Did You Get The Memo?

It's BACKWARDS DAY.



The AH-MAY-ZING Miss D

Last week I had the opportunity to teach a photography class with Diane. She is oh-so-talented and you can see her work here. I also get to work with her in the Primary and she has always been someone I've looked up to. (She is even named after my mom!)

Thanks, Diane, for the fun times and the inspiration!

A Walking Disaster

Dear Mr.Owen,

It seems to me that ever since you started walking it has been a bit of a disaster. I have no idea how I'm supposed to keep up with you thinking you can go anywhere, do anything, and get into whatever you want. You are growing up too fast and everytime I look at you it seems like you are less of a baby and more of a 'Big Boy'. PLEASE SLOW DOWN!

Love,

Momma

Halloween 2010

It all began with the picking of the perfect pumpkin from Grandma & Grandpa's garden. After cutting them open and digging out the "guts" (which Kamden thought was completley disgusing and only removed about 2 handfuls from his pumpkin) they were transformed into this:

Kamden's Triceratops 

 A picture of Owen, drawn by Ethan and carved by Mommy

Jeff's materpiece...the letter 'S' 

 Ethan's BRONCO pumpkin

As the assistant room mom for Ethan's Kindergarten class, I got to go help with their Halloween party. I think I was more excited to be able to see what Ethan does in school than he was for all of the treats!

Saturday morning we bundled up and headed to a corn maze. Luckily, we had two very capable guides to lead the way:

 Owen also helped navigate:

I don't know about you, but I'd follow these guys anywhere...

We made it to the top of the bridge to cross into the other side of the maze. The boys were impressed with the free dinosaurs more than with the view... 

Me & My Boys: 

After the thrill of wandering around in a chilly corn field had worn off, we found our way out and headed for the bouncy slides and castles: 

Owen didn't know what to think about the giant "corn box" at first, but after digging around for awhile he didn't want to get out... 

Our next stop was the Petting Zoo, though none of the animals in there were as dangerous or ferocious as the ones I live with: 

 The Llama was the scariest thing Owen has apparently ever seen...he was NOT impressed and started screaming and trying to get as far away as possible.

Kamden, however, LOVED the entire thing but the miniature pony and the camel were his favorites: 

Feeding the Guinea Pigs:

...and the sheep...

...which were obviously hillarious...

Then it was off to the swings for a ride, which Ethan was done with before they'd even gone around twice...but, he had to wait it out until the ride was over...

Owen waited patiently for his brothers, though I'm sure breaking through the fence crossed his mind a few times... 

The Stoker Express:

Then it was time for a hayride through the pumpkin patch:

And Kamden makes a new friend on the way out to the parking lot:

Then it was time to go do some TRICKS and get some TREATS. This year we had another gorilla:

The gorilla displays his trick-or-treat bag made by Grandma

We also had a cute little cow:

This is what our cow does when we say "Touchdown!"

And we had a Jedi:

You'd never know his Jedi shirt was once a tablecloth-I learned that I can actually sew! And, I must say, that I made this without a pattern :)

Don't mess with him. He has the force and he's not afraid to use it...

We TRICKED and TREATED the evening away but all the excitment proved too much for our little cow. He fell asleep with his treat in his hand...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



The Old Witch

When the boys and I were driving down the road we passed a huge tree that has a lot of different bird houses on its branches. Ethan thought it was pretty cool and said "Wow, mom, look at that!" when I told him I had seen it before, he asked if I'd seen it when I was little. I told him yes and he said "That must've been a LONG time ago."
I guess I'm older than I thought I was...

We walked into a store that had Halloween decorations everywhere, including a big display of black cauldrons. Ethan asked what they were for and I told him they are for Witches. He said "You should get one, mom."
In my defense, I dressed as a witch for Halloween last year.

Road Trip by Numbers

7:the number of hours it took to drive to Reno, Nevada.

6:the number of friends & family whose houses the boys played at while we were gone. THANK YOU!

2:the number of years it has been since Jeff and I went anywhere without the kids.

30:the number of miles we drove in the wrong direction when we were trying to go home.

1,700+:the number of lost/forgotten items reported PER MONTH at a hotel...included among these items are Jeff's suit coat, suit pants, a dress shirt,
and a tie.

0:the number of dollars it will cost to have his clothes sent home. The hotel ships them free of charge!

3:the number of times we had to switch hotel rooms.

50:the number of minutes the Swedish massage lasted that Jeff surprised me with at the hotel spa!

1:the number of times I have been to Lake Tahoe. We drove there on Thursday and the water was crystal clear: 

 It was so nice to be able to get away for a few days and relax and we are so grateful to have wonderful family and friends who took such great care of the boys while we were gone.
Now, do any of you want to come tackle the mountain of laundry that is calling my name? I guess I'll just imagine myself here while I'm sorting, switching loads, folding, and putting away...