Brian's 32nd Birthday

I find it rather fitting for Brian to have a fall birthday.  The rest of us are in the summer time, so it's nice to break things up and have cake in November, too.  Additionally, it's football season, and Brian is a big BYU football fan.  So, he always gets a football cake!  This year, I added "Y" brownies to the party.

I'm thinking he's getting too old to "light the Y".  Next year, we will have to cut it a few candles short.

By the time we got back from dinner and had dessert, Sadie was tired and grouchy.  She would have NOTHING to do with singing the happy birthday song!

Halloween 2013

Halloween.  My most dreaded holiday every year.  The kids LOVE the Halloween Fairy, so, the uber-practical side of me says, "why not talk them out of even dressing up and just hand over their pajamas at the beginning of October?"  But, then, I remember they are kids and they LOVE to dress up, so, I can't be a total scrooge and take all the fun away.  

So, this year (2 years in a row!), I decided to go with a family costume again.  I made the girls poodle skirts when Morgan was in Kindergarten (for 50's day), and, they are starting to get a little snug, so, we hurried up squeezed one more wear out of them!  And, with felt on sale, and 50% off coupons, I was able to make my skirt for under $10.  Add some tulle ribbon for scarves and bows, and we were good to go!  

Here we are just before the ward party.  It's a lot of fun--a chili cook-off, and the youth set up a bunch of carnival games for the kids.  Too many cupcakes, too many temporary tattoos, but, lots and lots of fun!

Morgan and her friend, Eliza, from school.

Carson was drawn to the speaker, playing (way too) loud Halloween hits!

Then, there was Daddy's work party.  We have 3 of about 25 kids in the entire office, and everyone loves to decorate and pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters, so, the kids scored way too much!

This year, they did a photo booth, and this is my favorite picture.  I wish the quality were better because I'd love to frame this!

After only 2 nights, these kids had more candy than they knew what to do with!  After all, Morgan only got 7 pieces, Sadie 5, and Carson 2.  That meant a LOT for the Halloween Fairy.

By the week BEFORE Halloween, the kids were done.  After Daddy's work party, they asked if I could call the Halloween Fairy and ask her to come early this year.  They would leave all their candy from trick-or-treating with the Hursts in Arizona.  And, since they came up with the plan all on their own, the Halloween Fairy came early, bringing new pajamas!  

And, they still went Trick-or-Treating with the Hursts when we went to Phoenix!

September Happenings

Daddy happened to work late on Talk Like a Pirate Day, so we headed over to Krispy Kreme for some FREE donuts!  (After waiting in line 45 minutes, I was lucky to get this picture!)

Grammy Tammy sent the kids home with a Spooky Box.  The kids loved playing with their masks and the game!  Thanks!

I learned that Carson can now open the refrigerator, and, have relocated the milk.  :)

I FINALLY made it to the 21st century!  Brian promised (5+ years ago) when he passed his FINAL actuarial exam (results came in July!), I could get a smart phone.  Then, rumors started to spread that the new iPhone would be released in September.  So, I (im)patiently waited for its release!  I LOVE the 5s!  The finger touch feature is awesome!  (right: the evolution of cell phones in our family)

  Papa Dale loaned us his little BBQ.  On Sunday afternoons, Brian enjoys cooking a nice dinner on the grill.  We started a new tradition and, when Daddy BBQ's, we have s'mores!

Carson hasn't quite perfected the art of dressing himself, but, he's trying!

Happy, Happy, Birthday to (almost) Everyone!

A major reason why the blog gets neglected all summer long is because it's Birthday Season!  In a short 6 weeks, we celebrate 4 birthdays!  Then, just 2 weeks later, Brian and I celebrate our wedding anniversary, so I get tired of eating cake, thinking about parties (so far, I've succeeded in the kids trading in parties for bigger things, like Disneyland passes), and buying gifts.  In fact, this year, I didn't bake a single birthday cake all summer long.  We took the kids out for each of their birthdays and let the restaurant treat count as the cake.  (I'm sure I'll feel guilty about that later, but, for now, it's great!)

So, here are our birthday stars!

Morgan turned SEVEN on June 18th.  

Favorites:

Nickname: Morgan Rae

Color: "I don't really care what color, but, I do like Blue and Caramel."

