Halloween

Trunk or Treat 09

We were in charge of Halloween celebrations this year for Bothwell. We decided on a lighted maze in the park. I think it turned out great and the kids seemed to like it and have fun! We also had a backdrop for pictures and then we just emailed them out to everyone. It was fairly easy with easy clean up! I love fall and the decor... I just wish winter didn't have to follow!

For Halloween this year the kids were....

Kristian was a Pirate

Kassie a Mad Hatter

Kambree a Witch

Gage was Spiderman

THE BEGINNING

I can just see it, it will be here before I know it....

Empty Nest.

My baby started preschool.. he was so excited.

I was not.

He chose his clothes... just like his sisters do. I had no say, what so ever. Hmmmm.... Independence.

They had a name tag and a school bag ready for him, he just had to add his hand prints.

Wow.... it makes me feel even older just looking at the pictures... my babies are growing up, but I still look and feel 27. (HA!) If only....

It does make me happy, however, that he enjoys it, and wakes up every morning and asks "Is it a school day!?" with a great big smile. (well, some days it's not great big. He is his father's son, ya know?)

Preschool is just THE BEGINNING....

4 Great Kids

My Dad took these photos in Lake Tahoe.

Four pretty amazing, fabulous, awesome, wonderful, brilliant, & uber spectacular kids! I love em'!

Kristian 13 years

Kassie 9 years

Kambree 5 years

Gage 3.5 years

I just have one question.... how is it that they all look like their Dad? I mean seriously, you think I could have got at least one out of the bunch!? sheesh!

Swimming Lessons....

... are a staple of summer.

This year was no exception.

{Only because they were scheduled and paid for BEFORE I decided to work full time. So, thanks to my good friends, Tiff & Jen, my kids still got to take their lessons, and they had to take 3 extra kids everyday.}

Kassie had something to say, apparently....

I just love this pic of Kam & Nick.... mostly because I can't wait to show it to them in 10-15 years! :)

Gage really surprised me with how much he got involved and loved it. I really thought he was going to need quite a bit of coaxing.

.... and he even braved the "big kid" slide! :)

Another year of improvements.... just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

3 and a HALF!

Gage has an unfortunate Birthday.... December 26th! So for now, until he is old enough to decide for himself, we give him his Birthday gifts on his "half Birthday" which falls on June 26th. This year, I wasn't the best at snapping those photos, but I did get a couple....

Since birth we have called him "Gator".... and Grandma Caroll found him this shirt that was just perfect for him!

He got to go to the store and pick out a toy.... and he came home with a Cement Truck. Needless to say, he LOVES it!

He also got a new swimming pool, some much needed wrangler jeans, a gun and holster set, a Bumblee Transformer, and some sand toys. All in all, he thought it was great and he got to open some presents other than at Christmas!

Daddy's "Mini Me"

It's no secret.... Gage Idolizes his Dad.... Here is just another example......

It doesn't matter what Cory is doing.... Gage has to be doing it too.

This was just too cute to pass up...

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was spent at home.... nice and quiet and together as a family.

After a great morning at church, we had lunch, naps, and played outside in the warm sunshine!

(Whewww.... I haven't jumped on the trampoline for a while! What a workout! :D)

gotta love that bunny..... he always knows what to get! Just look at those smiles!

Children's Treehouse Museum

We started off Spring Break by heading down to Ogden to the.....

Children's Treehouse Museum

The kids had tons of fun... I sat on a bench and read a book looking up appropriately and ooohhhh-ing and ahhhhhh-ing when I heard that ever familiar "Mommy Look" shout. A perfect place for all of us.... and they are asking to go back already. We spent 3 hours there, with crafts, games, puzzles, toys, things to climb all over, and plays to participate in.

It is totally recommened for anyone who has never been!

Afterwards we walked over to the Soloman Center and had dinner at Costa Azul while watching the kids on the Flo-Rider. It was a great day out!

How Sweet It Is.....

..... when they play outside.... so hard and long... that when they come inside, they just crash!

I LOVE that kind of play!

Looking forward to Spring and Summer more and more everyday.

A Little Too Early?

Maybe.

It was a little cold.

But it was fun.

Lunch of Chicken Nuggets and the park. One of our favorite spring outings. It was a fun day.

Gage's Photo Shoot

Gage got ahold of my little camera last night.....

I was obviously distracted.

Gottta love the outfit....

(and the fingers in the way of the lens)

No makeup.... (with my adult acne problem. geez!)

and singing songs together....

not lovely..... but fun. (man, I love that kid's belly laugh)

First Snow of the Year

If you know me, you know I HATE to be cold.

So needless to say, any winter sport is not my thing.

Taking a few pictures was bout my extent of participation in the following activities....

here are 2 of probably the 5 I took before it was too cold, and I went back inside.

Aaron and Amy took the kids on the big sled.... which we usually pull with the 4 wheeler. Aaron claims this big sled is too big for the 4 wheeler with this many people... I don't know if I buy that.... maybe this "hates to be too cold" thing runs in the family?

Cory took this on December 13th. One of our first big snow storms. I had to work that morning, so Cory let the kids go out to play. They were still out when I got home.... they had soooo much fun! (can you guess whether the Saturday chores got done FIRST before play?)

The Pouter

Gage absolutely loves to ride the skid loader with Grandpa.

His ears are fine tuned to the roar of the motor and the back up beeper.

He will come running and shouting.... "mom, grandpa's on the skid loader!" and is instantly rounding up the "gear" he needs to head out in the cold.... long before any of the rest of us can hear it.

Today was a repeat of those events.... but only after 10 or 15 minutes, Grandpa had to bring him back in cuz the loader got a flat, and he needed to go home to change it, and he would be back to get Gage. However, Gage just wasn't getting it, and immediately started to cry, ran in his room to pout, and this is what I found a few minutes later.....

Silly kid. Pouting doesn't pay..... it puts you to sleep!