I like Thai Food and Chocolate Oreo Blizzards. I got both today.
The End.

Happy Fall Time!

The signs of Fall are here. Leaves are changing and there is a crispness in the air. Lovely, lovely. I see pumpkins at the grocery stores and we are admist all the Football glory. I didn't know I loved this time of year so much. But I decided that I do!

One sign of fall was in our own backyard today. Over a year ago we planted little raspberry transplants. We didn't know if they would make it and no berries popped out for us last year. The raspberry vines are fall bearing vines. Anyway, today in the van Ellie tells me "red is growing in our backyard." I had no idea what she was talking about but a few hours later we were in the backyard and lo and behold one pretty raspberry ended up in her hand. She went and picked our very first berry! At least I was there to see it and to run and go get my camera. I hope we get at least 20 more! I want to try one, but Ellie got the first. Yum! She wanted more but we will have to be patient.

Pick


Show off the goods


Eat, yum!


Since Brayden is a big 6th grader, he got to go to Outdoor Ed today. All the 6th graders left early this morning to spend 4 days in the mountains. How cool! He was so excited to go. The weather is suppose to be wonderful so I am glad they won't be freezing. I already miss him a little, but I bet he isn't even thinking about me! It was a mad house this morning with all the parents saying good byes to their little/big kids. I hope he has tons of fun. It is a new season in life for him in more than one way today!

Oh ya! Another important sign of Autumn that I almost forgot, is that "our" TV shows are back on! :) Heroes is back on tonight! !!! Yes!

Stuff

A couple cute things this week.

Ellie got to bring the coveted Duck snack backpack to preschool this week. She just HAD to wear it as much as possible. She loved bringing the snack and being the "line leader" for the week. I wonder if she will have a hard time giving up her "power" this week.

Carter had a great game this Saturday.

He came home from school on Friday and was sporting a mohawk. Hmmm. So he had to do it the next day for his game too. Kind of cute that he could make his hair that way by himself. I did have to draw a line and wouldn't let him have his "fauxhawk" for church. :)

Carter got to be quarterback for a couple of plays. Here he is handing off the ball. I like the look of concentration on his face.

This is Carter looking for a thumbs up from us after he made his TOUCHDOWN! Woohoo! He almost ran the whole field to get his touchdown. He had told his coach he would get 2 bucks from us if he got a touchdown so his coach said "let's give you chance then!" (Yes, I do bribe my children for greatness.)

Don't Come Visit Today :)

If anybody came and saw my house today I would be embarrassed! It is a mess! Ick! Merry Maids, come to my rescue! I don't feel like cleaning! Ick. (And there is no way I am posting a picture to prove it)

The Internet Rocks

I seriously love the internet. Today I was contacted by a long lost friend. (Hi Jacque!) She found my blog and now we can talk to each other again. It has been too long. I love how the internet has brought people together and I am a little part of it. But what is even greater is that now I get to be a part of her life and find out about her again and learn. I already have gained a little perspective on the important things in life just from her reaching out to me. Thanks friend, I love ya!

This happened to me a few months ago too. My friend from my growing up ward contacted me too! I just love it. I learned so much from her blog and I have loved the reconnection. (Hi Karen!)

I hope this is a pattern. I really am loving rekindling these "old" connections. And I really love keeping the "current" connections of friends a little bit stronger. Thanks friends. It means a lot.

I hate zits.

Man! You would think I am a teenager or something!

What we do on the weekend

Labor Day Weekend- We really did LABOR and the kids weren't thrilled. :)
But the house got clean and homework got done..

Brayden learned to mow the WHOLE lawn! Yeah for us!

NFL Football homework for Kennedi

Science "conifer" homework for Brayden

Carter spending time with the "Friend"


This past weekend Taft & I finally got our anniversary date, we started our Saturday's with Flag Football, hanging out, eating Chipotle at the park and church and meetings for me. And for good measure throw in some grumpy moods for all of us at some point. :)

Oh Melting Pot, how I love you. I should have taken a picture of the dessert fondue.
Seriously to die for...yummmy....

Go Brayden, go! (Look at his hair blowing in the wind.
After the game we went and got a hair cut!
Still not short but not so dang long anymore!)

Our cute little "center"

Here are the kids showing Taft how to play a video game. Really they are!

