Halloween Beauties!!

Madisen was cinderella for Halloween this year and she pretty much wore this dress for the whole month of october. She even sleeps in it most nights! But she deffinitely looks like the bell of the Ball! We went to my mom's for a pre-trick or treating dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs and then went to our ward trunk or treat. Trick-or treating out in the country is a little tricky. You end up dricing in the car more than knocking on doors. I think we knocked on one door after the ward trunk or treat (which is the best idea ever, whoever thought of that gem!).

Tyce was a frog, but not just any ordinary frog, he was one kiss away from turning into a handsome prince, it you were wondering what the red marks are al over his face, they were the failed attempts of damsels who weren't truly princesses to turn him into a prince. Cat's out of the bag, I am not a real princess. Not even a pea under my mattress would keep me up at the end of a day with these guys!

Mark dressed up as a tired construction worker, he wears his costume all the time too! I however did not dress up but I think I would make a great witch on most days! On a really good day I would be Glenda, on a bad day....you might think a house fell on my sister that morning.

Tyce was my little helper in making these caramel apples for family night. Apparently he is a big chocolate fan.

This was our family home evening treat when we were carving pumpkins, they turned out pretty tasty, but really how can you go wrong? My favorite is the one dipped in caramel, then white chocolate and then rolled in cinnamon and sugar, it makes it taste like apple pie! I don't think I can even consider this a fruit anymore.

Fall Fabulous!

This was taken on our way out the doot to mark's cousin/s wedding reception. Madi's hair has turned pretty curly the last couple of months. Unfortunately, it's alot like mine and isn't a real firm curl, but is makes her look like a little cherub! She also got this new skirt and sweater for her birthday. She is so cute in it and loves to twirl around and hold her skirt like a princess. I wish I had this outfit!!

ON family night we carved pumpkins and i made some caramel apples. I love halloween and fall! I also love this super cheesy picture of Mark, especially since I have a hard time getting him to smile when I have a camera around.

More party pictures

Another view of the dress-up chest.

Madi waiting for the ball to start and her guests to arrive. OR should I say Cinderella? I am still amazed that I was able to put her hair in braids.

The royalty themselves.

Mark and the kids playing outside while I finish decorating madi's cake. Mark deffenitely got the better end of the deal!

Princess Party!!!

Well, we have had another birthday. Madisen turned 3! I can't believe I have a 3 year old! In honor of this special occasion, we had a princess party for her. I made a princess and the pea cake and we had all her cousins dress up in whatever costumes they wanted. It was really fun.

As an activity I read the story of the princess and the pea and then we hid a little ball under some pillows and all the cousins got to see if they could find the ball just by sitting on the pillows, and if they could, they were a REAL prince or princess.

We had kind of a "dress up" theme and so mark made madi this dress up chest to put all her dres ups in. It turned out really cute and has come in handy with all the new dres-ups she got. For snacks I had a few little things with tags behind them. For instance, I had a plate of cut up apples and the tag read "snow whites apples. (The non-poisonous variety)", we had cinderella's mice munchies (cut up cheese), Ariel's under the sea sandwhiches (tuna sandwhiches), and Lady and the tramp hot dogs. So it was a fun party. It has felt a little like christmas around here with all the gifts, I will have to remember not to have my next child in the month of october.

One year older and wiser too!

Tyce had his first birthday on saturday!! How did that happen? He throws his arms up and can say touchdown so I made him a football cake for his birthday and he loved it! We had friends and family over and had spaghetti because it is his favorite and then cake and ice cream. We were in a little bit of a rush because we had to have the boys done by 5 so they could go to the priesthood session.

The football actuall is on a little piece of card board and so I took it off and tyce got to dig into it all by himself. I am pretty sure he went into comatose from all the sugar

This is madi's first pony tail!!!! Yes I know she is almost 3 but her hair just does not grow! Can you tell it is being held together by about 3 bobby pins but who cares? What a fun week! There is nothing like birthday parties to bring out the kid in you. Mark has been playing with tyce's tractors most of the day so it was a success all around!

A glance back and look forward

This was taken when mark and I were dating. Look, I still have the "college glow"!

Mark and I were laying in bed the other night and I asked him if there was one time in his life he would go back to and freeze time what would it be. His was a toss up, his mission, or his freshmen year in college. I would deffinitely have to say my years in college. And then I got to thinking if there would ever be a time in my life as good as those years. That's not to say that I am not happy, or that college didn't have it's challenges, just that it is such a unique time in life. So I asked my sister and a couple other people and the consensus was unanimous........no, there will never be another time like that. Does that make you sad? It did me, until I realized that there are alot of things I am looking forward to, (again, not that I don't appreciate this time in my life, but I must be honest and say that I have never reached my breaking point so often, or yelled so much in my life combined! And I don't consider myself a yeller, but seriously, why am I still cleaning up pee???? She has been "potty trained" for a couple of months now, so I thought) Anyway, here are my top 10 things to look forward to:

1. First days of school

2. kids sporting events

3. running around like crazy after school to do all the kids' activities

4. piano lessons (yes, I am imposing my own lack of skill on my children!!!)

5. taking them to sportcamp/efy at BYU ( I don't know why but I think that will be so fun!)

6. school programs

7. logical and lucid conversations with my children ( I take it back, the silly conversations are more fun!)

8. sitting around together and laughing on a sunday evening

9. a flat stomach (please tell me when I am done having kids that this is a possibility.......lie if necessary)

10. Sleeping in

I may never get my college days back, but maybe I can live vicariously through my kids , except this time I won't gain the freshman 15..............I don't think.