Hello Pilgrim!

One of my favorite preschool days is the day before Thanksgiving break when the kids all make their pilgrim hats.  I think they look ADORABLE!  Happy Thanksgiving!

All He Wants for Christmas...

... is his two front teeth!

A Watched Pot...

Asher is hoping that by watching the sugar cookies bake, they will get done faster.

Organization = :)

I LOVE anything that increases organization and decreases clutter.  Clutter grates on my nerves and makes me grumpy.  We have recently added a couple of things to our house that have decreased my level of grumpiness.
The first item is a locker for each of the boys.  Now their coats, backpack, winter gloves and hats, boots, swimming fins and goggles all have a spot- versus the middle of the floor!  The boys are still in training to make use of their locker, but they are needing less reminders.

Is that a magazine holder like I see at the doctors office you ask?  Why, yes it is!  I was searching for the perfect system to keep every family members papers that were scattered to and fro throughout the house in one central location.  School calendars, permission slips, book orders, and all random papers usually found cluttering up the kitchen counter.  Not only will it decrease clutter, it will save time since there will be no more searching throughout the house looking for that particular paper- there will only be one spot to check!

Pumpkin guts...

There are many things that I love about Halloween... there is one thing that I really hate- CARVING PUMPKINS!!! Our poor children have not had the actual experience more then a few times because I really can't stand the whole process. I tried to convince them this year that it would be just as fun to paint the pumpkin as to carve it, but no luck- they (especially Eli) were relentless. Eli reminded me MANY times throughout the year that we haven't carved pumpkins in a L O N G time (I take that as a personal victory on my part), but there was no getting out of the chore for Halloween 2010. 

  

The boys did think it was exciting and wonderful. They were thrilled with the faces Scott was able to carve for them based on their own drawings. I had the fabulous job of covering every conceivable area of the counter with newspaper and gutting the pumpkins. Scott had the distinct pleasure of carving the faces. 

Glad we have some pictures for the boys to remember this wonderful occasion because I will be avoiding this activity at all costs each and every Halloween.  There are just some things as parents that, when the children are grown, you won't miss.  This is one of them for me.

The Leaves are Falling Down... gently down...

Happy Fall!  It's amazing how much the boys anticipate and LOVE when the leaves fall from the weeping birches.  They will rake them up again and again, throw hand fulls in the air, jump down on a huge pile, and bury themselves.  Oakley found a new use this year, the perfect spot to enjoy a PB & J is while sitting on top of a pile of leaves.

Back in the Race - Literally...

After an almost 10 year hiatus, I finally entered another race.  Tiffany convinced me to sign up and I was so glad she did.  It was just a 10k, but it was definitely something I had to prepare for.  It was exciting to have the experience again after a very long break being pregnant and nursing and having small children.  Checking in and getting my packet, pinning my number on, trying to stay warm at the starting line with all the other racers, having people on the sidelines cheering you on, and finally crossing the finish line- it was exciting!  Scott, my parents, and the boys all wanted to be at the finish line.  I finished quite a bit quicker than I was expecting, so they just missed my crossing the finish.  They were bummed, but I was still glad they wanted to be there to support me.   As time more time passes, I'm getting bits of my pre-children life back.  I wouldn't trade my children for any life experience, but it is invigorating to be able to do a few more of these kinds of activities.  Now that I've successfully completed this race, I'm on the lookout for my next one.  I would really like to compete in a triathlon, just a sprint- but a triathlon nonetheless.  I think it will need to wait until all 3 boys are in school full time.  But Baby Steps- one baby step at a time...

Days of Magic...

What a happy time when Tana and Maxx came for a visit!  It feels so good to be able to spend time with a friend you adore and don't get to see near often enough because of distance. The few days they were able to be here we filled with a trip to the Zoo and Chuck E. Cheese.  Maxx had never been to Chuck E. Cheese and it was a magical first experience for him.  He also got to take his first trip to the city dump with Scott.  Again, MAGIC-the city dump is an amazing experience when you are a 3 year old boy.

It's Your Looks...

 Oh, how I adore this boy!  Oh, how this boy can drive me to the edge of Sanity and over the cliff!  I often find myself thinking, "If you weren't so darn cute, I don't think I could put up with you!  It's your looks that are keeping you around.  With that smile, there isn't anything you can't get away with."

Man was Made to Work...

After 5 months of "Free Time" waiting for the FAA to approve Scott's medical license, the official letter finally arrived!  Scott was once again legal to fly airplanes.  What an incredible opportunity to have 5 months free of work obligations, especially during the summer when the kids weren't in school and we had nowhere we had to be.

Scott accomplished a lot of projects in the yard- the never-ending, no end in sight yard projects.  But the majority of free time was spent in his new boat.  His water skiing and wake boarding skills have improved dramatically with all of the extra practice.  He's also taken up the air chair- which looks like a major injury waiting to happen.  It's very convenient that his pilot friends, Chad and Ben, are also passionate about boating.  With Chad and Ben having as much time off as they do, the Three Amigos were out on Utah Lake or Deer Creek several times a week. 

With the new school year starting and have 3 kids at 3 different schools with 3 different drop-off and pick-up times, I was so appreciative of Scott being here to help out.  It has been a HUGE adjustment to not have him here to help with all of the morning craziness.  I don't know how to get scriptures read, breakfast consumed, daily jobs completed, piano practice done, children dressed, beds made, teeth brushed, hair combed and family prayer all accomplished by 8:15 alone.

As fabulous as it has been for Scott to be home, I know that man was meant to work.  The boating, camping, fishing, Scofield cabin trips, and other vacations were a lot of fun and this has been a summer like no other we'll ever have, Scott will find much satisfaction earning a living for his family again.  He loves his family, but I don't think men were wired to be home with children all day every day.  He is internally driven to be out earning an income that provides for his family.  Heavenly Father really is smart- His children will find the greatest happiness in life by following the counsel in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

A lot of happy memories for Summer 2010.  A lot of gratitude for the letter received 29 October 2010 that Scott was approved to go back to work.

Outer Darkness...

Until Thanksgiving, each day the family is writing something on our "Attitude of Gratitude" chalk board.  Yesterday Eli wanted to write that he was thankful for our family and that "we can live in this world and not with Satan."  The reading we were doing last week in the Doctrine and Covenants about the three degrees of glory obviously made an impression- Eli does not want to be living in Outer Darkness with Satan.

Halloween Festivities 2010...

Grandma's Annual Halloween Kick-off party was a hit- as usual!  One of the highlights being Jed and Sarah flying in from Seattle just for the party!  This party is getting to have a life of it's own...

All the non-costumers...

Great Grandma Moore with all Great Grand-Goblins

Asher trying out the Edible Barf- most found it disguisting, little Lucas thought it was yummy

The Mummy Game

The dry ice was the hit of the night

Buzz Lightyear bobbing for apples

The Queen of Egypt has to clean up high chairs?!?!  She should have summoned her servants!