Fall Walk

This is Halloween

Halloween party for the kids. We invited the neighbors on our street and then each of my kids were able to invite a few others from their classes or whatever. So we ended up with about 15 kids! Didn't really think that one through. But it was a blast.

We did some relay races, cookie decorating, pumpkin bowling, stuff like that. The kids love having a chance to wear their costumes an extra time and get crazy. 

I only posted a couple of pictures.

Next we have Mario and Luigi. This is the current obsession my boys have, so of course we had to find costumes. I really am glad walmart was carrying these because I was having a heck of a time trying to find the stuff to put costumes together on my own! 

Above is Halloween night - after all of the trick-or-treating we visited G'ma and G'pa Pace. I wish we'd had them stand up, then you could see Sydney's costume. I made it. It's a princess dress - really not professional but I'm pleased with how it turned out and she loved it so that's all that matters. The two other kids are their cousins, Liam and Aeva. We had a blast!
I'm lovin' this holiday, but glad it's over. 

Lily's First Birthday!

Lily turned one yesterday and we had such a fun day. She loved her new toys and was excited about all of the attention she got. Well, it was a little overwhelming for her when all of the family came over that night. But I totally understand that one. It's a big family!

She got pink pumpkins for her cakes. One big one to serve the crowd, and a small one just for her. 

She definitely got messy. And enjoyed every minute of it.

Lily is crawling and loves to explore. She's very good about being content doing whatever there is to do around her. She definitely hasn't been very clingy to me. She loves playing with noisy flashy toys, or just regular stuff from around the house. Her favorites are our cell phones and laptops - of course. 

She says a few words and does a few funny things: peek-a-boo, patty cake, the wheels on the bus (she likes to rub her eyes like a baby crying and touch my mouth for the ssh ssh ssh that the mommies say), signs more and milk, says mama and dada, peek-a-boo and uh-oh sometimes. 

She's such a little cutie pie. We sure love her - her siblings STILL adore her and make her laugh whenever they can. She's not too much of a snuggler, but she loves to be read to and sung to.  

Love you little LILYPIE!

Corn Maze

Every year we like to try our hand at the corn maze. We always go to the one at the American West Heritage Center because they give you a map. It makes it so much easier, with the same amount of fun. 

This time it was FREEZING.  I prefer taking the kids during the day, but we did it for FHE and it really got chilly that night. 

I don't have pics, but my sister and her hubby and baby girl joined us, along with my mom. They moved up the day before and my mom was staying with them to help them out. Sophie is still on oxygen, and her monitor battery was dead, so she and coden sat out in the car while ashlee joined us in the maze. wendell and lily decided to go to the car with them and get warm. 

Here are some snaps from the night. 

It's obvious we don't have any pictures of us actually doing the corn maze. That was when it was dark and COLD, and Wendell  was sitting in the car. :) But I love the above picture of him trying to get a cool family portrait and none of us are looking. 

Out of Order

Last camping trip of the season! 

Destination: Logan Canyon

Duration: One night - a quick trip

Date:  Hmmmm it was sometime in the middle of september....can't remember

This is one of the kids' favorite things to do. They love our camper and hanging out in the woods. 

Sydney is so creative. She built this tiny little hut and flag pole.  For tiny people. 

Or maybe it was for the friends we met while camping....

Here's the first friend we met. He shared our campsite with us. 

And another friend. He's the coolest one. We met him while taking a little hike. 

OcToBeR

The last time I posted anything was in July. I guess we just haven't done a single thing since then! Or maybe I have been otherwise occupied. I plead the 5th. 

So here we are now in October. This is fast becoming my favorite time of year. I just love fall - and I am growing to love Halloween almost as much as Christmas.  Weird, I know. But I'm kinda weird I guess. 

Last night we grabbed some pumpkins off the porch, carved them up and ate the seeds. Cooking up pumpkin seeds is something we always did growing up - but not Wendell. He has taken to the tradition more than any of us.  He carved his pumpkin pretty fast so he could get going on the seed cooking. 

