Halloween 2010

Griffin and Owen's Tennis Season is finally over! I use that "finally" in the best way... I thoroughly enjoyed going out to their games and watching them. They really improved each game and are enjoying their weekly game with Dad and Grandpa. Thanks so much to the Nana, Grammy and Grandpa for your amazing support during the games!



I just couldn't resist this cute shirt! When the kids were little, I never put t-shirts on them that had negative messages... I guess my parenting style is getting too relaxed :) The boys thought the message was cute, so with their stamp of approval:



McKay thought the T-shirt was ugly, and so she came up with her own Halloween outfit, too cute!



Last year I found some beautiful costume dresses and purchased them for the girls. They had other ideas:

Corpse Brides (they truly are Steve's children!)

and... this was the first year the boys decided they were too old to dress up. We did however find a simple idea that they agreed to, they were "Quarter-backs". The irony of this can be seen below:

The irony is that while being "quarter-backs" and playing football in the dark, Griffin ran into a pole and chipped two of his teeth and blackened his cheekbone. It was rather scary to have someone (thanks Jana) come and get you and tell you your child is hurt! Luckily there were several adults who saw it and were rendering aid before I came on the scene. Needless to say, I don't think there will be any night-time football games going on for awhile.

This year we carved Pumpkins as teams: boys vs. girls. The boys did a great Spider Pumpkin:

and the girls did a Sick Pumpkin (they said it ate too much candy) Gross!

Random Fun Stuff

Owen has been so disappointed in my blogging frequency lately (See post below) so I decided that I needed to do better... after all, I started this BLOG for them :)



This is the first year that the boys and girls don't attend the same school. The boys have started Middle School and it has been a new experience for us all. I'm so grateful for the communication that we have.

The first day of school, heading to the bus stop:




The girls not far behind:

The girls got glasses this summer. Kaylee doesn't wear hers unless I remind her and McKay is really good about putting them on when she wakes up.

I love to get my camera out to discover that it has been used secretively by the kids... you never know what pictures you'll discover. Here are the girls apparently modeling:

This was our fabulous family fishing festival. We went cat fishing and had a great time and much success:

The fishermen poised for action:

I love the look on Kaylee's face. Kind of how I have a Love/Hate relationship with fishing.

First fish of the day:

McKay's catch. I love the picture of her and Steve coming back with a prize fish:

Notice Owen's face and gloves:

Griffin was the last one to catch a fish, but once he got going... he was unstoppable.

At this point, all three kids got a bite at the exact same time:

Our collection:

Everyone stepped in to help clean, after some helpful hints from the pro himself (Grandpa Bob) and some supervision (Grammy and Grandpa):

You go girl:

We had a big fish fry! I used to think I didn't like catfish... I've decided I was wrong because these were delicious!

Kaylee helping chop lettuce for our salad.

Mckay working on the tomatoes:

And what would a family update be without updates about the pets. Sophie and Otis are becoming great friends (Much to the dismay of Otis):

You thought I was kidding? Look how I found them the other day:

The boys had their first band concert this week! They did so good considering they had only played for a few weeks. So proud of them.

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this iz owen since my mom haz been busy i decided i would post 4 her so stay tuned 4 some daily activittez

To those who have gone before:

In February 1846, the pioneers began fleeing religious persecution. Over the frozen earth they marched, onward towards a land that would allow them to worship "How, where and what they may". I've often marveled at the bloody footprints that were left in the snow as they stepped forward with faith in every footstep. Would I have had the same courage? Could I have walked out of my home, leaving almost every possession I had, locking the door behind me? Could I have bundled my children, sending them out knowing the cruel elements were conspiring against us? Could I have buried my baby in the cold ground, without anger at God and walked onward towards freedom?

I like to think the answer is yes. I like to think that my faith would have given me courage and sustained me through the brutal journey. I feel like I would have grown closer to my Heavenly Father as I struggled, instead of building a barrier between us. I believe I would have tried to find joy in the journey and been an example to those around me.

As I have reflected on these amazing Brothers and Sisters who paved the way before me, I realized that this journey still continues. I too am faced by religious persecution all around me. Despite the frozen ground of permissiveness and evil that spreads out before me, I continue to march onward with my eyes lifted upward. The footprints I leave behind are not those the shade of scarlet, but are indelible on the path that I hope one day will lead my children onward with greater strength because I had walked there before them. Every day I muster the courage to open the door and walk out into the world. Every day I bundle my children with the protection of scripture study and prayer, knowing they will need its power as they battle the elements facing them. All around me I see the consequences of evil and still know that God is in control, and face these things - not with greater anger, but with greater love and resolve.

I imagine if the pioneers could have seen our day and the spiritual trials of my journey - they might say their physical journey was the easy one. I find comfort in this daunting task by reading the words of God: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." I know with His power I can accomplish this mission that He has called me to serve and I can do it while finding great joy in the journey. I thank you "blessed, honored Pioneers".

A Bad Day

This summer has really been full of great days. For the most part, the kids have gotten along really well. I've had several experiences that have reminded me what great kids I have and we've gotten to sleep in!

Today, was one of those bad days. The kind that you're glad don't come around too often.

Our kids teeth are one of those things that we're a little obsessive about. I was encouraged to take the kids to the dentist as soon as their first teeth popped out. As soon as they turned one I have taken them to a pediatric dentist. Each year they have their teeth cleaned and are given a great report...

The other day, Griffin came to me and said "Mom, look at me tooth" as I looked in, it was completely cracked in half! I couldn't believe it didn't hurt him. He doesn't remember how he did it, but he definitely did a number on it. We took him into the dentist and the only way to fix it was to give him a filling. So Sad. He took it like a man and the dentist even complimented him on how brave he was.



After we got home it was time for the girls to practice piano. There were literally tears left on the keys after the practice session. I knew a 15 minute practice session shouldn't generate tears and chalked it up to girly drama. Here's to a better day tomorrow.


Bonus points if you can tell which key is tear-stained!!

Last Day of Vacation

We finished up the last day of our vacation with a party... a chocolate party! The campground was doing all things chocolate:

"The Marshmallow stick on chocolate syrup game"

The winners received an ice cream cone, yum...

McKay and Owen entered the chocolate pie eating contest...

The kids enjoyed chocolate face-painting:

And then there was the "chocolate hair style contest"...

The kids favorite: Chocolate Pudding Slip - n- slide:

Packing up the camp site heading for home!