Backyard Campfires

Matt and I were going through an old filing cabinet before we moved and realized that we needed to destroy a huge box of old bills, taxes and other sensitive documents. Matt said that we'd burn out the motor on the paper shredder if we tried to destroy them in there. I think it was just the little pyromaniac inside him that was crying, "Let's BURN them! Ooohaaaaahahahahah!!!"

Low and behold after we moved, we discovered that the previous occupants of our house had created a fire pit from bricks and stones in an area of the yard that isn't landscaped. As the weather turned a little chilly, we began having backyard campfires. The kids were thrilled. They beg for "Campfire Nights."
We've held family home evening lessons, sat and talked, read scriptures, read an adventure novel together (Return to Exhile,) and of course, made smores galore.
Destroying sensitive documents was never so much fun!  

Jared is especially hilarious. He insists on throwing papers (and rocks and sticks and leaves) onto the fire. Most of the kids have become skilled marshmallow roasters, but Jared has his own ideas...
He thinks the first person to burn the marshmallow to crisp and make it fall off the roasting stick wins.
As the poor, black glob of goo plummets into the flames, Jared JUMPS in the air and yells, "HOOOOOORAY!!! I did it!"

Alicia's Baby Blessing

Sunday, October 16th, 2011

Scheduling Alicia's Blessing was VERY difficult. We were working around 3 primary programs and people traveling from California, Idaho and the north and south ends of Utah. We finally had to pick a day and time and just run with it, because there was NO WAY to accommodate everyone's schedule.

Having said that, it turned out to be an absolutely GORGEOUS afternoon, and we are so thankful for all those who helped us prepare food, setup, drove / flew at length, and made it an absolutely wonderful day.

The blessing given to Alicia was beautiful and sweet, and she was quiet throughout.

Here is our little Angel...

                   

Matt's stepmom: Grandma W.

My Parents: Papa & Grandma Hunny

Matt's Mom: Grandma Barbara

Scouting Awards

October 27th, 2011

Gabe became a cub scout in May, but of course, that's when all chaos broke loose for our family as we scrambled to find a new home, move, remodel the old house, rent it out, have a baby, and on and on…

Well, the poor guy has been waiting so patiently for me to help him finish his bobcat,
and Matt and I have both gotten multiple 'lectures' from his new wolf leaders.
(They seem convinced we're totally incompetent, never mind the fact that Gabe has an older brother who's earned everything successfully, or that I've been a Wolf, Bear and Webelos Den leader before. Sigh.)
So, I finally made time to finish up the last requirement, called the den leaders to tell them a week before the pack meeting and then the Cub Master forgot to buy a WHOLE bunch of awards - including Gabe's. We're hoping this means Matt will be in town for the next pack meeting and can see him receive it.
So, this is Gabe getting his soccer belt loop. Way to go, buddy - you're a trooper!

In addition to helping Gabe, we also helped Zach finish up his Webelos Badge requirements. Being the HAM that he is, Zach marched to front of the pack meeting and dropped to one knee as though he was being knighted. What a nut! Now on to the Arrow of Light...

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Jared has decided that he's old enough to use the microwave, but the last time I checked he's still TWO!!!
He figures he's a got a stool, a long enough reach and the food of champions... corn dogs.
What more does a little guy need?
Certainly Not Mom!

BUSTED!!!

 

This has become a daily battle!
Jared thinks...
Mom's Nursing Alicia?
Well, then I'll make myself a snack too.
The box to the left contained 36 corn dogs
and he's BURNED (literally) through them in a week!
Aargh!

My prayer...
Please give me the patience to redirect this child's attention,
Feet fast enough to reach the microwave quickly,
and may he never throw a fork in there. PLEASE.
sigh.

Halloween 2011

The Fabulous Five on Halloween...

Lauren: Our Zombie Girl

Zach: Luigi... again.

Max: Ninja

Gabe: Pikachu

Jared: Super WHY!!!! He's our Guy!

Alicia: The yummiest little TREAT on the block!

Matt: Nazgul from Lord of the Rings

On the trail...

Carving pumpkins with this many kids is challenging to say the least. I usually have a supply of carving tools that the kids can use themselves with supervision, but NO ONE is content to carve a simple jack-o-lantern. Oftentimes,  we end up carving complex pumpkin designs late into the night on the Family Home Evening before Halloween. My sister, Kelli, mentioned the she just has her son paint the pumpkin. BRILLIANT! It would be easier and we could do it earlier in October because the pumpkin wouldn't be rotting on the porch for weeks.

I found some washable paints that I thought were good. I covered the picnic table in the backyard with plastic, set paints and brushes out, and the whole process was done in 15 minutes! We left the pumpkins outside to dry overnight. I loved it!!! However, the paint went on a little too thin for the kids taste, and then it rained...

OOPS!!! Note to self: Buy good craft paint for pumpkins next year ;D

Happy Thanksgiving

I do love the Christmas season; and I even like to hear the Christmas music already in the stores 

and on the radio. However, I still think we should give another wonderful holiday it's due. So...

Happy Thanksgiving! 

I don't do a lot to decorate my house for the each holiday, but I like to do two things:
1) Hang something festive on the front door
and
2) Create a holiday display on our small side table in the dining room. It's about 1'x3'.

The Thanksgiving display is one of my favorites, so I thought I'd share.
2 twig garlands of fall colored berries
1 spool of leaf print ribbon
1 bag of small faux gourds & acorns (about 8)
3 colorful faux maize cobs
1 bag of fabric fall leaves
1 pumpkin topiary
"Give Thanks" tile and stand
"Give Thanks" turkey and harvest letters
2 maple-leaf candlestick holders & Maize candles
I actually have a cornucopia shaped basket as well, but it's in storage,
so the display has more of a scattered look this year. It's fun to change the arrangement each year too. Every few years, I'll pull out an item that looks worn and add something new.
I've tried using real gourds, acorns and leaves, and they're fun as well.
I love fall colors - they're so warm. It's a great contrast to the cold air outside,
and it makes me thankful for warm food, a warm home,
and the warm little lambs' that I get to snuggle up with.

Jared & Alicia's Portraits - August 23, 2011

The older kids would soon be having their school pictures taken,
so I arranged for a photo session for Jared & Alicia.
Ali was just 8 days old and slept through most of it, but Jared was posing like a pro.
He was cheerful and smiling & SO cooperative - I was amazed!
In fact, he didn't really want to leave the spotlight when it was Alicia's turn
to be photographed, but he did it anyway.
Grandma W was in town helping me during my recovery, and with her help,
we seemed to breeze through both the portrait session AND the recovery.
The hardest part about this was narrowing down 50 cute pictures to just five.

And here they are...

This one is so precious. It was one of the last photo's taken. Alicia looks so beautiful,
and Jared is leaning down to give his "sweet baby girl" a kiss.