Last week I went for a bike ride with my friend, Tammy. We rode up by the canal that runs along the mountain. It was so pretty that I took my kids there the next day for pictures. We have had the best fall. I love the colors. The kids and I had a fun day together...

HALLOWEEN!

Here are our Halloween pics!


Ruby and Strawberry
Jaxson and Chase

Jason and Zuri...(We ate a yummy dinner with the Markhams. This is Bill and his granddaughter. )





Ryanne and her friends
Ruby
Hanna and friends
Emmie and friends
Emmie at her school play

Reach Out and Read!

My friend, Carey, works for a nonprofit organization called "Reach Out and Read." It is a literacy program that helps get kids reading. They did a night of games and books at the Barnes and Noble in Salt Lake. I took a group of the younger kids from our neighborhood and it was so much fun. It was really cute. Carey was GREAT with the kids! They loved it.

Yep! Emmie and her friends wore THIS to Highschool Musical 3!

Weekend Update!

Saturday night we went to our ward halloween party. The kids loved the games and treats. I made our costumes. I am so happy to have that project done! Everyone looked so cute. Emmie wasn't very happy with the idea of being a "Strawberry Shortcake Doll." She had her sights on something cool! Blueberry Muffin was not exactly what she wanted. BUT...aren't they so cute???



Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Muffin



Raspberry Tart



All of us



Earlier we went to Hanna's first cheer competition. Her team looked really good. Hanna is loving being a cheer leader! As long as she is happy...Right????

Halloween Party!

We have these really cute twins that live on our street. I got the honor of making a "creepy" witches brew for their annual Halloween party. Jaxson even wore a costume. I have been trying to talk him into being Huckleberry Pie. (The girls and I are going to be Strawberry Shortcake dolls.) Naturally, that was TOTALLY out of the question! He did agree to be a Super Hero with his friend, Amy. I am not quite sure that I like the fact that Amy had more influence than I did!



Amy, Dani (another great friend), and Spidey!



Jaxson and Wonder Woman.



My witches brew!

I MISS TIM!!!

I am blessed to have a husband who works to support our family. I am equally blessed to have a husband who is the best friend I have ever had. I love when Tim is home! But, the travel gets old. I miss him. I miss him being here when I walk through the door. I miss his smile. I miss his gray hair.I miss watching his relationships with each of the kids. I miss his example and presence in our home. I miss listening to him tuck the kids into bed! I miss his hugs and kisses! I miss Tim!

"SERVICE BREAK" CONTINUED...

Boy, do I need to learn to focus! I got these pictures uploaded and then left to do something else.(That is so unlike me!) Anyway, our "Service Break" continued. Friday we got our yard ready for winter. The kids also picked another act of service to do for someone else. I am really proud of the kids! They can recognize the needs of others when necessary!

Saturday the kids and I pulled out flowers and weeds in our neighbor's yard. All of the kids complained on the way over. BUT...we worked together and it didn't take us very long. Jaxson mowed their lawn to "finish up!" Great job guys!!!!!

Here are a few highlights...



Ryanne helping in Beesley's yard. WITH A SMILE!!



Hanna in Beesley's yard!!!



We did have some fun too. Garron took the kids to Corn Belly's. This is Emmie trying to rope.



The girls and Garron in American Fork Canyon.



All the kids working in our yard.



French toast with whip cream and fruit! It was a great dinner!



Hanna and Abby playing Tetris! (I AM STILL THE QUEEN!)



Me going crazy making Halloween Costumes!!



This was so cute. I was looking out our back window and Emmie and Ryanne were wrestling on the tramp! I hope one day the realize how lucky they are to have sisters!

FALL/SERVICE BREAK!

Today we had our first day of "Fall Break." That's right, NO SCHOOL! I decided the kids need to do more service. So for us it is a "Service Break." I am not unreasonable...I just want each of them to think of something they can do to serve others each day. I can't tell you everything they chose. Some things are secret! Hanna painted this long board for Ryanne. She worked on it most of the day. Ryanne LOVED it. We are having great weather so Ryanne will get to ride it tomorrow.

