Thanksgiving 2009

This year we spent Thankgiving in Cedar City with the Wileys. It was super fun and super delicious. The Berretts were very kind and offered us their beautiful new condo in St. George for the weekend. We accepted, of course. It was also super. Thanks Berretts!

There's nothing better than a chocolate cupcake and a roll in the leaves before the big meal. I fully support chocolate cupcakes at any time. Especially on holidays. And days that end in y.

The twinnies got festive in several dance costumes before their leaf jumping. Oh to feel beautiful in spandex.

On Saturday we asked the kids to choose an activity that they would like to do. Being the ambitious little buggers they are, they picked hiking. We decided that was an excellent idea-especially after our super star eating all weekend-and we took them to one of our favorite places from back in the day, Red Cliffs.

I wandered around for a significant amount of the weekend without doing my hair or my makeup. I think I'm getting lazy in my old age. Don't worry, I'm ok with it.

Some of us even climbed up the holes carved in the wall using the rope. It seemed very high and daring over that waterfall.
Yay for boys that pick to go hiking. Also very super.

A Baptism and A Halloween Party

Dax got to be baptised and confirmed on Halloween day, 2009. It was an awesome day for him. And what happened in Sacrament the next day was even more awesome. The Bishopric invited him up to the stand to congratulate him, announced him as a new member of the ward and also invited him to sit with them. They gave him a brand new Book of Mormon as well. As he was standing up there, I noticed a whispered conversation going on between him and the Bishopric councilor. Notice in the picture that he is holding scriptures. Tyler and I gave him a Book of Mormon and a scripture case for his baptism. You can see where this is going, right? Um, yes. He politely informed the Bishopric on the stand in front of the entire ward that he didn't really want their Book of Mormon. He got one with his name on it and everything just yesterday. Thanks, but no thanks. Uh Huh.

Now on the note of that little jem, here's where I get a little mushy. It really was amazing for Dax to have the opportunity to go through this special experience. To become a member of the church and to get to have the gift of the Holy Ghost! What a blessing. I don't talk about it as much as I probably should, but I want my family to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel. To raise these sweet boys into righteous young men who will hold to the rod in this scary world is a great responsibility that I worry about. A lot. And to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to them brings such comfort. I am so thankful for Tyler, that he was worthy to baptise Dax and be an example to all the boys. I am thankful for all of our family and friends, for their support and love. I am thankful that we are an eternal family. The Gospel is true. We are known, and we are unconditionally loved.

After the baptism, we of course had a rockin Halloween party. It was so fun to share Daxon's special day and Halloween with cousins and friends.

A little Rock BandThe Trick or Treat crew

A scary Phantom Skeleton and the Wolf Man on their way to school

Happy Birthday Dax!

Dax turned 8 on Oct. 24, 2009. I have so been loving his age lately. Not a baby, but still young enough to Believe It All. He is such a great kid. Responsible and kind and thoughtful and smart. And such a boy through and through-the blaster slash shooting noises are just getting more realistic all the time. As is the wrestling slash fighting. He is turning into quite the chapter-book reader and has a mind for math like his dad. He also has a mind for Transformers and Star Wars. And much to Tyler's relief he is really starting to like sports. But my favorite by far is evidenced by a paper he brought home from school a little while ago. His class had been talking about individuals and appreciating that everyone is different and special. On a worksheet they answered questions about themselves. One of the questions was "I like ____." Dax filled it in to say "I like imagining." For some reason I just loved that little sentence. It's so him, ever since he was tiny. He loves to imagine and he is good at it:) I think it's great that that is something he knows and likes about himself. I hope he doesn't outgrow it or its coolness anytime soon.

Waiting with some friends to get the party started

We went to Pirate Island Pizza. Needless to say, it was a big hit. And left me with a little yearning to go to Disneyland, for some reason...

I love you Dax. I love to see you ride off on your bike with your friends, I love to hear about the newest Transformer you've created (to a point, anyway) I love to listen to you read, I love to look at your drawings. I love you.

Oooo, oooo Whitchy Woman See How High She Fly i i's...

I'll say just one word. Ok, two. Witchy Weekend. Already jealous, aren't you? There's nothing like a Girl's Weekend. That's right. A. Whole. Weekend. For just the girls. Did you forget I live with only boys?

This weekend happened because of much hard work, including tears and some swearing, on the part of Camille. Who then had to miss much of the fun. In looking at the pictures you will notice that Camille and JoEll are absent. The morning after we started the party in Salt Lake Addie Jo was admitted in to the hospital with pneumonia and they went home to be with her. Because they are moms, and that's just what you do. Thank goodness for moms.

