Snow much fun

WEEeeee!

We found the perfect day, and the perfect time to go sledding. The whole family had fun. Even Kyrie made it down the hill about a dozen times. Hayden said "It was AWESOME" and it was.

Hayden's first prayer

Hayden said his own prayer for the very first time last night. We've tried for awhile (a LONG while) to get him to do it and he always wants help, or says that he can't. But last night he gave a big clue and said that he doesn't know how it goes. I finally realized that all this time he has thought that prayers were like written out and memorized and that is why he can't do it and wants help. So I told him to go ahead and start and he said, "Heavenly Father, we're thankful for this day," then he looked up and said "now what". I told him he could do it all by himself, he could say whatever he wanted, and I wanted him to think of 3 things. And he said, "But I might say bad words in my prayer". I said, "No you won't, just think of one thing you are greatful for", and he said "bishops". So he bowed his head and started all over and included bishops, and asked, "now what?". I told him to think of one more thing he was greatful for, and he said, "I want you to whisper it in my ear." I encouraged him again and he said missionaries and bowed his head and started all over again including bishops and missionaries. He then looked up at me and I said, "Okay now think of one thing you want help with", and he said, "Got it, God's church", bowed his head and started all over AGAIN. He popped his head up again and looked at me and I asked, "are you all done?". He said, "That's right", bowed his head and said "Amen". It was the cutest little prayer and I can't believe he finally did it by himself. The poor little kid has thought all along that he just wouldn't do it right. I can't wait to hear more prayers now that he has got it all figured out.

A great weekend

We had beautiful weather this weekend and I wanted to do something outside. So we went to the Flea Market. The boys weren't too happy about being there until they found the rides.

We went to the Flea Market a year ago, just after we moved, and I bought a handbag. I again found something to purchase this year. Chris is REALLY glad that he doesn't have to carry it around.


We then took the kids over to Chris's bosses house for a few hours. I even left Kyrie to be babysat. It was only the second time I have ever left her. The first time was last week with her DAD (I take that back, I did leave her once as a newborn for about 15 minutes). Why is it so hard for me to leave my babies? Anyway she survived the night and so did I!

Chris took me to Bass Pro Shops for dinner. They have a nice little cozy restaurant that might be even a little bit romantic! It's a little dark in there and they have several little fireplaces on the outside walls, and a great big one in the center of the dining room. Their menu doesn't have a whole lot to chose from, but the food was yummy. We started out with an alligator appetizer. Chris has tried alligator before, but this was my first experience. And - it was pretty tasty! I could only eat the thin little pieces, because the thick pieces were rubbery, and I CANNOT eat food with that texture, it makes me gag! So we enjoyed our little meal, and ventured out to the store for a little minute. We were surprised to find Santa's workshop - ALREADY! We'll have to go back and get the kids pics with the man dressed up (Hayden is figuring it all out!). They have fun stuff for the kids to do and this year they have added an indoor ice skating rink. Maybe the boys and I can figure out how to ice skate together. Anyway, we then went and wasted our money on a stupid movie. I would highly suggest that you don't see "The Box". But we had a fun and CHILDLESS night. Thanks babe!

Tonight I blew out my 12 candles and Hayden said that he hopes I wished for another baby.

Way to go Dusty!

A couple of days ago just after we arrived to school, Dusty's best buddy from school handed him a birthday party invitaion. He opened up his backpack and I watched him put the invitation inside. He had one of those huge grins, one where he is so excited and tries to hide it but it's impossible to hide (I love it when he does that). He then went to class and the next thing I knew it was time to pick him up from school. I waited in line to claim my child and as he was walking out of the building he was unzipping his backpack and pulled out the invitation to show me. He was so EXCITED! But, to our disappointment the party was to be held on Sunday. He REALLY, REALLY wanted to go, and I wanted him to be able to also. But we talked about how we always pray for help to do what's right and to be good examples and decided it was best to call and say that he wouldn't be able to make it to the party. When I called we apoligized about not being able to be there and his buddy's mom sounded disappointed. I partly felt guilty about not letting him go to his best friends party, but I also knew we had done the right thing, and most importantly what a good opportunity it was to teach the kiddos. A little time passed and I got a phone call from the mother asking if there was any other day or time that would work for us so that Dusty would be able to be there. She said that both her and her husband work, and they planned to party to fit their schedule, and she also said she was unsure of what other parents thought of doing things on Sundays. She said she would give her son the option of changing the party, and she was pretty sure that's what he would want to do. The next day she informed me that her son really wanted Dusty to be there so they changed the day of the party and had to contact the other parents of the kids that were invited. So yea, Dusty can now go to his best friends birthday party. What a nice thing they did to change their plans so that he could be there, I think that is awesome. And what a good opportunity for Dusty to be a good example! I hope he will always remember this experience (which is the reason I am posting it), he wanted to go so bad, but chose what he felt was right. I'm greatful that it turned out so that he can go.

