Live Nativity

Tonight we went to the Live Nativity. We enjoy going and it is a nice way to start off the Christmas season!

Little Notes

Kali has been on a "not leaving" and "tie everything up" kick lately. With learning how to write, she is leaving notes around the house for me to find. I love them! She uses whatever she can find to tie up stuff. I didn't get a picture, but she had her bed all booby trapped with jump ropes and yarn. This girl and tie some serious knots.

"Dora"

Got to love this picture!!! We were at Grandma Hathaway's last night and the kids got into the tub. Grandma always has extra underwear and clothes for the kids when we go over just encase they need them or we forget to bring extra over and we have tub time. Well, Grandma doesn't have boy underwear at her house (we need to get her some), but Tyler didn't mind at all. He was so excited to be wearing "Dora" underwear! I asked if he wanted to just put his other underwear back on, he said "I want to see what Grandma has." I told him just girl underwear and Tyler said, "I will wear those...(then he sees the Dora ones) DORA!!! I will wear that."

Snowman

What a difference a day makes. One day playing in short sleeves in the leaves...to coats in the snow! Friday we got a good snow storm and Jarel was able to get off early. Kids were thrilled and asked Dad if he would help them build a snowman. They not only built a snowman...but an 8 foot snowman! They had to use ramps to get the second snowball on the first snowball. Kids were so happy! After a fun time in the snow...nothing better than a cup of hot cocoa to warm you up. Tyler even helped Jarel use the snowblower and did a great job clearing off the driveway and sidewalks!

Leaves

Lots of leaves had fallen this past week that the kids and I raked them up one afternoon and they had a blast jumping in the leaves with friends! What is it about the crunching of leaves that makes me happy?!? It has been a fun fall with the weather pretty pleasant and lots of stuff to do. The kids, like I have said have been off track, so we have gone lots of places (pictures to come) and have just had a fun month!

Jump Jump Jump

Can he really be old enough to jump in this jumper?!? We brought this out last week and he LOVES it. It will occupy him for a good 10-20 minutes at a time. He loves the toys on the jumper and he goes crazy jumping up and down. He is getting so big...I know you hear me saying that all the time, but it is true. I took him to his Dr. appointment (hence the bandaid from his shot) for his 6 months and he is 19 lbs (75%) and 29.5 inches (110%). Braxton is even getting up on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth and then lunges and does a nose dive into the carpet. He is nowhere near crawling, but I can put him a distance from me and he can make it to me by pulling himself. He pulls with his hands, gets his little legs under him and then lets his hands go and he makes his way like that. He shouldn't be able to do that yet :) But it is fun to see him progress and figure out things. He is all over the floor now, you put him down in one spot and your turn away and he is 10 feet from where you put him. He gets there by rolling, scooting and pulling himself. He really is fascinated by my rocking chair (I have had to rescue him many of times from under the chair), the underside of the jumper and anything within his reach. He is a happy baby, full of light...he teaches me everyday the power of the spirit and to try my best everyday. I won't lie...motherhood is a hard calling, but I am blessed and so grateful that I have my little ones with me everyday. My Heavenly Father gets me through the "rough moments" and I am so grateful for that. They truly are my greatest joys!

Side note: the girls have been off track these past couple of weeks...and can I just say I am NOT ready for them to go back. Even when we are not having the best of days...I LOVE having them at home. I LOVE having them around me. I LOVE my kids with me!!! They are the BEST!

Rice Cereal

Nov 1st...the first time Braxton tried rice cereal. I have waited the longest with him to start on rice cereal...I just wasn't and still not ready for him to grow up! I finally gave in and knew he was old enough to give it to him. He tasted it and I don't think he loved it and he didn't hate it...he was in between. Since then he has tried squash (when I put it in his mouth, he shakes his body like a "this is kind of gross but I will eat it anyway"), bananas (same as squash) and carrots (we found a veg he likes!). He is eating it better and better with each day!

Halloween

Makena with her good friend Katelyn

Tyler playing "Don't Eat Boo"

Tyler saw this pirate hat/hair, eye patch, earring and sword at Walmart a couple of days before Halloween and decided he wanted to be a pirate instead of an alligator for Halloween. He turned out to be a cute pirate!

Braxton loved playing with these balloons.

My friend Kristy was sweet to invite us to her Halloween party. She planned lots of games for the kids, trick or treat, lunch and a witches brew. It was a lot of fun.

Racing the "eyeball" to the bucket.

Playing a plate walk with the "Fairy Godmother"

We went to the annual Trunk or Treat with Grandpa and Grandma Hathaway. Kids always look forward to this. We didn't know if we would make it this year, because it was on Halloween night, but we are glad we went and delayed the kids trick or treating by just a little bit!

Makena looks forward to seeing "Maleficent" every year at the Trunk or Treat. Makena always asks if she will be there. When we first started going, Makena was scared of Maleficent but now they are friends!

Enjoying a treat

Trick or Treating in the neighborhood. Braxton and Hailey stayed home with Dad, and then we switched and Dad took the kids out. Tyler and Kali went out half the time...Makena went the whole time. It was such nice weather this year (74 degrees). They got PLENTY of candy!

We had a great Halloween this year. The day started by visits to Grandpa's and Grandma's work to show them their costumes. Then a fun day playing outside in the sunshine, a trunk or treat and then trick or treating! Kids always look forward to Halloween and it was a fun time! I love the time I get to spend with my little family...brings a smile to my face!