HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Halloween is finally here. We all had a fun and exciting day. We also had treats, treats, and more TREATS!!! My waist will be happy when the treats are gone. I helped with Morgan's school party. I was in charge of Musical Chairs. The kids loved it. I found some "spooky" music online. Most of the kids danced around the chairs. I think everyone had fun. I know Morgan did. I took treats to Hanna and Ryanne's classes. I can only be so many places at once. The kids get so excited when I visit them at school. Not quite as excited as they get when dad visits them, but I will take whatever I can get. Jaxson and his friend sprayed their hair orange and called it "good". They just wanted candy. Hanna was a football player. Morgan was a dead, yes dead, cheer leader. (I guess we know how she feels about the whole cheer leading thing. Ryanne was Daphne from Scooby Doo. She came home kind of sad because everyone had to ask who she was. I thought she was adorable. Emmalyne was Sleeping Beauty. She wore her dance costume from last year with a little Tiara. She was sooo cute. We ended the evening with a little bit of bartering for each other's candy and some homemade soup and wassil. We missed our dad, but at the end of the day, it was a great Halloween. It was taking too long to upload pictures so I will post them in the morning. They are cute!!!

I almost forgot! Today is my friend Shannon's birthday. Happy Birthday Shannon!!!!

CRAZY WEEKEND

We went to Ogden for a dance convention/competition. It was fun. A little crazy, but fun! Many of our friends that dance with other studios were there. It was fun to see all the kids dance. They are amazing kids. Morgan and Hanna were the only kids I took. Morgan did not dance so she and I went with our friends to see the movie "Flicka" when Hanna was in class. That was a great movie. It was fun to pal around with Mo. We don't get very many one on one moments. They competition was Saturday. It did not get over until midnight so we stayed up there until Sunday morning. I got a bug or something. I threw up all day yesterday. I have not felt that sick in a long time. It was no fun. I am hoping that no one else gets it. Hanna danced great. She and her partner got a "gold". (That is good) Her team only did one dance. They got a gold also. The worst news of the weekend was that I forgot my camera!I was so sad. You will just have to trust that the girls looked cute.

Today I was pretty lazy. I wasn't sick anymore. I just felt so yucky. I did the usual help at the school and dance car pools. Tonight we are going to my sister's for family night. The kids are excited. She is making Chicken Pillows for dinner. They are our favorite. Until tomorrow.....

Monday October 23, 2006

Today seemed less crazy than usual. Tim was home and able to help with some of the madness. Tim went with the ward and helped clean the Temple while I drove to Preschool and worked at the school. We met up later at home. I took Hanna to get the stuff she needs for The Nutcracker. (ie...ballet shoes, tights, bobby pins, hair nets,etc. etc. etc..)Hanna has a"bag check" on Wednesday. They want to make sure you have everything long before the performances start. This whole thing has been quite the experience. Ballet West has a specific way that everything is done. I am sure they do it this way do to make sure the production runs smoothly. It has been amazing!!It will be so fun to see to see Hanna in it!

Ryanne was sad that she couldn't find any one to play. She settled for "helping" mom in the kitchen. I had a good time chatting with her. She is Quite the cutie!

I have been working on getting my recipes organized. I begged my sister to do it for me, but she wanted nothing to do with them! I am terrible. I write things down on the back of receipts and scrap pieces of paper. I have a manila folder that is a cluster recipes. So I decided to work on getting them written on cards, and in some kind of order. As I was sitting down writing, Morgan came down with her Faith in God booklet. She wanted to pass things off. A few minutes later Hanna (who will be 12 in two weeks) came down. Morgan immediately said, "Hanna what are you doing to prepare for Young Women's?" It was really pretty funny. Hanna did not like it as much as Tim and I did. Morgan is a little go getter. If we make it to Heaven it will be because of her.......

FRIGHTMARES!!!!

Tonight I took Jaxson, his friend, Morgan, and Ryanne to Frightmares at Lagoon. (Hanna had a party with the girls on her dance team and Emmie had a sleep over with Grandma.) We had a great time. Ryanne has no fear. I was scared to death. Morgan was pretty brave. Jaxson was trying to scare the workers! They had some pretty freaky things going on. There were four haunted houses and random "creatures" roaming the park. The kids thought it was really funny when something walked up behind me. They kept right on talking and said, "who's that?" When I turned around I nearly wet my pants. The joke was on me. We were all popsicles by the time we left. We went to IHOP for hot chocolate and pancakes. It was the perfect ending to a fun day.

Earlier today I was fortunate enough to attend four soccer games. Three wins and one loss. Not bad. It was the last game of the season for everyone. Well, until spring.

Go Lone Peak!!!

