THANKSGIVING in PAUL

We were so grateful that we were able to make it home for Thanksgiving. The weather was not exactly cooperating, but we still gave it a go. When we left Rexburg we were pretty sure that with the wind chill it was between -25 and -30. It was so cold that if you were out in an area that had no wind block it was so biting you could only stay there for about 15 seconds before running back to shelter.

SO COLD!!
We were able to spend Thanksgiving with Austin's family. His brother's and sister's family were not able to come because of the weather, so we had a nice quiet Thanksgiving.
Austin serenaded his mom and I while we were preparing dinner. Kennedy and Tori helped with the rolls. Kennedy loves to help bake anytime there is baking to be done. She is a great helper, and will someday make a great baker/cook.

Uncle Damon did a great job of entertaining Layton. I think it was pretty easy though, Layton just wanted to play basketball.

Grammy had made all the granddaughters butterfly wings. My girls love them, and are already planning a dance to do together with the cousins this summer when they are all together.

Gail did such a wonderful job with our Thanksgiving dinner. She had been planning and preparing for weeks! It was so good, and I think that we ate almost everything that day... so much for leftovers! Yummy!

Playing in the snow

Right before we left for Thanksgiving in Paul we got dumped on with snow. And then the winds started... and didn't stop. So we ended up with some AWESOME snow drifts and no school. The kids were in Heaven. Austin's clinic even closed on the Monday because the drifts were so big and bad. We all had so much fun out in the snow that day. As you can see, the drifts are taller than Layton.

The girls acted like they were penguins sliding down the drift. They would laugh and laugh at the bottom, then climb back up and do it again. I love that they have such fun imaginations.

I just thought these drifts were pretty cool. This is down in our walkout basement that is all enclosed. I think the wind just kept circling the snow around and around. The highest drift down there was 3 feet.

Austin worked really hard to make a path up to the door, just in case we got any visitors. I was obviously working very hard at making sure I captured the moment. It was hard work!

And this is what the front looked like before Austin got started. The drift was a good foot above the top stair.

After we worked so hard we moved on to bigger and better things... HOT CHOCOLATE!

First Snow

Our first snow occurred on Monday. Quite a shock to me actually. I mean, we live in Iceberg now, so I assumed it would happen early in the fall, rather than late. It started snowing right after I got Tori on the bus, assuring her that it was not going to snow today, so she did not need to bring her snow boots. Then when it did start, I thought, "it will never stick." So much for me and my thinking! It didn't stop snowing the entire day. Kennedy was ecstatic! She wanted to play in the snow so bad.

By the time the girls got off the bus at 3:30 there was about 4" of snow on the ground. And me, being the nice Mom, of course, let the girls go out and play in the snow without doing homework first. Dang Daylight Savings! If it wasn't for that we would have light until 6 and the girls could have had longer to play. They did have so much fun. Layton was a little nervous about playing in the snow the first day. But he has loved it everyday since.

HALLOWEEN

Funny Faces

Spidey- Man

The Red Devil

Our Leopard


Kaylee came to visit after trick or treating. She is a cute Fairy.

We got to celebrate Halloween two days in a row. The girls got to dress up for school on Friday, and then we went to their school carnival that evening. Saturday our ward had a "trunk or treat" at one of our farmer's shop. After the trunk or treat we went inside for more games and food. The kids really enjoyed it. I was glad that they were a little more creative in their costumes this year, and Austin was just glad that the girls didn't want to be Princesses.

Thank You...

Michelle and I would like to thank everyone who came and supported us at our craft fair. There was such a good turnout. It was so much fun, and we did really good.

It is always fun to go home and see people you know. This weekend I felt as though I saw practically everyone that I have ever know in Rupert, not quite, I know, but it felt like it.

And it was fun to be able to spend an entire day with my sis, and just be able to chat.

We will see you there again next fall!

My Boy...

LAYTON

You are such a joy in our life. You are always so happy, which in turn, makes us happy.

I love your kisses. At nap time and bed time you always kiss each cheek, my head, and the tip of my nose. Then tell me to go to my room (to nap). I LOVE IT!

You always want to be by Dad or I, throwing a ball, or just sitting on our laps.

I love how first thing in the morning you come out and give me a hug, and then return to your room to get your hat. You love your hat.

You love Kennedy, and you love to say Kennedy. I think that because it is a challenging name, and you know it was hard to learn, you want to say it all the time... just because you can.

You love that Tori gets to ride the bus everyday. One day I think you will love being able to ride the bus.

You are a little silly in that you don't like sweets, especially ones that make your hands messy.

You are the smartest little guy that I know. You pick up on things that we say and remember them. You understand everything that I tell you, and you respond. You are so SMART!!

And seriously, who said potty training a boy was hard. You were so easy. If I told you not to pee in your underwear, you didn't. Seriously easy.

Layton, you are such a blessing in our lives. We all love you so much!

Cutest little guy ever.

Enjoying the Fall

We have been trying to take advantage of the nice fall evenings lately. The kids really like to go in the back yard and have a game of soccer. We set up goals, using camp chairs and tiki lamps. The girls like to play GIRLS vs. BOYS. Mainly, I think, because they know we will win. Layton is not much of a help to Austin. One day that will change, but for now, the girls dominate. We are trying to teach Layton not to pick up the ball, and that other people get a turn to kick it. It does not always work. Sometimes Austin has to be a "one man team" because Layton is laying in the grass crying because one of the girls kicked the ball away from him.

Kennedy really enjoys playing soccer, she says she even plays with the boys at recess, when she can find them.
We also try to play a little catch with the football. Layton just thinks it is a blast to tackle the girls. I guess he kinda gets the game.

Tackling must be so much fun! This is what it looks like for 90% of a football evening.

At least we are having a BALL!

Crazy Dancing

Our cute little girls love to dress up and LOVE to dance. So for a few nights this week we play the music loud and the girls dance. Layton likes to participate sometimes in the dancing, he gets all his moves from my exercise videos, so they ROCK! They really do have a fun time together. Tori will teach Kennedy some moves and then they will choreograph a dance together. They have awesome moves that they choreographed with their cousin Hailey this summer, and they use a few of those in their songs now too. It sure wears them down before bed.

Family Stitchin's

I just wanted to give a little shout out to a craft fair that my sister and I are doing in less than

2 weeks!

It is in Rupert, ID

(my hometown!! Wah-who!)

OCTOBER 23, 2010

10 am - 5 pm

At Minico High School

We will be selling all kinds of fun stitichin's!

drop by our booth,

or our blog

(for those of you poor souls who live no where near Rupert)

Can't wait to see you there!

Tori's Baptism

I am not old enough to be a Mom of an EIGHT year old! I am not! But I guess since Tori was baptised yesterday I must be.
It was such a wonderful weekend. We had lots of family come to support Tori on her big day. I thought that it was pretty neat that she was baptised on 10-09-10 at 09:00. (that is for you Stacy).


Austin was able to baptise and confirm Tori.

Kennedy is SIX!

Kennedy celebrated her sixth birthday on Friday! She had a fun day. