FHE Jack-o-lanterns

We had such a fun Family Home Evening.  McKay gave the lesson on prayer, Abby had the activity, carving pumpkins & Josie followed it up with yummy Jack-o-lantern sugar cookies.  

Everyone had a fun time carving pumpkins.  Craig & I haven't done it since we had McKay.  I'm not sure why, I guess life just get's crazy.  The kids had a blast!  And so did Craig & I!

Sigh

I bought new sheets.  Every time I get in I think of some old song that says something about a "little bit of heaven".  They're the best.  Not that I'm not grateful for our other sheets quite the contrary.  We were so blessed when we got married to receive several sets of sheets.  In fact enough to last us till now!  The last set of sheets was one we kind of forgot about until we needed new sheets a couple years ago.  They were really pretty, white, with lace trim.  In fact when we first started using them due to the very small thread count and kind of a ruffer fabric, we called them our very expensive spa sheets.  We decided that people pay a lot of money at spas for a body exfoliation.  We on the other hand got the same treatment by just sliding into bed.  They finally gave up the ghost.  No more spa treatments.  I bought for the first time the softest Egyptian cotton sheets.  So now I sing my little song as I slip in to bed, "little bit of heaven". 

Oh, the DRAMA!!

My Josie has quite a active, creative imagination.  

About a month ago I was needing just a few minutes to get some things done without my cute little shadow.  I was quickly going through my little brain trying to think of a movie or show that would keep Josie's attention for even 10 min.  By a tender mercy, Rainbow Brite jumped into my head.  I jumped onto youtube and sure enough Rainbow Brite was there!  She loved it.  Since then she has become slightly obsessed with her.  Well of course who could she possible want to be for Halloween, Rainbow Brite.  Last year I, in a moment of weakness, bought the cutest butterfly costume.  

My thought process was that she would be able to wear it next year too.  Well she would have none of that.  She wanted to be Rainbow Brite.  I got on line and couldn't find a Rainbow Brite costume for kids.  I finally found one someone made and it was totally a hoochie momma outfit.  Some of the girls on the team had caught onto what was happening, and did a fantastic job manipulating her into wanting to be a "beautiful pink butterfly".  I thought we were good.  The next day when I went to pick her up from pre-school, her teacher greeted me with, 

"Whoa, is Josie mad at you!?"  Not surprised, but not understanding what she was mad at me for this time, I responded with 

"Oh great, what did I do now?"  

"I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween, and she told me Rainbow Brite (my eye's now roll) but that you wouldn't let her.  I told her I hadn't seen a Rainbow Brite costume for a really long time.  I didn't think they made them anymore.  She said that's what you kept telling her and that no one was listening.  She followed with you have to go to the Rainbow Brite store."  I had heard this many times from her.  I asked her teacher

"Did she tell you where the store was?"

"No"

"It's in RAINBOW LAND,  all I have to do is RIDE the RAINBOW!"

It was good to have a laugh with someone who knows my Josie Posie.

I could tell this wasn't going to go away so that night I called Katheryn & she saved me by coming over to babysit while I went to the fabric store, on the hunt.  There was NOTHING on Rainbow Brite, I tried to be creative, thinking I could use a tutu, striped socks, but I knew this wouldn't fly.  I came across the cutest Wizard of Oz costumes.  I remembered I had bought red sparkle shoes from Target for her thinking she would love them. I had hidden them away for one of those crazy days I needed her to run errands with me.  I was so excited.  I went to grab the pattern and they were sold out.  I went to 2 other store before I in all desperation I went to Walmart.  They had it!!  They also had the cape pattern I needed for McKay's costume.  

I enlisted my mom to help me sew the costumes.  She is the master sewers of sewers.  She worked on this so hard, I was glad I asked her to help me.  I never would have figured it out.  

Josie LOVES this costume.  She's so proud of it.  And that we made it for her.  

Goin' on a Witch Hunt

It has become a tradition @ Halloween Time to "hunt" for the witches at Gardner Village.  They totally deck the entire place out with witches.  We print off the "Witch Scavenger Hunt" form from their web page and start hunting for witches.  Once you find all the witches you get a free cookie.  This year Molly & Stella came with us and dragged Kris & Linds along too.  It was fun to have them join in the hunt.  I think Craig really enjoyed having someone to talk to about important things like the Jazz etc.  Molly & Josie are so funny together.  Josie has decided that Molly is her cousin.  It is funny how much emphasis she puts on Molly being HER cousin.  Like she belongs to her.  She pulls Molly everywhere.  

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At one point Lindsay & I tried to get a picture of the kids by one of the witches.  Abby, the girl who loves to do everything, jumped right up.  She wanted to make sure she was right next to the witch.  She didn't need to worry, Josie is terrified of anything like this.  She had to be coaxed by Molly who jumped up next to Abs.  McKay @ this point was so tired from his extra "late night", that he's so grumpy I had to push him to sit down on the bench.  We tried to get Kimball in the picture, yea right.  It is funny how you give up trying to make your fourth child do things.  You really learn to fight the fights that are worth fighting by the fourth.  

