Halloween 2013

We've done some fun things around here to celebrate the season. Today the kids were able to wear their costumes to preschool and they had fun making a skeleton craft (well, I did anyway. I assembled and they bedazzled.).



They learned two cute poems at school and did a great job reciting them.



We attended our ward Trunk-or-Treat, also a great time and Phil was able to be with us. He has been in Las Vegas the month of October and it was nice to have him get a taste of the holiday with the kids since he is currently out of town and missed trick or treating with us tonight. Although I must say that most church events are more fun for Phil than I. He had a grand ol' time chatting with members while I was up and down 17 times getting the kids food, taking them potty, keeping track of the wanderers. I am glad he enjoyed himself but good golly I would love to chat with friends too. Meh, time and a season. Looking back I really didn't talk with other moms, they were all too busy corralling their kids too.

We went with a pirate theme this year. Kate was very excited to be a girl pirate and I was all proud of myself for keeping her costume affordable and reusable as regular clothes. Phil said she didn't look very "piratey" but oh well. She was thrilled and that's all that matters.

And how grown up does she look here?! Make-up will be banned for life.
 

Max was Captain Hook. He was on a big Jake and the Neverland Pirates kick when we were figuring out costumes and has since moved on to superheroes but he was still excited to be Hook. It was fun to see him preen in the mirror after I drew on his mustache. Handsome boy.

And darling Rhett was Peter Pan. He refused to wear his brown belt but did great keeping his hat on tonight. And because Max and Kate have swords and hooks Rhett must have one too. It keeps the peace around here!

Since we were missing our beloved daddy the wagon was essential to my success tonight. Even if Phil had been present the wagon would have accompianied us. We get so many comments and looks when we bust the train out. Probably doesn't help matters that I am 8 months pregnant... "Hey! All you need to do is add a caboose!"

Rhett was so cute tonight trick or treating. He would holler out "Happy Halloween!" to everyone and say "thank you" and endlessly yelled out "bye!" when we would leave houses. He really enjoyed himself this year and made lots of neighbors smile.
 

We also painted pumpkins. This is a tradition we will certainly continue, less mess and the kids actually DO the pumpkins instead of Phil and I carving 3 pumpkins and then having the pumpkins rot out before the holiday due to our mild weather. As the kids get older we will reevaluate but for now this is perfect. They went crazy painting and placing foam Halloween stickers over every inch of their work.

 

The finished products.



Happy Halloween!

Kate: Dance

 

I signed this cute girl up for a weekly dance class this year. It is low-key and simple, just what I wanted as we dip our toe into extra-curricular activities, and considering that she is only 4 years old. No "Toddlers and Tiaras" for us!

The class is 45 minutes long, taught in the instructors home with a handful of other cute toddlers. I sat in one one class and captured video so Phil could see her in action. It is a beginning dance and tumbling class where the girls can get an introduction to tap, ballet, jazz, and tumbling. It is also pretty fun to watch! She can be pretty distracted during class but when she pays attention she follows the teacher's lead quite well.

Kate loves it and feels so special in her little leotard. I see dance classes continuing in her future and I would like to keep it more low-key and fun until she decides she wants something more. She doesn't come home and show off her newly learned skills but I know that she is learning on a social level and is building confidence.

10 on 10: September 2013

I suppose I should get this post up before October's 10 on 10 comes up in two days... I'm slogging through images from the past few months, trying, trying, TRYING to get caught up! Ahem, here we go.
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One photo, every hour, for 10 hours

7:00am|Breakfast

5 bowls of hot oatmeal. Walnuts and raisins for me. We mostly do cold cereal for breakfast on weekdays but on days that I don't work I like to make healthier fare.



8:55am|Tiny Dancer

I drop Kate off at dance class and we are a few minutes early. I take a chance to snap a pic of our pretty girl. She loves dance and I will talk about that soon!

9:00am|The hand-off

While Kate is at dance the boys and I either run an errand or go home. I can't remember what we did since it was so long ago. Let's say we ran errands/picked up some groceries.

10:47am|Baby Rowyn

After Kate's class we head over to Lindsee's house to meet their new baby. Kate was thrilled and is very excited for our new baby to come. She asks me questions constantly about our baby; if he is going to drink milk and watch a show like her, is he going to eat dinner with us, is he wearing clothes, that my belly is growing bigger and bigger, that the doctor is going to open my tummy and then close it...

Even Rhett got in on the baby loving action here. Makes me happy and excited for our little man.



After fawning over baby Rowyn I shoo Kate away to play with Nora so I can get my baby fix.

11:39am|Book Buddies

We take our leave from our lovely friends and get the kids ready for preschool. This is my view from the driver seat as I drop them off.

12:30|Little Learners

1:56pm|Work at home

A screenshot of my phone as I plan for my work day tomorrow. Rhett naps during preschool so I stay home and either veg out or get busy with household chores, especially if Kara is coming the next day and I am working. I like to get my chores done so the house isn't a total disaster with my being gone and then when I get home I just need to worry about dinner and the night time routine. Based on the upcoming pictures it looks like I cleaned up after our morning and then steamed our floors.

3:18pm|Waking Up

The kids are home from school and Rhett is up from his nap.



Snack time after preschool and naps. The chairs are on the rug since I did a thorough cleaning of our constantly dirty floors. Thank you children...



5:53pm|Inspiration

Reading in the Ensign magazine. This paragraph stood out to me and I am grateful for my personal trials and experiences. It was gratifying and comforting to read that it isn't all for naught. There is a higher purpose in experiencing them.

Utah: July 2013 | Part 3

There are so many pictures to post that I wanted to keep the posts manageable. Final post of our Utah adventures!

To say the kids enjoyed taking their first quad ride with Papa would be an understatement. Link is the water master for his city and as such his duties include managing the water flow to all the farmers and fields. He has a quad to allow him access up into the mountains and around town. When not in use it is parked in their carport and every time we were outside the kids would climb up onto the quad and horse around. Papa finally took them on a ride and they LOVED it!

Kate was first:



Then Max:



They were beaming post ride!
 

And finally Rhett. He watched Max and Kate go around the block but when it came to his turn...
 

Pure apprehension! That was as far as he got. He did NOT like the helmet put on him and Papa barely got the motor running when the tears started down his face. Not pictured is a freaked out Rhett crying for his mama. Maybe next year.

Max and Kate could have gone again and again.

Utah: July 2013 | Part 2

We stayed with my mom for 10 days. While there our time primarily consisted of outside play; soaking up the cooler weather! The kids had lots of fun with chalk, running through the sprinklers, visiting a few city parks, etc.



We drove to Spanish Fork, stayed with my cousin Melissa and then the next day we planned to meet up with our friends Julie, Owen and Graham in SLC. They had moved up to Utah for the last year of medical school and we were excited to see them. We met at the Hogle Zoo and had a good time. It was rather hot though and my kids got grumpy near the end.

The zoo is wonderful! The kids loved the polar bear exhibit and here they are watching sea lions swim around.



Pretending to be an eagle and spreading her wings.



This picture makes me laugh and accurately portrays the sibling dynamic around here. Rhett is pushing Max away so he can be an eagle all by himself. Ha! Kid knows what he wants and isn't afraid to get it.



Little stinker!



We went with my mom, Papa Link, Kash and my sister Vanessa too. With the zoo so vast and it being so hot we rented some wagons to haul the kids around. I sure got a workout lugging that wagon, three kids and a pregnant belly around. I was more than ready to call it quits after our morning there. We bid our dear friends farewell and drove home to Manti. It was a good day.