Tonight Lone Peak High School beat American Fork!!!! We were traders-we had to sit on American Fork's side. American Fork High School is the arch rival of Lone Peak. Our good friend's daughter is a cheer leader for American Fork. Every year they do a mini cheer clinic fund raiser. Young kids come and the cheerleaders teach them cheers. The kids get a T shirt and the "privilege" of performing during half time at one of the High School's football games. As luck would have it, tonight they played Lone Peak. (The school that our kids will go to!) It was a little uncomfortable! Our old neighborhood was in the American Fork High School boundaries. It was fun to see many of our friends from over there. It was a very close game, but in the end Lone Peak won. I forgot to change the setting on my camera so the pics did not come out. That makes me so sad. After the game I took everyone to Del Taco. I got a couple of pictures there. Hanna and her two friends and Jaxson and his two friends sat together. They even got along with each other. That was so nice!Ryanne and Emmie were my buddies.

Thank goodness it's Friday. Everyone has soccer tomorrow which means that nobody gets to sleep in. Luckily none of the games conflict. I am ending my second we of single parenting. I miss Tim.

Spell check.

Hey I figured out that I wasn't republishing my post after the spell check. I know I am a little slow. That is how it goes at the end of the day!! I went back and rechecked old ones. Sorry!

THURSDAY 19,2006

Yesterday I was watching my nephew, Sam, ride his bike. Just as I said, "Sam you need to wear a helmet," he crashed. Under the Superman band aid is a goose egg. He was so sad! I think we learned a great lesson about helmets yesterday!




My sister, Kate, and I took the kids to lunch in Provo today. We loved it. Sam had to sit by me! I just love that guy!



Tonight I drove Ryanne's little dance car pool. We had to take Morgan just before they needed to be there, so we had Sonic for dinner while we waited. I know it is not very nutritious, but it was so much easier than running back and forth a million times!!!

We are all home safe and sound and now I am going to get a couple loads of laundry done. Don't be jealous!!!!
Good night!

This is what I did today!
Get up
Read with kids
Get kids off to school
DRIVE to the Temple
DRIVE home
DRIVE to the store
DRIVE to my mom's
DRIVE to the store
DRIVE home
DRIVE to my sisters
DRIVE home
DRIVE Hanna to dance
DRIVE the other girls to Cheer Clinic
DRIVE to my sisters
DRIVE to pick up Hanna from dance
DRIVE to Capital Theater in Salt Lake
DRIVE around the block 50 times
DRIVE home
DRIVE to my sisters
DRIVE home
Get kids in bed
Go to bed!!!!!

Nothing too exciting today....I got up with the kids at 6:30. We read, ate breakfast, and luckily made it to the bus on time. I went to power pump at the gym, then rushed home to get ready for the day. I got a few things (and I mean a FEW) done around the house and then went to the hospital to check on my mom. She had knee surgery this morning and we were waiting to bring her home. They had told us she would be ready around 11:00 am. At 1:30pm she still was not done. I left my sister with my mom, Morgan with kids, and ran to get Hanna to Salt Lake for a costume fitting. (The Nutcracker costumes are soooo cute.) I can't wait to see it! Anyway, then it was a rush to get back in time for Jaxson's flag football game. Which they lost. It was still a good game. Finally, I got girls to dance and even made it to my own soccer game. I am sure I will be hurting tomorrow!!!! Now I am off to tuck kids into bed and hit the hay myself. When does daddy come home???????

Ogden Canyon: UEA Weekend



Jaxson on the four wheeler.


Hanna and Breann ready to roll. (Literally)

Thursday afternoon we went and stayed with some friends in a condo that was up Ogden Canyon. We left late, had dinner on the way, and then hung out and played some games. We got up early on Friday and went four wheeling with some friends and their inlaws. It started out so fun. The kids loved it. The canyon was so pretty. Some of us picnicked while others rode and then we traded. On the last run, Hanna and her friend Breann went with my friend, Suzette and her sister in law Ceci. It seemed like forever before they came back. Finally, Jaxson came and said that the girls had run out of gas. Suzette's brother in law went to help them. He came back with Hanna and said that Breann and Hanna had crashed. It was pretty bad. Thank goodness for helmets. They were both bruised up pretty bad. The four wheeler won't be able to be driven again any time soon, but no one was hurt. When the day was over, we were counting our blessings!


Emmie was so happy to do whatever everyone else did. She was so much fun. She could find the fun in anything we did.
Which is a fantastic quality when there are a million kids around.


