Get some leaves!

First off, here's Mr. Blue Eyes. With a mouth full of grapes.

He's getting to that super cute age where he's all obsessed with a toy for a day or two. This day it was Sarah's Baby Cupcake.

He's feeding her/shoving pretend food on her face.

The kids' school had Red and Green ribbon week (which no longer includes a ribbon and straight pin, I might add) This day was dress like a cowboy day. Sarah was all about it, as you can see. Henry participated to the extent of wearing a flannel shirt.

And this was 80s day. How weird to say "this is how we wore our hair." Is it funny that we have scrunchies on hand around here?

This is Henry's list of monster ideas that he made at a friend's house. When you put two 7-year-old male minds together, it's all class and sophistication. 

He's not allowed to say butt so I guess he gets it all out of his system in writing. My favorites are Wiggle Bodom (Bottom) and Hot Butt. I am hoping for an illustrated version soon.

I am so grateful for this kind officer who made many a preschoolers' day. And was a good sport for this photo. Erica is in the striped jacket with the ears. Her friend Mary is next to her in purple.

Erica made a nest with her blankets and pillows on her bed. If only she liked to stay in her bed at bedtime.

Last Friday and Saturday I went with the young women in our ward on a temple trip. We visited all 12 temples in northern Utah in 24 hours. It was a whirlwind trip but so fun to be with these girls. I had never been to the temples in Brigham City, Ogden, or Jordan River so it was good for me too.

Brigham City Temple

We took group pictures of all the young women at every temple and they made us leaders take a turn in SLC. I'm pretty sure we leaders have more fun together than the girls do (this is only half of the leaders).

Kim Jones, Tara Stephenson, Thresa Nelson, AmyJo Jones

We stayed overnight in SLC in a great big condo but we arrived there late after doing baptisms in Draper that evening and were out of there by 7 am so I didn't get to enjoy our surroundings as much as I would have liked.  

 We leaders took the master bedroom, of course.

 I love this cow.

 I was so tired after that trip! We got home 4:30 on Saturday afternoon and I think I dozed off twice that evening before going to bed at 9pm.

A few things I learned from our trip:
1. Every temple parking lot was packed. Kind of annoying but a really awesome sign.
2. Every temple is so different on the outside but so beautiful. There are many ways to be beautiful.
3. There's no feeling like walking into the temple and seeing someone you know. I think that's what heaven will feel like.
4. In a group photo of 11 girls, someone is always blinking. Take a lot of shots.

Sunday afternoon we drove up Hobble Creek to see the fall colors (for me) look for deer (for Justin) and play in leaves and eat snow (for the kids).

Justin in his natural habitat.

This is what I've wanted to do all summer.

Sarah checking if she could see her breath. She could.

I don't think James remembered snow.

They liked it for a second then they got cold.

This past week was fall break and Justin was leaving for hunting so I dragged him along to the local pumpkin patch.

 He sat James down right here in the corn and that's where he stayed.

 He neither loved it nor hated it but stayed very quiet and piled corn onto his legs.

 These slides are funny because you can hear the kids go "yuh-yuh-yuh-yuh-yuh" down the bumpy slide.

 My heart beats faster just looking at this picture. I don't my kids on heights.

Thursday Justin went hunting so yay for not making real dinner for a week! First night we had waffles. When the iron was heated I opened it up to pour in the batter and surprise! old waffles from last time. They were hard and piping hot but not moldy.

 Here's some fine art we found when cleaning the kids' room.

"This was a dog but then I messed up so I made it a llama."

 

Erica says, "This is Dad and me as a baby."

"This is just a piece of paper with some writing on it" but it was important enough she needed a picture taken of it.

After an hour long unsuccessful attempt at getting concert tickets to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert, (WHERE WAS THE LINK TO THE TICKETS??!) I took the kids to the DI to spend their family store money. I got some plastic paper trays for my desk for 50 cents , Sarah got a new skirt, but the real winner was Erica.

Teddy's Twin. Teddy 2.0. Back-up Teddy.

This bear is slightly bigger but the same brand. 