THE END

Fun Run 2008

Today was the day. My kids became runners! Go kids go! Our Elementary School started its first Annual Fun Run and it was great! Instead of trying to sell wrapping paper, ribbon and candy (ie, junk), they did a run. The kids can get donations or pledges for money per lap. I love this idea. Now the school can get 100% of the money and it gets the kids active and exercising. Awesome! The kids all did so good, no complaining and just good ol sweating it out running. Brayden and Kennedi's grades ran for 45 minutes straight! Wow! Brayden ended up running 4 miles and Kennedi ran 3 1/3 miles. Carter ran for 30 minutes and ran 2 1/4 miles. He just ran so hard and hardly even walked. It was really fun to cheer them on and be a part of the activities. They felt good about it too. The day ended up being a perfect day for a run. It was just under 60 degrees and overcast. It helped keep them cool for sure. I was actually cold on the sidelines. They had music blasting, balloons floating, and water ready to drink. Perfect.

Great job kids! I loved being the cheerleader for them and I can't wait for it next year.

We have an official preschooler

Miss Ellie started preschool this week! Hip hip hooray! Tuesday was just a "meet your teacher" day. We went in for 30 minutes, met Miss Bonnie, got use to the classroom, played with toys, and tried to "share" with her new friends. It went great and she was excited to go back in 2 days.

She got to pick up her preschool basket and look like a big girl carrying it around.


Ellie is in the duck class for the "young" 3 year olds. This morning we got her all dressed, a lunch all packed, her hair actually done and ready for a great 4 hours! She went right in, put her duck in the pond, dropped off her basket and was ready to go. I got a hug and a kiss and a little "mommmmmy" because I was leaving and then I think she cried for approximately .12749th of a second. :)

When I left I actually felt a little differently than I thought I would. I wasn't jumping up and down and passing out high fives to everyone around. I felt a little lonely. Duh! I thought of the things I should have told her before, like, "tell Miss Bonnie when you need to use the bathroom," or "be nice to your friends and don't yell." Or lots of other things. But I knew she would have fun.
I headed over to the local book store and wandered around for a few minutes. No little 3 year old touching and moving all the books was to be seen! How nice! I bought 2 books and was off to my Book Club. Had a nice chat and lunch, went to Target and the library and was done! Wow! That 4 hours went fast! (Okay, so don't think I am a book freak, I can't believe my day was centered all around books! Weird! I won't be doing this every preschool day, believe me).

Upon return to preschool I found a happy little Ellie with a great painted duck and a duck chocolate sucker. What could be better? She did great and had "so so so so so much fun." And you know what? I had fun too!


It was a great Thursday for BOTH of us!

Do you ever have days where you think you weren't made to be the mom to 4 kids? I do.

Little Pioneer Boy

In 2nd grade my kids get to learn about pioneers. I am sure it isn't the same lessons that are taught in Utah. :) Anyway, today Carter's class all dressed up as pioneers and had to bring a pioneer lunch. We packed in his tin bucket a mason jar full of water, a boiled egg, beef jerky, bread with butter wrapped in wax paper and an apple. He thought his lunch was pretty heavy! A mason jar full of water will do that everytime! :) They get to make candles, applesauce, butter, use quill pens and slates, learn about cross-stitching and learn a little about how school was for pioneers. What a great lesson. What a fun day!

Lucky 13

Happy Anniversary to Me! And to Taft! :)

Today we hit 13 years! We are now into the teens! It is starting to sound like a long time now! I like it!

We don't get to celebrate today since Taft left early this morning to Seattle. It is now the 3rd week of him traveling and so far it is okay. I like it much much better when he is home but we are surviving.

Anyway, I am so happy that I have Taft. He is such a great husband. I had no idea 13 years ago that life would be like it is today, but it is a great life. Taft was such a smartie and before he left to Seattle and then on his backpacking trip this past weekend he ordered my white roses and he gave them to me yesterday. It is fun to look back when we were celebrating our first anniversary and he gave me a dozen roses, 11 red and one white rose. Every year one more rose would turn to white. I love it. I love traditions. What makes it even sweeter is that when he asked me to marry him he gave me white roses.

13 White Roses

I wish we could spend the day together but such is life. We did go look at wedding rings yesterday for our short 1 hour date. There are so many pretty rings out there to choose from. It has been over a year now since I lost my original ring in the lake and we haven't replaced it. But how do you spend so much money on something that replaces something that meant so much and cost less? I am having a hard time wanting to spend the money on a ring. I really would rather get some things done to the house. :) Or go on a great trip!

I love being Mrs. B and I am looking forward to the rest of my years as the Mrs.

Oh man, we were such babies. And nice bangs!! Ha!