Taking a Breather...

Scott has been so busy finishing up the fence project, I insisted on an overnighter in Park City. I knew that unless we actually physically removed ourselves from the house, we wouldn't be able to give the boys 100% attention because we've always got, "just one more thing to do, then we'll play with the kids."

We had dinner at a pizza place on old Main Street, swam in the pool and soaked in the outdoor hot tub, and watched, "King Fu Panda." But the boys favorite activity at the condo has always been "swimming" in the giant tub.

It felt so great to get away just for a short time and to enjoy being a family. It was a good reminder of just how delightful the boys are when we aren't at home under pressure to get one more task completed.

Warning: contains "graphic" images!

One Month Isn't Enough...

I have thoroughly enjoyed the two radio stations that I have found that play Christmas music starting 1 November. I do believe I'm not in the majority with these feelings. Many feel like a traitor if Thanksgiving isn't given 100% full attention until it's passing every fourth Thursday of November. I still feel complete loyalty to Thanksgiving despite my enjoyment of the holiday music before the official Turkey Day has passed. What other time of year do we actually get to hear songs about Christ, His birth and the significance of His life, played continually on public radio? Not only the religious music; but the fun, catchy, cheery tunes of Christmas are much too wonderful to only be enjoyed a short four weeks of the year.

Now I don't enjoy seeing Christmas merchandise being put on display in September. I do find this annoying. I think the commercial aspects of Christmas should be limited to four weeks of the year, but Christmas music - no! It needs additional playing time to lift spirits and to enjoy many sing-alongs while driving in the car.

So if you take offense to Christmas music playing before the passing of Thanksgiving, please don't ask me for a ride anywhere.

Halloween Lessons Learned...

Halloween 2008 - it was a great celebration for all. Eli is so totally in love with and excited about Halloween, he would announce first thing every morning for the past couple of weeks how many days until Halloween. I seriously doubt he slept much on Halloween Eve. The weekend before, Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham had their "traditional" Halloween Party. It's only been a tradition for three years now, but it is so wonderful it is the topic of discussion throughout the year. The traditions include jack-o-lantern shaped pizzas from Papa Murphys; a large cauldron of Witches Brew (homemade rootbeer) smoking in the center of the table; touching all of the scary items placed in bowls under a towel- things like Goblin eyeballs (peeled grapes), dead mans veins (spaghetti noodles), witches hair (cooked Ramen noodles), etc.; and everyone coming in costume. This year we were in charge of the games and decided on Halloween bingo, the Mummy game, bean bag toss, and bobbing for apples. The funniest part of the games was Asher's insistence in playing all of the them. He has no doubt that he is able to do everything his big brothers do. Yes, he did bob for apples and did actually get one without drowning himself. He was quite proud. When we started the Mummy game, where two teams are wrapping up their "mummy" with toilet paper, he started into a major tantrum until I finally figured out he wanted a roll of toilet paper of his own to start wrapping up Dad with. Once I supplied him with his own roll, he was so happy and felt like a major contributor to the team. Lesson learned = don't forget the little guy, who has no idea he's the little guy and is positive he's just as capable as the big guys.

Grandma Fotheringham - Creator of the much-anticipated Halloween Party

"Look what I won playing Bingo!"

Even though you know it's not real, feeling all of the gross Halloween items under the towel does get disguisting!

Asher was a major contributor to Mummy Team #2 after he finally got his own roll of T.P.

Uncle Colt as Mummy #1 with his team, who claimed victory.

Dad as Mummy #2

On Halloween day, Oakley and Eli both dressed up for school and had party's with their classes. That afternoon, Grandma Fotheringham and I braved the crowds at the Pleasant Grove Park where there was trick-or-treating with many of the local businesses setting up tables and handing out candy. All Oakley wanted to do was play at the playground and couldn't have cared less about obtaining any candy. Because it was crowded enough I couldn't have seen him at the playground from the trick-or-treating line, I told him he had to stay with us. He was not too happy and continued to pout until we finally reached the end of the line and he could go and play. I think all three of the boys would have much preferred the playground equipment to the trick-or-treating. Oh well, another lesson learned.


After the park, we went back to the house where Great Grandma Moore and Grandpa Fotheringham joined us for a quick dinner before we headed out for the neighborhood Halloween activities. Many families in the neighborhood had signed up to have specific activities at their houses and Eli was especially looking forward to the Weaver's spook alley. Oakley did not want to go. He wanted to go home with Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham and sleep over at their house, which he does every Friday. Scott was trying to insist that he go with us. Oakley doesn't eat candy, so he doesn't care about trick-or-treating. Oakley doesn't like scary things, he gets way too freaked out. Oakley doesn't like wearing costumes, and he'd been wearing his since 8:00 that morning. Why did he want to force Oakley to go out in the cold, wearing an uncomfortable costume, begging for candy from neighbors, all when it was late and all he wanted to do was go to sleep? Lesson learned= you can't force people to like something they don't. Just like we can't convince Eli NOT to totally love everything associated with Halloween, we can't force Oakley TO love it.

