Happy Halloween!

We had an action-packed Halloween Day this year. We threw Sam a Birthday/Halloween party in the morning. Almost all of his second-grade class showed up. We had food and games and prizes. It was crazy! That night, Uncle Ben came and handed out candy at our house while we took the kids trick-or-treating. Sam and Noah decided to dress up as Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow, the rival ninjas from GI Joe. Abbie was a masquerade cat. Emma was a fancy witch. They all had a great time and scored a ton of candy.

SnOwBiRd!!

We spent a few days up at Snowbird in July. Phil's family owns a timeshare at the Ironblossam at Snowbird.

This is the view from our room.

Snowbird is better known as a ski resort. Everyone asks us what there is to do there in the summer. Sitting on the out-of-order chair lifts is always fun.

There are always plenty of huge rocks to sit on too.

Speaking of rocks. Everyone loves to throw rocks in the water.

Easter

We had a really fun Easter. We got to go spend time with my family in Idaho. We made paper mache eggs and had an Easter egg hunt. The kids loved making their egg animals too. It is getting harder and harder to explain to my kids where the Easter bunny fits into everything. I almost told them the truth but I couldn't do it. Maybe next year. I am starting to wonder if Phil is right about Halloween being the only pure holiday. At least with Halloween I don't have to try to explain anything.

Here's BRUCEYYY!

How could I forget Bruce? He was hungry so I thought that since Noah was being naughty from not getting what he wanted at the gift shop, I would feed him to Bruce. Noah was so scared of him it was hilarious. (In a mean way of course)! There were people looking at us like they were getting ready to call child services. I am so mean I know. I love to give my kids a hard time every once in a while.

Living Planet Aquarium SLC!!!

In January, Subie was able to come up to Utah for a couple of days. We got bored, so we took the kids to the Aquarium. It was a lot of fun. It wasn't very crowded either. We got to see sharks, eels, jelly fish and some awesome Utah trout. Abbie loved that they could touch quite a few things like sting rays, star fish, sea urchens, and some other ugly and scary looking stuff.

Subie and Abbie!!

Gaven loved to give the fishies kisses!

Phil and Abbie loving the sting rays.

Wow Ange look at the big sharks and the scary eels.

Look at the little toads!!

Fishie Face!!

Happy Birthday Abigail!

It was Abbie's 6th Birthday. She is getting so big. She loves My Littlest Petshop. So, I whipped up a Panda Bear cake. (Phil helped too)! I love to make cakes. My mom used to run her own catering business so every once in a while I like to do it. She had a really great birthday.

My Christmas Picutres!!!

I know it's late but I had to post them for all to see. I have a lot to catch up on so bear with me. My sister Andrea and I wanted to take some Christmas Pictures. This is how they turned out. Her baby did not like the idea of being in a trunk so I don't have any of him.

Let's catch up a little.......

We had Emma's birthday a few months ago. She is such a big girl. She is so full of life.

Here are a few things about her.

Loves SHOES -loves to play with her brothers and sister - loves to make messes - treats - hates other girls (she is the only pretty girl. Huh Jaylee!?!) - Soft blankets - loves to dance - Oh, did I say loves SHOES?

She is such a blessing in our lives. We love her so much!!!

Does church do this to you?

Last year our church meetings started at 1:00 PM. Everyone who has children knows how bad that time is for little ones who take naps. Well this is what it did to our girls one Sunday. It was so funny because it only took about five minutes to get them in the house and give them a little snack. Abbie changed her clothes then they both passed out. We love these pictures.

My very own atempt to become a photographer!

Last Christmas Phil bought me my dream camera. I wanted one that was not too expensive but gave good quality pictures. Well, I took a lot of pictures and I wanted something more so this fall I took a photography class. It taught me a little more about my camera and what to look for. These pictures were part of my homework. The assignment was to take portraits. Since my children were perfect for the assignment this is how it turned out. I really love them. I wanted them all looking up at me but Emma was being very difficult.

Happy Birthday to Sam!

Sam is 7 years old!!! Wow, that is so weird to say. I can't believe that next year he will be baptized. He had a fun birthday. His grandparents from Idaho came down to celebrate the big day. They spoiled him! He finally got his Nintendo DS With 5 games. He was in GEEK heaven. Sam got a bunch of Star Wars action figures, remote controlled four wheeler, and a Star Wars pop-up book (It is very cool).

Our haunted grave yard........Phil is so Awesome!

Phil has been working on halloween stuff off and on for about a year. The tombstones are the ones that Natalie and Phil made last year. He spent a lot of time making them weather proof. He made the skeleton faces out of foam. Andrea and I helped with the cloth wrapped around them. I think our yard looks awesome. All of our neighbors have told us how spooky it is. We hope to actually get trick-or-treaters this year. Our kids and their friends next door love to play in the (spoooooky) grave yard.

This is my favorite picture because it looks like little gosts are running around. I took this picture on a slow shutter speed. If you look close you can see Abbie's shadow running around and Noah down in front of a head stone. Emma's face is there too.

Abigail is trying to scare us. She looks scary to me.

OuR Scary PumPkins!!!

These are some of our pumpkins. The first picture shows the kids' jack-o-lanterns. We let them draw the picture they wanted then Phil and I carved them. We loved Noah's.

Top to Bottom: Sam's, Noah's, Abbie's

Shauntel's (Aren't I Freaking Awesome!!!) The little one has a face too, I should have carved him out a light.

Phil's spooky Jack-O-Lanterns

*We didn't use any patterns to create our jack-o-lanterns this year. That's all freehand, baby!!*

Our trip to the pumpkin patch!

The kids had a lot of fun being able to pick out their own pumpkin. It took Abbie FOREVER!! (She had to find the right one I guess). My sisters Andrea and Lacey were able to come with us. It was Jaylee's and Gaven's first time at a pumpkin patch. We have carved pumkins every weekend since October 1st. Well actually sometime in September. Phil loves Halloween.

Kids (minus Gaven)Sammy

Abigail

Noah loves his pumpkinEmma SueAndrea and GavenLacey and our neice, Jaylee