October, 2011

It is hard to believe that I am the mother of a 5 YEAR OLD.  Really?  He is a special kid, who has truly brought us joy from the day we were blessed with him. 

And of course we celebrated with style!  First we had about 50 people over to our place for his birthday party—about 25 friends, but once you add a sibling and a parent, it adds up (there are still toys sitting on the guest bedroom bed that he has not opened yet)!  You might be shocked to see that it was a soccer-themed party (instead of baseball), but no worries, baseball was only dethroned momentarily.    However, it worked out well for the party; before the piñata and water balloon toss, we just had the kids wear themselves out by playing soccer in the back yard.

 

 

Passing out goodie bags to collect from the piñata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the goalie gloves (aka: snow gloves) he wore the whole party.

Little Tay getting in on the action!

 

 

 

 

 

Water balloon toss!

Cake time—thank you Dad for capturing all of these pics!

Have you noticed the pregnant belly yet?

In between Jack’s birthday and Halloween, highlights included:  General Conference, Jackson’s soccer games, the pumpkin patch, a visit from Grandpa John, Daddy and doughnuts at school, Jeff returned from India/Thailand, and two chess tournament (one in which Jackman did well enough to earn a trophy).

 

Can you find Jackson above?   Neither can we…A little easier in the one below

Apparently when Scott couldn’t stay for chapel, Jackson started sobbing.

 

 

Halloween for the kids was exactly as it should be:  party, candy, followed my more parties, and more candy. 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor wanted to be ‘Lady Bug Girl’ from the popular book series.  Every time she would get this costume on she would make this face.  It cracked us up. 

She has been difficult this month. In fact, for 2 weeks in a row her preschool teacher called me and asked me to come pick her up early because “She is not her usual cheerful self, and seems to be a little obstinate today!”  Ha!  I am hoping this is a phase, related to her changing nap schedules, and that we won’t be dealing with this explosive moodiness when baby boy arrives in late January.

Aside from her exhausting tendencies, she really is so fun and feisty!  She’ll say, “Mom, snuggle with me RIGHT NOW!”  After attempting to get her to say please, I nestle right in.

See the face—2 different parties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banana ghost popsicles.

Costume parade at preschool.

Apparently in one of her ‘less obstinate’ moments.

 

 

 

 

A determined Captain America!

Neighborhood party pre-trick-or-treating.

Other than that, Scotty is doing well.  He sleeps very little during the week, yet amazes me with his discipline to workout, stay on top of church duties, and carve out time (usually in the morning) for me and the kids.  Rarely a day goes by that he doesn’t watch sports center/or play chess with Jack, and wrestle or read to Tay.  I am looking forward to him using his 2 remaining weeks of vacation time over the next 2 months.  Then next year he’ll get 2 weeks of paternity time, in addition to his 3 weeks off.

Speaking of paternity leave, baby (Tyler, Ty, Eli, Finn, Jacob, Kyle, Grant, Beau, Dean, Keith, Samuel, Pierce, or Jordan) is now 28 weeks old.  And if one more person asks me if I’m due in November, I am going to go strangle him/her.  People, I am due at the END of January.  Despite being only 28 weeks, I have mysteriously managed to gain as much weight as I did at 40 weeks with Taylor.  Go figure?  Maybe this will be the first baby to clear 7lbs?

Well during this season especially we are thankful for the role each of you has played or plays in our lives.  I’ll close with one of my favorite quotes from General Conference.  President Monson said: 

May the Spirit abide with us as we go about those things which occupy us each day. May we show increased kindness one toward another. May we ever be found doing the work of the Lord.

May heaven’s blessings be with you. May your homes be filled with harmony and love. May you constantly nourish your testimonies, that they might be a protection for you against the adversary.

May we realize and understand how close to us He is willing to come, how far He is willing to go to help us, how much He loves us, and how much He does and is willing to do for us.

May He bless you. May His promised peace be with you now and always.

Loved this and love you all,

TFK