Last Call for Fall

Before the first big snow storm hit this season, we took one last trip up the canyon. I love that we only live 10 minutes away from this! We love going to this area to roast hot dogs and have s'mores. Fall went by way too fast this year. It is my favorite time of the year and never seems to last long enough. Goodbye until next year!

Daddy Daughter Date

McKenna had a Hawaiian Daddy/Daughter Date a few weeks back and the two of them had a blast. I wish that I could have sneaked in and taken some pictures of them in action. McKenna was so excited to go and have her dad all to herself. I love that her and Lloyd love each other so much and that they had a great time!

What's a Mom to do?

Tate is almost 19 months old and couldn't be more independent! I tell Lloyd everyday that it is a good thing that he is so cute and that he has the funniest personality. He is such a jokester already. I didn't think that I could get another stubborn child, but he proved me wrong. But man do I love this kid!

He won't let me feed him at all now and refuses to wear bibs. Needless to say that this kid gets like 3 baths a day :)

Tate could not adore his dad anymore! They are quite the little buddies.

I always know when Tate is doing something naughty because he gets super quiet. The other day I had been in the back of the house folding laundry when I realized I hadn't heard from him for a few minutes. I walked out to find him in his walker and he was unloading the crayons as fast as possible from my cabinet that he had somehow undone the lock on. I can't even catch him now when he runs away from me!

It's a . . .

GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I can barely stand it. We went in for my ultra sound today and everything went just as we had hoped. The doctor checked all the vitals and said that everything looked perfect. 10 fingers, 10 toes, and much to my relief, no cleft lip and/or pallet. Then at the very end, he confirmed that, yes, this sweet new little thing was in fact a girl. He checked every nook and cranny that he could see to make sure that nothing was hiding :) I knew there was another girl that needed to come to our wonderful family. Lloyd informed me that this was my last shot at getting her before I had to find myself another donor :)

It's Fall Y'All

So, I won't even talk about how much I need to catch up on. I've decided I won't even try. I am starting fresh from today and moving forward. Today is the first official day of Fall and I couldn't be more excited! This is by far my most favorite time of year and I am in Heaven. I decided that I would kill two birds with one stone today by making the kids a yummy after school treat and satisfying my never ending pregnancy sweet tooth. Carmel apple were the obvious choice! And by golly, it did the trick. The kids were ecstatic and my belly was too.

Recipe:

10-12 Tart apples of your choice

2 Cups brown sugar

2 Cubes butter

1 Cup Karo Syrup

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 TBSP Molasses (optional and only if you have on hand, don't run out and but it)

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Add all ingredients besides vanilla to a medium size sauce pan on medium high. Stir occasionally until temp reads 245 degrees on a candy thermometer. Pull off of heat and add in vanilla. Let caramel cool to 200 degrees before dipping. If you are using apples that have a wax on them, boil 6 cups of water with 1/4 tsp of vinegar and dip them in for 5 seconds then dry thoroughly. I use craft sticks for my apples and then dip away! Place on wax paper or buttered tin foil. If you want to add fun topping, dip your apple in right after you do the caramel. I prefer my caramel apples naked. So, I don't usually use the toppings. But whatever tickles your fancy!

HAPPY FALL EVERYONE! HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I AM GOING TO!

Getting so BIG!

I am a little late with this entry, but I couldn't miss Matt's Birthday Blog. 7 years old and he already knows more than me :) Matt is such a funny kid and makes me laugh all the time. I am so glad for him in my life.

The day started with our traditional birthday breakfast: doughnuts and chocolate milk

Matt chose instead of a friend party that he wanted to go to Pirate Island.

The kids giving their best Pirate faces.

Then that weekend we celebrated with family for a Super Bowl/Birthday party.

Mason was so excited that I was taking her picture!

Tate loving his first taste of cake!

Papa Thompson always the life of the party

We had such a great time celebrating and being with family. I can't believe that my little guy isn't so little anymore! I was looking at baby pictures of him and I cried. The time really does seem to slip through your fingers. I just hope that I never forget to make the most of it!

So much FUN!

That about sums up Tate. He is in to everything and is keeping me on my toes. We all think he is the best and can't get enough of him.

absolutely obsessed with balls

such a big helper

Clean Enough

So I have been feeling a little down; having a hard time feeling "Joy in the Journey" but more "Monotony in Motherhood". Not the motherhood part per say, but the constant house cleaning and laundry. It just is never all done. But does it have to be? I recognize that I am putting too much stress on the less important things. My sister calls it Christmas Postpartum. I can see that. It happens to me every February. Anyways, as I was eating my healthy lunch of Doritos and apple juice, I came upon this inspiration. Thank you for breaking it down and letting me off of my own hook a little. I can do this! Check it out :) I don't know how to do those cute little link tabs, so this will have to do.

theinspiredroom.net/2009/08/08/four-daily-routines-how-i-keep-my-house-clean-enough/

Moments

I had one today. The kind that you know will stick in your mind with you forever. I was dropping Tytan off at preschool, nothing special about that task. I watched him as he ran to the front door, backpack bouncing and his BYU hat on backwards. He turned with the biggest grin and then blew me a kiss before he closed the door behind him. It was then that I felt my breath catch and asked time to freeze. Let my babies stay this way forever. Sometimes, in the mundane acts of motherhood, I find myself wishing time would somehow move faster. But not today. Today I will hold them closer and a little tighter. I am thankful for these moments. They fill my life with meaning and remind me that there is nothing better or more fulfilling than being a mom.

You have a hair where?

The conversation went something like this:

Tytan: "Mom, I have hair growing!"

Me with a smile: "Oh yeah, where?"

Tytan: "Right here." (As he points to his unmentionables)

Me shocked and a little disturbed as he is only 4: "No honey, I don't think so."

Tytan: "No mom, I promise I really do."

This situation obviously needed further inspecting . . .

Tytan: "See mom."

Me with a sigh of relief and instant laughter: "No sweetie that is just fuzz from your sweatpants!"

Just a note: the fuzz was dark gray, thus the confusion :)

Polar Bear Club

While we were in Arizona, Lloyd thought it would be "fun" to go swimming in the 41 degree pool while it was snowing. I have questioned his sanity for a while now and this just solidified my conclusions! He is CRAZY! But man I love him :)

All the kids cheering him on from the spa. He joined them quickly after jumping in the pool exclaiming, "Man that is cold!" I love that he was surprised at that.

Christmas come and gone!

Santa definitely found our house this year and left a few things behind! We had a great Christmas. It was filled with everything that it should be: family and such a wonderful spirit of love and fun!

Santa loved the cookies and milk and the reindeer loved their oatmeal and carrots. Santa accidentally left his glove and glasses behind.

McKenna found Santa's "Naughty and Nice" list and a piece of torn suit by the fireplace.

We loved having Papa and Grandma with us! It made our Christmas morning complete.

McKenna has been asking Santa for an American Girl Doll for 3 years and finally got her wish!

Matt was thrilled with his basketball game!

Tytan finally can practice baseballs for hours on end with his baseball throwback.

The boys got these straw glasses in their stockings. They were hysterical!

We love having our Aunt Christi with us on Christmas morning

It always seems like Christmas goes by in a blur, but we had such a great day and loved every minute!

Tate Crawling

The kids and I are in Arizona right now and Lloyd knew that he would miss this. Love you babe!