Halloween?!?!?

Okay, I know it's December, but we got a new computer that I didn't know how to use very well and haven't blogged in a while.  So, it's catch up time, and today, it's all about Halloween!

I am not a crafty person.  Big shocker, I know.  However, this year, I decided that I was going to make Riley and Tanner's Halloween costumes.  This was my year!  So, I went to Goodwill to find some blazers, shirts and ties. I cut those babies up and smeared them with mud (which was actually brown paint) and voila! The boys were zombies!  The bucket head zombie and the cone head zombie to be exact.  (If your kids don't play Plants vs. Zombies then you may not know what the heck I am talking about.)

After a lot of hard work getting their costumes to look just right, Riley decided that he was just going to be a super hero on Halloween night...but his super hero was going to wear jeans and a t-shirt...and a cape.  If this is how all my hard work is going to pay off, then maybe it's a good thing I'm not crafty.

The best thing about trick-or-treating for every generation is getting home and counting, sorting, stacking, and trading your candy.  It was for me.  It is for my boys.

Sweet Moments

I walked past Ava's room the other night to find this:

Really folks, is there anything better than seeing your 5-year old reading a bedtime story to your 3-year old? I'm pretty sure there isn't.

Riley turns 8!

I cannot believe my Riley-Boy is EIGHT!  He is such a great, fantastic, smart, sweet, loving, fun and creative boy.  We are lucky to have him in our family!  Todd took Riley out to a church near our home to take some 8-year old photos.  They turned out pretty fantastic!

The BIG day!  It was a bit stressful...we got to church and the font was locked, so we weren't

sure if it was filled or not.  No Bishopbric member was there to unlock it for us, and when 

we called 2 of the counselors, they were very confused and didn't know they were supposed to be there!

Finally, they showed up and good news was to be had...the font was filled!

However, the water was FREEZING! Everyone chuckled when Riley stepped into the font and shivered out loud because of the cold.  Then when he was lifted out of the water, he was shaking so badly that everyone laughed out loud.  Poor kid.  

Nana and Lauren came for the baptism.  It was so much fun to have them here.  Lauren sang the most beautiful song, "He Came For Us" from the April 2011 Friend.  She did such a fantastic job!  

Nana gave a very sweet talk on baptism.  She, of course, cried...and so did I!  Nana also accompanied all the songs for Riley's baptism. Riley wanted to sing "When I Hear The Prophet's Voice" and "I Know That My Savior Loves Me."  (Two of my favorite children's hymns!)

Lauren is ADORABLE!  Holy Moly...she grew up fast!  The kids ALL loved playing with their cousin, and she was nice enough to play right back with them.  Lauren dutifully followed Ava wherever Ava told her to go, and she dutifully did whatever Ava told her to do.  Lauren is a 3-year olds dream come true!

Ava and her bestie, Ruthie. 

Riley's baptism wouldn't be complete without Anneka!  We were so glad that she was able to make it.

Riley and Bishop Challis.

After Riley's baptism, we went out to eat at Red Robin where Riley got TWO rootbeer floats...it was his birthday after all.  Then we hopped on over to Toys R Us where Riley was able to pick out his birthday gift. He spoke with Aunt Jenny later in the evening.  She asked him how he felt now that he was baptised.  He replied, "I just feel really happy."

Quote of the Day

Tanner had a friend over yesterday for a play date after school.  They were playing so well together...and then I heard Tanner's friend ask Tanner what they should do.  This is how Tanner responded:

Tanner: "Oh!  I know!  I have a fun game.  It's called, A Beanbag, A Couch...and A Wall!"

Needless to say, it turned out to be a REALLY fun game!

Quotes of the Day

Yesterday Riley came home from school with a note in his backpack saying that this Thursday, the kids are supposed to dress up like what they want to be when they grow up.  I asked Riley what he wanted to be, fully expecting him to say a Lego Master Designer...which is what he always says...but no, without even missing a beat, this was his response:

Mom: So Riley, what do you want to dress up as?
Riley: A Hypnotist
Mom:  stunned silence...
Riley: But mom, is it hard to be a Hypnotist?
Mom: I really don't know buddy
Riley: Yeah, I bed it's hard

Yesterday as I was making dinner, Tanner comes in and starts throwing himself on the floor and spinning around.  He thought he was being super awesome and started giggling.  Then he says,

Tanner: Mom!  Look at my  new trick!
Mom: That is awesome Tans
Tanner: Yeah, it's called the Venn Diagram
Mom: What?
Tanner: The Venn Diagram
Mom: Tanner, where did you hear that word?
Tanner: I learned it at school
Mom:  Huh? Do you know what it means?
Tanner: Nope!  But I do know how to say it!
Mom: Tanner, you're awesome!

