 I've been promising the kids we can get an ice cream if we make it back to Main Street without tantrums.  After 6 months of Disney passes, I finally paid up.  And, boy, was I glad! (The trick is to leave without squeezing in one.more.ride.)

We love it when the Hursts come to town!  Disneyland fun!

Sadie has been watching a particular movie lately.

I went to a bridal shower for my cousin and had the wonderful opportunity of seeing my great-aunts! I love Aunt Barbara and Aunt Joy!

Carson decided he was too big for diapers.  So, he started potty training.  It went well for a few days, but, now, it's a struggle.  And, just for the record, I learned my lesson with the first two about potty training young.  I did NOT initiate this one!

Morgan cracks me up!  She's always curious about what it was like "way back in the nineteens!"  So, she asked her dad a few questions and wrote a little report about it.

This guy could do Thomas puzzles all day long. (And, some days, he does!)

Another Disney trip.  We will sure miss our passes!
 I just love his smile in this picture.  Love my Carson Dude!

For Halloween, we were in Arizona.  We went trick-or-treating with the Hursts.  Such a fun time!  (More on Daddy's work party, the Halloween Fairy and the ward trunk-or-treat later.)