Yes we are still alive

I remember thinking I just have to make it through October and then I can breath again and get back to the normal life and whatnot.  Well November surprised me I don't know exactly what happened but it came and went before I could blink.  Oh well being busy is a good thing.  Here is our month in pictures.  

Preschool field trip with Jacks class.  Olivia was done a little before the rest of us.

Minor surgery in our kitchen.  Ryan had a wart on his foot. So he had the missionaries help numb it so he could hold the freezing stuff on extra long.  This set of missionaries is really fun, they had no issues about sticking a needle in Ryans foot.

I find this boy like this often.  Hidden somewhere in a corner reading a book.

Our temple it almost done!

Typical Sunday evening activity.  Ryan's family started this tradition of playing games together Sunday evening after dinner.  We have tried to keep that tradition with our family.  Stratego and Sequence (a kid friendly version) have been are favorites for a few months now.  I am ready to hide these games and pull out new ones, we have plenty to choose from.  But we are doing it for the kids not us, so it only seem fair to let them play the games they want to play.  Please ignore Kaitlynns undies.  She got ready for bed a little early.  Yes we are super cheap and just have the kiddos sleep in old t-shirts.

We all love story time.

I especially love this face.

That's right folks this is my twenty month old riding a bike!  Are you impressed?  You should be.  She has gotten good enough she has started to pick up her feet a little bit.  Stupid cold weather has kept us from going out as much as we wish.  Good thing our basement is super scary and unfinished so I don't care if she plays with it down there.

Last picknick of the year.

The biggest event was a visit from uncle Michael and aunt Jessie. They were able to spend Thanksgiving with us and some neighbors.  We were really lucky to have them.  I am desperately missing Jessie right now.  I have never met a better example of service than that girl!  She was constantly and quietly helping out, cleaning, cooking, or just keeping the kids happy.

The kids quickly put them to work.  It was nice to have some people who weren't burned out on all the same books.

Classic Michael.

A trip to the mall.  The boys really had a blast!

Kaitlynn challenged Michael to a game of Stratego.

Super lame picture of Thanksgiving.  I totally forgot to take a picture of all of us and the food or even when we pulled out the games.  We had 19 people in our tiny home for the holiday!  It was a bit tight but fun.

Enjoying the deserts.

I am pretty sure the kids only ate junk food.  All the adults were in the living room and children had to eat in the kitchen.  No one was monitoring them.  When we went in there to clean up it looked like the dinner plates  hadn't been touch.  They did happily eat pie and cookies though.

We made snow flakes the next day.  I have yet to hang them up.  I keep forgeting to buy string.

These two could do this all day.

Time to set up the tree.

Kaitlynn had to show Jessie  everyones stocking.

Last time this boy played with these nutcrackers he broke off all their arms.  I had to hot glue them back on before we could put them up.

Classic Ryan.

Awe... what a cute couple.  Kaitlynn took this picture while they were posing in front of the temple.

Here is our little family.  It was a really cold day.

It took us three day after setting up the tree to decorate it.  Stupid lights!  We tested all of the lights before we strung them up but once they were on the top strand didn't work.

That was November, hopefully December doesn't sneak by me without me noticing.          

Happy Halloween

Did you miss us?  I know you have been eagerly awaiting a new post...  Okay so maybe not all that eagerly, but all the same here is a small update on our Halloween in Missouri.

This wasn't actually on Halloween but it was a Halloween activity so it made it into the post. We decorated sugar cookies at our neighbors house.  

Best friends Kaitlynn and Makenzie.

This was the community trunk or treat, again not actually Halloween night.  Jack was Batman. His belt lit up and was super cool.  He liked to show anyone who would watch.  Kaitlynn was Tangled.  Her wig didn't workout quite like I had imagined.  I had watched a few tutorials on how to make yarn wigs but none of them took into consideration of using three rolls of yarn and making it super long.  In the end it was too heavy to stay on her poor little head.  Olivia was a lamb.  It was a left over costume from when Kaitlynn was a baby. Kaitlnn must have been a smaller child than Olivia because it sure didn't seem to fit the same. Look at those flood pants!  Oh well she was cute all them same saying baa baa everywhere.

Just taking care of business before eating her candy.

Okay now we are onto Halloween day. Pumpkin carving time!

Ooh, look at that scary scar!

This picture makes it look like she did more than she really did.

The carving expert.

Our little pumpkin patch.

The Olivia's.  These two found each other then excitedly admired one another's costume.

