It's about time!

Since we've moved into our house

we had my brother-in-law install

some bead board in the kitchen

and frame the bay window out.

It has taken us a long time

to get everything painted.

But we're finally done

and can check the kitchen off

of our "To Do" list.

Also, now that our new couch

has been delivered,

we painted the family room

and hung up some pictures.

I love having a family room

dedicated to our family.

A place to play together and

to watch Lyla's new favorite show

I must say that

"Dora's Christmas Carol"

made Jason and I look like

fabulous parents tonight.

We're sitting in Tithing Settlement

and the Bishop starts talking

to the kids about the

Christmas Story.

How neat it was that the angels

visited the shepherds in the fields.

The town of Bethlehem was so full

of people paying taxes and

census workers.

The Bishop asked,

"Why do you think the angel didn't visit

all of the people in Bethlehem,

but instead visited the

shepherds in the fields?"

Dallin said,

"Because they didn't have

the true spirit of Christmas."

Wow, was the Bishop impressed.

And we have Dora and her

Christmas Carol to thank.

The joys of life during this season of joy...

To begin this lengthy update

I have to start with the couch.

Well...um...lets just say it sprung a leak.

Every time we wanted to watch TV,

we had to pump it up first.

It got so bad that by the time you

were done watching TV, it was flat again.

It went on for about a week when we found

out that our couch was going to be

on back order for ANOTHER MONTH.

Yeah, I couldn't wait, so we went out

shopping for another couch.

Third times a charm, because we found

this beauty that was half the price.

To give you an update on the chillins'...

******

Carter has always loved trains,

it started when he was two.

Dallin has loved them as well,

but lately its been all about light sabers and Star Wars Lego's.

Just when I was thinking about packing them away,

I caught them.

I guess classic toys like trains never get old.

Carter woke up one morning in

a lot of pain. Come to find out

he had a molar pop through.

(bottom left in the shadow)

Then about a week and a half later,

he lost his first tooth.

Yup, 7 years old and finally lost a tooth.

Dallin has been busy saving the world.

Just when we thought we couldn't

rake another leaf,

he showed up to save the day.

Lyla and I went to a little

program that Dallin's preschool

put on followed by a Thanksgiving feast.

One day Dallin was downstairs

and he was yelling up to me,

"Can I play with that Elmo toy?"

I had no clue what he was talking

about, I couldn't think of any

Elmo toy we owned.

So after much yelling back and forth

up the stairs, he finally came to find me.

Then it hit me...

we have an Elmo sprinkler.

He had to hear,

"Sorry, not in November."

Lyla discovered that Granny's house

really isn't that far away,

when you get to watch a movie.

She was so involved.

Lyla finally noticed the

toilet paper.

She wasn't satisfied with

the big squares of toilet paper,

so she had to rip them up into tiny,

hard to clean up, pieces.

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is

shopping with my sisters the day after.

We weren't out for anything major,

just to have a good time.

And it was a great time!

I look forward to this day every year.

Sister bonding at its finest!

(But I forgot the camera. Nothing great to see at 4am but a bunch of crazies!)

Jason's favorite Thanksgiving tradition

is cutting down our own Christmas tree.

(Look at that hunk lifting the tree with such ease!)

Too bad this isn't a scratch and sniff picture.

I love the smell of a fresh cut tree!

Happy Holidays!

Can't get enough!

My brother-in-law has been doing these jib jab dances and Dallin can't get enough, either can my dad. So we finally decided to do one of our family. We hope you enjoy it as much as Dallin does.

Finally here!

Wow!

What a great day we had.

Here is a little re-cap...

***

We started the day off with

yummy orange pancakes

in the shape of

a ghost, cat, or pumpkin.

Carter always gets weirded out

because

"It looks different"

(said in a whiny voice)

He isn't one for trying new things.

***

Then in the afternoon we had the

ward trunk-or-treat.

****************************

Some of you might recognize

my dress...

it was Grandma Galli's!

She was so nice to donate it.

****************************

A Granny,

A Mullet wearin', lamb chop sportin', redneck football fanatic,

2 Jedi Masters,

and

a Minnie Mouse.

Quite the crew!

*************************

The gal taking our picture

cut off my shoes, but luckily

you can still see my stockins'

*************************

After making the rounds,

the two Masters decided to do a little practicing.


Good thing,

because look who showed up

ready for a fight!




Here is a nice self portrait.

Who wouldn't be excited to

be hanging out with this looker?

I could be talking about either one of us.



Then later,

Dallin made a costume change

and Jason took them

trick-or-treating

door to door.




Lyla had a great time,

she LOVES being outside.

By the end of the night,

Jason had to carry Lyla,

Dallin's clone trooper gun,

and his mullet was crooked,

but he's still smiling.

What guy wouldn't be excited

to be wearing a mullet...

I mean really?

He would have made Billy Ray proud!

Final Halloween Preparations

Ever wake up looking like this?

We had a long day Friday which

made us sleep oh so nice,

and our hair look oh so good!

