Cookies

I gave the kids a couple of cookies for a snack.  I looked up a few minutes later and this is what I looked up to...

Ha!  Ha!

Happiness

One of the trees outside of Payton's preschool had dropped a bunch of bright yellow leaves.  So pretty!  As soon as the kids saw all the leaves they couldn't contain themselves.  Within minutes all those leaves on the ground were airborn.

I tried to get some pictures.  I love the expression on Lincoln's face.  He was having so much fun.

Paintballing

Paintballing.  I have never done it but it is definately entertaining to watch.  Steven, Rich, Rob, Ralph, and Ashley decided to head out to the meadow for a round.  I have to admit that I like it when they play in the trees right behind the house better because we can watch everything from the deck.  We are close enough to see everything and have very little chance of being hit.  :o)

We weren't close enough to see everything as it was happeing but there was evendence of head shots being made.  So glad I wasn't playing.  Ha!  Ha!

Trying to get pictures of the kids...

Michelle wanted to get some pictures of all the cousins together.  Ha! Ha!

After a bit of crying and Grace falling out of the sled these are some of the keepers.

Hike to the Meadow

We quickly found that the best way to keep the kids from climbing the walls was to get them outside to run and play.  There is a great meadow behind the cabin that we walk to every time we go to the cabin.  It isn't so far that the kids can't make it but far enough for them to burn all their energy.  Ha!  Ha!

We were at a point in the day that the kiddos were getting restless so we decided it was the perfect time to head to the meadow.

The kids were so cute.  Throwing snowballs at grandma and grandpa.  Playing baseball with sticks and snowballs.  Climbing hills.

At one point Ethan climbed this little hill and said he was the king. Then Payton climbed up and said she was the queen.  Then Lincoln climbed up and Payton told him the he could be the prince to which he responded, "No, I'm the king!!!!"  Ha!  Ha!  They are so funny.

Thanksgiving

I love food!  :o)  Michelle and everyone else that contributed to Thanksgiving dinner did an awesome job.  Yummy!

Before dinner and during a break in the cooking we went out to take family pictures.  They turned out pretty good.  I especially like the silly pictures.  Ha! Ha!

Gingerbread House

We are in Trukee!  Yay!

Jen brought up a Gingerbread house for the kids to put together (or eat).  Ha!  Ha!

Payton and Ethan did pretty well at just using the candies to decorate.  Lincoln looked at them like they were crazy, like he couldn't figure out how they didn't know that candy is meant to be eaten not put on a little house.  Grace went straight to the source of the candy. 

Kids are so much fun!

Caeden's Birthday Party

Caeden is turning 3!

Jennifer planned a "make up" party for her.  There were several stations that the kids could visit they could decorate a mirror, have their make up done by a professional make up artist, paint their nails, and/or have their hair done by yours truly.  :o)

After they were all dolled up, lunch was served and included all of Caeden's favorite foods like chicken nuggets, french fries, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit...pretty much you name it and it was there.  Ha! Ha!

All the kiddos had a great time!

Happy Birthday Caeden!

Craft Night

Two craft groups in one week!  Nice!

Even better, I actually completed a project at this craft night.  This has got to be some kind of record.  I have completed a project at the last two craft groups that I have gone to.  :o)

Jessica and I signed up to make "paint stick ornaments" at my ward's Souper Saturday.  Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to work on them that day.  Normally that would mean that I would take the materials with the intent on working on it later.  Then about a year later I would find the materials stuffed in the corner of the closet, think "I am going to finish that." and then put it back in the closet until I have a minute to work on them.  Repeat.  Ha!  Ha!

This time there was a group of us that hadn't had a chance to finish or work on this particular project so we decided to work on it at craft group.  We all got them done!  Yay us!  Here are a couple of mine.  :o)

Breaking Dawn

I swear everytime that another movie of the Twilight series is released that I am not going to the midnight showing and every time I find myself sitting for hours in line or in a movie theater waiting for midnight to roll around.  :o)

This time was no different.  Ashley showed up to the theater at around 7:30 to get in line with a plan that the rest of us would meet up with her a little later.  They ended up letting her in to the theater around 8.  Fortunately, they didn't start commenting on people saving seats until we all walked in the door.  Whew!

