Hole in One!

Cael found one of Rob's golf balls. Boy do we have talented children. :)

For Christmas my sister Karee and her husband Matt brought SingStar Pop for the PS2. It was a lot of fun and brutal at times. I would say enjoy, but this is one of those brutal times. Good effort everyone!

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve 2007

The kids were so cute on Christmas eve. Here is a video of Rob, Parker and Mykenna singing Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. Well trying to sing anyway. We loved watching Parker with his actions to the song. Enjoy!

Snow Basin Here We Come!

Rob gets to take some students from his junior high up skiing once a year to Snow Basin and this year he was able to get me a cheap pass with rentals. So we hit the slopes! We haven't been skiing for years and you forget how much fun it is. (To bad it is so expensive) Since it was a school day Aunt Kellee and Uncle Jon came over and watch Mykenna and Cael. It was a beautiful day of skiing and we had a ball until Mike (a friend and teacher that went with Rob and the kids) took us on a run that was straight moguls. We made it down the hill and actually laughed all the way down, except when Rob ran into me and kept going and I turned around and saw Mike taking a tumble as well! Good times!

First snow storm and the kids were right out in it. They had a great time! I enjoyed taking the picture from my warm kitchen.

What do you think?

We had family pictures last week and Rob decided to cut his hair for the big event. So what do you think?

Cael

I can't believe he will be one in less than a month! Time sure does fly. He has been walking for almost a month and is in to everything. Busy, Busy, Busy is our life....but a lot of fun!

Can't Help But Laugh With Her!

Mykenna has the most contagious laugh! We love it so we thought we would share. If you need a quick "pick me up" please watch.

Decorating the Tree

This year we are putting up two trees. One upstairs and one down. We are having Christmas with Kim's extended family at our home. Our tree is prelite and Linda's isn't so she so nicely put the lights on it. Mykenna helped. They had fun doing it together.

Trick or Treat?

The kids had a great halloween! Mykenna was a witch, Cael was a cute pumpkin, Cambrie was a zombie, and Parker was a pirate. We attended the ward Trunk or Treat in a nearby neighborhood and then went to homes around our block. The kids scored way to much candy so we made a deal with them. They could choose 10 pieces of candy and then turn the rest over to us and we would take them to pick out a cheap movie. It actually worked and it wasn't that painful for them to choose their candy and get rid of the rest. Wish we would have thought of this years ago. I don't know what we are going to do with the candy. We have a full grocery bag of candy. We did hear that there was a local dentist that gives kids a dollar for every pound of candy they turn in to him. Maybe we can make some money off of our kids trick or treating. We'll see...

UEA Weekend

For UEA weekend we took the kids to the Children's Museum, out to lunch and then bowling. We had a great time! The museum is always a hit. On this visit they had a whole room dedicated to the Robots movie. It was really neat. The kids built robots, played with remote control robots and controlled a robotic arm to pick up blocks. The girls did the weather for the museum's news channel. Bowling was great as well. I can't remember the last time we went bowling. Thank goodness for the bumper lane...not that I needed it! :) I had my mother's camera so I was able to take some short video of the kids.

Almost on the move!

Cael is changing so much every day! He is now standing on his own! It is fun to watch him get the courage up to let go of things and balance! Tonight he actually tried taking a step on his own. Rob was playing ring tone songs off his cell phone for him and he stood there and took a step towards the phone. He is almost 10 months and I know he will be on the move soon. He is so much fun! He is our little human vacuum. He finds the darnedest things on our floors. We really have to watch him. We have to always make sure our bathroom doors are shut and the toilet lids are closed. I have already found him splashing in the toilet twice. (I know that makes me sick too...put I thoroughly clean him. ) He loves to eat and is enjoying his snacks and more solid food. He climbs all the way to the top of our stairs on his own, which scares me to death! So yes...we pretty much can't let him out of our sight for fear of him choking on something he has found on the floor, falling down the stairs, or getting who knows what out of the toilet. But we wouldn't have it any other way. He is growing up way to fast!