At the end of the hunt, it has become a tradition to end the witch scavenger hunt with a fresh caramel apple.  YUMMY! (2nd year and we already have a tradition but when it involves caramel)

(Side note:  Josie has now worn pants two day in a row!! Yahoo!)

Little Haunts

We have loved visiting "This is the Place, Heritage Park".  It has become one of our favorite places.  For Halloween they don't have a "haunted house"  rather it is a "haunted village."  And from what I understand it is the scariest around.  Obviously that was not what we went for.  This week they held "Little Haunts" during the day.  It was a blast!  The kids dipped candles, made corn husk dolls and of course the tradition pony ride and petting zoo among many other things.  Josie became best buddies with the man teaching us how to make the dolls.  He was soooooooooooo patient.  

I tried really hard to get a good fall picture of the four of them.  I tried, and tried.  And well it was one of those fights that I was never going to win.  Kimball decided he was some type of growling animal.  H kept growling at me while I was trying to get them together for the photo.  To even get him in the picture, the other three had to move so the sun was right on their faces. Oh well, all part of the fun right?  

After our super fun day, we met up with Craig.  He's been staying up in SL for regionals.  We met him & the girls for dinner.  During dinner, McKay was driving me nuts.  Every two seconds he was asking what time it was, why wasn't the food coming faster, where was the waiter with the check?  This was so surprising, we were @ Tucanos, his favorite restaurant.  He's the one we have to drag out of there.  I finally figured it out.  I had promised the kids we could swim at the hotel after dinner.  He was getting really anxious because bedtime was approaching.  After I explained that we were having a "late night" he finally relaxed.  

So the kids, not just McKay were very excited about the swimming.  While getting changed in the hotel room I was getting Craig to breath.  As we walked into the pool area all I saw was yellow tape!?!  They had closed the pool to clean it.  I just started to laugh.  I could see McKay's face.  It was priceless.  I was relieved when I noticed the hot tub was still open.  So we swam in the hot tub for a while until the heat started to get to, of all people, McKay. 

The older two stayed overnight with Craig & ordered ice cream sundays from room service.  They had the time of their lives.

Monkey Boy

Kimball, loves bananas!  He had helped himself to a new bunch while I was cleaning closets.  I don't know how he did it, but he pealed it without even breaking the top or the bottom!?!

Truly our "Monkey Boy".

Me and Max

Me and Max are close friend we like to play vido games all day. Rob and Deb young post  is like It. Thare my friends and tommy. 

PANTS!!

Josie wore pants today!!  It's the first time in 3 1/2 years; other then our family pictures which she was upset about.  She looks so cute in them.  It did make me a little sad, she looks so much older in them.  

The key.  It's all about the accessories.  I took her shopping and told her she could buy any outfit.  She could pick.  The only rule was it had to have PANTS.  At first she was okay until she realized she was going to have to wear them.  Then by a tender mercy I saw a purse.  "Any pant outfit has to have a great purse to go with it."  Well that was the ticket.  

My Josie Posie is growing up.

I went to Australia

I went to Australia with my Dad and Mckay!I liked it. It was fun! We went in 2 car's and 2 planes. I saw 2 kangraoo's fighting. I also saw a battleship and my aunt! I swam and plaed. I love my           family. Being with my family and plaing  with my family is my favorite thing to do.

Kimball Makes it to 2

Yes Kimball made it in one peace to his second birthday.  Both McKenzie and I are very thankful and truly amazed he make it this far.  The kid is simply "unbelievable."  As you can see from the pictures chocolate cake is his favorite desert.  I didn't know kids who are only two have favorite foods but McKenzie's chocolate cake is definitely Kimballs.  He got a tricycle for his birthday among other gifs but the tricycle was the highlight.  He is absolutely addicted to riding my scooter.  I have to take him for a ride on it every morning before work and every afternoon after work.  He phrases it as "ride."  It is always "ride," "ride."  So it was so funny when I brought out his Harley Davidson tricycle he got from his Nan.  At first his reaction was indifferent, like he didn't seem to understand it was for him, but once he realized it was his he responded with "my ride."  

 

How appropriate his ride.  He basically didn't leave the seat of "his ride" for the rest of the day.  At one point he had the balloon pump hanging between the rear tires.  It caught my attention for obvious reasons.  It didn't take long for me to see what it's purpose was for.  Silly me I should have realized those plastic tires needed to be pumped up.  

He kept stopping to pump them up and then off he went again.  He actually handles it well, he hasn't hit any of the walls yet.  Well the rest of the day was a blast as well.  We watched both sessions of conference and had family over to celebrate his birthday.  He received other great gifts that he had fun opening.  All in all it was a great weekend.  We are now undergoing the rigorous task of attempting to make it to three without any significant injuries.  Our prayers have got a little longer since we have been blessed to have Kimball in our lives.  I can't believe he is already two.

 

Our traditional b-day breakfast-french toast.      In his new wagon "Cheese"
 
McKay gave him one of his favorite Monster trucks and $2 because he's two.  Abby gave him one of her horses because he loves horse like she does.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!