He found a great recipe online. 

A successful, happy family night....at least for a moment. 

Random Thoughts

Why is it that nobody in my family can stand a clean toilet or countertop? Or floor? Or windows?

I have been enjoying doing yardwork. I wish I had about twice the muscle and 10x the designing skill so I could make it beautiful.

Took my kids to the dentist and now they are making me pay for flouride treatment I didn't request. Since they did it, I have to pay for it. wha? (they usually ask before doing it because it's not included in the free cleaning that we get through our dental plan)

I just gave a certain child of mine deodorant for the first time. Wow....you wouldn't believe how old that makes me feel.

Cole, when asked to clean his room, explained to me that his heart was itchy and therefore he couldn't clean.

The kids and I went swimming yesterday for the first time this summer. Well, my first time anyway. The suit I bought a month ago is way too big in the chest. Funny how a "too big" swimsuit can make you feel just as uncomfortable as a "too small" one.

I love when Lily leans forward to give me an opened mouth, slobbery kiss. That's the best.

I think my husband is addicted to weight lifting. And whey protein powder.

I gave Sydney her first pedicure last night. She reciprocated by rubbing my feet this morning and I realized I haven't had treatment like that in a LONG time. I could get used to it.

Why do I have to constantly crave chocolate ice cream?

How much does a maid cost?

Yesterday at the pool I saw a lady who had to be about 80 or so. She actually looked great in her swimsuit. No cellulite. thin. white- not tan and wrinkly. She looked old in her face and hair and the rest she looked pretty good. In fact, she looked better than me in a swimsuit. So then I got really depressed. Like I don't think I'll be heading to the pool for awhile. until I can get a swimsuit that doesn't gape open exposing my lack of certain womanhood.

Once again, my eyes were bigger than my mouth when it came to summer plans. I haven't kept up to anything I swore I would do on a regular basis.

If I'm feeding my neighbors kids regularly can I start claiming them on my taxes?

We have about an hour and a half left of sunshine before the storm is supposed to hit again. I need to trim the yard before my nephew comes to mow this weekend...and I just realized our weed wacker is out of the twine stuff that does the wacking. Do I haul the kiddos to the store or just let the yard look unfinished?

That will really bug me...better load 'em up.

Wait - I just put Lily down for a nap. argh.

Have a good day!

turning 9!

Sydney turned 9 yesterday. 

She asked for a small camera of her own. 

My first thought was "yeah, right!" But Wendell worked his magic and found a sweet deal on a very small basic camera for her. She LOVED it, and spent most of the afternoon taking pictures. 

Here are some birthday snaps as well as just random artsy ones a la Sydney. 

For a little while, the camera went missing. We couldn't figure out where it was. 

This picture is our only clue to who the culprit was. 

Small dirty foot with painted toenails. Has to be Cole. 

   

Sydney and cousin Hyrum. Two peas in a pod sometimes.

We did cake and ice cream at the park near our house. About half the family made it. It was beautiful and we had fun chatting and playing.

I know, two pics of the cake. But Sydney and I worked hard on it! I made a FOUR layer cake in rainbow colors, frosted with THIS frosting which is the BEST FROSTING EVER (i made a triple batch), and literally threw a whole bottle of sprinkles at it. By the way, the cake I make is now always the silver white cake from Betty Crocker. It is a homemade white cake and beats boxed cakes out of the water! Google it - if you can't find it I will email you the recipe. It's that good. 

Sydney has grown up so much. She looks like a little teenager with her braces, but still likes to act young and silly. She is super creative and can come up with something to play with just about anyone. 

She is in softball, tennis and piano right now. She is also signed up for a summer day camp twice a week. She loves to read and listen to music on her mp3 player. She always helps with Lily and often with the boys, too. She's a perfect oldest child, even though she hates that she has that responsibility sometimes. I can't believe she's 9 already! Two more years and she will be in middle school! yikes!