December Snow

We've been spoiled with a real Fall this year, and the snow has been just piling up and waiting to fall out of the clouds I guess, 'cuz this week we got pounded with 3 storms in a row! Luckily, it came Monday morning, our first day of Christmas break. So, we didn't have to drive in it (although I had made a trip to Toys 'R Us at 6 a.m. and I beat the storm by minutes!!) The kids are enjoying it and ready to get all the snow gear on. I'm not ready for the sore back though...you can see the shoveling was tiring as it goes up to the top of the mailbox behind Hayden (no, you can't see it because it's covered in snow!) More coming!

So, here we are enjoying the foot or more of fresh snow right before Christmas. It came so fast that we could only get up our street with four wheelers (and the neighbors all came out to help push everyone home into their driveways while the ladies shoveled the driveways). Glad Nath and I got our Christmas early so I could deliver goodies without getting the jeep stuck-like it would get stuck. That's only when Nathan's driving! We had to make a path for Indi...the snow was as tall as she was.

Indiana Hayden's Birthday Crusade

The day was finally here for the adventure. Hayden's 10th birthday was celebrated in Indiana Jones style!! All was set up for our Egypt, India, China, and Peru destinations as they boys set out in search of the Holy Grail and treasures gallore! Hayden donned his outfit and awaited his guests out front...

Here is where it began; Dr. Jones's office. The brave boys received their adventure bag for collecting loot, and a compass to help them lead the way. The first clue was to be unraveled (from a roll of toilet paper) as the searched for where mummies knew best .What a brave bunch as they raced to be mummified, shoot darts at evil villians, and dig through monkey brains for the most eyeballs.

Then came a feast of monkey brains and racing boulders, alligator eyes, poisonous drinks (with antidotes of course) and chocolate covered beetles...or what was left of the chocolate covered raisins. Ashtyn thought she'd be nice and share them with our dog Indi...who was throwing up chocolate covered 'beetles' all night long through the party. After feasting, the boys practiced their whip skills...and started to get chilled!

Lastly, with torches in hand, the boys brave the spider cave and snake pit for the last clues. One by one, they searched the cave for the 'grail' and retrieved a ruby spider for safe keeping. Later the boys disclosed how spooky the cave really was; saying they heard things moving around in there too!

And of course, Indi's favorite; a diamond back snake cake that was pink inside so when cut open it was like a real snake. We sure love Hayden and are so proud of who he's becoming. He has great friends and we appreciate the neighborhood we live in where our kids can play and live so freely and safely! I hope this was a crusade to remember; because mom was sure tired after...

October Whirlwind

Whew! Let's see if I can cover the rest of the month as it blew by way too fast! The annual ward Halloween Party. Ashtyn was all ready to be Little Miss Muffet, but due to a late nap, wouldn't wear that costume and had to be Minnie Mouse with a spider. Then here's the duo from Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom! Here's the 80's couple rockin' out! (and no, Ashtyn is not eating toilet paper. She's waiting to wrap us up mummy style!)Then, of course I let Nathan go shopping alone at Wal-mart on a Saturday afternoon with the kids the week before Grandma & Grandad come. What does he come home with? A new addition to the family...yes, one that must be fed, walked, and potty trained (AND live IN the house!). Needless to say, the kids have fallen in love with India ("Indi" as in Indiana Jones). We almost loose her amongst all the stuffed dogs in the house!

So, Ashtyn had to change her costume AGAIN and be Tinkerbell (last year's costume!) You'd think after she wears this every day, that she'd dress up as something else...Boys are sure a lot easier to please!Then the day after Halloween, Jantzen was baptized. Granddad and Grandma had flown in from North Carolina; and my Uncle Waylon and Aunt Janet also joined us. Aunt Pam, Uncle Joe, Harley, Zach, and Grandpa Earl came also to support Jantz. We missed everyone else too far away who couldn't make it!We are so proud of Jantzen and his decision to be baptized! He was so handsome in white; and he says he wasn't nervous at all. Dad baptized him and granddad got to confirm him. He couldn't stop smiling when he stood in front of the congregation as the newest member of our ward.And the proud, happy family (yes, that's a growl on Ashtyn's face; she was having a blast running around the church and hiding from us! So much for the perfect family picture!)

Frightening Frightmares

Three years ago we've started a tradition of going to Lagoon Frightmares over UEA/Fall Break. This year Ashtyn wanted to ride some of her own rides; and even tag along on some with the adults. Brave girl rode the helicopter ride first and was all excited and waving, but when it took off in the air, it was all she could do to lay down and hold on tight (of course the camera wouldn't work and get that picture). Even the ride conductor was saying, "Oh no, look at that poor little girl looking all sick." But that didn't stop our girl; she got off and half smiled then ran to the next ride. She's got the wave to the crowd perfected!

