Happy Halloween 2010

I made their poodle skirts!  I can say that because they turned out cute.  You can't really mess up this skirt too much, though.  

School Smarts by Alec & Lily

"Third grade is a lot of work.  It seems like just yesterday I was in first grade.."  You and me both, buddy!  This was the conversation Alec & I had the other day while walking to school.  He is growing up way too fast!  His homework made me laugh, though.  At least I know where I stand, which is after money and a pocketknife.

Then there's my Lily.  She absolutely LOVES Kindergarten!!  

She draws pictures for her teacher that are just the sweetest things.  

She is also learning a lot.

"When butterflies come out of their chrysalis, they fly to Disneyland."

And then there's the health & nutrition she is learning.  

"Fruits and vegetables are good for your body, huh mom.  They will help me play soccer better, too.
 So... can I have a pickle??"

Yes, School Started... I know it was three weeks ago!

Well, I'm not sure when life is going to slow down, so I'm ignoring my "To Do List" and am blogging!  School only started three weeks ago, but here are the squinty pictures.

Alec is in 3rd Grade now.  He seems so big & old!

Lily's big day finally came!  KINDERGARTEN!!

She has been excited for school since Alec started Kindergarten.  Really.  

It has been a LONG time coming!  She is the cutest little thing!

And look at her learning to ride her bike without training wheels!  

Woo Woo!

Megan can't be left out of the fun! She is amazing to watch on her wiggle car!

Simon Says Lick

Lily:  Simon Says Lick!
(Licking...)

Lily:  Simon Says Stop!

Lily:  Simon Says Wag your tail!
(lots of giggling...)

Lily:  Simon Says Love!

Lily:  Cooper always does what I say when I say Simon Says.

Simon Says with the dog?  That's a new one!  Lily makes me laugh.

I love summer.  I love watching my kids play together.  They are so creative and funny, it makes me happy.  They play so well together (for the most part), too, that I have to count my blessings!  I can see why Alec loves to play with Lily, when in church last Sunday, Lily quickly took a paper, folded it into a perfect paper airplane, and then said to me, "I wish I had scissors so I could cut a place for the parachuters to jump out."  What a cool sister!

And Megan is just crazy.  She always is singing.  Her favorite songs right now are the ABC song, I Am A Child of God, and "American Flag."  Yes, she made up that last one.  It has great lyrics.  "American Flag, American Flag, American Flag, American Flag..."  I love it!  She is funny.

Megan:  Barbie in time out.  Her being a stinker.
I wonder where she's heard that one before??

Then there's Alec.

Alec:  When I grow up I want to be a doctor, or a pharmacist, or the cashier at Sam's Club or Walmart, because they get lots of money.
Me:  You know that the cashiers at Sam's Club or Walmart don't get to keep all that money that we give them, right?
Alec:  They don't?

Ha Ha Ha!

Alec Is Growing Up

Alec was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on February 6. Tim baptized him. I am so thankful for a husband who honors his priesthood and blesses our family in so many ways. Alec has a wonderful example of how a father should be.

Lily and Megan couldn't stop talking about the baptism. They were so excited for Alec!

I remember when I was baptized. How did I become my parents age already? That is so strange to me! I thought my parents knew everything. Boy, now I know that they must have been figuring it out as they went along, because I sure don't feel like I know everything!!

Alec with his grandparents. We love having them in our lives!

We have such wonderful families.

Alec started Cub Scouts now that he's eight. He loves it!

Alec decorated his own Snake Cake for the Blue & Gold Banquet.

It was pretty rockin'!

He also got his Bobcat Badge at the banquet. Way to go!

Happy Birthday Alec!

Alec turned 8 years old! He was SOOO excited for his birthday! The night before he came downstairs and aksed if I would sew "Happy BDay Alec" on an old shirt. I said, "How about an iron-on?" He just made me laugh! So here is his birthday shirt.

He got a K'nex rollercoaster set for Christmas, and has loved it! So for his birthday we got him a couple K'nex robots. You can wind them up and they move. It's pretty cool!

So sad he had to go to school. Even Çooper looked sad!

He said he wanted a snowboarding cake.

What better than lego guys to act the part.

Happy Birthday, Alec!

You are the sweet boy that makes our whole family laugh!

We Love You!

Halloween Pics, of course

I have the two cutest little Rodeo Queens!