The trick-or-treat gang ready to hit the trail.

A lot of life lessons to be learned every day, including Halloween.

Asher is amazed at all the candy he got trick-or-treating.

Eli is quite pleased with his bowl full of candy.

Asher is giving Dad strict instructions that the candy in this bowl is his and no one is to touch it, including Dad.

What's So Great About Pumpkinland?

There are many traditions that seem to form quickly with our family, especially with the holidays. I know this is partly influenced by Oakley and his tremendous desire to keep everything the exact same and completely predictable. We stumbled upon Pumpkinland by accident a few years ago and it is now on the Must-Do list for Halloween. Oakley and Eli both know that Pumpkinland opens on 1 October and they ask at least seven hundred million times a day when we are going to Pumpkinland as soon as we turn the calendar to October. This is why we usually end up going quite early in the month to kick off the Halloween season and to stop the endless questioning of when we will be going.

To most people over the age of twelve, Pumpkinland just looks like a law suit waiting to happen. It is located at a Garden Center that has to have existed since the beginning of time. Pumpkinland consists of the following- a small corn maze created for younger kids that doesn't take hours to find your way out of (unless you're directionally challenged like most of the Beeson Family) that has silly Halloween jokes posted on signs throughout the maze that the boys laugh and laugh and laugh at (although I don't think they really understand any of them!); a walk through a pumpkin patch; seeing a few animals in their cages, like goats, chicken, bunnies, and ducks; a couple of inflatable slides; and the highlight of it all, a "spook alley" where you walk through the big barn where all of the fertilizer and such things are stored. To create the "spook alley", all of the bags of lawn and garden items are covered in black plastic. There are several Halloween inflatables along with many Christmas lawn-ornament type things (i.e. the white deer made out of wire and white Christmas lights) to see as you weave your way through the stacks of 50 pound bags. It is dark and the children feel quite brave after making it through the maze. I just feel light-headed from the overpowering smell of fertilizer!

Eli visits the bunny house.

After a significant amount of time spent playing on the inflatable slides, the boys pick out a pumpkin and we're on our way. The boys are thrilled and I am grateful they are so happy about an activity that only cost $3 person. How many more years will Pumpkinland hold it's magic?

Sticker on the Bathroom Wall...

Eli pointed out a sticker he had stuck on the bathroom wall and said, "Mom, did you see the sticker I put up?" Just as I was about to remind him of the stickers-on-shirts-and-paper-only rule, he said, "That's so we can always have love in our house."

I guess we can make an exception to the rule this time...

Steak for the Whole World...

Scott was out grilling steak and the boys were playing baseball in the backyard. Oakley said, "Those steaks smell so good, you should just grill some for the whole neighborhood because I'm sure they can all smell them, too." Scott said that sounded like a good idea, and then Oakley added, "Well, why not for the whole world? Europe, Asia, Africa, and, my favorite, Sudan." When Scott asked Oakley where he learned about Sudan, he said, "From Grandma's globe."
Do people in Sudan even eat beef?!?!

6:15 a.m. and Ready to Sled...

I don't know, if given the choice, if Eli would pick a day of sledding or a day at Disneyland. It would be a tough choice for him I think.

The first snow of the season graced us with it's presence this morning. Eli had every article of snow apparel spread all over the entire main floor of the house and was at my bed side begging me to go and get the sleds out of the shed for him - and it was only 6:15 a.m. I have a love/hate relationship with snow. I love that the kids find it to be such a wonderful source of entertainment. I hate that it takes a minimum of 30 minutes to get them all geared up to go outside and play- finding matching gloves, boots that fit, getting the fingers in the right holes of gloves, and each child wanting to be ready first- all demanding that I help them right now. After this process that seems way too long, all too soon they are back in the house ignoring my commands to stop at the door and put all of their wet things on the mat. Instead they are wandering through the house, leaving a trail of snow and wet with every step, looking for me and asking for hot chocolate. Then the job of getting all of the wet clothes spread out to dry so they'll be ready for the next "fun" snow day.These are the mornings I wrestle with my selfish self. To be honest, I was not bright and cheery as I was enduring the "children going out to play in snow" routine. What I really wanted to do was get a fire going, make some hot chocolate, and read the Sunday paper. I was mad that this is not what I was going to be able to do and really wanted to. (How's that for a two-year-old mentality?!?!) Once we were actually outside sledding, I did find much happiness in watching Eli sled down the hill smiling from ear-to-ear and listening to him giggle. It was quite entertaining to watch Asher try and move in his snow clothes. He waddled around, unable to bend any limb because of the bulk of the clothing. When he was getting into the sled, he would just sort of fall into it because he couldn't actually bend enough to climb in. I know the day is not too far distant when I will look out my front window on a snowy day and see other young children sledding down the hill. I may actually be drinking hot chocolate and reading the paper because my kids are too old to want to go sledding anymore. How will I feel then? Probably longing for mornings like this when my small children thought freshly fallen snow was as wonderful as Christmas morning and wishing I was digging through the bin trying to find another set of matching gloves- but if they could just wait until 9:00!

