The Fun Continues

Yesterday we made the drive down to Thanksgiving Point for the not-to-be-missed Cornbelly Maze and other Halloween activities. The kids absolutely love this tradition. This year was no exception. We had a blast except for the lovely 15 minutes we couldn't find Will and for my unforgettable experience in the porta-potty. But that's a whole different story. . .

Besides the maze (in the shape of David Archuleta), the kids enjoyed frolicking in a heap of dried corn kernels, zipping down long slides, jumping on the pillow-like trampoline, digging in the dark sand pit, dressing up in the princess area, playing in the water, and much more! At the end of the night, I was glad we all made it home (Will and all) and that we could all have access to a hot shower to decontaminate!

October Rocks!

There are so many fun things to do in October! Our latest adventure with the family was at "Storybook after Dark" at Red Butte Garden. We enjoyed painting our own faces, listening to (and watching) a Navajo tell a story and make a sandpainting, playing games, getting warm by the barrel fires, making seed bags that will grow into "monster" hair, choosing our own oak tree for a prize, being wowed by the cool lighting, and much more. We love the Garden and plan to renew our membership each year!

A Nor Cal Weekend

This past weekend we had the chance to go to Nor Cal for my brother Rob's wedding. He married Jen in an outdoor ceremony with a beautiful woodsy backdrop. So pretty. We are so happy for Rob and Jen and feel like Rob definitely couldn't have found a better girl! Jen is awesome, and we wish the two of them the best!

Even though it was a quick trip, we still had time to enjoy my parents' rural property and play with cousins. It was darling to see Abby and Will be so loving towards their littler cousins. (Abby is the oldest of the six cousins with four of the six age two and under!) They also enjoyed spending time with their two older cousins at the wedding.

It was great to spend time with my family. I appreciate them. I appreciate how my mom tries to make everyone happy. I always look forward to the bag of Lindt candy, home decor magazines, and bottled water she leaves on our nightstands. I love how my mom and dad play with my kids and how my dad stayed up late watching movies with them in the motorhome this trip. I also love how Frank and Rob make me laugh all the time and love me even though I wasn't the best big sister growing up. I'm thankful to Uncle John and Johnnie for their generosity and love. I appreciate Myrissa and the time she spends with Abby and Will. I enjoy Josh's sweet spirit and smile. I definitely miss my family already and am looking forward to seeing them again.

A Fall Walk

Every fall our family enjoys going into either Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon and enjoying the fall colors. The chldren love to find leaves, turn over rocks, explore, and throw sticks and rocks into the clear stream. I enjoy seeing my family happy, feeling the cool, crisp air, and clearing my mind. I think I'm the happiest when I'm in nature with my family. I'm thankful I live in an area of the country where the beautiful mountains are so close to home.

My husband

is seriously handsome! I feel so grateful that I am married to a wonderful person who loves me and his children and who is easy to look at, too!

So far a successful soccer season. . .

Last soccer season was quite interesting with Will. Visions of him crawling out onto the field, scoping out "contrails" in the sky, throwing grass at the coach's wife all stand out as the epitome of his interest for playing soccer. Contrast that to this year! He is so excited for practice and games. He has scored two goals (one was in the other team's goal, but still, he is making contact with the ball)! He has also shown great sportsmanship. I loved how at the last game he was yelling across the parking lot to the other players, "Good game!" He's such a sweet kid!

Abby is doing great, too. I love hearing her cheer her team on. She's also had four shots on goal, but three have narrowly missed and one was deflected off the other team's coach's leg. I'm proud of her hustle on the field. She's such a fun girl!

School Carnival

Abby and Will's school just had a carnival last Friday, and boy, did they have fun! It was tons of fun to see people we knew and to see our children have fun with their friends. It was, of course, difficult to keep track of Will, but who could blame him? With unlimited rides on the bounce houses, a cake walk, snow cones, hair spraying, games, and much more he was in HEAVEN. The kids came home tired, dirty, and happy. They slept very well that night!

Raytheon-Sarcos Work Party

About a week and a half ago, our family attended a work picnic with Eric. The highlights: watching Will run around with a balloon concoction on his head, Abby getting her hair brushed with a toilet scrubber by the comedian/juggler (after she yelled, "Eeewww!" when he said he would juggle it and a toilet plunger), watching the kids play on the nearby playground, and having our family win three different raffles! One of the awesome wins was when Will picked the dvd "Harry and the Hendersons." Sweetness. Winning the dvd was almost as fun as watching Abby get her hair scrubbed with the unused toilet scrubber. (She did not realize it was unused, though!)

Can anyone relate?

Lock down the school! Will's in kindergarten!

So I've been totally fine with Will going to kindergarten. Maybe it's because I've been so preoccupied with getting Abby adjusted to first grade. Even though I've been fine for him and me, I've worried about his little inquisitive mind and restless energy and how that will all play out at school with a cute, young teacher! Does she have locks on her doors? But after today's experience, I'm all for Will showing his true self. You see after taking some time to calm Will, giving him a lot of reassurance, and getting him settled on the rug in his class I said my good-bye and walked to the attached mud room to watch how he would do for a couple of minutes. I wanted to be sure he was okay. When it was his turn to go to the front, get a name tag, and be greeted by his class, he just crumpled over and started to cry. I then promptly lost it myself and had to leave. I had never seen my friendly, out-going little boy act that way. It was so TOUGH to watch him react that way. I luckily saw Kerri outside the kindergarten area, and she checked on him for me a couple minutes later. He was not crying at that point. Talk about being relieved! And even more relieved when he exclaimed, "I love school!" as I picked him up after his first day. So after seeing my little guy act so forlorn, I'm thankful for his usual friendly and silly demeanor, and I don't worry his teacher will enjoy Will because who doesn't? And yes, no need to worry because she does have locks on her doors!