Bear on the left after 4 1/2 years of love and washings. The only thing that would make finding this bear even better is if Erica had lost Teddy a week before. She says the new bear is Teddy's sister Sally but I think I'll call it Teddy Fresh.

That afternoon I finished sewing Sarah's Halloween costume! (pictures to come).
After another non-dinner of frozen pizza, we got frosties and ate them at the park.

Henry found some $3 football pads at DI and aside from sleeping and church, has worn them every waking moment since.

As much as I can solo-parent like a boss (or I guess like a mom) Justin got his deer so he should be home sooner than later! Wahoo!

Fall Stuff

When you're nearly 2-year-old starts to look like a member of a British boy band, it's time for a haircut.

 I've been putting it off because I just love his blond hair.

 But he was not a good sport about wetting his hair and combing it down. He thought he needed a turn too and mussed it all up.

Look how much I cut off! He's such a nice boy during his haircut. He tells me it tickles and squirms a bit but if I'm fast enough, no drama.

 Erica told me she wants to be a trick-or-treater for Halloween. "So you just wear your coat and carry your pumpkin?" Yes, she says, "And say 'trick-or-treat' so they know I'm there for candy."

She'll most likely wear her Cinderella dress that she wears multiple times a week and I'm fine with getting more of my money's worth out of that dress. She told me she's not scared about school anymore and we've only had one day when she had no enthusiasm about going. She talks about her teachers and the other children so I think she's feeling more comfortable there. One day she forgot her backpack so they sent her home with a grocery sack but all that was inside was a book order form. Really? You can't just hand her the paper?

A dance pose from someone who's never had a ballet lesson in her life.

Henry is going to be Tom Brady again but with new pants since he's outgrown the ones from his costume. He wears the Tom Brady jersey at least once a week to school and I told him that when Halloween comes around no one will think he's dressed up. "Yeah they will because I'll have the helmet on." He has a point. I'm also happy to get more of my money out of that costume too.

 This is not Justin's Halloween costume although I'm tempted to have him sit on our porch just so on Halloween night and scare away trick-or-treaters. This is a prototype of our Million Dollar Idea so I'm sure you'll hear about it again and buy it.

 I finished my quilt! #3 of #35 of things I'll do while I'm 35 is to make a quilt just for me. I used this tutorial because it required cutting strips, not triangles (although the daisy chain title is misleading as this is a herringbone pattern).

My favorite part might be the backing fabric. Damask is my favorite print and this flannel is so soft.

 I had it all quilted more than a week ago but saved the binding to do during General Conference. I finished hand sewing the last few inches during the closing song. Whew! I've got a few more sewing projects going that I'll show when they're done.

One thing that I love love love about Henry is his writing and illustrating. It's the sweet side to an otherwise rough and tumble, teasing child. First is his fall story.

Doesn't that sound like a legitimate book?

 He found these outside and glued them on his page.

 This next page he wrote for the PTA reflections contest but I didn't submit it because entering that contest is akin to applying for college and we kind of forgot about it anyway.

 Here's my darling girl at the dentist. The dental hygienist commented that there was an 8-year-old in earlier that threw a fit and wouldn't let anyone exam her and then there's my sweet girl who did everything just right. And no cavities for any of the three kids. I should go to the dentist more often when I need to feel like a good parent.

 Except for the fact that James dragged this toy with him from the waiting room and spent the better part of the appointment climbing on the exam chair and pushing the big arm thing that holds the tools and tray into the Marci the hygienist's side.

Check out these clouds breaking up after the early morning storm. I love storms, clouds, fall leaves and mountains.

We finally met the newest member of the Dye family. Nate and Cassandra's baby was born September 18 and my kids finally have a Dye cousin and Justin is an uncle in his own right.

Sarah was happy as can be holding little Madison Kate. I think these two are going to be good buds.

Erica loves her too. James kept saying "cute" and Henry looked at her for a minute before going outside with his football. I haven't had a new nephew or niece in 5 1/2 years so this is pretty fun for me too. She's a cute baby!

And Erica and James found a new way to play together.