HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Will's Halloween Parade at school

Ella's costume

TRICK OR TREAT!

YUM!

Watch that wiggle

I opened the "noisy" box today for the kids. I turned around and saw them doing this. It was so funny I just had to capture it.

goodbye

Alex waved goodbye to my sister as she left our house tonight without cues or prompts. She just said goodbye and he lifted his hand to acknowledge her leaving. It was such a sweet moment.

Happy Halloween

Tonight we carved our pumpkin and Ella said, "I'm so happy it's Halloween time! I'm just so, so, so EXCITED! I'm not even scawed." She loves the movie "Heffalump Halloween" and has watched it regularly this past year. I guess having the strange holiday actually come up is just unbelievably exciting to her! Way too cute.

I see you.

This morning Alex saw me in the full-length mirror attached to the bathroom door that goes between our bedroom and the bathroom. I was sitting on my bed while he was in the bathroom. He smiled a big grin and then grabbed the door and pushed it halfway closed to look behind. He repeated this at least 3 times. It was so adorable. He'd look at me, smile, then look behind the door. I finally got his attention and he crawled into the bedroom.

This one's for yesterday: On the way to the store today, Will was figuring out our errands and explaining how I could rearrange them according to which store was closer. As we pulled into the parking lot, he said, "I sure am a smart kindergartener. Well, other kids are smart too. I'm so glad Heavenly Father gives us so many skills to think and do things. I'm just really grateful." Every now and then I wonder if our kids realize how blessed they are and every now and then I think they do.

Going Bananas

Today as I was leaving the store I heard a faint, "Ma'am, ma'am, MA'AM! You've lost your bananas!" I was embarrassed as I slowly walked back toward the store. Two other women coming out of the store took the bag from her and walked it over to me. As I took it I said, "I'm sure that's not the only thing." (Like maybe my dignity? or my mind, which is why they fell without notice in the first place.) The women just busted up laughing. It was really cute. My poor bananas. They fell to the floor twice when I was trying to put them in the little green store bags, and now again as I left the store. I guess I'll just have to make some banana bread.

peek-a-boo

Alex loves to play peek-a-boo while he's eating. It's really cute because sometimes he really hides like this:

Other times he can still see you like this:

And then sometimes he does a half version of "see no evil, hear no evil":

He had me laughing so hard today when he had one hand completely over his ear and the other on his eye. I guess peek-a-boo is open for personal interpretation.

outside fun

We got more yard work done this afternoon. The kids were crazy outside playing with their bikes and cars. Alex took off from the little blanket he was sitting on. One moment I turned around and he was a few feet away, the next, completely gone. Kimball found him behind the van pushing his little blue truck. I don't know how he found it or how he disappeared so fast, but I guess after watching his brother and sister playing on the sidewalk for so long, he figured he wanted to join in!

laying in bed

I was exhausted today, so this was my happiest moment.

the best babysitter

Our babysitter came over today. We found her a few months back on ksl.com. She comes once or twice a month and watches the kids on Saturday while we work on projects or go on a date. Today we brought home tacos for lunch and had a picnic outside. She kept laughing at the kids and said it was the most she'd laughed in about a week. That made me feel so good. I always feel guilty when I have someone watch my kids. But she seems to really enjoy it which is so precious. The kids love it when she comes because she does fun things with them that I am sometimes "too busy" to do (or clean up). Today they painted, blew bubbles outside, and she even pushed Alex on a little toddler truck which he just giggled about. We got a ton of yardwork done (now that it's practically winter already). So, it just turned out to be a great day--apart from the sore muscles. =)

cultural immersion

We took the kids to Betos today because both our cars were in the shop. I didn't realize what a little cultural experience it would be! Will kept asking me what kind of music was playing, why they were singing in Spanish and how to say things in Spanish. Then, with no hesitation he'd wave to the cashier and say "hola!" The atmosphere was honestly so upbeat in that little restaurant. Everyone that came in seemed so content. It was refreshing to be in a place where I was the only mom with kids. The cashier and waitress kept smiling at Alex, but I'm pretty sure I heard the waitress use the words "bebe" and "como" and "abuela" in the same sentence. I know, he kind of does look like an old man sometimes, but I could've just missed too many of the words to be sure that's what she said. It's just funny when they say something and smile at you and they know that you have no idea what they just said. Anyway, when we left, Will shouted "Adios!" and "Gracias." I was glad we got to have that little experience and really yummy food and it was neat to encourage Will to learn some Spanish.

inquisitive

Yesterday, Ella asked me if when the sun comes out it's warm or cold. I love this age and how curious they get about the world. It also made me appreciate the sun more. The fact that it gives light to everything and just enough warmth to keep us comfortable (for the most part). It really is amazing.

