November Catch-up!

November treated us well. So well, that we had our first snow! It was really just a skiff, but there was a 2 hour delay and the kids got some sledding in, so it was perfect and more than we had by Jan last year. Getting kids bundled to play in the snow takes time but they look cute!

See...

Mike thought it would be fun to buy and nut cracker and have the kids crack nights, they enjoyed it and I LOVED the idea because it brought back memories of my Nan and Grandads during Christmas. They always had a basket of nuts with a few nutcrackers. Man how I miss them.

These kids sure love their Daddy, and who can blame them, he really is the best dad ever!

Everett got to go visit the Dentist for the first time and sitting on me he did really well (im trying to not be in the picture) Daddy says his teeth are looking pretty good.

This sweet little lady performed in her first Primary presentation at church and she did superb. She invited several friends and neighbors and her kindergarten teacher came and brought her these flowers. She was over the moon that Miss. Brantley was there. She absolutely loves her. What a blessing it is to have such a great teacher for our sweet Vienna!

I just loved this little kiddos school pictures this year!

This was amazing! Even though it wasn't a tropical "relaxing" trip, just not having children to tend and care for was a treat in and of itself. We sure look forward to our next trip (wink, wink Mom and dad)

He walked out of the bathroom with this shirt on. I had no idea he'd even gotten it. Boy did he get lots of comments on it at the park. It was great! What a sweety.

These lego creations in downtown Disney were remarkable.

This picture doesn't do this justice, but there was an area of Hollywood Studios that was completely lit up and like the Scenske lights to music this was the same idea but on steroids. SO INCREDIBLE!

Disney World is hard to comprehend for us Westerners who love Disneyland and truthfully, I'm pretty sure I prefer California, but I'm so glad I was able to experience it with just Mike so when we come back as a family we know what its all about!

So usually there are long lines to see characters and especially Mickey, but there was absolutely no line to see him and so we had too! 

We had such an amazing ward family in Cleveland and so we always spent Thanksgiving with a big group eating, playing games and crafting. Afterward all the ladies would get together and go shopping for wee hours of the night or our sweet neighbor Georgie would come over so Mike and I could go. Last year my Mom and my sister Lanae were able to join us for the festivities and shopping and we had Amanda here to come over and be with our kiddos. We had a blast!

 Luckily we were able to go to Steve and Tiki's this year for a great meal. Thank you for having us!

Here is what our home looked like a few days before black Friday this year, which is like a sin in my home, but I was anxious and it takes time.

We took over a homemade cheesecake from scratch for T-day dinner and Mike did it all on his own. It was perfect! We both enjoyed it. It had a kick, It was called a Southwest Sweet potato cheesecake and it had chipotle chili powder. The only person willing to try it was Peggy.

Here is me and my little buddy eating our yummy Thanksgiving dinner!
I wish I would have taken more pictures of the kiddos having fun. 

Here comes December!

We finished October with true Halloween Spirit!

Well we made it out to Bill's Berry Farm! Its such a fun place. It was the perfect day and we came nice and early before the crowds got wild.It gets bigger every year, but this was out first time so we had nothing to compare to and I had a garage sale with a good friend of mine before so all of the money we spent was from that, which is nice. Here are some pics....

 

They had this adorable animal train.

Horse back rides, Vienna loved it and Lincoln did really well.  

Lincoln got the cat.

 

They had cute horses with lasso's

 

Mike and Linc's being "real" cowboys

 

My princess being a cowgirl

 

On the hayride! 

 

We couldnt get Lincoln to join us so Mike took a pick of just us.

 

Vienna got the goat and the caboose.

We enjoyed the pumpkin donuts, the new barn, the kid activities but by far, our favorite was making our own apple cider. It was quite the process but so delicious and 100% apple juice. It took 40lbs to make 3gallons. Holy cow! We're glad we went!

Earlier in october we can decorate pumpkins because they don't get rotten that way.

 

Everett had Jake

 

Lincoln had the skeleton

 

They are the best of buddies.

 

I love my sweet little lady.

 

Vienna had the witch. We had a fun time and its no where near as messy as carving. Next year we have little paint kits for our pumpkin decorating.

We went to the Trunk or Treat at our church with our cousins and it was so much fun! We were so glad to have our cousins join in the fun. 

 

Captain America, A snow queen and Olaf

These pics didn't load in order, the cousins all together is further down.

 

Just some of our Halloween fun. This year was pretty sad for us adults. Mike and I usually get really into it and love dressing up...and winning the costume parties but we have no friends (I mean that seriously) so that means no party invite or no one to invite to a party of our own...hopefully that won't be the case for next Halloween.

 

We got the halloween box out and were having some fun so why not read scriptures and do family prayer in our costumes too. This is what Lincoln was suppose to be, but it was too long for him so he went with Captain America again.

 

I had to throw in my sweet Lincoln. He refused to sit down on the little red stool that the photographer wanted him to, but once they decided not to push it (and we even bribed him with candy) he was fine to smile with his hands in his pockets and by far, his is my favorite. What a handsome stubborn little boy!