I'm also excited Will gets to go to school with his cousin Kate! It was fun to go to lunch after school with Kate and some of his friends from the neighborhood! Here's to a great year. . .

Abby's a First Grader!

So I only teared up two times this morning. The tears actually never flowed down the cheeks, thank goodness! My pregnancy hormones and the realization that my little girl is getting BIG and she will be in school most of the day just washed over me. Also, thanks to the insight of an elderly woman at Costco who helped me realize how lucky I am to have Abby (as well as my cute little boys). It shouldn't have taken this woman to remind me of how lucky I am to have such a beautiful helper. But, it did and it helped me out immensely. The boys and I are going to miss her during the day! I'm so lucky to have this little girl in my life! And, yes, I need to remember this feeling as I'm struggling with attitude (already) and tantrums! :-)

Surprisingly a cake I wouldn't eat!

I love sweets. I love my sweet children. I love the cakes they made me for my birthday, but I definitely would not eat them. The pictures will explain. . . but how darling were they for making cakes with candles for me?

Sandy Aquarium

Last week the kids and I were able to also go to the Sandy Aquarium with part of the McDermott family and two children who lived next door to us. We had a lot of fun exploring! (I do want to point out that the picture of Will at the sting ray tank shows him pulling on the ray's tail! Seriously, that boy. . .!) Also, I loved how Ezra was willing to touch the starfish. So cute!

We sure miss those fun people but are so glad we live only 20 minutes away and can keep these friendships alive. Even though we're not too far away, oh how I miss my sweet, sweet neighbor, DeAnna. Everyone needs a neighbor and friend like her. She has helped me out so much and I appreciate her kindness and sweet example.

That's My Boy!

Just two nights ago, Eric took Will to the Clarke Planetarium for a little one-on-one time. Will has been wanting to go all summer. The boys enjoyed the exhibits--Will especially enjoyed "walking" on the moon and Mars. After fun at the exhibits, Eric took Will to the show in the dome room. It turns out the daytime fun show for children wasn't showing in the evening, so Eric and Will got to listen to a young man give fact after fact about the universe, etc. Will was the youngest one BY FAR out of about 15 people. Of course Will had a million questions himself, like, "Is that the actual size of the Milky Way," etc, etc. When the young man finished his presentation ("dry" according to Eric), he asked if anyone had questions. Will blurted out, "When is the boring part going to be done?" Eric said you could hear quite a few snickers in the room! Sometimes Will's lack of "filters" drives me crazy, but sometimes the lack of them really keeps things interesting! Hmmm. . . I doubt his Kindergarten teacher has any idea who's coming her way!

Overheard this week

Abby: "Mom, blind people must be sad that they aren't able to see this beautiful world." (driving home from Red Butte Garden)

Will: "I bet Satan gets a LOT of coal every Christmas." (during church)

I love these kids! I'm excited for them to start a new school year, but I'm really going to miss them, too. I'm sure Ezra and the new baby will keep me busy enough that I won't have time to miss them too much!

Our 13th (!) Anniversary

Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long. Time sure flies! We are planning to celebrate tomorrow by eating at "The Roof" (a very nice buffet on the 10th or 15th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building that overlooks Temple Square). I look forward to the company, food, and views! Included in this post is our original engagement picture taken at Corona del Mar by Eric's brother, Matt. What babies we were!

I also wanted to include 13 things that I love about Eric:

1. I love how he feels the need to fold any gum, candy, etc. wrapper into a tiny knot or origami figure.

2. I love how he comes home happy to see his family.

3. I love how he gives me foot massages almost every night!

4. I love how he cooks on the weekend.

5. I love how he supports me in having my own time when I feel like I need it.

6. I love how he literally knows almost everything. He's my walking encyclopedia.

7. I love how he remembers movie or tv lines.

8. I love the karate-like face he makes when being silly.

9. I love his laugh.

10. I love how he loves his children and how they react when he comes home from work.

11. I love how he likes to take me on dates.

12. I love how he mouths, "Help me," when the kids are driving him crazy.

13. I love how he lets me be me and still loves me!

Swimming Lessons Slideshow

Swimming Lessons

Today marked the end of swimming lessons for Abby and Will. I have mixed feelings. After a total of four weeks, I'm glad that I don't have to keep Ezra out of the beautiful flower beds and pool. On the other hand, it has been SO FUN watching Abby and Will improve with their skills and how comfortable they have become in the water. It's comforting to know they have some possible lifesaving skills under their belt, too. After paying extra for these swimming lessons, versus going to the public pools, I'm so FOR paying extra! The teachers have been wonderful, the pool and surroundings were beautiful, and my children learned TONS. Abby and Will already can't wait for next summer! Here are some pictures of my little fishies and my little shadow friend (Ezra) at swimming lessons.