Doesn't it feel good?

When you get a strike? Some reactions from a recent (okay, try over a month) bowling trip.


Sometimes you can't even believe it!


After his 1st strike


This one just ran around the whole place and tried picking up the balls.


Sometimes they had a little help from this contraption or


From daddy.

Fall Fun

Seeing as it snowed here, I figured I better post these pictures from our Fall fun. S. played hooky from work and his bro, Jesse joined us for our yearly Cox Farm trip. We met up with the A cousins and had a fun time on the slides, corn maze, hayride and of course eating kettle corn.

Christmas Surprise

Did you know...

That I'm pregnant? Yep, 20 weeks and we had the ultrasound last Monday. I'm sure you're wondering what we're having. You'll (and we'll) have to wait until Christmas. There is a special envelope hanging in our tree that has the secret. I feel like a kid waiting for that Christmas surprise. So, if you happen to come to our house--NO PEEKING!!

Any guesses on the sex? S thinks it's a girl. I think it's a boy (and Little Man does, too).

Remember and Respect

We started a new tradition in our home this year. I got the idea from Nie Nie. Every year she has a special Back-to-School dinner for her kids. They have a theme for the year. I think it is a wonderful idea and helps the kids get excited for school.

Our theme this year is "Remember and Respect." I wanted to emphasize the fact that they need to remember what WE have taught in our home. That we might make different choices than our friends. That we have different rules and expectations. I also wanted them to remember to respect their classmates and teachers and themselves.

We invited all the cousins (and Grandparents on both sides and aunts and uncles). We had apples as our centerpieces, we had a big poster with the theme that they helped decorate and hats with the theme and their names. We ate dinner, had the grown-ups tell stories from their school days and talked about the theme. We all ate at one long table. No "kids' table" for this party. Even though it was a little crazy with 11 kids I think they still got some good out of it.

After dinner (Indian Food--homemade, of course!)--we had a fashion show with some of their new outfits, and then dessert--A rice krispie treat school bus and some chocolate cream puffs and coconut-creme cream puffs. We decided to do the party that morning so Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike could come, too, so there aren't many pictures since I was running around doing things. But the table looked really cute!

Trick or Treat Smell My

Happy Halloween!! We've had lots of events this Halloween season (that's right, it's not just a day, it's a WHOLE SEASON)! Starting with an adult-only Halloween party, 2 parades, 1 school party, 1 school function cancelled because of too many sick kids at the school (sick with what, you ask? H1N1 and other flu-fun), 1 church Trunk-or-Treat, 1 trip to Elevation Burger in costume to get free milkshakes, and one night of Trick-or-Treating + Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. Here are some pictures to prove it all.

S and I decided to be Mary Poppins and Bert instead of JFK and Marilyn or Jackie O so the kids would know who we were.

The kids? Star Wars. Why? Because they are OBSESSED with Star Wars Wii. It's going to kill me. At least we have a 30 minute a day limit (plus none on Sunday). Hopefully that will keep me out of the funny farm. S. dressed up as Darth Vadar for Little Man's b-day (I'll eventually post pictures of that) and I was Leia, but we liked our Mary Poppins and Bert better.

The costume low-down: I love saving moolah on costumes!

Mary Poppins: total cost $3.75 for flowers and berries on hat + black spray paint. Had shirt, skirt, ribbon for bow tie, used my 101-year-old gma's hat and spray painted it and glued flowers and berries. I had S.'s g-ma's white gloves and the parrot umbrella from Mary Poppin's on Broadway that was my sister's (this isn't pictured).

Bert: Total cost: $2.
Had jacket, shirt, pants, boots. Spray painted wooden bar we had around the house and cut cardboard for the chimney sweeper. Bought face paint and red material for scarf. Used my dad's hat.

Princess Leia: Total cost $1.49. Made the dress from an old kitchen curtain that had shrunk in the wash. Used no pattern. Found belt at a second-hand store. Used her real hair.

Luke Skywalker: Total cost $0. My mom made his vest for his birthday party a month ago (Carrie--I got the idea from you!). Had pants, shoes and light saber.

Yoda: $0 Borrowed hat and jacket from a friend. Had green face paint.

And there you have it! You can do Halloween for 5 people under $10!


Little Man's school parade



A picture with all the cousins after piano lessons.




Mary, Bert and the Star Wars gang.



After our Adult-only Halloween party. I think this might be a tradition! I'll do a separate post on this--oooh, maybe even on the FLOG that hasn't been touched in over a year!

Back to School, Back to School

To prove to dad that I'm not a fool (Billy Madison).

School is now in session and I miss my kids (okay, so Little Man is only in 3 days a week for 3 hours, but he told me he wants to be with me instead of at Preschool. Now come get another hug).

So, here are some pics to prove it. I'm pretty sure I'm the last mother on the planet to post first day of school pictures. What was up with all you crazy moms posting it on Facebook like 5 minutes after your kids were in school? Didn't you have breakfast to clean up, laundry to do, errands to run, jobs to go to!??!

ps--

I'm going to TRY to catch up on our events, but wow, this might take a while--I haven't even posted Boo's Baking Party from JUNE!!

Our 2nd Honeymoon

There is a book that our kids like to read, "The Berenstein Bears' Weekend at Grandma's." It talks about how Mama and Papa Bear go on a second honeymoon while the kids stay at Grandma's. We did that. But there were 3 cubs, and well, it was more like 2 weekends + the week in between.

