First time for everything

Yesterday the boys and I went to visit my parents. The girls decided that we would all go shopping. I had planned on taking my boys with us but my dad insisted that they stay and hang out with him. No worries right? My dad seems like a responsible adult. He has watched my kids before. So we girls left.

We returned a few hours later with this conversation when we walked in the door.

Me: Dad how did it go?
Dad: Good. I took the boys sledding.
Me: Wow. I bet they loved it.
Dad: Um, yeah...
Me: What did Luke think? He has never been before.
Dad: He liked it until he crashed.
Me:What??

Then he let me see Luke...

Me: What happened?
Luke: A bush hit me!
Dad: He can't really steer a sled yet I guess.
Me: Why didn't you ride with him Dad?
Dad: Are you kidding, that hill was way to steep for me!

Let Christmas Break Begin...

These two had no idea what was coming for them today. It started out with smiles but didn't end that way! But my house is pretty darn clean!! Thanks for being my personal slaves today boys.

Life

• We sold our house, then just a few days before we were suppose to pack up and move out the buyers decided to back out...good thing their earnest money was there to cushion the blow!
• Luke has decided that he will only wear pajamas now. But not just any, they have to be the full zip feet kind. So everyday we have a huge blow up trying to get him dressed for the day. And to make matters worse he will only take a nap if I put him back in the pj's. So if you see us out and about and he is not dressed don't judge me!
• Poor Chad thinks he is now a house wife. He has done nothing but cook, do the laundry, cleans the house, run the errands, and go to work all day. I am such a slacker.
• Blake has been on my case everyday to get our house ready for Christmas. He thinks we are the only people out there that don't have anything up yet...maybe we are. First, I hate putting up the tree. Putting the lights on frustrates me more then anything! Then it's just a lot of stuff and my house is already small. So after about 2 days of Christmas up I am ready to take it down.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. Blake wanted to be the same thing he was last year which was great, besides the fact that his costume scares me. Luke was Batman and loved it. He thought he looked so cool and kept checking himself out in the mirror. The boys had so much fun trick-or-treating. I was surprised how much Luke got into it. He tried his best to keep up with the big kids.

Nightmare Express

Friday night we went and rode the Nightmare Express Train. We decided to go when it was still light outside because it was not as scary. I thought Blake was going to love it, he loves Halloween stuff. Luke was the one I was worried was going to end up crying and wanting to get off the train. Chad went with us but decided he would be the photographer, he got some awesome shots. Notice Blake's face as we go along from tunnel to tunnel.

By the end Blake said it was not that bad. I think his faces tell otherwise. So glad that we did not do it in the dark, someone may have peed their pants or left in tears. Luke thought it was no big deal and when the ride ended Luke wanted to go again. Maybe next year we can take it up a notch and do it at dusk.

Soccer

Soccer has come to end for the fall. I am relieved. Blake seemed to have more interest in it the first half of the season, by the end he was done and did not care anymore. He will play on the same team again for spring and I am hoping to get him a little more excited about it. He did end his season well with a great assist for a goal with minutes remaining in the game! Way to go Blake!

Tada!

Last week I decided to potty train Luke. I knew this was not going to be easy, but I was going to have to face it at some time or another, so I went for it!

And this kid is heaven sent!! The first day we introduced the potty and the underwear concept and he was on board and excited to do it. He had two accidents the first day and we have not had one since....knock on wood. Luke has been in underwear for a week now and no problems. He even makes me wait outside the bathroom while he goes now all by himself. When he is finished he always ends it with a big TADA!! Congratulations to me---No more diapers!!

It's a jungle out there

I mowed my lawn today and 12 of my neighbors now have their lawn done too.

-Your welcome!

Come on...

This is what we have been up to for the last 10 days! Croup, ear infections, sinus infections, cough, and a fever that won't break. This was almost enough to put me over the edge....

...but this morning we woke up to find this:

and this...

I think that it has successfully put me over the edge.
I have now checked out!!

Labor Day

We had a good time staying home for Labor Day weekend this year. I think we thought we were going to go do something really exciting, Chad even took some vacation days but we never really got around to making plans. But our last minute plans ended up being a good time!

We decided to go hiking. There is a good kid friendly hiking trail just a mile or two from our house, that leads to a waterfall. We made Craig and Kristi come along for the fun.

Our first sight of the water. Luke and Justin wanted to get close...this was their only option. Their dads are so funny...I was not a fan of this.

Blake and Savannah thought it was cool that we came across this cave.

Here is Craig and the kids at the top of the waterfall. Notice Craig pushed a stroller all the way there. I told them it was an easy trail, but it had been years since I have hiked up here so I was hoping I was not a liar!

Our view of Pleasant Grove from the top.
Blake at the bottom of the falls. By the time we hiked down this kid was soaked!
He couldn't resist the water.

Success!