Here is a family photo after all the trick or treating was done.  The night air was just a little chilly but overall really nice.  I didn't have to wear a jacket and Kaitlynn didn't have to cover up her dress with a coat.  

Look we had some ghost visit us too!

Eyeing Jacks treats.  

Here is the most Halloweeny picture of the night.  Nothing is spookier than a possessed lamb!

Pete the Cat

This is kind of long, but it is a video of Rebekah reading a book to Olivia. Olivia makes the best faces for each part of the book. She does it every time without fail. Cute! We borrowed the book from the library, and now we have to buy it. She found the book and brought it to us to read often, even if we hid it from her. She could just smell it out.

We love Pete the Cat.

Lazy Saturday

I had a bunch of pictures from Ryan's birthday and conference weekend.  I thought I had downloaded them but I guess not I down loaded these instead.  So these are what you get to see instead because I don't want to sit here and while I down load the right pictures.  These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago.  Ryan found himself with a rare day off and all caught up on school.  In celebration of this we went to Legends (an out door mall) and spent the day eating, playing by the fountain and window shopping.  Often Ryan tries to give us a couple of hours when he has a day off but  school is so demanding right now.  It was a real treat to be together ALL day.  We even skipped Olivia's nap to do so.

We had lunch at Chipotle.  

When we first moved here I didn't think it was a very good substitute for Cafe Rio but I stand corrected.  I find it is just as yummy if not more so.  Look at my lunch wasn't it beatutiful?

Ryan is a fan too.  Which means a lot!

Love that scrunchy nose!

We had fun trying on clothes.  Kaitlynn thought she was riot in this hat!

We had fun, though I think Ryan was a little embarrassed of our photo shoot in Gap.  That boy embarrasses much to easily.

Hard to tell but this was a super cute leather jacked and if they had it in my size I would have snatched it right up.

Do not, I repeat do not let a baby have a drink in the store!  It was so stressful making sure she didn't spill it.  It was Ryan's drink from lunch and she found it!  In the end I left the store early with her so she could toddle and spill to her hearts content outside.

This is the only picture I am in.  Thank you mirror, you document better than my handsome though neglectful hubby!

We got this view often. There are a lot of mini walls to climb and lean over.

Old Navy has the best kids shirts.

Too bad they didn't have many in the right size.

This girl practiced going up and down steps like a big kid.  She loved the shorter steps

Again with the steps.

She earned rocks for going up and down so well.

I didn't even pose them this way!

Fountain fun.

Absolutely perfect.

She wasn't even interested in the fountain.  She spent her time balancing on the wall.  Ryan did a lot of laps with this kiddo.

They were both very wet by the end.

Then a quick stop to Cold Stone to finish off the day. I love that Jack is in a robot shirt and Ryan is in a spiderman t-shirt.  Once a little boy always a little boy.

My little model.

Once Olivia was good and messy we knew it was time to go.  Really and truly it was a perfect day. Parents were calm and kids were happy, grateful and all smiles.  I guess it is good to have school to remind us the value of one full day together.  Now back to the real world again.

Happy Birthday Nanny!

Hi Mom,


We are pretty cheap people so we made you a short video and had the kids color some pictures for you. That counts for at least something, right? Remember that my birthday is coming up soon and the lack of nice things we got for you should in no way hinder the grand presentation you have in mind for me. We miss you and are excited to have you guys come and visit next month. The kids ask about it a few times a day. I wish you would just come so they would stop talking about it.


Do you feel way older today or what? You are probably the oldest person I know who can run a 10k. You should really talk with the Guiness Book of World Records or at least the newspaper or something. You could inspire other old people to watch less Wheel of Fortune and go and do something productive like browse garage sales for that special something that will help them finally make it big on the Antique Road Show. That would be pretty sweet.


Anyway, Here is a quick video Bekah took of the kids just for you. They are funny little things.

The kids colored these for you.


Olivia doesn't quite get the drawing thing yet. She did try, but the crayon box was just too interesting to look at and really got in the way of coloring.

Jack did a pretty good job. You will have to ask him what it is. I don't really understand abstract/modern art. It's a little above my cultural level at this point in my life.

Kailtynn seems to draw things I can figure out. She even labeled herself and you so there would be no confusion. What a smart Kindergarten student.

We love you a lot and miss you a little. Happy Birthday.


Ryan, Rebekah, Kaitlynn, Jack, Olivia, and....that's all for now.