Some highlights:

• Being with Mr. Mud for 11 days straight without the interruptions of work, kids, housework, tv, internet... It was pure heaven.
• Staying with Mark and Aimee and their fam (this definitely helped with me missing my kids. It was nice to play with their three)
• Boat ride on Lake Geneva
• Eating fondue for Aimee's b-day in Geneva
• Glacier in Chamonix, France, Mer du Glace
• Driving from Geneva-Barcelona
• Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona--this place was AMAZING!! I totally recommend it. The streets, plazas, architecture, tapas, beach...
• Mark and Aimee's Navigation system aka "Watson"--totally saved us!
• Tapas, different types of Orangina, Chocolate Croissants, pizza (in Spain!)
• Everyone thinking S was Spanish
• The Sagrada Familia, Park Guell--Goooo Gaudi!
• Las Ramblas
• A girl asking me for directions (to a bar because clearly I'm so hip!) in Spanish--What's up. That's right, I'm a native (or something).
• The Font Magica--the water dances to the music. I thought it was hilarious the modern music was in English.
• Montserrat--hiking around, tram up mountain, delicious goat cheese
• The cool beach in Callela de Palagrugell--the only Americans there!
• Pont du Gard
• European driving
• Gruyeres, Switzerland
• Riding the Maxximum w/ Aimee
• Le Relais de L'Entrecote

But, really I don't want to bore you, so I'll just show you the pictures to make you jealous.

Basically, I now owe my in-laws not only for raising such an incredible son that I am married to, but for watching my kids for 11 LONG days. I think the only way I can thank them (and Uncle Jacob) for watching them is to let them know that we will take care of them in their old age (which is far, far away), you too, Jacob if you want... THANK YOU MOM AND DAD MUD!

If you click on the slideshow you can make it bigger (click upper left after that for full screen).

She finally took off walking just before we headed to SC!! Almost 16 months.



They're so lucky to have such cool Uncles. Thanks to Uncle J. so S and I could be in the ocean at the same time!!



We went to Charleston, SC a couple weeks ago for S.'s cousin, Molly's wedding. We arrived to town on Friday, went to the beach with Uncle J. and hung with the relatives that night. The next morning we woke up ready to go see Fort Sumter or some other interesting attraction when we received a phone call. Our babysitter's(from 3 days before) mother was on the phone. She said, "I feel it is my motherly obligation to tell you that my daughter has the SWINE FLU!!" She then proceeded to tell us that her daughter had gone to the doctor the day after she was at our house, thinking she had strep, but was informed that she had H1N1.

We told her our kids were fine, but that we would watch them. 20 minutes later, Little Man was acting lethargic. I felt his head and he was on FIRE. S. and I decided we wouldn't go to the wedding, but that we wouldn't freak everyone out and tell them our babysitter had swine flu. We got out the handy iphone and got on the CDC website. It said "studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick." Awww, crap. We left the bride's family home to drop off the flowers at the chapel with Grandpa M. in the car. On the way over, Little Man tossed his cookies. Doh. Now everyone knew. I was quite impressed with the mother of the bride. She showed no outer signs of panic, though I'm sure was cursing our names in her mind.

We took Little Man to an urgent care center where he fell asleep on me while waiting (never happens), was woken up to get a chest x-ray and a q-tip stuck up his nose. The results...NEGATIVE. Hallelujah! Could the timing have been ANY WORSE?!?!?

S and Boo enjoyed the beautiful ceremony while I napped at the hotel with Little Man and Nay. I wish Molly and Chris all the best in their life together. I'm glad they didn't start it off with having the swine flu.



Boo with {one} of her beautiful Aunt Mary{s}

We had a birthday celebration for Boo as well. Even with spending hours at the Urgent Care with her sick brother she said, "I think this is the best day ever" at the end of the day. What an optimistic child. I love her.




Look how miserable Little Man looks...

Accomplishments

Ballet Performance (with a duet dance!! She is such a star! I'll post the video later...)

Joy School Graduation

Kindergarten Graduation--Straight As and A+s!!! She is an amazing reader now. She can ready any word. Her teacher said she could read the dictionary.

King's Dominion

He stopped at all the red lights and stop signs. He is a TOTAL "car seat driver" (S. coined that phrase) now. He always tells me to "change lanes" and "go." Takes after his mom's backseat driving.



On the Ferris Wheel--Gma/pa, Uncle Jacob and Joshua




Crazy picture with the iphone.



"Look, Ma, no hands!!"



Look at all those Muds!

We had a fabulous time at King's Dominion for Mormon Day. Boo is a fan of roller coasters, Little Man went for the car rides. Extended family made it a memorable day (and of course we closed the park--10:00pm, baby!)

Easter--Rewind

We were so busy on Easter that we didn't take pictures. About a month later I made everyone wear the same outfit and "pose."


Warning: Do NOT attempt to take pictures of your children after 4 hours of church+40 minutes round-trip driving (we have choir an hour before church. I direct. And yes, you can cry for me).

Our Animal:

Eats a lot.
Makes LOOOOOUUUUDD noises.
Crawls on all fours (yes, STILL).
Makes messes wherever she goes.
Climbs.  

I like this bear cub. I think we'll keep her. I'll just have to take down this ladder.