***

Friday we went back to the pumpkin patch

to pick out our pumpkins.

Dallin loved showing everyone around

because he just went the

previous day on his field trip.

We had the hay maze all to ourselves

And after returning home,

we turned our pumpkins

into spooky jack-o-lanterns.

Luckily we have decorations

to put into the pumpkins

because my kids want

nothing to do with the

pumpkin ooey gooey insides.

Jason did talk Carter into doing a little carving.

***

{5 More Days Until Halloween}

Have you seen my couch?

Did I ever tell you the story about our

Family Room Couch???

***

We ordered one back in August

but it was going to take until the

end of September to get in.

I have to say it was the most beautiful

couch I have ever seen and the most comfortable

couch I have ever sat on.

FINALLY...

The RC Willey guys came and I

was singing them praises as they were

unwrapping it and getting it ready to bring in.

I mean, I've been waiting over a month for this couch.

Then they got to the bottom of the stairs

and couldn't get it around the turn.

It was only 9 ft long, I thought these

guys were professionals!!!

So after a few tears

I waved goodbye to my blessed couch.

We went back to RC Willey to try again.

We found another sectional that comes

in more pieces, so it should fit.
After our friend Vern switches

all of the paperwork, he tells me

it won't be in until the end of October.

I was so bummed, I had a movie date all planned

and was so looking forward to it.

So Jason, being the problem solver that he is,

set this bad boy up.

And its been set up all month long.

I was told the new couch will be in

on October 25th.

I won't hold my breath,

but it will be a very exciting day.

***

On a different note...

This guy had his first class field trip.

Lyla and I got to go along

and had a lovely time.

First was the crazy hay maze...

I made the mistake of saying,

"Lets see whats around the corner."
Yeah, not a good idea because he had to

slowly peak around each corner thinking

I was implying there was something

ready to jump out at him at any moment.

Which could be why his

smile looks a little forced

and also why he was so willing

to let his little sister go first.

Then off to the pumpkin patch


This is his cute little class


Yesterday we ran down to
Gardener Village to meet up with
some very good friends.
We saw all of the
HILARIOUS Witches.
I had to keep saying how
HILARIOUS
they were so that Dallin wouldn't be afraid.
He's my skittish little guy.

Then after Gardener Village we picked
up the Scouts (because that is my new calling)
and headed to Tracy Aviary.
They wouldn't hold still long enough
to be in a picture.
But I was so excited to go
because everyone knows I just
LOVE
birds.
Can you even see the bald eagle?


The other Scout leader told me how
she sometimes picks her husband up for
lunch and they have a picnic at the Aviary.
Yeah, good for her because I really
had a hard time choking down dinner
at home after thinking about the
beautiful vulture I saw there.

***



9 more days until HALLOWEEN

Hope you're as ready as I am!

Another First...

What do you do when the boys are at school,

and its just the girls???

*

Spend a day at the Salon!

Sitting in a cool car...

Watching a favorite video while being pampered...

And getting a balloon as a prize.

Not too shabby!

It's FINALLY October!

Can I just say...

I'm so thankful its October!!!!!

My boys have been talking about

Halloween since November 1st 2008.

They LOVE Halloween and have seriously

been talking about what they're going to be

on a daily basis.

At first they would tell me what they

are going to be and I would say,

"We'll I don't know, we still have 12 months

to go...we'll have to see."

But then I realized they changed their mind

so much it wasn't really worth the effort of

trying to change their mind.

So whenever they tell me what they are going to be

I just smile and say, "That is going to be AWESOME!!!"

It will be exciting to see what they finally decide on.

It is such a HUGE and EXCITING decision for them.

When we moved, D could see the Halloween

box in the garage and he wanted to get it out so bad.

Now that it is October, we officially can.

Even the little one was excited to dress up.

October also makes for some cold days.

Having our first cold day this week,

I was itching for some homemade bread and soup.

Even with the little one pulling at

my pants and crying the whole time,

I knew it would be worth it.

And boy was it ever :)

D went on his very first ever

bike ride on his own bike.

He went around the whole block

and felt so big doing it.

The picture is a little blurry

because he was going so lightening fast!

{Have a Happy Conference Weekend!}

3rd Times a Charm!

I've been trying to blog

but my computer wouldn't let me

upload pictures.

This is my third time trying

and I'm so excited to get this up

so the guilt will subside for a while.

****

So just to start the update of the last month...

We finally got all moved out of our townhome.

Thanks to my strong brother-in-law

for convincing me to re-pack the trailer,

it only took us two trips.

(He did all of the work)

Lyla loved helping set up her room

Since we have been in our new house

we have experienced a lot of "FIRSTS"

Like pony tails...

And piggy tails,

Mowing a HUGE lawn

Turning the big #4

Finally getting a turn to go to school

Playing his first full 9 holes

Having his FIRST day at his new school

(Their mascot is the Wolverines which is SUPER cool)

It has been so hectic

but exciting at the same time.

We love our new ward and

the boys already have lots of friend.

Stay tuned...

for we have more adventures

coming this weekend.