Nicky is 8!

Look at those rolls!

First Halloween. He hated his costume! But he sure looked cute!

One year old! He loved soccer then and he still loves it now!

Get me out of here already!

Noah with his first best friend in Monterey, CA.

What do I say about my Noah on his birthday? He is my "first and honored son, heir to all I possess!" (Tikki Tikki Tembo) Noah was my biggest baby weighing in at 9 lb. 3 ou. He was my easiest delivery for some odd reason! He was my hardest recovery! I wondered why I couldn't walk the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy! He was born on election day 2000 so I didn't get to vote! Well, he was a healthy child, beautiful and as good as can be! I remember telling a friend of mine when he was two that I couldn't imagine Noah ever doing anything wrong or making me mad because he was literally perfect! He was well behaved, content, sweet, and charming. Well, when 3 hit, it was all over! And we have been struggling since! BUT, he is still the sweetest, most loving and sensitive boy ever! He is a deep thinker and very in tune with other's feelings. I love to have late night conversations about the purpose of life with Noah. He isn't afraid to ask questions! One night, he and Sam found a tampon in the hall closet and Noah wanted to know what it was for! So , I told him! He was fascinated and kept asking questions. Later he told me that he was glad he wasn't a girl! I found dissected tampons in the garbage in the kids bathroom the next day. He had to "see how they looked" and functioned I guess! Noah is a soccer and baseball player. He is good at these two sports and enjoys his games. He loves Pokemon cards (unfortunately) and Lego's. He had a really hard time learning to read but is now doing awesome! He loves to read the scriptures with Bailey and I. It has made a big difference in his attitude and his school work! I'm proud of him for trying and not giving up. Self confidence is vital to a child's happiness and he feels empowered now that reading comes easy to him! Noah loves computer games and loves going to his cousin's houses to play their game cube or whatever games they own! Santa has been asked to bring him his own PS2 or whatever Santa can afford or find! Sam is Noah's buddy and Bailey and Noah get alone really well but the 3 don't mix. Noah's very best friend at school is Matthew who is a "brother from another mother." They met in Kindergarten and have been inseparable ever since! For his birthday, he is taking Matthew, and a couple other friends to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point and then the weekend after he is having a cousin sleepover. I love Noah with all my heart! He is a good boy and he will do great things in life, I can feel it! Yes, he can be a SPAZ and is definitely the class clown and silliest child in the family, but, everyone loves him for it (except his school and Primary teachers!) Happy Birthday Noah! We couldn't imagine life without your wonderful personality and love!

I Voted!

Today Jenna and I went and voted. On our way Jenna asked where we were going. I told her that we were going voting. Jenna thought I said "boating" which she got very excited about. I kept telling her no, V-O-T-I-N-G! She said, "Mom, will you hold me the whole time!" and, "Will it be a little scary?" I said, "no Jenna, voting for the new president of the USA." But still, she thought we were going boating. "Why can't we go boating?" she persisted. "Because it is snowing outside Jen!" She is so cute! Don't you just love kids?!

A Spooky, Wooky Night!

We had a great Halloween this year! The kids had a blast at their school parties, friend parties, trunk or treat, and trick or treating with their cousins!

Fall, In love

One of my very favorite fall splurges is the deliciously tart/sweet, chewy, gooey, mouth watering, crunchy, munchy, caramel apple! Last year my sis, Em, made these delectable wonders for our Halloween bash and I literally fell in love! I told myself that I would make them but never got around to it! This year could not pass by without a good tribute to the caramel apple. So, I spontaneously decided at 9:00 at night to just do it! I made 5 glorious apples that are each different. The last one was a new creation inspired by Bailey, a caramel, peanut butter, Reese's apple! My favorite is the caramel, white chocolate, cinnamon sugar, pecan apple. YUM! So, if you haven't made these babies before, I suggest you go out and buy some apples and get started! Your family will praise you!

There's more!

We thought we had seen all the snow, but in the quiet of the night, it snowed another 5 inches at least! The kids were in heaven! They got out their bibs and boots and tromped threw the deep, powder in our yard! Kel and I sat inside and watched!

"It's Christmas Time!!"

Today, on October 11th, we got our first snow of the season!!!! I was vacuuming in the family room when I saw the snow flakes coming down outside the window. I called the kids in to see and Noah said in a hysteric voice, "It's Christmas time!!" Then Sam came in and said the same thing! So cute! They were so excited that Noah and Jenna immediately went digging for their long forgotten hats and boots! Then later, Bailey couldn't resist the opportunity to scoop some snow from our back deck and eat it! We have a nice coat of snow up here! I was in the grocery store earlier and a couple people were talking about how it was "supposed" to snow today. I didn't want to feel like an ease dropper so I kept my comments to myself, but I wanted to say, "It's been snowing in the mountains for an hour now!" I love the snow, especially like this (not sticking to road). After our errands, we spent the afternoon just being cozy in our warm house, lazily watching the snow fall.

here comes the bride!

Don't you just love weddings?? Sigh...Well, tonight we witnessed a beautiful wedding! Andrea and Killian got married! Andrea is Kelly's sister Wendy's only daughter so this was BIG! Seeing Andrea walk down the aisle was very touching. She is a beautiful girl and has always made good decisions in life, this being the best one! I love the part of the ceremony when the father hands his daughter to her husband! And Killian was moved to tears holding her hand and looking at her for the first time as his wife. I loved it! They are a perfect pair and clearly "soul mates." The kids were a little restless so we had to leave earlier than we wanted to so we wouldn't crash the party! Noah experienced his first taste of champagne when he accidentally drank out of someones glass sitting at our table. He felt really bad about it and wouldn't tell us what was wrong but later confessed to Kelly. He is so cute to worry about that because we have taught him over and over about drugs and alcohol, smoking etc. Later he said he had a stomach ache! Bailey played a beautiful song on the piano while people ate dinner. Jenna ran around eating eclairs and about 6 favors full of Jordan almonds. Sam was "sick" but running around with Chris and Sean all night. He almost took a few pictures with the photographers camera! He loved the coy out in the pond and was very fascinated. Well, it was a great night/party. So good to be with family! Congrats Adrea and Killian! Have fun in Italy!