October Highlights

A rare moment in our house (the cat usually runs from BJ) A snake Russ caught in the backyard:

The kids very first time going miniature golfing. They had fun, and we were very glad that there was no one else on the course. Perfect for little kid golfing.

The hay ride at the pumpkin patch:

Out in the pumpkin patch picking out our pumpkins:

Halloween. I never was able to get the rest of Ammon's Harry Potter costume together, so he decided to wear last year's ninja costume. It didn't seem to bother him at all. Here he is at the Trunk 'r'Treat.

I know this picture is randomly placed, but I can't seem to get blogger to let me move the pictures around. Anyway, this is on Halloween day when we went out to clean up the rest of the garden and bring home all the stuff. BJ had a great time!

Sissy and BJ-- aren't they cute?

The kids made it out to trick or treat-- although Sissy was done after just a few houses. Ammon went back out and came in with a LOAD of candy. Most of the kids candy (6 lbs!) went to the dentists office, where he bought it for $1/lb. That made me and the kids very happy.

Overall it was a good halloween, although a little bit too busy since we were working on a bunch of projects at the house. Not sad that we have to wait another year for the next one!

Ammon's Star Future

Ammon: Mom, I think I know what I'm going to be when I grow up.

Me: Really? What?

Ammon: A comic writer. Have you ever heard of star wars?

Me: Umm.. yes.

Ammon: That's what I want to call my comic.

Me: Okay, but you know what Star Wars is, don't you? Is that what you're writing about?

Ammon: Oh ya... I forgot about that Star Wars.

Me: Maybe you'd better come up with a different name for your comic.

Ammon: Okay, but it's going to hard to think of another name, because it's about star people who go to war.

Mop cut

Before:

After:

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Trying to mousse it so it would stay down for Church

Just a bit more of BJ in August

This floatie that I thought would be a great hit in the pool turned out to be much more fun as an airplane. And he thought that he had to be naked to use it this way. So cute though! Until he peed in it. And then climbed into the van and pooped while I was cleaning up the pee. Yea me. Russ is so good about getting kids involved in cooking and stuff. I have very little patience with my kids in the kitchen. Okay, mostly all the time, but especially in the kitchen. Anyway, BJ was determined to help pit the apricots. They were pretty soft, so we gave him a non-sharp blade and let him have at those apricots. He did a pretty good job!

Still catching up on August!

We went on a 2 night camping trip in August-- one last hurrah before the grind of seminary and school. I didn't snap a lot of pictures except on our hike, but it was beautiful at Lake Sylvia and a great place for camping with the kiddos. We didn't do a whole lot other than a short hike, playing, fishing, and hanging around the campsite. The second night it rained ALL NIGHT LONG so instead of another hike in the morning like we'd planned, we threw all our soaking wet stuff in the car and headed home. Overall a good trip, although I really hope that next time we can get BJ to sleep in the kids tent and not smashed between Russ and I.

BJ did end up being carried for most of the hike. Then there was one spot that he wanted to stop and play (there were some little side trails with places for the kids to hide and such,) but when we were done and hiking on, he was not. We thought if we just left him he would eventually follow, but no, not my stubborn little one. We walked until he couldn't see us and still he stood there screaming. And screaming. And screaming. Russ finally went back and carried him, kicking and screaming. When that boy wants something, it is impossible to distract him from it!

A visit from Nanna and Auntie

We were so happy to get a visit from Russell's mom and sister in August. The first thing we did was meet them out at Willow Grove Beach after the kids had their pictures taken. It was quite a chilly August evening, but we had fun anyway. Somehow I didn't manage to get the camera out while the adults were there, but this is my favorite picture of the kids. Ammon and Sissy are holding up their "watermelon smiles" and BJ is trying to do what they are-- but doesn't quite get the concept! Nanna and Sarah-beth took the kids to OMSI while Russ and I got to go to the temple. It was a great day-- and we also had fun browsing at The Rebuilding Center, where everyone went home with something.

They were able to spend Russell's birthday with us. We still celebrated low key as usual-- a few presents and some creme brule with blackberries instead of cake. His big present was an Ipod nano, which I almost never see him without now!

And here they are about to leave. It really was too short a visit, but it was still great. I hope they come back again soon!

A Little Magic

Ammon took a magic class with parks and rec last month. He has had a bit of an interest in it since I did some in one of my Webelos meetings. He really had a lot of fun, and learned some pretty good little tricks. This class really made me realize though how far he has come socially in the last couple of years. After the first day he told me that it was the first time that he wasn't nervous or scared to do something new. (Hurray! If you only knew how hard some things have been for him!) Then the last day of the class they did a little magic show for the families. They got to choose what tricks to do and how long to spend on stage. Ammon was the last one and I was nervous for him, but he was not nervous AT ALL! In fact, he really hammed it up, did more tricks than the other kids, and had a great time with it. I couldn't believe that was my Ammon. Way to go, my little magician!