Ava's Princess Party

Ava had her princess birthday party last night and it was fun!  Everyone came dressed up as their favorite princess.  We had Belle, Aurora and Cindrella.  I'm pretty sure that Ariel made a cameo appearance too before the night was through.

 The girls were all given a princess makeover when they walked through the doors.  We fixed them up with their very own crown, diamond ring, bracelets, and, of course, a magic wand.

Here is Ava and Ruthie.  Due to a broken collar bone...which we are ALL too familiar with around these parts, I had to help Ruthie go to the potty.  When I went to help her sit on her "throne" (ha, ha) she said, "Sara, don't let me fall in...I'm Ava's best friend."

Ava loved opening up all her gifts...and Tanner LOVED helping her! 

Then it was on to Cinderella cupcakes and ice cream.  

And what respectable princess party would be complete without a balloon attack on the big brother?   Riley also played the girls several piano songs so they could show off their mad princess dance moves.  He sure knows how to make a party great.  Thanks buddy for entertaining the girls.

Another Birthday Gift

Grandma Charlene has really out done herself this year!  I don't know how long it took her, but she made these adorable owls for Ava's birthday.  Ava squealed when she saw them...I squealed when I saw them...we were squealing maniacs over here!  :)  They are over-the-top cute!  Thank you Grandma Charlene!!!

Ava's Gift

It's been a rough day...to say the least.  I wasn't going to let Ava open up her birthday gift from Nana until her actual birthday in 10-days, but today, we needed it...badly.  I promised my mom I would video her reaction, so here it is.  Mom, enjoy the 3-installments of Ava opening her gifts.

 All the kids were SUPER excited to open this gift.  They have been eyeing it for the past 2-days.  They couldn't believe their luck when I announced that tonight was THE night to open this thing of wonder.  

Don't you love it when you unwrap a much anticipated gift...only to find that it is a box?

You can always count on my Tanner-Man to come up with something to say.

And finally...the gift!

Ava LOVES Tangled!  I have a feeling that not only will she wear this to bed tonight, but that she will look at me tomorrow when I try to get her dressed and say, "over my dead body will you take this dress off!"  Okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but you get the idea.  

Thank you Nana!  Your gift made this night, and I quote from Tanner, "the best night EVER!"

p.s. sorry for the poor picture quality...I couldn't find the good camera :(

School Photos

Why do we buy into the whole school photo thing?  I ask myself this every fall, and yet, regardless of how I feel about them, I always buy the ridiculously expensive pictures.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is just something appealing about these iconic (and usually horrible) photos.

Tanner's Official Kindergarten Photo

Riley's 2nd Grade Photo...he's a pro at this by now!  

Soccer Season

I am officially a soccer mom...and Todd is officially a soccer coach (we are OLD!)

This past Saturday marked Riley and Tanner's very first soccer games.  They both had a lot of fun!

Tanner loves soccer!  He is not afraid at all to get right into the fray to get the ball.  He is pretty dang good at

dribbling the ball too.  I was really proud of my Tanner-Man.

Watching the two kindergarten teams play this game was one of the funniest things I have ever seen!

I laughed myself silly on more than one occasion.  

Riley is quite a bit more timid than Tanner, but he plays a mean defense!  He can really kick that ball

right out of the way of his team's goal.  

Riley is really lucky because his daddy is his coach.  He is still young enough to think having his dad

there is really awesome.

Quite possibly my favorite moment of the day was when Todd gathered his little team around him

during half time and said to them, "Take a knee team".   Loved it.  

Quote Of The Day

Today our quote of the day comes from spunky little Ava:

"Boys are SO muh-scusting!"

She learns quick this one...boys really are muh-scusting
(and don't you forget it!)

Growth Spurt Mania!

Can you even believe this?  Tanner and Ava are beasts!  They have both grown 2+ inches in 2 1/2 months.  Wow!!!

You may need to click on the picture to see it a bit better.

Kindergarten + Soccer = Hysterical!

I'm sorry, but watching kindergartners play soccer is seriously funny!  I'm not sure Tanner's coach thinks it is as funny as I do though.  I laughed and laughed and laughed watching footage of his soccer practice from last night.  At one point, Tanner started pretending he was a soccer zombie!  Good times, good times.  This morning I got an email from his coach asking parents to please step in and help.  Coach Joel could definitely use some assistant coaches on his side.  That poor, poor man....bahahahahah!