To end the fun Blake and Chad camped out in our "backyard". Blake thought it was so cool that he and Chad got to sleep outside and Mom and Luke had to sleep inside. Yes, we are really adventurous like that.

Out of the Loop

Okay, I have a dirty little secret....I do not have a Facebook profile!! (gasp) This has never bothered me before. I get "invites" all the time from friends who are on "begging" me to join. I am just lazy...and kind of afraid that people will come out of the wood work that I am not sure I want to reconnect with. But Chad is cool like that and has a profile. So every once in a while I log on his account and check it out (never give me your passwords, I will use them).

Recently...okay today, I found out that even my Dad has an account!!! Seriously?? He is not the social type. He could care less what people are "doing right now" or would rather people not know what he is doing. I had to click the profile just to make sure it was him....sure enough he even has a handsome profile picture.

Then that leads me to questions...is my dad cooler than me...am I the last person on the planet over five who does not have a Facebook account?? What am I left to do? Join? Forget about it? Come to terms that yes, my dad, is cooler then me and has more friends? Wow, I'm not going to lie, kind of a blow!

Blake-san

Today Blake had his first Karate class and loved it! As soon as we walked out he said "I learned some sweet moves in there!" He could not wait to come home and show his friends how cool he looked in his new uniform. A few minutes later Chad and I looked out the window and noticed that he was giving "private lessons". This was too good, so I busted out my paparazzi skills and hid behind a tree and got these gems! Notice the one in the top left he is having her "break a board"...really a three ring binder! Wow, he did not even make it that far in his class today, but he knows it's coming up---Apparently, he had a really advanced student. So if anyone is interest in "private lessons" call now space is limited!!

Family Pictures

I have a love hate relationship with getting family pictures taken. I hate thinking about what to wear I start to over analyze everything!! Wondering if what I have picked out for clothes is too matchy matchy or if it does not go together at all. Then there is the day of, trying to make sure the kids are well fed, naps are taken and they are in the mood to cooperate. But I love getting the new photos up and the fact that they are done and I don't have to worry about doing them again for a few more years is a nice relief!

I was a bit nervous when I got home from this photo shoot thinking that we had been there an hour and half and I didn't have the feeling of "hurry get your one shot and get me out of here because my kids are having a melt down". I thought either these are going to turn out terrible because we were not paying attention to what was really going on or these are going to be great! Well, thanks to my friend Michelle at Rusty Bucket Photography they turned out amazing! Here are just a few of my favorites.

Splash Park

We made it out to the new splash park and had a blast! The boys loved it. I could not get them away...it even started raining on us and they were not leaving. We ended up being there for hours! I recommend taking your kids here, it a good change from the pool and the best part is that it's free!!

I'm...AMAZING

I have always wanted to make freezer jam...okay not always...but for the last two years. So the other night I busted out these gems! I used this fantastic "no cook" packet you mix with your fruit and sugar and tada!!! I was a little nervous how it would actually taste so I tested it out on Chad. The next day for lunch he got a gourmet peanut butter and jam sandwich and I have to tell ya I got rave reviews! It took no time at all...like 30 minutes max...and it actually tastes really good! My dad is going to be so proud he thinks I have zero domestic skills....I'm going to have to get him a sample.

Payback

I ended up pulling a few pranks on the girls at girls camp....which every cool leader would do right? A little ambesol on the cups never hurt anyone... I never got to do the "good stuff" I had planned because I was saving it for the last night...and it rained!! So they got off easy! I guess this has never happened to them before because they have been on a rampage trying to get us back--mainly nailing us with silly string every week at our activity, which turned into us grabbing the can from them and getting them--c'mon girls this is weak! The other morning I did wake up to find this:

I was a bit nervous when I got home at 10 p.m. and found about 20 of the girls from my ward hanging out in our commons area. I kept trying to spy on them but was too nervous to go outside. I'm glad this was all that was done. On Sunday they must have been afraid as to what might be heading their way and they all truce me and my partner in crime Shelly. I hope this is the end until next year at camp.

Picnic Lunch

I ventured out once again and took the boys to Bridal Veil falls for a picnic lunch and a change of scenery. Really, I was just sick of the millions of kids at my door all day and I needed a break from their madness. It was fun to see how excited my boys were about our adventure. I forget how cold mountain water is, I got in to about my ankles and it was so cold that it hurt. The boys didn't mind though, at least not until Luke discovered a hole and went in up to his chest then he was done!

The Big 30

Well, it's official---I'm old!! I now have to start acting like an adult, which is going to be new for me. For my Birthday this year Chad had a BBQ for our families! It was fun to hang out and eat some good food. Thanks Chad you are amazing!

My handsome boys
Let just say I got some real good stuff!! Thanks Kristi!

All the kiddos

The best of all!!! Chad rocked my moms apron just to make sure he did not get grease on his clothes! Gotta love a man that will go to any length to keep his white shirt clean.