Merry Christmas

We went last night to our ward Christmas party. We had a nice ham dinner. Santa even showed up. The kids had a great time--we all did. Although, I'm not sure what Kyle thought about Santa. What do you think? I guess this is the normal - 1st Christmas - response to Santa Clause.

Mom, It's Hard Work Keeping You Up at Night!

So, the other day Kyle just crashed in his little walker. It really is hard work waking Mom up ever 35 minutes during the wee hours of the night & morning. Lucky for him, he can just pass out in his walker, on the floor, in the car...pretty much anywhere. I wonder how that would work out for me...if I just passed out while walking around, driving around, or if my kids just saw me hit the floor for a nice little snooze--I don't think that would go over well. I guess that's a perk of being a baby--the world is his to sleep in. Enjoy it now baby Ky Ky.

Another case in point....

Isabel's First Piano Recital

Isabel had her 1st piano recital. She played 2 songs, Indian Song & Joy to the World. She did really good--She was a little lady and curtsied when she was through with each song. Below are some pictures and a little video clip of her playing (hit the play button twice). I'm excited for how well she is progressing.

Citizen of the Week

So, Mom had a really busy weekend...making two posters! Bryce had been selected as Citizen of the Week. We got to make a poster board for him too. He took that in on Monday. Then Wednesday, he got to take his favorite book to share with the class. Friday, he got to take 5 of his favorite toys to school (I hope they all come home). It was a special week for him too. We had fun creating his board.

I'm so glad he enjoys school!

Star of the Week

Isabel was nominated to be her "Star of the Week" at school. We put pictures, stories and drawings on a star and she took it to school. As the Star of the Week, she got to be the special helper to the teacher in class, have lunch with her teacher, be at the front of the lines all week, and so on. It really is fun.

Today, I got to take her to school while she presented her star. She told about the pictures on her star and about herself. She read a "getting to know you" sheet, and then I got to read a letter from Daddy and I to her (I only cried a little bit). She got to answer questions from her classmates. At the end, they gave her an "Awesome" cheer.

She's been looking forward to this day so she even had me wake her up early and put curlers in her hair so she could look extra-great. She's our star.

The great thing was that Bryce was "Citizen of the Week" in his Kindergarten class...so I'll be blogging his fun week too soon!

Fun with Ky

Here are some fun videos--watch them if you have a moment!

Kyle is so much fun these days. He is crawling around...pulling himself up on things and enjoying life a little more now that he is mobile. This is a darling age and he brightens our lives!

The other day, the kids were playing the little Elmo music maker, and Ky was boogie-ing to the music...stampin' his feet and all.

Kyle loves doing the dishes--whenever I open up the dishwasher, he rushes over and plays there.

And one of Daddy's inventive games--Baby Shuffleboard!

(Only a dad would come up with this)

October was a BUSY month

This was Kyle's 1st Halloween. We used a costume that Rory-Roo used a couple of years ago...and he really looked adorable. I don't know if he had fun, but he sure looked fun!

It really was a busy month...lots to do! We sure had fun though. Halloween was the perfect end to this fun month. We enjoyed good weather with only a few bitter cold days...mostly regular autumn weather. The colors have been rather beautiful--loving the sweater weather and the briskness in the air. I believe that winter is winning out though...we did make 1 snowman this month already (though he melted the next day).

Trick or treating was a lot of fun for the kids. Rory kept up really well this year, and they all got WAY TOO MUCH candy--but that's the fun part. It's all about fun. The costumes were great (thanks Mom) and the kids were happy. What more could you ask for!?!

School Halloween Festival

Sister Washburn, Isabel's piano teacher, was excited to see Isabel's costume...she's a fan of the Maid Marion look. It was fun to take the kids there and show them off to an audience!Here's our "1-day Snowman"...it dumped on us that day, and then the sun came out and melted him away...just like the primary song. It was prefect snow to make the snowman with though. I went out--just after making dinner (thus the apron)--and we had him built in no time flat!

On to November!

Sara went to Cali

I planned a trip to go out and see my BFF (best friend forever), Rebekah. Having a 9 month old baby made this plan a little scary for me....should I take him?-- should I leave him home?-- Jim convinced me that I would have SO much more fun, and be able to relax if I just left him home for a few days. He got him to take a bottle again, after he boycotted the bottle about 2 months ago--Jim got him eating baby food and taking formula...all in the effort to convince me to let him stay so I could have an actual "relaxing" break with my best friend. As I lay sleeping the night before I was to leave, I nearly got out of bed and packed a suitcase for Kyle. I didn't though. Upon arriving in California (without Kyle) I decided...well, I'm going to be here for 5 days--without Kyle--and I can either enjoy myself and relax, or I can be miserable and worry the whole time about my family back in Colorado. While I thought of them a lot, I decided to relax and enjoy my time. It was a good decision. I had a blast....seriously had so much fun. It was so nice to be with my best friend and her family. We have kids all about 3 months of each other and it was nice to see them at this point in their life--and it was great to see that all the craziness of being a mother and all that that entails--well--she's going through it too.

On the way to her home from the airport, we of coarse stopped by In-N-Out...that was the first item of business. Yes...it was so good and all that I thought it would be. I'd have to say that the highlight of my trip was DISNEYLAND. We had a blast. It was just the two of us--NO KIDS. Unbelievable. We got there and the crowds were not bad...we hardly had any wait in lines for the rides--we played like we were teenagers again! It was fabulous. Silly old friends. The day was "awesome dude!"

We went to Yucaipa to a place up in the mountains called Oak Glen and went to the apple orchards there...listened to some live music and had barbecue, shopped around and had fun. Then we headed to a really HUGE pumpkin patch/small fall carnival. You actually pick the pumpkins off the vine. There were a lot of really neat pumpkins/gourds--that had a lot of character. I LOVE the blue pumpkins...so cool!