Our friends have a tradition. Every time they are at the Condo (weather permitting) they play "Kimball Volleyball." They reserved the court for Saturday afternoon and everyone loved it. There are no rules in "Kimball Volleyball," so the little kids love it. They can kick the ball, throw it, the ball doesn't even matter if it goes over the net! I was so camera man/ball chaser. I loved watching the fun! Morgan wanted to serve the ball every time. She would be a great asset to any volleyball team.

It was so pretty. The leaves were all changing. The colors were so pretty. Ryanne doesn't mind pictures as long as she can pick her own pose! She was such a cutie.


Hanna and Breann dressed for Raquetball.

There were so many things to do. We reserved the court but and adult had to play with kids under fourteen. I was volunteered to be the adult. The other adults decided that it didn't mattered that I never act like an adult. The kids almost killed me. I must be more out of shape than I thought. There were 12 kids and I took a five minute turn with each kid. That is a long time! Not to mention that I had to dodge the ball ninety percent of the time. At least everyone had fun.

I got schooled at horse shoes. But that is okay. It doesn't really matter if you win or lose, it is how you play the game. Right? I did kill everyone at Tetris. I stunk at Phase Ten. But so did Jaxson's friend Devon. (At least I wasn't alone)

All in all, we had a great time. I am ready for a little R and R. The kids go back to school tomorrow. Maybe I can rest then!!
KH

Ryanne scores a goal!!!Ryanne had a soccer game today. She played a great game. Ryanne always tries this move that the boys on Jaxson's team do. She tries to kick the ball backwards while she is running forward. It is hard to explain, but boy does she think that she is soooo cool when she does it. The other kids must think it is neat too, they all try to do it now. Ryanne is so awesome. I think I will keep her around!

Ryanne's game was probably the most exciting thing we did today. Don't get me wrong...We still did the usual run here, there, and everywhere, but that isn't all that exciting. I was able to attend the Temple, clean the laundry room, and get the house clean. I still missed a few items on my "to do" list. I hate it when that happens!

We had potato soup from Costco, salad and rolls for dinner. Morgan and I loved it. Jaxson said it was old people's food and Emmie would have nothing to do with it. I love it when the majority does not like dinner. It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.

Tim is working in North Carolina this week. They are doing well. He is working with his good friend, Noah. Life is always better when you have somebody on your side. I have been showing the kids where Tim is on the State Map Puzzle. I can't even spell the way Emmie says, "North Carolina", but it is soooo cute. She can say the capital and she knows where North Carolina is on the map, but she can't say it to save her life. What a sweetie.

Well another day....
Until next time!

Nothing too exciting to report. I went to power pump this morning.(I love it!) Then I came home and cleaned, well dusted and vacuumed, my room and the family room. That seems like such a small thing but it has been on my "to do" list for a week now. I also got about 10 loads of laundry done. I was feeling so good, everything looked and smelled so nice. Then....The kids came home and, well lets just say that it doesn't look quite as nice anymore.



Emmie is almost all the way down on her splits. Trust me I know. She shows me about twenty times a day. However, she has to be wearing a "ballerina" (her new word for a leotard) in order to show me. It is pretty cute if I do say so myself.

I bought tickets to the Nutcracker. We are going to see it on Christmas Eve. We are fairly certain that Tim will be home and able to go on that day. It could turn into a fun tradition. I hope it all goes well. Hanna is so excited.

We are going to stay in a condo for UEA. Jaxson will be the only boy and is not very excited. I think it will be fun. We have rented four wheelers and there is a pool and hot tub. It won't be as fun without Tim. (He will still be out of town.) I am not sure Jax will know what to do with all the girls. But hey, it could be worse! Right? We are leaving on Thursday afternoon and coming home on Sunday. I am looking forward to a change of pace.

Well, I am off to tuck kids in-6:30 comes awfully early to the little girls. (Who am I kidding? It comes early to me too.
Goodnight!

One crazy Monday down! I got up with the kids at 6:30 am. I didn't run at 5:30 because it was soooooo dark and kind of creepy. Instead, I went back to bed for an hour. Lucky me! After the older kids left for school, I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill for twenty minutes before I needed to be at the elementary. On Mondays I help with the take home reading program at the Elementary School. I had forgotten to tell Ryanne I would be there. She was so happy to see me. I love that. Her teacher said she could come give me a hug, but Ryanne came in search of "goodies". All I had was a granola bar. Sorry Ry!

Jaxson sent me a text message while I was at the girls school. He needed lunch money and could I hurry. I ran to Jaxson's school and made it home just in time to meet Emmie's car pool from Preschool. That was a close call. It was "early out" today so by the time I had showered and done a couple loads of laundry the other kids were home and it was "off to dance".

