Snow (sigh)

Didn't I just do my "summer wrap-up" post? Wasn't it "too hot to run", like, yesterday? Didn't the kids just have their first day of school? I guess not...because today we have SNOW!!!

I know we are fast approaching our third winter back in Utah so I shouldn't be so surprised at how early we have our first real snow, nevertheless I am still not emotionally prepared for this, people! The perpetually cold feet, high gas bills, the wetness, the grayness, the ugliness, the can't-go-anywhere-ness. I hate it all. Is there ANY redeeming qualities about this cold time of year?! Oh wait, I can think of two:

#1

#2I must admit, they are pretty cute in the cold and their snow hats with their tongues hanging out, hoping to catch a flake or two!

...I still prefer summer to winter, swimsuits to snowsuits, sunglasses to snow-hats, and tiny bum-cheeks to cold tongues "hanging out". I'm just sayin'...

Last Monday for Family Home Evening we invited a few families over for some pre-Halloween festivities. It also doubled as a Disneyland protest party since several of our friends are living it up with Mickey Mouse this week. Can you believe the nerve of some people?

We started out by decorating some yummy pumpkin sugar cookies. See that blur in the middle of the picture? I'm pretty sure it's a ghost...maybe even the Holy Ghost, it being FHE and all.

We sent the kids outside to eat their "creations," ie. loads and loads of sugar which they washed down with even more sugar (soda). What was I thinking? We had some pretty hyper kids by the end of the night...except mine of course, who are always perfectly well behaved (winks).

Next we watched The Great Pumpkin (Charlie Brown), and then played some fun family games to finish off the night, including one the Fulks taught us called "Pinky-Fousty-Flatty-Cutty-Claw" (did I get it right, Jodi?)
The night was a success - the kids had a great time. So did the moms...

...and the dads! (Isn't that so cute that Cade and Tom match? I thought so, too - makes me wish I had coordinated with the girls... maybe next time!)

Special thanks to the Fulks, Kealamakeas and Haycocks for partying like rockstars with us!

p.s. Disneyland-Shmisneyland

Rachel's growing UP (seriously).

Yes...pre-boycut, I mean haircut!

This girl has been cracking me up lately. She's been talking up a storm, which shouldn't surprise anyone who's ever been around her older sister Hannah (who never stops talking...ever). Some of the cute/funny/adorable things she's said lately:

• while eating "yum,yum,yum...delicioso!" (courtesy of Dora the Explorer)
• An too-enthusiastic-to-be-genuine-but-nevertheless-it-is "Thanks, mom!" for such mundane things as changing her diaper, taking her out of her crib, putting her shoes on, etc.
• It starts out in a panic "MOMMY! MOM! MMOOOMMM!...then morphs into a sweet little sing-song-voice: "I lloovvee you, Mom."
• I'll ask her to throw her wrapper away to which she responds: "Sure Mom!" like she's twelve or something. Ridiculous.
  
• To complete strangers while pinching a lock of her hair: "Hannah cut my hair!" I guess it saves me the explanation, so it's all good. It's getting pretty old to Hannah, however: "Can we please stop talking about this now!" Um, no. Not until I'm thoroughly convinced you'll never do it again.

I figured I'd better record these little sound bytes here before I forget. My baby's growing up. Speaking of which, I took Rachel to the pediatrician yesterday, who matter-of-factly told me my baby daughter is mostly likely going to grow up to be at least 6 feet tall. SAY WHAT? I figured my boys would likely tower over me when they got older, but my little Rachel? Crazy. Cra-zy. I can't write anymore, I have a lump in my throat.

(p.s. You may want to watch your back, Hannah...or maybe your long, beautiful hair. Yes, Rachel's growing up...really, really UP!)

True Blue

Oh yes...we're "on the trail to fame and glory".

I stole this picture off of my sister-in-law Kalisa's blog (shh, don't tell).

I think this is the real reason why we moved back to Utah from Arizona! Cade is the proudest BYU football fan that I know. He would have to be dead or dying to miss a game and we have been season ticket holders for the past going-on-three-years that we've been back to this beloved state. I really could take it or leave it now that I've been out of school for the past 12 years. Yes, I've moved on, but I have to say that there is something special about being back in the Lavell Edwards Stadium watching the Cougs play football. It sure brings back a flood of memories of my college days. Of course, back then I was a single gal checking out the "guys" more than the game! The students look so dang young now...I must really be getting old! Cade has started taking one of the kids with him to each of the home games (excluding Rachel), and I go to the other two with him. He's enjoyed spending individual time with each of them and thoroughly brainwashing them. My parents and brother Brad and his wife Kalisa also have season tickets with us so it's a real par-tay. BYU football has definitely become a family tradition and one that I hope to continue for a long, long time!

Group Effort

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful...
(Do you hate that ad campaign as much as I do?)

Here's how I spent my Conference Weekend.
Apparently if I neglect my personal hygiene long enough, my kids will rally together for the good of the cause. Quite the collaborative effort, eh? I'm just glad Hannah's wielding a comb rather than scissors! Next up...makeup!