Asher could barely waddle in his snow clothes. If he fell over, he couldn't get up without help. But he was warm!

Asher discovered it was much easier to just slide down the hill on this stomach after he kept slipping and falling when he tried to walk.

Eli wanted to teach Asher all "the ropes" of sledding. He was teaching each step in the process and always made sure Asher had an equal number of turns on the sled.

Stop, Drop, and Roll...

Eli's Preschool class went on a field trip to the Orem Fire Station and I got to with them. Eli has been learning about fire safety at school and has been "teaching" me all about it numerous times a day.

Eli enjoys some cotton candy while watching the firemen put out a propane tank fire.

Miss Stacey's All Aboard Preschool Class.


What a darling fireman!

There was a trailer there that they would fill with fake smoke and let the kids practice crawling out of the room safely. This really freaked some of the kids out and the smile on Eli's face in the picture is completely fake, he was really worried about the whole situation.

All of the kids escaping out of the smokey trailer. Eli even crawled down the steps out! He wasn't taking any chances of inhaling any smoke!

The highlight of Eli's day- and what he's been talking about since he's known about the field trip - spraying the fire hose.

The Caboose Turns Two...

Although the calendar now indicates that Asher is two, it seems he entered into the Terrible Two stage months ago. The day started off with all of the family entering Asher's room and singing Happy Birthday to him while he sat in his crib with this forced smile on his face and a look that seemed to say, "What are you people doing?!?!?!" Great Grandma Fotheringham, like clockwork, showed up with Asher's gift before ten in the morning. She has never missed getting the boys their birthday gifts ON THEIR BIRTHDAY, first thing in the morning. One year, on Oakley's birthday, she was at the hospital with Grandpa. She called to see if we wanted to pick up Oakley's gift that was ready at her house because she wanted to be sure he got it on his birthday. Not even hospitalization keeps Grandma Ham from getting birthday gifts delivered on time!

Asher's Real Birth Day.

Oakley and Eli meet their new brother for the first time. I love this picture because of the complete awe on Eli's face and the total look of contentment on Oakley's face.

I'm grateful every day Grandpa Moore was able to meet his namesake. Of course I wish Asher would have more vivid memories of him, but I am going to make sure he hears all about his Great Grandpa Moore and the amazing man that he was.

Look how fast one year goes!

Happy First Birthday!

Asher enjoys some of his first birthday time with Grandpa Fotheringham.

After Grandma Ham's visit, there wasn't birthday activity until that night. We decided to try the Mayan Restaurant again, even though the last time we went the food was terrible. We had heard from others they had improved, so we were willing to give it another try. The Mayan has great entertainment for young kids and is set up like you're eating in a rain forest. They have a show with cliff divers and fire dancers, which the whole family loves to watch. Most importantly, it's a family atmosphere and we don't have to worry about our wild monkey boys disturbing others who are eating. You don't have to be quiet at the Mayan and there is plenty of room for the kids to roam around, which is just what our boys need.

Second Birthday Celebration at The Mayan!

After dinner at The Mayan, we returned home and let Asher open his presents from the family. We are having the party for the extended family on 13 October. Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham are on a cruise and we didn't want them to miss it.

Asher LOVED his dancing and singing Teletubbie. He was laughing and laughing as he watched it perform.

Eli could not resist "helping" Asher opening his presents. Actually, he wanted to open them all and we had to keep reminding him that they were Asher's presents. Thankfully Asher didn't seem to mind- I don't think that will be the case for his 3rd birthday!

I can't imagine our family without Asher. Some times I think he is so much like Oakley and then other times I think he is so much like Eli, so I guess that means he's got a little of both in him. Actually, he is definitely his own man. We love you, Asher, and look forward to many, many, many more birthday celebrations with you!

Not One Little Bit...

We were putting up the Halloween decorations last night. I was in the kitchen putting up a few things when Oakley came in from the living room and said, "Jesus isn't scary - not one little bit." I was at a loss for words- what was he talking about? His next statement didn't bring any clarity, "Maybe we could put him on another shelf in the closet." I told him, "You're right, Jesus isn't scary. But what are you talking about 'putting him on the shelf'?" Finally- it all made sense. Oakley was putting some decorations on top of the piano and he wanted to move my olive wood carving of Christ washing the disciples feet - since "Jesus isn't scary one bit" and didn't fit in with all the "scary" Halloween decorations.

Oakley is definitely right - Jesus isn't scary , not one little bit.