I'm refreshed and I was so happy to come home to my kids (who were completely fine and good the whole time). They were happy to see me as I was happy to see them. It was so good to have a little getaway with my best friend--I love her!, but it was really great to be home to my honey and my kids.

Dancin' Kids

Jim took this video of the kids dancing. One of our funnest family "traditions" is turning on the music and just rockin' out. My kids, I proudly say, have really good rhythm and can really boogie. Enjoy the fun!

Six Habits/Facts

While I' m by no means as eloquent as Kathryn on NY, I appreciate her "tagging" me as I can think about my interesting habits or facts about myself...while normally, I don't analyze myself too much. For heaven's sake--I'm too busy analyzing others! hee hee.

1. I was speaking with Jim last night about if I had to start college over and decide what I want to "be," I still don't know. I thought about a professional chef (culinary arts I do so enjoy). I also thought about being a doctor--probably a pediatrician. I then thought, I'm really good at organizing and have a good "business" sense, so maybe a business lady of some sort. I have so many interests, still...I really don't think I could fully commit to one thing. "Mother" is suiting me just fine though right now.

2. I'm a good friend. I can keep confidences (especially when told--"this is a secret"). I listen pretty well, and give good advice (unless I have no advice to give--and then I'm quiet). But I do think I'm a good friend to my friends and I'm lucky I have friends to be good to.

3. I shudder when I hear the news, or people think they must share with me, horrors that happen to children. It's best not to tell me as I'm mentally not able to take it, emotionally unable to cope, and physically ill. I really can't sleep at night as I obsess about the horrible crime(s). It's too much for me to take--as to me, children are the most precious things ever...and crimes against them are unfathomable, as are the monsters who commit them. So, please, don't share the bad news.

4. I love chocolate (in almost any form). I think this is something I probably have in common with many of my friends. It's even let me to the theory of "I'd rather eat a little of really good chocolate, than a bunch of really healthy food." My mother doesn't like this mantra--she knows I need healthier food in my diet...I'm in agreement, but can't bring myself to do it too often.

5. When I get a good book, I can read like a speed demon. Now, when I get a book that is "ok" it will take me months to finish it. Case in point: I read the whole Twilight Series (3 books, 500-600 pages each) in under a week. It took me about 3 1/2 weeks to read Cannery Row by Steinbeck (maybe 200 pages long)...not that it was bad but it wasn't too exciting either.

6. I feel all sorts of guilt for spending $75 on clothes for the kids, but I don't think twice to agree to Jim buying a $3k ATV. Hmmmm.

Okay, I tag: Heather, Marcie, Rebekah & Summer

Kyle at 9 Months

Time has flown...and we're having fun. Kyle is 9 months now and it has really gone by quickly...although it doesn't always feel so quick, especially in the middle of the night...feeding him 3 or 4 times...but still...he's our cuddle bug and brightens up our days with his smile and love. We really are glad to have him in our family...he really completes us.

Pickin' our Pumpkin

I love this time of year...we get to pick out our pumpkins! The kids were so excited to go and get the pumpkins. It's Kyle's 1st Halloween this year...hard to believe. He thought it was all very interesting, but he wasn't going to smile no matter how much we tried to get him to. The other kids had a great time though. They had a corn maze and a haunted alley. They each choose a pumpkin for themselves, and helped choose a couple of family pumpkins. Pumpkins are amazing to me--just beautiful colors and shapes and so festive! My cuties had fun.

My Cutie-Pie

I took these this morning--he's such a cutie-pie. So smiley and I love the clean baby smell. I can't believe that he's almost 9 months now--and he's really trying to crawl. As my sister said..."Time is flying, and I don't appreciate it!" I feel the same.

When Grandma Comes

Grandma Mac has come for a visit. Jim had an opportunity to go visit with his brothers in California--and play a little bit. So, Grandma Mac graciously came to keep me company and help me with the kids on this big weekend--I was in charge of the Primary Program for our ward--wrote it and all that fun stuff--and I even ended up needing to play the piano after our 3rd pianist had to leave town for a family crisis. Anyhow...we've been having a really nice visit and the kids are really having fun while Grandma is here. Against my better advice, she even decided to get on the trampoline with the kids after Rory's constant asking "jump on the trampoline with me?" They had fun! Thanks for coming Grandma, and for your love and help!

And Now....Bryce!

We got Bryce's Kindergarten picture back today, and he is looks so handsome! I don't know why I get so extremely excited when school pictures get back, but it is fun fun fun! To see my children's progress--it warms my heart.

Bryce is LOVING Kindergarten, and doing SO well. He comes home every day and says he got a "green day"--meaning good behavior. He's having fun learning and when I ask what his favorite part of school is, he says "recces"--he's a kid, and a boy through-and-through.

Bryce has begun a more advance gymnastics--he's been taking it for about 3 years now--and they are giving him a good workout. He's also begun swim lessons twice a week--the boy is busy! We sure do love him.

(Blue shirt is Pre-K Green Shirt is Kindergarten)

In the air...

Fall is definitely in the air here. It is 66 right now and it feels fabulous. I turned off the AC and opened up my windows and sliding door (this would make my mother happy--she's always telling me fresh air is much healthier--and I agree). I love the fresh air and cool breeze. I'm sure we'll have a couple of more days in the high 80's--maybe...but for now, I'm feeling nostalgic for fall. I'm looking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving time--though I'll miss not having family here to celebrate it with us...maybe some of them will come out to be with us? --That would be nice. For now, I'm enjoying the weather.