Pink cowgirl hats complete with sequins and tiaras, along with hot pink cowgirl boots make for two happy girls. Lily has told me for the last couple of months that when she grows up she wants to be a Pony Rider. Well, giddy up!

Alec was a beat up Utah Jazz player. Poor Boozer.

Family Pictures

So are my kids sick of my camera addiction yet?? I sure hope not, because they are my favorite subjects!!! We drove up the canyon last week and I saw this red bridge over a river. Oh, yeah... Perfect! We had to come back.

My jack-o-lantern Alec, is losing all his front teeth just in time for Halloween!

Lily was on one. Megan and I were looking through the pictures on the computer, and all these silly pictures of Lily came up. Megan said it all. "Stinker. Stinker."

Lily started posing herself. "What if I did this?"

I think I've created a monster...

Megan is actually getting a lot better for pictures. What a cutie!

I loved these Daddy's Girls pictures!

Tim is such a loving father.

My sister-in-law, Heidi, came up and took some family pictures for us.

I think they are great! She is the one who got me started on this crazy photo hobby, anyway. Thank you so much!

Stupid me, and my cute kids.

So, I've been remodeling the kids' rooms. I know, I know, I must not have enough to do already... and I'm stupid. I decided that it was time to move Megan into the toddler bed, and move Lily into a twin bed (she was still in the toddler bed- she doesn't grow!!). Stupid, stupid, stupid. What was wrong with the crib?? NOTHING!

These were my thoughts the first night of Megan in her "Big Girl Bed" as she is crying and screaming forever, and keeps getting out of bed. Plus, since we got new bunk beds for Alec & Lily, and a new dresser for Megan, now I have to paint both rooms. My house is in complete disarray, and I'M TIRED!!!

Day Two of Stupid Toddler Bed.

Megan falls asleep in the car about noon (yes, I planned that. I'm getting a little smarter). Put her in toddler bed and shut door. She takes 4 hour nap (well, she didn't sleep much that night. duh.) Wakes up happy and talking about Big Girl Bed.

Bedtime. Lay her in bed and walk out while she's screaming!!! She cries for less that one minute, and sleeps soundly all night. Hallelujah!

Day Three of Okay Toddler Bed.

Naptime & Bedtime. Lay her down and walk out. She cries for less than 10 seconds. Touchdown!!!

Day Four of Wonderful "Big Girl Bed."

NO Crying!!! Love it!!

So now I can finish painting! (pictures to come soon... relatively soon, anyway...) As I'm painting, I decide I want to put up new pictures in their rooms, and realize that it's supposed to be raining and gray. I loved the picture I had of Lily, but wanted a better shot of Megan and Alec. Ah! Hurry and take the kids out to the garage and hang up my white sheet.

It's a good thing my kids are patient with my craziness! I sure love them!

Florida, Florida

Alec: "I wish we lived in Florida so we could have lizards and frogs in our grass."

Is that the greatest thing ever? To have to be careful where you walk, especially early or late in the day, because there are lizards running everywhere? And "Keep the house doors closed so lizards don't run inside!" The obvious answer is, YES!!!

We had such a fun time visiting my sister, Candi and her family! It almost makes me want to move there... hmm... palm trees...the beach... Oh, yeah ... hurricanes ...banana spiders (more on thoses later, wa ha...)

We LOVED the beach by their house!

It was so much fun to go snorkeling & see so many fish.

The water wasn't that deep, and we weren't out that far. You put on a snorkel mask, and Holy Cow! There are fish everywhere! So amazing. Kind of creepy. Fish swimming around your feet and you didn't even realize it. I even saw a barracuda a little way off. Even creepier.

We went to the nature park by their house. It is very cool!

All over the board walk in the nature center are these big Banana Spiders. Really Creepy!! There are hundreds of them everywhere you look. Over the path, on the sides, between the railings... Supposedly they are non-poisonous, but it still made you feel weird walking under all their huge webs. Check out my Shot Blog for more nature center pics!

Now, you may be wondering. "Is it hot in Florida during August?" For the answer, look at Megan's hair. She is completely soaked from walking around in the shade! We felt like we were literally melting.

Sydney had a birthday while we were there, and the kids got to go horseback riding for her party. Lucky!!

Alec not so sure about this.

Tate is doing great!

Now, here's Cole riding Cooper the miniature pony. It was so great!

Lily has told me for the last 6 months that she wants to be a "Pony Rider" when she grows up. Well, now she has actually ridden a pony! Way to go Lily!