Nothing like a witchy picture to make me want some serious photoshop skills and a diet I can stick to. While still enjoying donuts and Pepsi.

Granddaughters

I have no words except that this just seems right, somehow.

Cheers!

Notice the large glitter eyelashes paired with big black hairy moles.

You try holding up those eyelashes.

This was fabulous! I highly recommend Witchapalooza at Gardner Village, as well as Girl's Weekends in general.

As for Addie, she is still in the hospital. It will be one week tomorrow. Today she received chest tube number two. It has been a rough and very frustrating week for her, as well as for Broc and Camille. The doctors think she may be starting to slowly get better, but still has some yucky days in front of her before she can go home. Addie and Camillie, you girls are my girls:) I love you both!

Cornbelly's

What's more fun than Cornbelly's with cousins? Again with the messed up camera.l-r:Max, Catie, Tyson, Livvy, Hayes and Dax
The corn "sandbox" was a big hit with all the boys.

We took up almost the entire train. Because we rock.

We always have such a great time with Tyler's family-it goes by too quickly and we don't get to see them enough. And we give Cornbelly's an enthusiastic thumbs up!

My Favorite Three Year Old

My Mr. Asher Asher Bo Basher turned 3 years old on October 4, 2009. I can't believe he's so big. But he can. And then some. What's not to love about Ash. The way he talks. The killer dimples. The squishy on-the-mouth kisses the big boys won't even dream about giving me anymore. Even the unibrow. Love it all. And then there are times when he says things like this: As I'm picking him up from Camille's-who babysits him everyday, bless her heart- he starts throwing his usual fit. He never wants leave her house. Its way too fun. It daily reaches the point where it is not cute anymore and I carry him screaming to the car. This particular day he is calling me the name he calls everyone when he wants to be especially mean, which is "baby!" in his meanest voice with his meanest look. (I'm sure it has nothing to do with his brothers telling him he's the baby) So I say to him."Fine. If its so much better here, then maybe Camille will let you live with her." He looks at her and starts to cry. Which makes me feel bad until he says- wait for it- "but I really really like Daddy." Again. What's a mom not to love?

We celebrated Asher's birthday for about three days, which greatly confused him on the fourth day. On the Friday before we went to the dinosaur museum with Grandma Jo and Camille and the girls. I didn't take my camera, and also didn't realize that the settings on my phone camera were a little messed up. Oh well.

Enjoying the highly delicious sliders at Marley's in the Harley Davidson complex

Next we celebrated with Grandma Jo, with whom he shares his birthday. She asked for a yard work party. And that's just what she got. Which explains all of the cuteness in the following pictures. We were doing yard work, people! We can't be gorgeous all the time! Loves, Loves BatmanAnd Loves Loves, Loves Mickey Mouse Club House

Almost as much as we love you:)

Autumn

A few Sundays ago we took a drive up the canyon and hiked the Grotto. It was a perfect day to roll down the windows, turn up the ipod, and sing at the top of our lungs while enjoying the gorgeous scenery. Plus, its nice to take advantage of just being together sometimes.

Until we reach the point of too much togetherness, which happens pretty quickly in the car...

On the way back to the car I handed the camera over to Dax:

I kind of love that this was the last picture I found on the camera after he was finished:)

Uh, Does This Make Me Look Bad?

While I do like to joke about it sometimes, the answer is no. We do not beat our children. Even when they are extremely obnoxious. Which is a lot. And yes. That is a cast on another broken arm. Hayes fell on (or off, more like it) the playground at school last Friday. While Tyler was there. We did the responsible thing and took him to the doctor all the while thinking," Its not broken. We couldn't possibly have another child with a broken arm. He's fine." And the doctor thought he was fine too. No pain, no swelling. Just obnoxiousness. So we went home and went on about our business. Saturday I asked Hayes to fold a basket of towels and suddenly his arm was in excruciating pain. Enough pain to prevent him from folding. Yeah right. Fold the towels. But in his defense, it was starting to look swollen and puffy. By Monday-three days later-it was still sore enough we went back to the doctor (actually Grandma Jo was the lucky one to spend her entire day there-thanks mom:) and sure 'nuff, it's broken. I think Hayes was secretly a little happy about it.

Every once and a while, they're not obnoxious. Every once and a while, they're just so cute I can almost believe it will last.