 

So I have been working endlessly on new blackout curtains for Gelapi, amongst clean out, bathroom remodeling and some cosmetic work, so we couldn't sleep in it until I got the curtains done and finally on OCt 24th, Mike, Lincoln and Vienna slept up top on the C bed while I slept on the couch below with the monitor, incase Everett needed me. It was super comfy and pretty warm, but Lincoln got cold and so him and I went in at about 4am. All in all, a good first time experience and many more to come!!!

Here are the cousin pics from the Trunk or treat. From left to right...

Lincoln - Captain America, Remy - Princess Peach, Will - Pirate (the cutest one you ever did see), Vienna - Snow Queen and Vedder - Luigi. 

Halloween is so fun!!

 

Our good friends, Bree and Trason, invited us over for what was going to be tinfoil dinners and some outside fun, but with the typical West Richland (tri-Cities) wind we did homemade pizzas and it was so fun! The kids did amazingly well for being out so late and they went to bed really well also! This was the 30th, on the 31st this is when Lincoln started showing signs of not feeling well but still wanted to go trick or treating and then wanted to come home shortly after starting. Then sure enough by sunday it was a fever and cough. Poor guy still has the cough but is doing 90% better already!

 

They have fun together!

The 30th was also Steve (Mike's brother) and my Grandma Betty's 88th Birthday so we got to send them some Birthday wishes as well.On my Grandma's 90th Birthday (I'm determined she will have one) We are going to have a big party for her and then take over the town of Cardston and trick or treat there (with snow suits probably) but what a fun memory for whoever can be there!

Lincoln's preschool Halloween party was a blast and the Mom's in charge were amazing! I actually got to stay (even though I had Everett) because Lincoln was having a hard time and I'm so glad I did. I had to include the Everett photo bomb picture just because, but the next one is better.

 

What a cute class! and we LOVE Miss Tonya!

We carved just one pumpkin this year, as our kids are too young and we learned the hard way last year. It was a blast and the kids ended up dumping out all the pumpkin guts (once we harvested the seeds) and slipping all in them and rolling around. It was a mess and lots of work to clean them all off, but they had such a blast. We (Mike) carved a which face and it looked great!

 

Lincoln got into much better this year, but Everett wanted nothing to do with it this year.

 

Vienna had been saying how she wanted to bob for apples, so while making a mess and being a mess we decided "why not?" lets add to it and she was determined to get an apple. She was persistent and figured it out. It was pretty funny to watch. Lincoln learned from watching her and got it right away. Everett just wanted to get in the way. 

 

WE LOVE OUR FAMILY TIME!

One of my favorite traditions is our Spooky Halloween dinner!This year I wasn't feeling as motivated leading up to it (because it is work) but once I started, I was loving it and Mike was super supportive and made the Goblin deviled eggs to help out. We enjoyed the company of Grandma and Grandpa as well. What will we do next year....

 

All in all, it was another very fun and successful Halloween. It's such a strange but fun holiday and I'm glad we celebrate it. Thanks October! 

Country Mercantile, Conference Weekend and other October happenings!

Three little ones can be absolutely exhausting and everyday is, my average steps/day is 12000, but I often exceed that. There are days where I want just me time, just some quiet, inunterrupted thoughts to reach completion, no mess to have to clean 3 or 30 times a day. Even though I rarely get it, somehow I am always able to find enough energy, desire and excitement about being a mother and I believe it comes from my loving Father in Heaven through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I am carried, lifted, guided and blessed each day. Thank you for reminding me of the importance my calling to be a mother is. I strive daily to be a better mom, and trust me, I have repenting to do every day! Despite my weakness' I keep on trying. It's so special to see it, feel it and hear it my children do, say and portray the lessons they are being taught. Thank you for carrying me and trusting me with your sweet spirits Heavenly Father.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

This was - hands down, the best General Conference we have had since our children were born!

Vienna was born on Spring Conference weekend in 2010 and ever since then it has been such a challenge to actually listen to it. Luckily we have always been able and made the effort to listen to it using our LDS library App, but its so nice to hear it and see them for the first time. I was prepared this year. We had fun coloring activities and Bingo that involved lots of candy and it went better than could be expected! I was able to listen and feel the spirit of so many messages. I know we are lead and guided by a living prophet and apostles, for this I am ever grateful. 

President Uchtdorf's tie. lol

bingo helped them to listen and look at the pics that match what they say. It was so cute, one time someone said dominions and Lincoln said, "Hey he said minions, like the Gru movie" I love my little 3 year old.

We were all edified.

Best buddies!

We were able to make it out to the pumpkin patch and enjoy our little family. It was such a blast!

We definitely got lost in the corn maze!

climbed to the top of straw mountain

Got to take cute pics of the kiddos

We got to pet the animals, do the straw bale maze and the rides and bounce house. It was such a blast, not to mention all the samples and lunch there too.

We got our own personal ride out the the pumpkin patch where we spent lots of time picking our our own pumpkins. Vienna had to take the goose home. She just loved it as soon as she found it. 

We always like to make a pumpkin cake and use our halloween cookie cutters every year and this year we got to take them to our friends house to share for dessert after they fed us a delcious Dickie's dinner.

Vienna got to go on a date with her Daddy to a ball. She went out for sushi first and then they danced the night away. They had a great time and it was so special for her!

What a cute couple!

Dinner with our friends The Pelfrey's - crazy kiddos!

We look forward to several more fun activities for the rest of October.