Painting Pumpkins!

Today we got together with Kevin, Paige, Brennen, Luke, Jon, Kellee, Brooklyn and Mom to paint our pumpkins. The kids had a ball painting their individual pumpkins and themselves.

Scary!!!

Today Parker and Mykenna were invited to a neighborhood halloween party. Parker is going to be a pirate this year and Mykenna is a witch. Aren't they cute! I love the black long hair on Parker and the big mole on Mykenna's nose. She kept wanting to look at it in the mirror. They were really excited to go, but when we got there Mykenna wouldn't let me leave her side and Parker just wanted to play in the backyard. I did get a quick picture of them both doing one of the activites. Mykenna is playing witch bingo and Parker is painting a pumpkin. Cambrie helped out at the party. She ran the cake walk station. She did a great job! She was excited because at the end of the party she was giving a bag of prizes and a treat!

Love those smelly markers!

Mykenna and I were coloring with smelly markers and I had to post her cute little mug after smelling all the good ones. I have to admit ... some of the marks are on purpose because her giggle was so cute when I would tell her to smell the marker and pretend I bumped her nose with it! It really is the simple things!

Pass, Set, Spike!

UPDATE: October 20, 2007 Today we had our Championship game. The girls did great during the season and only lost one match. We ended up playing the other South Weber team and lost in 3 games. So we had to play another match because it was a double elimination tournament and that was our first lose. The girls played hard, but we came up a little short and lost in two games. (We had one team member have to sit out part of the game because she wasn't feeling well, but they still did well with only 5 players.) It was such a fun season to see how much the girls improved. I was a little concerned the first game, because very few of the girls even knew how to pass or serve. (For those of you who don't know volleyball that is pretty much it when it comes to volleyball with this age group.) But with each game they improved so much. It was exciting to see! I am so glad that I was able to coach. It was a little tricky at times . . . we had to juggle Rob coaching football, myself playing volleyball, Cambrie in soccer and piano lessons, and three other children either on the side lines or with awesome neighbors and friends. Thank you to all those who helped.

Happy Harvest!

On Saturday we went to J & J Nursery with the Murphy's and caught their hay ride out to the pumpkin patch. It was great! We were a little worried we would get rained on, but the clouds opened up for us and it was perfect weather. The kids picked out their own pumpkins and the best part was ... they were FREE! The adults had to pay for theirs but kids get free pumpkins.




We had to go straight to the pumpkin patch from Cambrie's soccer game so that is why she is in her soccer apparel. She did great. She scored 2 goals and is improving with each game!

I think Parker had more fun finding a stick in the patch and throwing the straw off the wagon! Cute little dude, huh?

So what do you think of Mykenna's pumpkin? We actually ended up with an orange one at the end. :)

Mykenna's Daily Wear

Mykenna changes her clothes between 5-10 times a day. (I am not exaggerating.) She comes out with some cute arrangements. Here are two such outfits. Some days I don't even fight her anymore when we go out. It isn't worth the battle. You should see the looks I get from people. I can just hear what they are thinking, "Gee, lady get your daughter some clothes that match." She is pretty proud of herself. I have to say she is a cutie!

Beds are overrated!

Mykenna has struggled with the whole bowel movement thing. We were completely potty trained, but something happened and she is now scared to go. (sorry to be so personal) I had to share these pictures. She is asleep in both pictures. Who falls asleep like this???? So if you are struggling with your children sleeping . . . try the toilet. :)

Cambrie's 9th Birthday

On the Thursday Cambrie turned 9 years old. Crazy how time flies! We have had a great week celebrating. On Thursday we celebrated just as a family. She was so excited because she got her heelies (shoes with wheels in the heels). She woke up that morning and didn't open any gifts because she wanted to wait for us all to be together and Rob had already went to school. So that evening after piano lessons and soccer practice (hence the school shirt, with the practice shorts and shin guards) she finally opened her gifts. It was dark out by the time she got her heelies on so we went out into the garage for her to practice. It took a few trips back and forth in the garage, but she is a pro now.