She had to ride the 'neigh neigh' on the carousel, but once that started moving, she was holding on for dear life again and trying to keep her food in her stomach! The best was the Lady Bug hop that drops you and bops you up & down. She barely made the height limit (thanks to her big hair bow) and the first drop really got her holding on to the bar and mom's hand. Then as it would go back up, she'd lift her head up to smile and wave at the crowd, then drop it again as the ride flew back down. This would continue the next 10 X she rode it. Riders in line would come to watch her ride it...it was the best laugh until it scared the poo out of her!

The boys braved the SPIDER and all the big coasters this year. Wicked was another favorite of theirs that mom couldn't fathom riding as you fall 90 degrees straight down!!

After getting wet on the log ride, everyone else continued to Rattlesnake Rapids. But I was smart and knew that as it got dark, it would also get cold. The boys rode it one more time without dad, and later told us it was 3 more times...they were nonetheless soaked and freezing by nightfall. Nath was sent out to find a Wal-mart and dry pants, socks, and undies!!

Now that everyone was fed and dry, we stayed to catch a few frightening shows and more rides in the dark. The kiddie rides closed early, so while we were waiting around for the boys Ashtyn had her first cotton candy...she wasn't sure about it going into her mouth!

The boys got the courage to ride the rocket near the end. They were scared but thought it would be cool to get so high up and see all the lights of Lagoon at night. They rode both rockets; one shoots you and then continues you up & down, the other slowly carries you up first and then you drop all the way back down like a free fall. I've never heard them scream so loud! Too bad I had to stay below with sleepin' Ashtyn.
We were going on adrenaline at dark but stayed until 11:00 P.M. and had some very tired children the next day (& tired parents)!

Lego Mania

This year Jantzen wanted a LEGO birthday party for his 'Great to be 8' year. We searched for ideas and finally came up with some fun ones to keep 10 eight year olds enthralled with legos for 2 hours. Can you believe the favorite was making a scrapbook place mat page with pictures and lego pieces and letters? Of course, the treasure hunt for candy legos came in at a close second (even when they had to search outdoors in the rain)!

I know, I always have to get way into the party theme and have fun going all out with decorations! The flag turned out way cool though with the oversized LEGO...neighbors even thought the flag was vinyl!!

The kids played games from the Lego spoon relay, to building the tallest LEGO tower, to creating a LEGO creation. We had lego brick pizza for lunch with lego ice cubes (but no one touched the LEGO colored fruits or veggies to go with lunch); they just wanted to keep adding ice cubes to change the color of their drinks. We ended with an award ceremony for the best creations (Hayden was proud that his was the 'most creative') and Jantzen's won the 'silliest' award of course!

THE CAKE & LEGO chocolate candies! Yeah! Jantzen's 8!

I've Been Tagged!

Thanks to Heather, I have to think above a second grade level this time. Enjoy:

3 Joys

Going home to North Carolina to be with family (and eat good 'ol southern cookin')!
Being home with my own cute kids.
A rainy night with a book in my hand and my hubbie next to me!

3 Fears
Losing loved ones.
Unemployment
Gray hairs (40 is getting too close for comfort!)

3 Goals
Enjoying the little every day things (even my piles of laundry as Pres. Monson stated)!
Drink more water (stay away kidney stones).
Start doing sit ups everyday- now that I'm home more, I'm eating more...

3 Current Obsessions
Stamps! Cards! More stamped projects!
Pulling out my gray hairs...
Blogging!

3 Random Facts about Me
I love the Carolina beaches- but can't stand seafood!
I once had my leg infected with cow manure from the Bear River!!
I love basketball and played in high school-but nowadays I can't school nobody but my 2nd graders!!!!

I am tagging Annie, Shari, Debbie, and any one else peeking-we'd love to hear more about you too! (and Sydney... again since she hasn't done it since Heather tagged her.)

Bear Lake Quick Getaway

School had barely just started, but we were ready for one more last getaway before getting into the year full swing. So, feeling too tired to pack for camping, we looked north towards Logan to take the kids with their cousins for Labor Day weekend. We had to stop and show them the beautiful Logan Temple. A beautiful day!

The view from above Bear Lake.
The bluest water around (and coldest too.)

Waiting to go into the 40 degree Minnetonka Cave around the Idaho side of the lake. Throughout the cave there were over 800 stairs down and back!
Aunt Pam, Zach, Harley (looking for bats) and Uncle Joe.

Da Gurls!

The boys had a blast swimming in the downpouring rain. There was no getting them off the diving board and doing their crazy jumps!

After swimming, the Hayden and Zach tried drying off in the sauna. SIZZLE!Here we are at the Isle Condos. Thanks to Tonya and her Laketown family and connections, they hooked us up late Friday night with a place right off the lake. We were able to catch one day on the lake before the rain and 30 degree weather set in for Labor Day.