We survived!

After a week of fires we have survived. Sunday was the kids Primary Sacrament Program. After church we had the family and some friends over for dinner. Tyler and Kathy were able to come up from San Diego and it was lots of fun to see them. They had some great stories of what they went through last week. We are glad they are safe and their house too. Friday night was Haylie's 5th grade Halloween Party. I was on the planning committee and was able to go and be at the shindig. There was a DJ (just imagine how fun to was to watch a bunch on 10 &11 year olds dance!) and there was a spooky-walk through. This was a miniature version of Knott's Scary Farm. There was also food and a few games. Since the kids had be cooped up all week they seemed to have a real good time. But it made me realize the teenage years are not far behind. Oh boy!

Pumpkins & Presidents

Tanner is mad because his favorite pumpkin "broke." You can't really tell in this picture but there is a big crack going right through it. Maybe it's because he carries it around the house all day and this time when he dropped it - it actually broke. Haylie is running for President of her school. Or as she puts it, "President of the United States of America." I would rather vote for her than Hillary! Who would you vote for?

I caught the boys pulling leaves off the trees. They said they were just making confetti. Maybe they were really doing some clearance work for all of the fires that we are having.

And although poor California is burning up - We still love it here.

Jay, JJ, or Janna

I had a hard time picking what picture to post for Janna's Birthday so I just picked lots from the last couple of years. Yes, today is another family birthday for my much younger sister Jay. She also lives way too far away and so we don't get to hang out and have as much fun together as we would like. But Janna have a wonderful Birthday. I miss you and I love you. The official story behind the nickname for Janna is this. When Janna was in Kindergarten and I was in 4th grade, I saw her playing at the Kindergarten playground while I was at recess too. So, I went over to the fence that separates the two playgrounds and I starting yelling her name so that she would see me and so that we could say "Hi" to each other but instead of yelling "Janna" I thought it would be cool to just yell "Jay!" I had never called her this before and so of course she didn't respond. So as I remember the story we never did say "Hi" that infamous school day but it was the beginning of a wonderful nickname.
*I am sure my sibling are going to tell me I am wrong and that I am remembering it my own way but to the best of my recollection this is how the story goes.
**Also if anyone cares, I always wanted to have a nickname because apparently I thought it was cool but no one ever gave me one. So for the record I think Janna is super lucky to have one.

C-A-R-I-N- 31 has never looked better

Carin turns 31! So grateful that I am not all alone in my 30's. Happy Birthday Carin. Having sisters is one of the greatest blessing in my life but it sure stinks now because all 4 of us live is 4 different states. But Carin, if we were together today, I would hope we would play a little Balderdash, watch some funny old home movies, eat some junk food, and of course laugh a lot. Have a great birthday! I sure wish I could see you and spend the day with you. I love you.

Mom's Big Day

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you! Grandma -We all think you're the best. Have a wonderful day.

I thought this was a pretty classic Mom situation. Atleast all of my siblings will think it's funny.

Thanks for all you do for us mom. Especially for making us laugh!

A Day in the Life of Me

I found this Halloween picture from 2005. I thought it was too cute not to post. Happy October! Having four kids makes for some interesting, funny, and frustrating experiences. I thought I would share some of them from this week.

Weston informed me that he must have Cheetos is his snack for school everyday and that I don't need to bother packing any grapes.

Last Thursday Tanner came home with the preschool "share box." He immediately knew what he wanted to put in it. The Police Man from the movie "Cars." He wasn't going to be going to preschool until Tuesday, and wouldn't you know that the Police man had been in and out of the share box so many times that by Saturday he went missing. I don't think anything is more frustrating that looking for one small toy throughout the whole house. By Monday night, when Tanner went to bed we still had not found the toy. I was starting to think of a new idea for the share box, knowing that Tanner would be extremely disappointed in the morning. I was picking up the house Monday night and one cushion on the couch was tipped over and there was the Police Man just sitting on the couch looking at me like, "What's the big deal lady." That was my small miracle of the day.

This is what happens when you decide to scale the pantry shelves while mom is cooking dinner.
And even though I had already told Weston that we wouldn't be having any snacks he figured why start listening to mom now. How come it looks like I'm the one being punished? What a mess!

Yesterday I bought bags of candy corn to fill a glass pumpkin. This resulted in being way too much of a temptation for Tanner. Throughout the day I could hear the glass lid being taken off and I would see him shoving a hand full in his mouth. Of course I hid the pumpkin. After dinner I let all the kids have a few pieces of candy and he must have been paying attention because a half an hour later I was leaving for Young Women's and Matt has helping me load things into the car, Tanner knew this was his chance. He darted for the hidden pumpkin in the bowl, in a cupboard way up high. Matt said he walked in the door and Tanner was literally shoving handfuls in his mouth. His mouth was overflowing with candy corn. Notice the leftovers on the floor. It looks like we got attacked by the candy corn monster.

I have been busy for a month reading books (which is something that doesn't happen often.) I saw so many people's blogs talking about the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer (a Mormon author from BYU and my age too.) Anyways I read all three books and loved them.