Presents ...

This year I am super excited about some presents. Hyrum wrote a "book" this autumn that he loves. He read it to everyone every night for a few weeks. I typed it up and got all his illustrations and I am having it "published" for Christmas. Hyrum is the only one in the family who doesn't know about it. We have had lots of help including reviews from cousins and neighbors and edits from them also. John and the boys have also helped. This Sat. Josh finished his "cover art" for the book. He wanted to give it to Hyrum early. He didn't tell Hyrum it was for a book, he just told him he drew it for him as a surprise. You should have seen Hyrum's face. He had tears in his eyes and he just kept hugging Josh......so I am thinking that the book will be a big hit...

 I am also doing a book for Math. Matthew has been taking some really fun and good photos lately so I put them all together in a book that he will get for Christmas (also a surprise :) At the end of the book is a poem that Matthew wrote himself in French that we really loved. (His teacher Mme Budge was also really impressed :)

Green
Green is the color of autumn when it is cold.
Green is the taste of corn in soup.Green is the sound of a crayon that is cracking.

And two pictures that are going to be in his book...

Math's Excellent Work...

 These are our neighbors. Our next door neighbors. Our neighbors who were only mentioned a million times during the Thanksgiving season whenever the boys were asked what they were thankful for. Our neighbors who warrant having a hole in our fence so the boys can travel freely between yards. Our neighbors, a family of all boys (5 boys counting precious Rocky) and if that wasn't enough...these boys also came with BFF's for me and John :)
Is it any wonder that Math wanted to take the camera over to capture some of his favorite people. I thought he did an excellent job (which is the reason for the post) especially when you consider he shot these pictures in manual and he is only 8 years old :) Sure there were a lot of blurry ones too but he got a few great ones :)

Ooops...

I may have accidentally removed a gadget that had the addresses of all y'all that have private blogs...if you notice that I am not leaving comments perhaps you should send me your blog address again :)

An Autumn Walk...

This was one of the last beautiful autumn days...65 degrees, clear blue sky...

We started out around our neighborhood...up to the park and up and down the hills.

 Then we decided that wasn't long enough so we headed to gma & gpa's house. We took the long way around...

 Once we got to the front yard we sat down and I laid on the grass and didn't move...

Then gma got home and brought treats and our walk turned into a picnic...

It was spectacular...

smile...

A few moments from the last little while...

Seth came in and declared....
"I am going to go to bed and snuggle my pillow and dream about fluffy unicorns."

I forgot to buckle Sam's carseat before I got into the van. When I got in I remembered, got out and went to go buckle him mumbling that I am going crazy. Sam told me this...
"You not a crazy person. You are mama and you love me." (my heart was happy)

We had the ipod playing in the car while driving to Genola. John is always trying to make us guess what "era" classical pieces come from. This time he told Josh to guess what "decade" the song came from since it was a pop song.
Josh - "If I had to guess I would say it comes from the 1980's." He was right and we were so amazed we asked how he knew that. His reply, "Well, this song sounds a lot like the old Transformers and Voltron cartoon songs." I laughed so hard......the song playing?? Take On Me by a-ha...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914

Halloween...

Birthday Boy...

Seth's birthday has come and gone this week too! My rhymers Seth and LizzyBeth have their birthdays two days apart. It is hard to believe he is 6. When he was 3 years old he promised that he would stay 3 forever but I guess that didn't work out (but I really wish it had :)
We didn't do too much because there just wasn't time. I had 4 things going on after school and one of them included pack mtg which I was in charge of...yikes! No one has seen John for about 3 weeks (except me)...Beps is scared of him now :) Between travel and grant writing, he leaves before anyone gets up and comes home after everyone is asleep. Basically he just sleeps here for 7-8 hours then leaves. We usually see him for a few hours on Sunday but that is about it. Plus he has been to Boston, Logan and Flagstaff this month. I did allow him to wake Seth up at midnight to tell him Happy Birthday and give him a hug :)
So it was up to me...for his birthday Seth had orange juice, hot pockets and drumsticks. According to him that is everything he LOVES but never gets unless it is his birthday except the orange juice ;) He had fun playing and got some books and small toys. His best present won't be here for awhile but he was happy to wait ;) Aunt Paula also came by and wished him happy birthday. I gave him extra treats at pack meeting and that made him happy. We also went to Costco and got all the samples at lunch which he really likes to do. Needless to say, as a very easy to please child he was very pleased with his birthday. We love you Seth...every family should have a Seth!! They are very entertaining :)

1 year with baby girl...

 It has been a year...I wish it would slow down but I know it won't...Normally I might spend sometime thinking back on what this day was like a year ago but I am trying to avoid therapy so I try not to look back too much on this pregnancy and this delivery! :)

Here is my baby girl...IN her birthday present from Gma. She likes pushing it but she LOVES sitting in it.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth...try not to grow too fast and promise to always be my little girl :)

A common sight...

How many times have you walked into a room and seen a sight like this...probably as many times as I have but it is still just as cute...

A day in the park with friends...

This is the neighborhood park and it is a great park...it is even more fun when you get to meet neighbors there :)

I think my favorite part of this picture is just seeing the view that we have from the park!

Why are babies so cute!!!

Why are babies so cute? Each baby that comes to earth is such a miracle and so precious and so darn cute. Their little souls shinning, sweetness brimming and of course help from evolutionary adaptations so we will love and kiss and snuggle and cuddle and hold and rock and FEED them thus ensuring the continuation of the human race. Well...call me highly evolved...overboard cuteness and love with Miss LizzyBeth. Babies are delightful (if it is not 3:00am :)...