Today she tried riding Will's little bike for the first time. It'll be awhile til she can manage the pedals and steering at the same time, but she just giggled at the feeling of being on a bike.

chatterbox

I'm typing right now as Ella narrates a few princess stories to me. I'm amazed at her endurance. This morning as I was laying in bed, she came up to me and said, "Mama, when you aw done westing, you can get up and and go down on da couch and you can do some exewcise and den dat wiw fix yow muscles and den you can watch cawtoons." Well I guess she knows what we need to save our energy for!

surprise

Kimball came home early today. He told me he'd come home at 3, but he tricked me and was actually home at 3 instead of leaving at 3. It was a nice surprise.

baby kisses

Is there anything sweeter? Alex gave me tons of kisses today. Then, he enjoyed having me hold him and crash into Kimball. What a belly laugh! He's such a boy.

Cameron's Baptism

I was so glad we were able to see Cameron get baptized today! She looked so beautiful and it was such a sweet experience. It made me think more about the things that are most important to me and how much I love my family.

Swim Harry Swim

Today, Will's class had parents bring in pets. We took our litte Beta fish, Harry. It was really sweet. Alex kept pointing at the big dogs and saying "Daga, daga." Ella really liked them, too.

I'm gonna miss you sooo much.

Ella's been saying this a lot lately. It's neat that she's learning to express her feelings so clearly now. The funny thing is she says it when I go to the store, when Will goes to school, when Kimball's at work, etc. Pretty much any time someone leaves. But I'm grateful that she loves us so much and gives us sweet hugs and snuggles when we're about to leave.

strong arms

Today Alex took five steps with a one-gallon pitcher in each hand. He tried it once with just one pitcher, but I guess he needed 2 to balance better. He's starting to figure out a better way of transporting objects than click-clacking as he crawls with them in his hands.

blankie

Lately, Alex has been holding up his blankets when we go to take him out of his crib. Then, he crawls around the house dragging them with him. It's particularly difficult going up stairs with them, but he manages. When he finds a good spot, he pulls the blanket forward and lays his head down and says, "mmmm." So snuggly.

a budding actress

Tonight the kids were eating jello for dessert. They were holding up oblong pieces of wiggly red and shooting at each other. I was walking by the table and about to tell them to stop when I just burst out laughing. Apparently, they had both just shot each other and each was letting their head fall in slow motion to opposite sides. As I watched Ella's head fall with her eyes shut and her mouth pulled into a low frown, I couldn't help but picture two little x's covering both eyelids. When Will asked me why I was laughing, I said, "Ella makes a really good dead face." I couldn't even reprimand because her play-acting was so convincing.

Panoramic

Today I drove around to the other side of the lake and looked at some houses out there. It was really beautiful. So peaceful and quiet with the lake on one side and the rolling hills on the other. Plus, it was raining/misty over the lake which gave quite a dramatic feel to the snow tipped mountains in the distance with the dappled sunlight spread throughout. A few spots just took my breath away. Don't worry, I'm not moving. I just found a 4,000 square foot home for $300,000. and had to check it out. Just window shopping. Someday . . . .

Flaming Red

Why do I have 2 kids with flaming red hair? It's a quandry. I never thought this would even be in the cards for me, but here they are. I took Alex for his 1 year photo shoot today. He's thirteen and a half months now, but he's been sick for 3 weeks, teething and all. Usually, we're indoors and his hair is in messy clumps and it looks sort of chestnut colored. But, today, we brushed it out and took him out in the daylight and it's just the same bright red as Ella's. It's interesting how something that used to be so foreign to you (like redheads) can become a part of who you are through your children. I guess it was always in me one way or another. ;)

Movie

I was absolutely giddy to go to a movie this afternoon. Kimball came home early. I was so burnt out this week that I really needed a break. I saw Ghost Town. It was really funny (& quirky). I don't know how any of the actors could keep a straight face around each other. Laughter really is the best medicine I think.

sleep

My happiest moment today was falling asleep at 8:45. It's probably been years since I've been able to go to sleep that early. I'm usually not tired, or up worrying about something until 11 or 12 (or 1 or 2). I took a melatonin pill at 8 and it actually worked right away. Maybe going to the gym the other day helped, too. Man it was nice to get a full night's sleep, though. Really. Wonderful.

workout

I got to go to the gym today. It doesn't happen as much as I'd like. Sometimes, it feels like a tremendous effort, but it stands out as my happiest moment today because it was something I did for myself.