Sunday Afternoon

I believe I'd like 9:00 church better if my kids could dress and feed themselves 100%, but Sunday afternoons are nice...especially when Dad's home.

Esther's growing, growing, growing and smiling, smiling, smiling. Her brothers love her. She loves them, but sometimes they make her nervous. I don't blame her. What Caleb considers cheek kissing is a full contact sport to Esther.

Caleb's Birthday

Josh and Caleb got this rocket ship from Santa. Unfortunately, the rocket ship is no longer in working condition. Boys being boys were a bit rough with it, but I don't regret having it. It was definitely fun while it lasted.

Caleb is three, and his full smile is as contagious as ever. Like a lot of boys his age, he loves all things Cars and Thomas as well as dinosaurs, reading stories, singing "Nephi's Courage" and Bob the builder. He loves dried fruit, pineapple, and apples in addition candy and cookies. He likes breakfast, but the only lunches or dinnertime foods he likes (or will willingly eats at the moment) are pizza, mac and cheese, and occasionally pasta and red sauce. We've enjoyed his wide variety of facial expressions. His most repeated quote: "NO GUM FOR YOU, DAD!!" He didn't like dad telling him, "No gum for you."

Happy Birthday, Joshua!

I did do a party last year for Josh, but this was my first full blown out party. We played picture charades, hot gingerbread man, pin the carrot on the snowman, and the keep-the-balloon-up-in-the-air-as-you-run-between-two-lines game.

I was thinking about doing a candy train on top of the cake, but this looked more interesting...http://www.bettycrocker.com/videos/videolibrary/birthday-cakes/how-to-make-a-train-cake. (Sorry, my Internet link button isn't working.) An interesting thing that the video doesn't show is one bread pan equals one cake mix. I was glad I had another cake mix in the pantry.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/videos/videolibrary/birthday-cakes/how-to-make-a-train-cakehttp://www.bettycrocker.com/videos/videolibrary/birthday-cakes/how-to-make-a-train-cake

With all the work and stress, would I do it again? Yes. Joshua loved playing games with his friends, cousins, and aunt. Even though he didn't like the actual cake (none of my boys grown and small like cake), he loved eating the candy and frosting with ice cream.

Happy Halloween!!

This Halloween, to me, was the perfect combination of homemade, store bought, and borrowed. I made Josh's costume from a pajama pattern and a enlarged bib pattern for the cape. Josh wasn't too sure if he'd like the costume I was making for him (The shirt was too big for him.), but once he put on the mask, he loved it. I bought Caleb's tiger costume from a second hand store. He didn't like it too much at first, but was willing to wear it for the possiblity of getting treats later.

I borrowed the flower costume from my visiting teaching companion, who has two girls who wore it already in years past. Too cute to be kept in the closet on Halloween.

The street just south of ours is Halloween City on "Begger's Night." Three houses get together and serve hotdogs and chips. Folks sit on their front porch and give out candy. The side walks are loaded with families, friends, and their dogs. Caleb stayed away from anyone with masks or dogs. This is all a second hand account. I was at home with Esther giving out candy to the few who came to our door. Appearently, everyone in the neighborhood (plus some) go down this one street during the two hours the city alots trick or treaters. One guy mentioned to Nate that he bought over 150 pieces of candy and was almost out. Crazy. I think I gave out 20, and I'm just one street over.

Anyway...it was a fun night. Happy Halloween!!

Scarecrow Tostadas, Coats, and Carnaval

Neither boy was thrilled about eating scarecrow tostadas. Neither of them wanted to finish it even after trying it. Nate and I thought they tasted good. I was the only one who ate the black olives, though, which are much better than those salty green ones by the way.

Esther didn't like trying on the coat for the first time. Boy, was she mad! She didn't mind it so much when I held her, though.

We went to a small farm carnival out in the boondocks with some friends.

Kirtland and more

Originally, we were planning on going to Palmyra and the Niagara Falls, but when the time came neither of us were really up for it. So...

We went to Kirtland instead, only 2.5 hrs away as opposed to 8-10, and we all enjoyed the trip. Learned more than I expected. It's not that I thought myself a church expired. I just didn't expect the tours to be so long and thorough. I'm grateful there weren't very many tourists and our tour guides were quite patient. Josh and Caleb could be Josh and Caleb without stressing out anyone else, but me (the good don't-touch-that-it's-180-years-old type of stress).
School of the Prophets room above the Whitney store

A very sacred room when you think about it

Johnson's house front step when the Prophet Joseph Smith preached from

Where the Vision in D&C 76 happened

I'm glad we went. The boys and Esther travels really well. Josh even told his Grandpa, "Guess what, Grandpa! We saw the first temple that was built. The Kirtland temple." I love how Josh gets so excited about things. You should have heard him when he first saw our continental breakfast at our hotel. Brightened up more than just my mood.

Something We Hadn't Experienced Before

Fall.

Caleb asked me later that afternoon, if he could "splash in the leaves," I could not say no. I had almost as much fun watching them as they had playing in the leaves. I guess it's because I liked doing it, too, when I was little. Oh, the memories!


Here's a picture of her royal cuteness. Almost six months. Fussy when alone, nervous, and hungry. Smiley to family, friends, and most strangers.