We had a successful family night with a pumpkin dessert for dessert. (That sounds funny!) Now, the little girls are bathed and in bed, the big girls are reading, and Jaxson is "hanging" with a friend. What more could a girl ask for??????
Til' tomorrow!

Aaaahhhh! The weekend is over and so are the sleep overs, and the late nights. It is almost bedtime. Yeah. I had to teach my friend Mindy's Sunday School class today. The kids were 16 and 17 years old. They would not talk at all. It was so weird. I usually teach the 13 and 14 year olds. That class is a bunch of boys that usually throw things at me. It was quite the switch. I can't decide which is worse. I did get to teach in the Primary room today and use the music stand to set my lesson on. I felt kind of important. Oh, only until I asked a girl if she had her scriptures and she told me she did not want to open them. It was crazy. Like I was in Bizzarro World. Anyway it is over and we all survived. Thank goodness!!

Last night I was so tired that I forgot to mention that I had gone to the funeral for my friends mom. It was such a nice service. Her mom was such a neat lady. It was neat to learn things about her life that I did not know. My friends mom had taught school for years and when she went in for surgery last week the Doctor had been one of her students, many years ago. I thought that was so cool. I was so grateful to be able to be at the service.

Well, I am off. KH

Saturday







Morgan's birthday is officially over!! We took her and some friends to get pedicures for her party. She had a great time. We all had fun. Everyone's toe's look great. Before we left the man asked me if it was my turn and I said I would come back on Monday when the kids were all in school. That was a little chaotic for me!

Well, I am off to bed. I will post again tomorrow.

Friday, October 6,2006
Okay, so I am not great at writing during the week. By the time car pools are over, I just want to go to bed. I am going to try to do better. That is my goal this next week.

Yeah! It is the weekend-time to relax. Right? Not really for us. Tim was elected to take Jaxson to Sandy for his soccer game. They won. Tim said it was a great game. It poured rain, Jaxson was frozen, but hey-they killed the other team. The score was 7-1. I took Hanna to PG for dance practice and Morgan babysat because she and the little girls did not want to go. I was going to come pick up Morgan and the little girls and we were then going to head up to Salt Lake because Hanna had Nutcracker rehearsal at the Capital Theater. I called Morgan on our way home from PG and asked her to make sure they all had their shoes and coats on so we could head to Salt Lake. This is a picture of how they looked when I pulled up. Morgan is such a good babysitter. I had to take a picture.



We went straight from picking Hanna up from rehearsal to Cinemark, where we met Tim and Jaxson and saw the movie Open Season. It was cute. Everyone liked it. But, by the time we got home, I was ready for bed.

Today, my friend Kristi and I, took our friend Melanie lunch for her birthday at her beautiful new home. They have done such a great job. The house is so nice. It is up on the hill in Elkridge so the drive seemed to take forever, but their view is beautiful. Especially this time of year.

Tim is home (YEAH!!!) so he helped with carpools. It is amazing how when there are two of us I don't feel like I was hit by a Mack truck at the end of the day. Thanks for the help Tim!




Tim and Morgan made salt dough to make a relief map of the state of Utah. Again, I love when dad is home. The kids love doing stuff like that with their dad. And truthfully, I love the break.





My Nephew, Sam, called me this afternoon and said, "I go to your house Auntie?" Well of course that just makes my day. (Not to mention Emmie's day also) We had so much fun. He loves our little dog, Millie. Well he calls her Minnie, but whats in a name. He is the cutest little guy. He is one of my best buddies. He can come over any day. The problem is my sister tells me I spoil him and then he is a nightmare at home. Too bad. Every one needs a favorite Auntie.

For family night we put up the Halloween decorations that I have been wanting to get up for a week now. The kids actually liked helping and having a say in where things went. Left over cup cakes for dessert and all was well!

Until Tomorrow!
KH

The celebration continues!! Today we had Grandma Robin, Uncle Scott, Aunt Kate and their kids over for dinner and cupcakes in celebration of Morgan's birthday. I made her a blanket that Tim really likes(Gee, I wonder what he will get for Christmas), and Grandma and Kate gave her various items from clothes to puzzles to jewelry. She made out like a bandit. Tim bought her a shirt in Washington DC that says, "Future President."It is very cute and she was so excited. It is true you know. One day she might really be the President. Just ask her. Never fear though, the fiesta continues with a friend party next weekend. She is inviting a few friends to get pedicures. I am sure that the pictures will be great. We will keep you posted.

I don't know about anyone else, but I get excited for bedtime on Sundays. It is so fun to be together. We all snuggled and watched conference and then ate with family, but I am ready for bed! The kids are too, they just don't know it. Everyone is so happy that Tim is home for the next little while. I just can't think of all the fun to be had!!

Goodnight!KH