A Piece of Halloween!

Last year on Halloween we were in the process of moving to Denver-ish. Chris was living out of a hotel, and the boys and I came to Colorado for a quick trip. On Halloween day we were able to close on our house. We got done with all the paperwork, and drove to our brand new house, and for the first time used our own key to unlock the door. We quickly got the boys dressed up and headed out to the streets for some trick-or-treating. I thought it was a good way to meet all the neighbors. When we tired out, we headed back to the house and we set up for the night. I had packed air mattresses, pillows, and blankets hoping we'd be able to use them. And we did, we spent our first night in our new home on Halloween. It was so much fun! I don't think I will EVER forget our Halloween last year.

Here is a little piece of what we did this year:

Here are the three cutest little pirates I have ever seen!

"Is anybody home?" I don't think we were the favorite candy collectors this year. The boys peeked in every window they could. And their friend Quinn didn't think that ringing the doorbell just once was good enough. We had some excited trick-or-treaters!

Arrr! Pirate Captain Dusty

And Co-Captain Hayden

And the little pirate-princess!

I never really liked Halloween when I was a kid, but I really like it now that I have kids. This year was a lot of fun! We had an early party with some friends, the boys both had parties at school, and we also had a ward party at the church. The boys had fun carving their own pumpkins and eating toasted pumpkin seeds. Then on Halloween some friends came over to join us for the evening. We went up and down just a couple of streets, and came back home for some dinner. The kids answered the door to all of the trick-or-treaters at our house, and I think Dusty liked that better than going trick-or-treating himself. Almost a week later we still have tons of candy. Hayden could gobble his up pretty quickly if I let him. Dusty will probably have his until Easter.

Yea! It's a snow day!

School was cancelled today due to a snow storm. This picture was taken at noon, and it is supposed to continue snowing all day and night, with the heaviest snowfall this evening. Maybe we'll have another snow day tomorrow! I would love that except for we'd miss out on Hayden's class Halloween party. It has been a fun day, we get to stay home all day with NOTHING that we have to do! That hardly ever happens anymore at our house. So I am enjoying a day with my boys home and we are doing whatever we want! NICE!!!

Kyrie kept busy this morning playing in her favorite place - behind the couch. So nice of her to hide her clutter!

The boys helped me make pretzel sticks and twists.

Hayden's twist turned out beautiful! I think they both did a great job.

We also made some rice pudding. YUM!!! The kids aren't so fond of it, I think it's the first time they've had it homemade, but I remember years back it took me a few tries to learn to like it too.

Kyrie especially didn't like the pudding, so she ate some yogurt instead. She has a horrible habbit of standing up in her high chair! I should really quit being so lazy and take the minute it takes to buckle her in.

10 months today!

I can hardly believe that it has really been 10 whole months since this little cutey patutey joined our family.

She has just learned how to clap, and I love it. I love to watch her hands, they are so precious.

What I love the most about her clapping is that everytime her hands meet, her cute little fingers
connect differently.

At ten months old she is also free-standing, walking behind toys and along furniture, she investigates and tastes everything, she loves to dump cupboards, shelves, and handbags, she loves to open the lid to the garbage can(which is much bigger than her) and reach her arm down to find treasures. Another favorite is unwinding all of the toilet paper into a pile on the floor. She also loves to pretend that everything is a phone, it doesn't matter what it is, keys, paper, whatever she can get her little hands on - she'll put it up to her ear. She loves suckers, and thinks every single one of them is for her (but she is willing to share a taste). Chris gave Kyrie her first sucker, and now she sees just a piece of a sucker stick and knows exactly what it is. And she eats them perfectly, she rubs them all over her body and in her hair, until her hair turns into little, sticky matted down pieces of fuzz. She loves to chase her brothers around the house, and she is quite the little tease. She brings us so much happiness and I love her to pieces. She is growing way too fast, I swear much faster than her brothers did. Where does the time go and why does it have to go by so fast? Ten months since this little girl has changed my life and I have loved every single moment with her.

SOOO SWEET!

Yesterday it snowed again for just a little minute. Kyrie loved to watch the snow flutter around. I took her out in the front yard and I grabbed some snow off of the handrail on our front porch. I put Kyrie's hand in my handful of snow, and she instantly grabbed a chunk and shoved it in her mouth. Yum! Her first taste of snow!