Todd's Birthday - Catch Up

Happy 3rd Birthday Todd!

I took him for a Photo shoot and I can't get over how handsome and sweet He is. I say this a lot, but I'm going to say it again. Todd has brought so much love and joy into my life. I am so grateful that he is my Son and that I am so very blessed to be his Mom. Some of the funny things that he does now are:

He LOVES Trains

Says delicious like - de wish us

says milk like - melk

loves to be tickled and often says "I want tickles"

The theme for his birthday was anything Train. Since he loves trains, we ordered the Antique Fisher Price train for him. It was a childhood favorite of mine, so I was so excited to get it for him.  He LOVES it and plays with it everyday. He is often found laying on the floor so he can be at the same level driving his train. 

One of my favorite things about my kids birthdays is... Making their Birthday Cake. Of course, he loved it. 

I cannot believe how fast time has gone by. It really seems like yesterday that he was just a little baby. I'm so grateful for His Birth Mom and think about her often. 

The North Pole Express

Todd is a HUGE fan of trains. So, we decided to take the boys for a ride on the North Pole Express. It was so much fun. The Boys loved every minute, Especially Todd.

We're also big fans of the movie The Polar Express. There have been many times where the words "Get on the train" have  been shouted in our home.

This is such a fun family activity. I hope to Boys will always hear the sound of  Christmas from the bells given by Santa. 

We made our Gingerbread houses. The boys loved making their very own

Halloween Spooks

Halloween was so much fun. I really love that Ethan is into original Halloween Costumes.

This Year Ethan was Count Dracula and Todd was a Mummy. 

Ethan loved being Count Dracula and often got mad when people called Him a Vampire. He was so serious about his costume that he Hissed and Scared people during the Halloween Parade at his school. I even had a hard time getting him to smile for a picture. 

My favorite thing about Halloween is making their costumes. Todd's was the easiest. I just ripped up an old sheet and wrapped it around him. All I needed to make for Ethan's costume was the cape, and I do have to say it turned out really cute. They were a lot easier than last years Spider and Frankenstein. 

We always make our rounds to the Grandparents in the area. 

And then we head out for some good old Tricks and Treats.It was so much fun because we went to many of the houses that I use to trick or treat at when I was little. 

Ethan's Birthday - Catch up

In August Ethan had his BIG day. He turned 6 and..... Started his first day of First Grade. Ethan was so very excited for both of these things to happen.

We walked together to school. During our walk we talked about how he can Help the Teacher and how to be a REALLY good boy. In the end, He couldn't say goodbye fast enough. 

I can't believe how fast this guy has grown up. He LOVES his Teacher and everything involved with school. He loves to read and as of today he is almost reading at a 2nd grade level. AHHHH.  He loves going to the library to pick out a new book, earning a quarter to buy a new pencil in the pencil dispenser, MATH, (who knew I'd have a math whiz?) and of course.... Recess. 

He LOVES the Avengers. So of course, we had an avenger themed birthday party. 

I got creative with chalk and made drawings on all his presents. He love them all.

This summer we went to Idaho for a family reunion. There one of the other boys had a bow and arrow and Ethan was Surprisingly really good at shooting the target. This kid is very good at a lot of things.  So after much thought, we got Ethan his own Bow and Arrows. He has very strict rules when it comes to shooting his arrows, for very good reasons. :) 

He had a Birthday Party with a few of his Friends. We took them bowling. 

Ethan won!!! He was so excited that he won the game. It was a perfect part of His day. 

Every Day we pray and thank Heavenly Father for Him. Thank Him for his Birth Parents and are so grateful for the miracle way he came into our family . Lately my favorite word has been Joy. I often feel so blessed to have such wonderful children in my life and often tell them that they are the JOY in my life. 

Girls Road Trip

Last month, I went on a Road Trip with my Girl Friends. Four of us friends from High School hopped into the car and drove to Kansas City Missouri to see our Dear friend Annalee.