I got up this morning and went on a bike ride with my friend Brooke. I don't know how far it was but it felt like miles and miles and miles....! What a great work out! My legs still feel like jelly!



These are all the kids that helped Hanna work on the long board! We are so fortunate that our children have great friends!



Ryanne and Mom!

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLsX_9l4Vt5ssdE-IN65Va4poiWodX3Vr0hqEtbD3wfzk1ymvWTWHk_8tMsgHRC1_ZHr7bLfHTpy80ihbYXsBcCVRxy7LWLBtYpQCM_Uw1S7a4SELbWxBrYLtdxhNDS8lM6kS/s1600-h/IMG_8454.JPG">

Look at the great job Hanna did!

Quick Game of "Catch Up"!

It seems like time slips away from me. We are all healthy and happy. Let's get up to date!



Morgan celebrated her 12th birthday. I decorated her bed in 12's-
12 bottles of pop
12 air heads
12 brownies etc.

She was so excited!



Morgan had a boy/girl party this year. We watched Iron Man, ate Pizza, jumped on the trampoline, ate cake, and played games. Morgan has such great friends. It was really fun. She even got kisses from a boy she "likes!" It is official....Tim and I are old and far from being ready to let our kids grow up!



Morgan "shared" her family birthday party with Grandma Robin. Soooo generous! Kate and her family joined the celebration along with our good friends, the Crocketts.



One of my favorite past times is playing Tetris with Jaxson and his friends. They come home for lunch on "B" days. It is the highlight of my week. I am honored to have them hang out at our house. This is Jaxson and his best friend Amy playing Tetris. Naturally, I am the Tetris Queen.



Another highlight....playing with Carey's baby, Ruby! I love her! She is so sweet. I love that she was was in Heaven just a month ago! The things she must know!

Ruby!!!

My friend, Carey, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Wednesday. She is so dang cute. We went to dinner with Carey and Dave on Tuesday to mark their last meal before becoming parents. While we were out Carey said that she pictured Ruby with lots of dark hair. I know you can't tell in the picture but......SHE HAS A FULL HEAD OF DARK HAIR!!!! They will make the best parents ever. Ruby is one of the luckiest little girls. Congratulations Carey and Dave!!!

Saturday I took a group of kids to see "Fly Me to the Moon." It was 3d....Thus the glasses. The kids loved it. Tim and Jax were at the BYU game so I was the neighborhood entertainer! Luckily they are all cute kids!

We are so lucky to have such wonderful people that live by us. Today my friend Karla came over and taught Ryanne how to make pumpkin pie and bread. I am quite sure I got the better end of the deal.My house smells yummy and we have bread for dinner and pumpkin pie for desert! Ryanne has been so excited for her cooking lesson! My other friend, Carey, brought by an apron for her to wear when she cooks! Oh, and she brought me my very own apron. See, we live by great people!

Baby Shower!

I haven't been updating because I was preparing my house for my friends baby shower. I refinished my kitchen table and two end tables. They are now black. I also recovered the cushions on all the chairs. They look soooo nice. I am pretty proud of myself! I actually need to thank Carey. I got so many projects done so that my house would look somewhat organized for the baby shower. Carey really did not want a shower. Something about not wanting to be the center of attention. I know, who wouldn't want to be the center of attention? She finally relented and I got my way. I LOVE THAT!!! We celebrated Ruby's soon to be arrival with balloons, food, gifts, and confetti!! It ended up being a really fun night. Carey was so cute and I am anxiously awaiting the call that Ruby is on her way!

Happy Birthday Miranda!

How did I get roped into this one??? Hanna and a couple friends decided to kidnap their friend Miranda for her birthday. AT 6 AM!!!! For those of you who don't know me...I don't do 6 am! We took Miranda to IHOP for breakfast and then I dropped all of them off at school. They are such cute girls! I hope Miranda had a fun day!

I spent the day sanding my kitchen table. I am going to paint it black. I will post pictures upon completion!

I am still wandering the neighborhood in Carey's apron. I love it and It drives my kids CRAZY! We had Hanna's friend, Brynne, and her mom, Susan, over for family night. By over, I mean we went bowling and to ice cream. They just moved here from California. We all had a great time!