Jack-o-lantern

My little pumpkin turned three today! I can't believe it. Where does time go? I want him to stay little and never grow up. Can someone invent a potion for that?

Here are three great things about Jack on his 3rd birthday:

1. He is so full of life and energy.

2. Whenever I kiss him he ALWAYS wipes it off. (no matter what!)

3. He follows his big brother around like a shadow. He even mimics him and what he says. Oh, the innocence!

We had a great day today. He had a birthday party and all his friends came to celebrate. I decided that he will have plenty Halloween themed parties so we went with the pirate theme. We had a great day! I love you Jack.

Nana's Festivities

My mom has a party for us every year for Halloween. This year we had it at her new Haunted House. The kids had such a great time. We played many games. We ate dougnuts off of a string, a cupcake walk, and a fish pond. The best part of the night came when we all had glow in the dark vampire teeth, and played sardines in the haunted house. All the lights were off and the kids were paired with an adult and we hid in the dark. I have to admit it was scary, but a TON of fun. Thanks Nana for getting us together for some good times!

We LOVE you!!!

The kids with their costumes off! George didn't have anything on under his costume!

This is Ashlie's costume! It is what my mom looked like at 28! That is hillarious, and spot on, yet again! (can you see the shoulder pads? Then the wings in her hair, Wow, did we really?)

Mexican wrestlers!

Aggie football player and cheerleader!

Snow white, Go-Go dancer, Storm Trooper, Spiderman, Ironman!

...0h, ya, and Bumps was MIA! You better watch yourself Bumps, we are going to stop inviting you!

Monster Mash

The annual Halloween party was an absolute riot! The costumes were so fun and creative. We are so blessed to have such great friends! Love you all!

Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons

Ragedy Ann, and Andy

Gospel Singers

Warren Jeffs, and One of his wives

MJ, and a Geisha

Paulette Bonafaunte, and UPS guy!

(Legally Blonde, and dead on!)

Snow White and Prince Charming

Oprah and her Candidate! Barack!

Such a great night! Thanks Scott and Niki!

Pack's Pumpkin Patch on a Rainy day...

Well, this place is a tradition for us at this time of year! We love to go and play. Ashlie called and wanted to go last week because it was rainy and not very many people would brave the mud. (Germ-a-phob!) We had a great time, and loved seeing George and Scarlet again!

Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Love that face

Ditto!

Ditto!

Seizing an opportunity

Today I did something a little out of the ordinary, and I want to remember it. Ruby fell asleep in my arms today. This is nothing new she is only 4 1/2 months old. I went to put her down in her bed; I had a list FULL of things to do! Getting in the shower was one of them. As I went to lay her down I glanced at my sweet little girl, and I thought, "hold her for a minute, she won't sleep in your arms for much longer." Time with an infant is fleeting! Anyway, I did. I sat down in my rocking chair and held her. I started thinking about who this little girl will be. Will she be sweet like her sister, or funny like Hank? Maybe she will be a fire pistol like Jack. Who knows what she will be, but she will always be mine. I am so thankful to be a mom, and I am even more grateful for the inspiration to sit down and enjoy them! That didn't come from me. Thanks to my Father in Heaven for that! I wanted to document this event so that 10 years from now when the sound of a baby crying will not come from this house I can sit down and read this post and know that I held her when I had the chance! Life is busy, and I rarely slow down to appreciate anything! Today, I appreciate little ones that I can snuggle close and kiss! Today, I seized an opportunity...

FOOD!

For the past week Ruby has been eyeing my every bite. So last night we decided to give her some rice cereal. She loved it! It was so fun. I can't believe how fast she is growing up! She will be five months on the 4th of November. Where does the time go? It seems that with Ruth the doctor told me to put her on some rice cereal at 4 months because she was so little. Then the doctor told me to put Hank on rice cereal at 4 months because he was so big. Either way you look at it you can find a reason. Ruby's is, she just can't stand it anymore! Here's to good ol' rice cereal!

(The hairnet was lovingly placed there by her nana, we were calling her "Lunch Lady")

Favorite Friday

Since Ruth was about 1 we have been going to play group. It has turned into this great thing that I do with my kids. I can run errands, do laundry, mop that floor, go to the doctor any other day of the week, but Friday I am out of the office! I am with my kiddo's. My hope is that when they get older they will remember this and still want to be with me on friday afternoon! I figure I have a few years to get them to decide that I am "OK." Then I will loose them to their friends. This is my attempt to have some great times with them outside of our home, and away from "the usual"

Today we did one of my favorite things to do. We went to Antelope Island! It is such a fun outing. The buffalo never cease to amaze me. They are so close to us and not in a cage! CRAZY! We went out to the Ranch and played. We had a picnic lunch, too. Cooper and Lily joined us today! We love them. Thanks Utah State Parks for giving us a great time today!

The black spot behind them is a buffalo

The Ranch is a fun little ranch/museum.

sheep hearders trailor.

The kid's and Em with a horse. (I can't remember his name, my brain is failing me?!?!)

That is Bountiful in the background

Jack, Lily, Cooper, Hank

OH MY GOODNESS! My life is complete with this girl in it! You can see why if you just look at those eyes!

Sisters

There is nothing better in this world than a sister. I know because I have one! Currently she is on hiatus with her latest addition to her family. Soon I will get her back, but meanwhile the 45 minute phone calls, several times a day, will have to do. I hope these girls have it just as good as I do!

Randomness

I just found this as I was downloading pictures. Sometimes I wonder if they even like each other? Who knew they do!

So sweet...

Homemade Rootbeer

It is a tradition to make homemade root beer occasionally in the fall. We did it last night and the kids totally enjoyed themselves.

We even had a few witch spells cast as well!! Spooky:)

Journey to a place we don't mention!!

We went to the BYU vs. Utah State game awhile back. My Aggies did a pretty great job! We went with some of our great friends who cheer for the other team. They were so kind to invite us. We made a little stop to the book store, because, despite our efforts our sweet first born son has gone to the other side?!?! We are going to do all that we can to support him! Here is the one and only picture we got of the event:

Look how proud Hank is to be wearing his "Coug" outfit! You gotta love it!

**While we were there I had Hank and Jack standing together to text a photo to my dad. I said, "Go..." Hank yelled, COUGS! While Jack yelled, AGGIES! Yippee. We got a lot of looks for that one! Oh well.

Black Island Farms

I love the fall. The chill in the air, soup, and jackets. One of my favorite things to do is go to the pumpkin patches. We always go with the Martineau's! Thanks Niki for the pictures! My camera battery was dead. Black Island Farms is so fun. They have animals, slides, mazes, and a hay ride. Thanks for a great time, friends!

I love this man!

He's HERE!!

Grant arrived this morning at 3:00 am! He is seriously so cute. Mom and baby are doing great! She seriously just pushed one little push and out he slid! Better pictures to come.

7 lbs. 12 ounces, 22 inches long!!! Seriously!

Strawberry blond, curly hair, YUMMY!