Halloween

Halloween was a little more low key this year.  I finally finished Caroline's Tinkerbell costume which turned out fine, if you don't look too close and vowed never to make one again.   Well until she tried it on and danced around and said how much she loved it, so who know's I'll probably get suckered into making one again next year.  Luckily the boys wore old costumes from previous years but it wasn't too exciting this year.  We went to the ward trunk-or-treat and left right after getting candy b/c we were too exhausted from the day.  And even though I brought my camera I forgot to take pictures.  We had plans to dress up tonight to hand out candy but Ashley got sick, and the kids didn't seem interested so that idea died pretty quickly.  Instead we took care of Ashley ate some candy and waited for people to come trick-or-treating.  We waited a while and only 4 people came.  We didn't even carve pumpkins this year.  I feel like a slacker! Better luck next year!

My baby is 1!

Yesterday was Graham's birthday.  As with most things around here it was a VERY low key day but we still had some fun.  We made cupcakes and bought some ice cream and that was about it.  Nothing monumental but for a 4 and 2 year old it was pretty exciting.  We waited for Shawn to get home and had dinner and then we sang and ate cupcakes and opened presents.  It was a fun night but we sure miss having family around to share it with.  I now have about 22 cupcakes that I don't know what to do with. And thanks to Grandma's and Grandpa's for the presents, he loves them!

The birthday boy with his dad.  I wanted the cupcakes closer but it was obvious he was going to take them down if they got too close.

Enjoying his first cupcake.  He wasn't sure what to do at first but caught on very quickly.

In the middle of the mess.  And pointing is his new favorite thing to do, well maybe its my favorite new thing he does.

A few things about Graham from his first year of life.  

He was the easiest baby ever! What baby comes home from the hospital and sleeps 5 hours straight!?

He loves playing with his brother and sister, when they don't lock him out.

His favorite things to play with are my pots and pans and the ac vents.

He doesn't walk yet b/c he wants to run.

He is a stud!

  We love our little boy and are so happy he's part of our family.

Happy Birthday Graham!

Creepy!

Caroline has a very interesting imagination.  Shawn asked Caroline to get her soccer uniform ready for her game tomorrow before she went to bed.  She did a great job doing that but when I was putting her to bed she said, "Mommy I'm scared my clothes will get up and dance around like there is a person in them."  My initial thought was to run to my mom and cry, that's the creepiest thing I've ever heard!  Luckily I quickly came to my senses I assured her that her clothes would not do that, but to be on the safe side we just put them away.   Where does she come up with these things?!  I"m pretty sure we'll be buying her a night light tomorrow!

Reality Bites

You know what really sucks?  Thinking your husband only has one more day of call for the rotation then realizing he has two call days left.  And one is today, and he was on call Saturday.  Yuck, burn bites.  Only one more week!

Gentry Farms

Today we went out to Gentry Farms.  I had been waiting for this day for SO long and it finally came.  I thought it was going to be a magical day with lots of things to do and see but I have to say I was a little let down.  First of all there really isn't much to do, just different play areas for kids to roam around in.  There was a hay ride (without any hay) that we waited 20 minutes in line for and we saw some cows and an old house built before the Civil War.  However my biggest complaint, there were no pumpkins to pick! Sure they had some pre picked ones to buy but I really had my hopes set on picking one off the vine.  Oh well.  Don't get me wrong we still had a good time I was just expecting more.  On the bright side it was free so no big deal and Shawn is on call so we would've been sitting at home doing nothing anyway.  The kids had a great time so I'll count it as a win, but really I don't think I'd go back if I had to pay.

Devin going down one of the many slides, they did have an absurd number of slides for a farm.

On our hayless hayride.

Caroline on the tire swing, which were really fun.  I wish Shawn would've been there to give me a push.

And of course Devin taking a ride on the tire.

With their pumpkins.

And passed out in the car after the ride home.  I'm pretty sure they had a good time.

And my sweet baby, who was such a good sport, as usual.

Big Stuff

What happened to my little boy?  Devin seems so big now.  I feel like he grew up WAY faster than Caroline because he's stuck in the middle and we tend to see Caroline and Graham growing but it seems like all the sudden Devin is a big kid. I know physically he really is huge but hearing him talk and do new things is really fun.  His newest skill riding his big bike.  Today he decided he wanted to ride his Cars bike (he'd be practicing pedaling on Caroline's old tricycle) hoped on and it took a few tries but now he's riding his bike around like a pro.  I am so excited for him.  He's been riding for the past hour and a half now and isn't going to stop anytime soon.  We have a lot of kids ride their bikes around our street and I'm pretty sure he'll be bringing his bike down the driveway the next time we see them outside.      Not bad for a two year old!  I was beginning to wonder about his coordination skills but he's proved me wrong!

Of course I had to get a picture of both of them, Caroline requested it.  I love watching them ride together, they're best buds.  I love these guys! 

Exciting Stuff!

So remember how a few weeks ago I mentioned how awful Caroline's soccer team was?  Usually they lose by about 7 points, so today I was floored by the fact that we tied!  It was the most exciting soccer game I have ever seen, which says a lot about how many soccer games I've seen, but seriously I had a really good time!  The team is actually starting to understand the game!  Caroline scored a goal AND played really good defense.  She stopped the other teams star player from scoring a few times.  Instead of running behind people she got in front of them and stopped the ball!  I think the main reason I was so excited the whole game was because its the greatest feeling to see your kid understand something, and well I'm a little competitive so its nice to see that in her too. I"m pretty sure at one point I was jumping up and down on the side lines, but I didn't cry out of excitement like another mom on the team, whose daughter scored her first two goals today.  But is it sad that I can understand why she did?  I"m really excited for next weeks soccer game!

The Dentist

Today I went to the dentist for the first, well second, time in several years.  And I have to say I really don't like it there.  I'd be happy to never go back again, but alas I do.  Thankfully I should never get a cavity again because today I got my teeth sealed and had two cavities filled.  Now my teeth either have sealant on them or have fillings.  The only thing I like having in my mouth is food so all the hands, plastic, drills, and metal are no longer welcome. Only the good stuff in my pie hole from now on please!

Face Lift

This weekend Shawn had off so we decided to take the opportunity and paint our dining room.  I really wish I had a before picture but since our computer crashed a month ago most of our pictures are somewhere else. Just imagine wall to wall striped purple.  Yes the same purple that was in the bathroom but no gold and more purple.  The past owners must have some deep love for that color but I don't.  I think it looks much better and love looking at it! We also decided that we didn't really need the top part of our china cabinet, because we don't have any, and took it apart.  Shawn is turning it into a mirror for Caroline because he's handy like that.  It was a tiring weekend but totally worth it.  I no longer have to explain that I did not choose the purple for the room, the house just came that way.  We've also been enjoying some fabulous weather in the low 70's and have tried to spend every waking minute outside.  Graham can also point to his daddy when asked where he is, its probably the cutest thing ever! I love it.  Well without further rambling here are some pictures of the newly improved dining room!

I know its not the greatest picture but it was surprisingly difficult to get a good shot.  And we really need something on the wall.

And here is the most mischievous baby you'll every meet.  If you thought Caroline was trouble she was only about half as curious and energetic as his guy.