We kept ourselves entertained by reading, taking pictures of ourselves, doing each others hair, and watching Anthony jungle.  Ha! Ha!

The movie was good.  I think it was the best so far.

Crafty Ladies Night

I actually finished a project at a craft group!  I multitasked and managed to visit with my friends and finish a headband for Payton.

What's even better?  She loves it.  :o)

My First Haircut

Actually, it is my first time cutting Lincoln's hair.  I found a tutorial on Pinterest for cutting little boys hair.

After looking at the tutorial I thought to myself, "I can do that."  I told Dave I was going to try it, he seemed to be very supportive until I went and pulled out the scissors.  Ha!  Ha!  It was then I heard the doubt and reluctance in his voice, "You are going to do it right now?"

I think it turned out pretty good and after three days of following him around with the scissors to clean up areas I missed I am satisfied with the cut.  :o)

Yay me!

Payton's Dance Recital

Payton has been going to a dance class at the Southside Community Center by our house and today was the last day of class and a little recital to show the parents all that the kids learned during the class.

It was just a small recital and mostly it was just the parents that attended.  However, Miss Payton had quite the crowd with Dave and I and both sets of grandparents.  Ha!  Ha!

It was so fun to watch them show off all that they had learned.  I think we all had a smile on our face the entire time.

The class taught the girls tap, jazz, and ballet.  So they had a ballet dance and a tap dance to show us along with all the fundamentals they learned.  You can click on the highlighted text to see a video of the dances.

So proud of our little girl!

Dylan's Birthday Party

Our little friend Dylan is turning 2!

Cassy, his mommy, decided to make our Friday play date his birthday party.  So fun.  It was a fire truck party, she is so creative.

She had the table decorated to look like a firetruck.  So cute!  Rayne and Payton made little firetrucks out of graham crackers, frosting, and candies.  Dylan and Lincoln just ate the parts.  :o)

They played games.  Cassy is awesome at coming up with game ideas on the fly.  She had planned a bowling game, the pins had pictures of flames on them and the ball had a picture of a water drop.  After the kids played that for about 5 minutes they wanted to play another game.  I can't remember all the games they ended up playing but they all managed to have a fire fighting influence like The Fire Chief Says... and Ring Around the Fire Hydrant.

I think they all had a really great time.  Especially Payton, she has really missed playing with Rayne since she has started kindergarden.

I am so glad that we were able to go.

Hand Soap

We have motion sensored hand soap dispensers in our bathrooms.  Payton calls them magic soap makers...  Anyway, Lincoln and his little friend Cailin discovered they could reach the dispenser early in the day while I was babysitting.  Ha! Ha!  Lincoln ended up with soap in his eye and Cailin put some in her hair.  Fun times!  Later on this evening, after Payton and Lincoln had taken their baths, I walked past the bathroom and heard Lincoln saying, "Wash hair?"  I stopped, took a few steps back, and peeked into the bathroom.  This is when I discovered Lincoln had taken a handful of magic soap and rubbed it into his hair.  Yikes!  That was fun to clean up.  :o)

It was such a beautiful day so Jessie, Tess, and I decided to go to Happy Hollow for the afternoon.  So much fun!  This is such a great place to take the kiddos and with the season pass I really don't feel bad if we are only there for a couple of hours.  Hey, at least I am using the pass.  :o)

One of Payton and Lincoln's favorite parts of the park is this huge play ground/structure area.  They could stay in this area all day.  I love this picture of Lincoln.  He is talking to Cailin through a little hole in the log he is sitting in.  So cute!

The kids were boths exhausted when we left and fell asleep in the car on the way home.  I love it when they play themselves into exhaustion.