Day 1. We drove 18 hours in ONE day. It was the most driving I have ever done in one single day. We left at 4:30 in the morning and arrived in Kansas City at 11:00 that night. Brett and I have gone on MANY road trips together. Brett has always done MOST of the driving. I think I have only driven two hours of all our trips together. So, my biggest concern was.... was I going to be able to drive more than 2 hours at a time. I was so proud of myself. I drove the first leg of eight hours and drove all the way to Denver. I really think it helped driving through Aspen and Vail. It was so beautiful. It was almost like the trees were glowing. 

All four of us were in the Utah Valley Children s Choir together. We've been on many Tours across the US. This trip kind of turned into a mini choir tour. We sang to old Choir cd's, reminisced about past tours, cried, laughed, talked and talked and talked. 

One of the reasons we all went was to help Annalee decorate a Wedding. She's a Wedding Planner in Kansas City and had two weddings planned for the same day. Originally, Melissa was just going, but when we all heard she got a baby, we all had to go.  

Day 2 we started on the Wedding Preparations. Melissa Annie, and Lisa were in charge of the beautiful flowers. Annalee's house smelled wonderful. 

And I........ Was put in charge of this Sweet Little One. 

I got the best job, Hands DOWN.

 

 I had so much fun. I got to snuggle with her, gave her a bath, played dress up, and loved every minute.

That night, we headed out for some Kansas City Barbecue. Annalee and her husband Alexander took us to their favorite restaurant, Jack Stack. It was SO VERY GOOD.

Day 3, was the day of the weddings. We headed to the wedding we were in charge of and started decorating. i really enjoyed seeing the Bridal Party getting ready for the big day. I caught a glimpse of the Father of the Bride waiting outside the dressing room just waiting to see his daughter in her Wedding Dress. It was very sweet.

After the decorating was finished we headed to the Temple. It was so neat to be in the Temple with these sweet girls.

After the Temple, we needed to kill some time before it was time to go back to the wedding to clean up. so we headed to the mall for some shopping. I absolutely LOVE shopping with my Girl Friends. Shopping with them is so much fun. We discovered our new FAVORITE store. Charming Charlies. This store has all kinds of accessories in every color you could think of.  Purses, necklaces, bracelets, shoes, scarfs etc, etc, etc..... We were all in a daze.

After a LIFE REVOLUTION shopping spree we headed back to the wedding to clean up. It always amazes me how much faster clean up is verses the decorating.

Day Four was Sunday. We headed to church. There we were able to meet the wife of the Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach. She was so very nice. 

After church, we headed out for some church history sites. First, we went to Carthage Jail.I had been there once before, but this time it had such an impact on me. 

Then we headed to Adam-ondi-ahman. 

We got their at dusk. It was so beautiful. 

But..... The mosquitoes were so thick, we didn't stay long.

Annalee is an amazing Chief. That night She cooked a delicious German meal for us. I can't even remember what it was called. But it was amazing.

Day 4 was our last day with Annalee. We went Back to Charming Charlies. :) Went to lunch, went to World Market so we could all buy the ingredients to make the meal Annalee cooked for us, shopped a  few of Annalees favorite places, drove past the Chiefs stadium.

We went to the National WW1 Monument.

Went to Central Station. 

And stayed up playing games, laughing and enjoying our last day with Annalee. 

Day 6, we headed home. This time we drove through Aspen and Vail in Snow. 

There are so many Beautiful places in this World. 

Beauty All Around

This year, I cannot get over how beautiful the land is around us. It's almost like I'm seeing things for the first time. I think I've taken more pictures of the sunset in the last few weeks than ever before.

Conference Weekend, We took a trip up the canyon and had a picnic.

 Then we took a hike to Devils Kitchen. When we arrived, Ethan said "Where's the Stove?" 

Everyone around us laughed and laughed. 

One thing that has become VERY APPARENT to me while hiking is, The danger of my Children plummeting to their death. I've found it makes hiking with my children a little stressful. 

Hence  the Death Grip I have on Ethan.  

We're so lucky to be live in such a beautiful diverse area. 20 minutes and you're up the Canyon, 20 minutes in the other direction and you're in the dessert.