Family Portraits 2011

The week we did the portraits this year was crazy! I had to get the outfits together and cut everyone's hair--I'm the only one who didn't get a hair cut. We went to Portrait Innovations again. It was weird to go to the studio and not need to bring a stroller. Daniel was much more cooperative this year (we did bribe him by promising to take him to Stevi B's pizza buffet afterwards), but Jonathan was pretty ornery about the whole thing even though he still looks adorable. I'm pretty happy with the pictures, all things considered. Here they are:

My Brain-Eating Zombies

Normally I'm kind of a Halloween scrooge. I don't like to decorate for Halloween and I definitely don't like to dress up. However, for my kids, I'll make an exception (for decorating, I mean, because I still won't dress up). They were pretty excited that I broke out the five pieces of Halloween decor that we own. And I couldn't resist ordering the Jell-O brain mold I found online. They love to make Jell-O molds! We made this one today, and they thought it was so funny to pretend they were zombies eating brains for dessert. The things sticking out of it are (gummy) worms! Look at Jonathan's face. It's like he's saying, "What the heck is wrong with you people? I'm not eating that!" But he actually did. Two helpings!

Happy Halloween!

Busy Weekend

My kids adore their Daddy. Seriously. I think they like to let me sleep in on Saturdays so that they can have more time goofing around with him. They know that as soon as mean old Mommy gets up they'll have to do something productive. Yesterday, I woke up to them dancing to music videos on You Tube.

Michael has been especially busy this past week getting ready for Stake Conference. Our congregation is called a ward, and a group of 8 or so wards make up a Stake. Michael has been the second counselor to our Stake President for two years now. Today, he was released as the second counselor and called to be the first counselor. He is honored to serve and we are honored to support him.

This is Michael and Daniel having fun together a couple weeks ago.

Saturday was schoolwork day. Emily has a big project due on Monday, and we left it until this weekend. In our defense, she just finished a big storytelling book report that required a costume and props and a presentation. Anyway, we spent a majority of the day working on this poster and the report that goes with it. She had to choose a habitat and an animal that lives in it, so she chose grassland and a lion. That poor little zebra is supposed to be the lions dinner!

It was a busy weekend, but we got to spend time together as a family so it was all good!

Visit with Papa

We had a wonderful visit with my dad this weekend. He arrived Thursday afternoon. The boys had a fun time with him, and Andrew, Emily, and Nathaniel soon came home and we had a nice evening together. We ate dinner at Cici's and then came home to finish homework.

Jonathan *loved* sitting on Papa's lap. On Friday we came home after taking Daniel to preschool and running a few errands, and I tried to put Jonathan in his booster seat to feed him his lunch. He wanted nothing to do with that--he fussed until I got him out of his chair and then he darted over to Papa to sit on his lap. So cute!

On Saturday morning, we went to Home Depot for their monthly project. The kids put together their helicopters and painted them. (Jonathan stayed home with Daddy and took a nap.)

It was a fire safety theme, and the kids had fun seeing the fire truck. The dog is fake. :-)

The firefighters let the kids climb up into the cab and even pull the horn. We had a blast!

We also spent some time at the zoo and went to a few garage sales. Nathaniel is still excited about the bargain he found--the first six Harry Potter books (hardcover and in great condition) for only $15. We talked them down from $20.

It has been a wonderful weekend! Jonathan has had a cold, and we're pretty sure Papa got one from him, too, but it was still a great visit. We wish that Nana and TJ could have come too, but we are so grateful to have had the time with Dad. We love you, Papa!!!!

Daniel Pumpernickel

If I am getting impatient with Daniel, and I say, "Daniel James!" he'll say, "No, Mommy, I'm Daniel Pumpernickel." He got it from a Disney show, and it makes me laugh every time. He has had so many cute sayings lately that I have to devote a post to it--

"Mommy, I dreamed that one of my friends got my trains and he took them home--it was a nightmare!"

After coming out of the YMCA where he held the door for us, then held it for a lady also, he said, "Mom, I helped a old lady!" Really loud. Luckily she was already inside.

After the YMCA we stopped by the library to drop off a book. As we were pulling out he said, "Mommy, are you sure this is the way home?" He says this A LOT. Like he has zero faith in my ability to find my way home.

"I was right and you were wrong, Mommy!" I can't remember what happened exactly, but he was right and I was wrong. It was just funny to hear it coming from his mouth.

"Why do we have to wear pants every day?"

"What if we wear play clothes to church? Will they lock us out?"

OK, so maybe these little sayings aren't as funny to others as they are to me, but he makes me laugh every day and I am so grateful to be his mommy!!!

Scouts

We had fun watching both Nathaniel and Michael receive scouting awards last month. Nathaniel earned his Tenderfoot award, and Michael was given his Woodbadge award.

I love this picture because of Michael's smile! He spent some time down in northern Florida for training and did a lot of work to earn this award. We're so proud of him!

Is that a cool necklace or what? Haha! He later hung this on the back of his tricycle. I think this picture was taken in the afternoon. I had just bought these pajamas for him the day before, and he refused to change out of them.

Here's my sweet Jonathan playing with cords. We have another Andrew in the making!

First Day of School

Daniel was so excited to start preschool. He calls it "Little Kids School," and he would beg to go there every time we passed it all summer long--which was often because it is practically across the street from our neighborhood. Finally, he started at the beginning of August and he loves it!

Andrew is doing well in 1st grade at his new elementary school. They closed the school he was at, and we are very happy with the new one. We were surprised to find out that his teacher is someone we know from church, and we are very happy about that!

It turns out, a bus comes to our neighborhood in the mornings and afternoons to pick up and drop off Andrew. Emily can take the same bus to Andrew's school and get on her magnet school bus, but she doesn't get bussed home after school. I was surprised to hear that there would be a bus in our neighborhood because that wasn't the case last year. I guess we are far enough away from the new school. Anyway, my intention was to put him and Emily on the bus the first day and then go to Andrew's school to walk him to his classroom. There was a lot of traffic and the bus beat me there. I was so worried about Andrew getting to his class because he had only been there once! I didn't need to worry, though, because once I got there he was sitting quietly at his desk and coloring. He even looked at Daniel, Jonathan, and I and asked, "What are you doing here?" I was so proud of him for finding his class all by himself.

Emily is in 3rd grade this year. She has a planner and is very responsible. She will still take piano and dance as well.

Nathaniel was pretty worried about going to middle school, but I kept telling him he would love it. I was right! He did! We had taken him to the open house so he had a pretty good idea about where his classes were. The school is downtown and it has four floors! He said he found his way around and that he enjoys his classes and is making new friends.

I'm so glad the school year is off to a great start! Jonathan and I enjoy our quiet days on Monday and Friday when Daniel is at preschool. Jonathan even goes to "baby school"--he goes to Mom's Morning Out on Wednesdays at the same place where Daniel goes to preschool, from 9:30am-1:30pm. It's wonderful and he loves it!