Happy Halloween

Carving our pumpkin (please excuse all of the nude photos - it is hot in AZ so my children rarely have clothes on! :)

The finished product

Maya helped me make pumpkin cookies with spiders on top (Thanks Melissa for the delicious recipe - I didn't let the frosting cool so they were oozing!)

Halloween Carnival in my parent's neighborhood

Don't you love the look of fear in Olivia's eyes!!!
The fortune teller - it was really funny! She told Maya she will listen to her parents, go to college, make friends, etc.

(Kenyon and dad stayed home from the carnival for male bonding - running, playing at the park, etc.)

Maya's preschool party

Decorating cookies

Maya's cute friend Lexie
Music Class

Ever seen a pirate playing the accordion?! :)

And some other scary pictures from Kenyon eating lately - could he get any messier?!

Happy Halloween!

Daydreaming

Just counting down the minutes until we check into this house on Saturday. We are going to spend a week with Jer's family in California - can't wait!

Until then, we have been making spider cookies, carving pumpkins and going to Halloween parties so I will post some pictures of the festivities real soon.

Surviving AZ Summers

You know that it is FINALLY cooling off in Arizona when...

* I turn on the shower to warm it up instead of just jumping right in because the water comes out hot.

* Along those same lines, I no longer have to let the water cool down before brushing my teeth.

* The first thought in my mind as I walk across the parking lot to my car is not, "Get the A/C going!"

* Our house is quiet at night - the A/C is not continuously running.

* We can go to the park during the day and not come home drenched in sweat.


* Maya asked for a jacket the other night when we were out.

So although the highs are still in the 90s, thank you Fall for gracing us - next year feel free to come a little sooner!

There is nothing like...

Voting on your couch on a Sunday night in front of the computer so you can research each item.

I love early voting!

P.S. Three posts in less than 24 hours - I am a bloggin' fool!

Daddy's Gone to Cali

When daddy is gone, I have to double up on my horsey rides


Until I am too exhausted and give them their own stick horses to ride instead.



Jeremy will be home in 9 hours, 41 minutes and 12 seconds... But who's counting?!

Pre-Halloween Fun

We had such a fun weekend! Friday night we went to my parents' ward Halloween party and Saturday night to ours. Double the fun! I didn't take many pictures so I am relying on friends and family to update their blogs and I can steal their pictures!

My little pirates

Give this kid a sucker and he is good for quite a while!

Doing their thing on the cake walk (Isn't Olivia the cutest ballerina ever?!)

Kenyon kept following this kid around and growling at him during the trunk or treat!

There was even a haunted house that Maya wanted to go in so Sammy (one of her sitters) took her

Vote, Vote, Vote!

A while back I entered pictures of my kids into an Adoptive Families magazine photo contest. I never thought they would win, but gave it a shot. Maya was selected as a finalist. She didn't win, but they are giving readers a chance to vote for a Reader's Choice Winner. Please vote for her!!! I am one proud Mommy :). Her picture is at the bottom of the first page!

http://adoptivefamilies.mycapture.com/mycapture/photos/Album.aspx?EventID=615189&CategoryID=43839

P.S. The picture was taken by my cute friend Mel this summer. If you are in Utah and want some gorgeous pictures, I can get you her info!

On a trip

I am in Florida, Tampa Bay to be exact. You might think I am here for the World Series that is also going on here, but I am actually here for an adoption. Not my own! Some lucky family met their gorgeous daughter yesterday and will be taking her home from the hospital tomorrow. It doesn't get much better than this - the adrenaline high that comes from jumping on the next plane, frantically searching for a rental car and cruising as fast as you can to that hospital. Then falling head over heels in love with that tiny infant that steals your heart at first glance.

Jeremy, do you want to adopt another baby?

We drove by a hospital just the other day and Maya asked, "Is that the hospital where you adopt babies and fix bones?" Smarty pants!

Fall Break

We had Fall Break last week so no preschool or gymnastics. It was really nice to spend the week with less structure and more play!

Here are some of the highlights:

Zoo day

(It was ONLY 80 degrees so we bundled up!)

It was Olivia's birthday so the kids gladly sang Happy Birthday to her!

Poor Kenyon didn't feel great all week because of his ear infection so he would fall asleep on the floor occasionally

Trip to the mall with Shantel and Izzie

During lunch the kids watched Dora on the ipod so Shantel and I could chat - it was fabulous! (I know - we are pathetic!)

On Saturday Jeremy NEEDED new running shoes from some running store where they do all of these computer tests on your feet to determine the best shoes. While he shopped, the kids and I walked around. They couldn't resist playing in the water.

Kenyon goes right for it

Maya watched him for a minute

And then when for it herself!

Other outings that I didn't catch on camera: Mornings at the park, moms day out - I ran errands while the kids stayed home with a sitter and family bike rides

Fun week, but I am really ready for school again. I love my 2 mornings a week with just Kenyon and Maya loves to go!

Natural Consequence

For the second week in a row Maya ripped a hole in her ballet tights. I told her she needed to work to earn money to buy new ones.

And work she did.

They're Baaaaaaaack!

Kenyon's blasted ear infections! After having 6 of them last Winter and not having one for over 6 months, I thought we were done, but no way. He was up all night crying and throwing lots of tantrums today so I knew there must be a problem.

So for now he is on meds and we wait and see if they are back to stay or not. If so, tubes will be necessary.

I really love the cooler weather, but why does sickness come with it?!

Friday night we got to love on these two.






We have been begging Niki and Greg to leave them with us and go out on a date. They finally agreed.



Don't you think Jer is ready for another baby?!

These two just happened to be wearing the same outfit! Their moms have good taste :).

Thanks Niki and Greg! We are hoping if we volunteer to watch them once a week, they will stay in AZ and not ever move back to the cold in UT. (Shantel - the same theory applies to you too!)

A Night at the Farm

Thursday night we went to Schnepfs Farm with Camille and Olivia. Here are pics of just some of the fun to be found there.

Maya's horse

Kenyon's horse

The rollercoaster

On the rollercoaster





There was a little petting zoo with goats, pigs, and chickens.


Stopping for a drink break.



Going to town on his corn!


I thought it would be really fun to ride this bike. Jer was right - not such a good idea! When we hit a big bump, Olivia started crying and it was downhill from there. By the end, all 3 kids were upset!


This band was playing and since there weren't many people, they got really up close and personal. Maya loved it! They even sang Christmas songs because the one guy looked like Santa.


They do fireworks at closing each night.

We ran out of time so we didn't get to ride the spooky train, hay ride, pick out pumpkins, do the corn maze and so much more. What a fun place!