Animal: every animal, especially humans

Book: Laura Ingalls Wilder Series

Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean

Song: When I am Baptized (she learned to play it on the piano)

Food: fruits

Drink: ice cold water

Outfit: "I don't care, as long as it's beautiful!" (for a 7 year old, this pretty much encapsulates the   entirety of her wardrobe.)

Game/Toy: playing with stuffed animals (which, due to her mean mother, she only has 2--a dolphin and a bunny)

Friend: myself

Activity: reading

Restaurant:  not a big restaurant fan

Dream Vacation: Denver (this was talked about A LOT this summer, as we prepared to and sold our house there!)

What do you want to be when you grow up? "I still haven't decided!"

On July 16, Carson turned TWO!

Favorites:
Nickname: Carson Dude or Little Buddy
Color:
Animal:
Book: The Napping House
Movie: The Little Mermaid or Annie (he definitely has a thing for redheads these days!)
Song: Pirates of the Caribbean (Yo Ho!  Yo Ho!)
Food: Bananas
Drink:
Outfit:  Mickey Mouse Shirt
Game/Toy: drill set
Best Friend: Morgan
Activity:
Restaurant:
Dream Vacation:
What do you want to be when you grow up?

(Obviously, many of these are still blank, because he can't quite speak for himself.  I just filled in the ones that I know almost definitely!)

All day, he walked around with his balloon, saying, "Monster!  Boon!  Birthday!  Me!"

On July 27th, our sweet Sadie turned FIVE!!

Favorites:

Nickname: Sadie Bug or Sadie Pearl

Color: yellow and blue and purple

Animal:  Hippo (she may just be partial to Lulu, though)

Book:  The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss

Movie: Horton Hears a Who

Song: I am a Child of God

Food: Bean Burrito (preferably from Los Cabos, but, Taco Bell will do in a pinch!)

Drink: Lemonade

Outfit: pink dress

Game/Toy: Candyland

Best Friend: Morgan

Activity: build a tower with blocks

Restaurant: Chipotle (not really, she hates their bean burritos, because they're not mashed up)

Dream Vacation: the Statue of Liberty or Hawaii (she has it stuck in her mind that when Daddy finishes his tests--finished this summer!--he's taking all of us to Hawaii to celebrate)

What do you want to be when you grow up? a police officer

And, finally, on August 2nd, I turned 30.

Brian and the kids made me breakfast in bed, and, per tradition, woke me up with an annoying (but cute!) YouTube video of a Happy Birthday song.  (Last year, it was a mariachi band, this year, the Disney version.)  The kids picked out flowers for me and Brian was sure to bring home a balloon to rub in my age!  Then, I spent the evening with a dear childhood friend, Jennie Taylor, who was getting ready to move to Utah the following week.

And, don't worry.  I'll eventually get around to Brian's November birthday, complete with a cake that I baked and decorated AND a surprise!

Back to School

So, even though we were the LAST people I know of to go back to school (We didn't start until September 10th this year!), we did start a while ago, and, I am just now getting into a routine (more on that craziness later).

So, without further ado, here are our first day of school pics:

Our school is built on a hill.  Well, if you ask me every time I don't get a spot in the teeny-tiny parking lot, I may tell you it's actually more like a mountain.  Needless to say, it's steep, and, on the first day of school every good parent parks and walks their children to their classroom.

Last year, I had NO idea what to expect on the first day of school, since Morgan's Kindergarten was a teeny school of 85 kids.  I just parked in the parking lot and we walked in.  Easy peasy.

So, in 2012, when she started first grade, I had no idea what to expect (like 600+ kids in her Elementary School!).  I parked in the neighborhood and walked with all 3 kids, Carson barely walking himself, about 1/2 mile in my cute shoes (later regretted that choice) to take Morgan to her first day of school.  Big mistake.

This, year, we planned ahead.  And, I think we've found a great new tradition.  We got up and go left the house for school at 7:00, stopping at the donut shop on the way.  That put us in the school parking lot by 7:25, giving us a prime parking spot.  Then, we climbed into the back of the car and enjoyed our breakfast!  Yum!

 Morgan and her friends (photo courtesy of Eliza's mom, Angie).

Sadie got super lucky and Mommy, Daddy, and Carson all brought her to her first day of Kindergarten!!

And, now, while his sisters are away, Carson gets to be the head train engineer!