Happy Halloween

It was another GREAT Halloween at our house - Here are our Jack-o-Lanterns.  With the exception of the GIANT pumpkins, all of the gourds came from our garden...we had several more, but they rotted out before the holiday came! 

Laeni's design on the giant pumkpin.

Tori's design on the giant pumpkin.

Tori was way excited to dress up for kindergarten.

On our way our to go trick-or-treating.  I forgot to get the kids by themselves in their costumes. :(

Dracula Sora riding around in her coffin.

After trick-or-treating

We went to a burial in Portage, where my grandma Parry is buried.  Tori is standing by her middle-namesake - Delene.

One very fun thing I did in September is invite some of my very favorite friends I haven't seen in a while to a "ladies lunch" tea party.  It was so much fun.  Bryan took the little girls to do something fun so I could spend some time enjoying the company of my friends.  I don't often take time for myself like this, but it really was a good time for me!  (And hopefully for my girlfriends :)

Here is the full table spread.  Chicken salad sandwiches, lavender or chocolate drizzled shortbread, orange cranberry bran muffins, bruchetta (sp), key lime tarts, strawberry tarts, artichoke dip, Russian tea, herbal tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit and I think that's it.  Thanks ladies for coming and enjoying tea with me!

All girls minus Amy who is taking the photo.

All girls minus Jules who is taking the photo.

Bruchetta and strawberry tarts.

The Dancing Queen

This was Laeni's first year of dance and she loved it - she was also one of the best dancers in her group...and I'm not just saying that cause I'm her mom.  At one rehearsal, her teacher even stopped all the girls and asked why no one was listening or paying attention - with the exception of Laeni.  I was so proud of her.  She watched her teacher like a hawk and learned her dances like a pro.  Here are a few pics of the parades and talent show they were in.  Enjoy!

No pom poms yet.

Waiting on the trailer for her 1st performance :)

The Kindergarten Kid

Tori started kindergarten this year.  This will be her 3rd week and she's still lovin' it!  Here are some pics of the 1st day.  She woke us up about 7-ish to see if it was time to go to school yet.

Starting the day off right with breakfast :) 

She had her outfit picked out weeks before.

Could's get a photo of all the kids since Laeni was still snoozing away :)  But here is Tori and Sora.

SO excited for kindergarten.  She colored her own Kindergarten "K" sign.

In the truck waiting for dad so the 3 of us could go on the 1st day.  She was pretty insistent that we have Grandma Shirley come down to watch the other girls so we could both go with her.  Grandma was such a good sport that she came down to tend. 

I am as excited for Kindergarten as Tori is I think - her teacher has a camping theme in the class.  The bathroom is the "outhouse" and the drinking fountain is the "watering hole."  It's perfect!  Mrs. Pennington even has a guitar that is by the rug for songs!  How awesome is that?  I wanna go back to kindergarten and sit on the rug and sing songs and take a drink from the watering hole!  Here is Tori by her chair...

And see the tent?  The class ranger gets to sit in that and read stories!
Such a fun time!  I have already signed up to help with the Halloween party!  I wonder what my costume will be....

Three Month Catch-up in pictures

July 4th "Weekend"

Mark and his family came for a fun visit...

Although about 6 months apart, Ezzie and Sora are about the same size!

Walking out to get our place on the field to watch fireworks...the moms are taking pictures.

Tori and Laeni doing some kind of show for Sora and Gracie.

Went on another quick cabin trip - here we are floating down the river.  My first river ride by the cabin.

Ezra the "trucker" with Mark and Anne.

The boys solving the world's problems...We didn't tell them to stand like this...we came out to roast marshmallows and they were twinners!  

May / June 2013:

Camping in Capitol Reef (or really really close - in the back country)

Awesome hike to Surprise Canyon - the girls walked the whole 2 mile round trip (mostly on their own)

Sora was so cold the first night that she slept in my mummy bag with me - not super comfy, but a LOT warmer.  The second night, I was sure to bundle her up warm.  We didn't hear a peep out of her.

Tori graduated from preschool.

Miss Cameo was telling a little bit about Tori...she looks really serious!

Sora getting into things and brushing her teeth!  She loves her toothbrush! (She pulled it out of her mouth to say "cheese")

I took the girls to Thanksgiving Point's animal farm for FHE and needless to say, Laeni's excitement to ride the pony faded real quick...she finished the ride with me and Sora holding on to her, but she refused to go again :)

Cute lil' Sora ready for church...too bad she can't tap dance yet!

Laeni's 1st day of dance class. Tori did dance camp this summer, but I forgot to take a photo :(

Laeni's 1st dance class and Tori's kindergarten preview day!

Trip to Billings to play with Dylan and see Brian and Tia.  Ended up getting some pretty serious dental work done as well.  Thank you Dr. Francis!  Dylan was very intrigued with Sora.  He was so good to her. 

Quick trip through Yellowstone from Billings on our way to the cabin. 

Lewis and Clark Caverns

Cabin fun

Father's Day breakfast in bed (of course the girls couldn't be left out)  About a month later, I made the girls their own breakfasts in bed because I wanted to say sorry for making so many cakes and not playing with them the night before.  Pictures below...

Our garden!  The last few weeks since the photo was taken,the garden has about doubled in size.  Corn, pumpkins, peppers, watermelon, crookneck squash, tomatoes, baby tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, peanuts, zucchini, potatoes, and more pumpkins.Max has been hating it since he has been locked in his kennel/doggie run for a month.

April 2013:

Devin got his mission call - we gathered at Grandma Shirley's, Kristen scanned the call to Devin, Darren face-timed from Afganistan and Kristen skyped in from Texas...here they are as Devin talked to them after opening the call... to Argentina.

Tori's 5th birthday cake.  Sister Brown and I made all the decorations before we left for Disneyland.  Bless her heart for taking all that time and using all of her resources.  Tori really wanted a mermaid cake :)  

The big 5!

Lots of friends for the party.

Our stake did a "walk to the temple" - the girls and I didn't walk from the Stake Center (because they were still sleeping) but we did walk from our house.  It was fun...too bad you can't see Sora.