Today I picked up a VERY excited Tanner from kindergarten.  Curious, I asked him how his day was...here is our conversation that followed:

Tanner:  My day was AWESOME!  You will never guess...today I almost got a sticker!
Mom:  Well, congratulations buddy.  That is great!
Tanner: Yeah.  You get a sticker if you are really, really nice and good...and I almost got one (this he says with a quiver of excitement in his voice and a huge smile on his face)
Mom: Well, I'm proud of you for almost getting that sticker.

Tanner wants me to add that he had music today and that he got 10-High Five Awards today (doubtful) and almost got a prize from his school (this one I believe)

.

"Tanner Story 2" By Tanner

so how is tanner going? good. and i would like it if you did something for me. so what is the thing? and i would like it if you came for a party, and i would Think and that is...

 The end.
By: tanner

(tanners story 3 is coming soon)

(I had Tanner read his story to me so I could put in the appropriate punctuation)

A Little Sunday Music

This is one of my very favorite...well, I guess you could call it a hymn.  It is Psalm 148, written by Gustav Holst.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings it better than anyone.  I gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it.

Story Time With Riley

And now, a story by Riley, "Battle Collection"


I Want To Share This So It Has Ninjago Spinners,Lot’s Of Weapons. The Good Side Has  A Knight,A Bad Guy Who Is now A good guy, And A Very Brave Soldier. The Bad Guys Are Darth Vader, a shadow trooper, and a general.




                                                          bye bye

oooooppppppssssss i almost forgot the picture. make sure to look at it. It is Sssssssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.       

                                now
                                     bye bye.

Story Hour With Tanner

It's time again for another story by Tanner, "b-t"

i have a fend his mane is b-t he is a very nice he doesnt talk and he love me and he is a bee and that is the end  

b-t 2 is tanner and b-t  

(translation)

i have a friend his name is b-t. he is a very nice he doesn't talk and he love me and he is a bee that is the end.

Tanner told Todd the other night that b-t is his imaginary friend...but he doesn't talk much.

Ava Meets Annastacia Couture.

Ava recently got a package in the mail from her super talented Auntie, Annastacia.  Ava was in heaven!  The very next morning, Ava was decked out in Annastacia Couture...and she looked adorable!!!  I quickly snapped a few pictures before we headed off to Ava's class...aka, the gym.  The pictures are horrible, but you get the idea.

We have worn variations of this outfit many times and always get a lot of compliments.   Ava insists on wearing the headbands and bows on a daily basis...she especially loves to wear them on days when they don't match at all.  But hey, she's a girl...that's her prerogative!

The Story of the Day

The boys have been really into writing their own stories lately.  They REALLY love to write the story and then put it on my Nook.  Well, that is all great and good, but I don't really want a 7-year old or a 5-year old (who, by the way, has a pension for BUYING random things when given a chance) playing with my Nook.  So, we have come to the conclusion that their stories must be "published" instead of putting them on my Nook...aka, I'll put them on the blog.

Without further ado, here is our story of the day: "the pizza story 2", by Tanner

so wen the pizza sed noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo  wen that happened the pizza act caze in the tume and that was caze and that was the end  


Let me do a bit of translating here...

so when the pizza said, noooo.......... when that happened the pizza acted crazy in the tummy and that was crazy and that was the end.

This concludes "the pizza story 2". We'll see you next time for 'The Story of the Day'.

Back to School!

It's that magical time of year...when the kids go back to school.  You can't see it, but I am doing a happy dance as I'm typing this.  Riley started 2nd grade and Tanner started Kindergarten.  Both of my boys are super excited to be going to school, which makes my happy dance all the sweeter!

It's Boba Fet's first day of 2nd grade!

Riley had to wear his Plants vs. Zombies T-shirt on his first day of school.  He was super excited to

show it off!

Mrs. Hickel, Riley's teacher.  She was a 1st grade teacher last year and already knows Riley.

He is really excited to have her for a teacher.  She is super nice AND has one of the

top reading assessment ratings in the state!

Yay for school at Green Springs!

I couldn't very well get Riley a Plants vs. Zombies shirt and not get Tanner one too!

This is Tanner's teacher, Ms. Wood.  This is only her 2nd year of teaching!  She is super nice and kind of a waif of a thing...I hope she can handle Tanzilla!

Tanner was so excited to start kindergarten...and just kind of wanted me to leave so he could get on with it!

I predict great things to happen this year at school.