E's hero

Today Ethan dressed up like a "real life hero" as part of "spirit week" at school. He woke me up this morning and told me he was getting in the shower and that he needed me to help get his church clothes together. I figured that his hero he was dressing like was his dad so I didn't ask questions.. He got all dressed and looked in the mirror and told me he needed glasses "because Bishop Herring has glasses".
Thank you Bishop for being E's "real life hero"!!!!!

all things Halloween

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!! It is my most favorite time of the year. Fall brings cooler weather, a beautiful change of color and for some reason it makes my home feel more warm. I used to go "all out" decorating for Halloween and Eric commented a few years ago that I must be loosing my passion for this holiday. I have come to realize that as the years pass and the kids get bigger I tend to focus more on my day to day schedule and forget how much of the little things I miss out on. I want my kids to have fun memories of growing up and doing fun things together like playing games and baking cookies. Speaking of baking, I hardly do it, I do bake more than I make dinner though. I was reading my cousin's blog last week and she had a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Normally recipes don't catch my eye because I know that I am too lazy to commit to creating things, but this time I knew this is one recipe I could attempt without doing too much damage.



PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 box of spice cake mix
1 can of pumpkin (15oz)
1 cup of chocolate chips

mix those 3 things together, THAT IS IT!!!

bake at 350 for 15 minutes

GENIUS!!!! thanks jennie!

November: National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

I am asking friends like you all to help demonstrate support and raise awareness of Alzheimer's Disease by wearing a special "A Reason to Hope" wristband throughout the month of November. You can get the wristband by donating to the Alzheimer's Association

...3 kids in the tub

My parents have this fantastic tub that hardly ever gets used, it's a shame..anyway, I got this idea to take they boys to their house for a visit and let them "swim" in the tub. They thought it was funny that I made them where their undies, but I told them I wanted to take pictures so nekked bums wouldn't be "appoporate" as Archer would say. They had a ball!! Ryder was doing full on face dives into the water and Ethan even tried to do a cannon ball, I got drenched and got mad! Ethan and Archer both tried to "help" Ryder and of course that made him MAD. They love him so much that they just can't leave him alone to try things for himself.

In a nutshell

We had such a great weekend!!! First Eric picked up his sister Kelly from the airport then Kelly and I took the kids to the Elementary school Halloween carnival with E and Arch. They had lots of fun games, good food and plenty of enflatable bouncy things to play on, but of course the kids had the most fun playing on the playground. What technique!! So much like a monkey it is scary! This hurts my pitts to look at. Saturday Kelly showed us how to geocache and there were lots of fun things to find here in Tooele. The boys absolutely loved it! Eric and I had fun too and we are thinking we might have a new hobby...we will see.. We even helped Aunt Kelly find her 200th cache!

We listened to and watched General Conference and I cried almost the whole time. I love to hear from our wonderful Prophet.

Family Home Evening

We had so much fun yesterday, I know it was Tuesday, Ethan had a prior engagement with his uncle Colby on Monday night. The boys and I headed into SLC to spend the evening with Eric. We walked around the Temple grounds amazed by all the beauty, we went into the Tabernacle and the Meeting House, and then we ended up at the Church Museum. It was so great explaining all of the great things that the Church has on display. The boys were enthralled by the Martyrdom painting of Joseph, the death masks of Joseph and Hyrum and John Taylor's watch that stopped the bullet. The Museum has a special exhibit for kids and the boys loved to color "painted glass" pictures and "build a temple". Ryder just loved to be out of his stroller and to run around. I highly suggest this as a family home evening activity, not only did my kids learn and grow and feel the Spirit, I was too!!
I am so glad that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and has blessed me beyond measure and will continue to bless me.