On Friday we had a party with Grandma Linda, Uncle Kevin , Aunt Paige, Brennen, Luke, Uncle Jon, Aunt Kellee and Brooklyn. She had a great time and especially loved the giant poster of "Troy" from High School Musical she got from my brother and his family. (Just wait Kevin...I still have to give Brennen something for his birthday...ummm...maybe a big poster of Gabriella) :)

On Saturday she had her friend party. We had a movie theme. We sent out invitations that were movie tickets to the Lake Cinema. When the girls arrived Cambrie gave them an envelope with money in it for the food court, concession stand, and to buy their tickets to the movie. We all became employees of the Lake Cinema. Parker and Mykenna ran the concession stand and did a great job giving out the popcorn, candy bars and capri suns! They really got into it. It was fun to watch. Rob and I ran the pizza joint and box office. We blacked out the basement and made a curtain and borrowed a projector for the movie theater. Cambrie wanted to watch "Are we done yet" and the girls enjoyed it! After the movie we opened gifts and had cupcakes and ice cream. It was a fun evening.

First Day of School 2007

Today was the first full day of school for the kids. Cambrie is in 3rd grade and Parker is a big 1st grader.

I have decided that letting your children go to 1st grade is much harder than kindergarten. Kindergarten is basically the same as preschool. In 1st grade they are gone all day and they have to eat lunch away from home. I was so worried that Parker wouldn't eat anything that I went to the school during lunch hour. To my surprise when I arrived he was actually almost finished. I was so worried that he wouldn't like having a home lunch, but he didn't complain. He ate his food while the kids around him ate pizza. He is a great kid! I then followed him out to recess just to see how he did and all was fine! I waved to him and said I would see him at home and he said "ok". Gee, all that worrying for nothing. I stopped into his classroom and his teacher said he did very well and tested very well. The year is off to a great start!

I saw Cambrie on her way into the lunch room and she was happy with how the day was going! I know this year is going to be a better year for her. Her teacher is outstanding! One thing Cambrie is so excited about is her teacher actually asks the kids to bring a water bottle to school with a snack to have at their desk. How cool is that! She is also in a portable classroom this year. I wasn't thrilled that she would be in a portable until I went to "Back to School Night." She actually has it better then those in the school. The portables have air conditioning and the school classrooms don't. Parkers room was miserable. Thank goodness we are at the end of summer!

Mykenna was up and ready to go to preschool. When Cambrie and Parker started heading out the door to catch the bus, she was right on their heels. I had to explain that she didn't ride with them. She kept asking me where her bus was. I opened the garage and pointed at the van and said, "That is your bus." "Oh, this is my bus" she said. Kind of disappointed, but I guess ok with it. I pulled up to Mrs. Julie's preschool and she hoped out and ran to the door. No separation issues with her. :) She had a great time!

I had 2 full hours with only one child. It was a little weird, but I got a lot done!

Raging Waters

We went to Raging Waters with Kim's family (Kellee, Jon and Brooklyn and Kevin, Paige, Brennen, Luke and Mom). We had a great time! Parker and Mykenna loved the lazy river, while Cambrie went with her cousin Brennen and Aunt Paige down the bigger slides! Kim and Kellee were able to go down some slides as well. It is nice to have family help with the kids. Thanks to all of you for the great day! Rob wasn't able to come because of football. Yes....the season has begun. :)

Family Car Wash

August 13, 2007
For Family Night we decided to wash the cars. It ended up being more of a water fight than washing the cars, but it was
fun!

















At the end Rob and I conspired to get the kids together for a picture and then dump the bucket of water over them. My timing on the camera is never the same so I took it a little early, but you see what is coming right. :) Oh our poor kids!





















Mykenna didn't think it was as funny as we did. It got her 20th outfit for the day all wet. (I am not kidding about how many outfits she goes through a day!)

She soon forgave us when she went and changed into a different outfit.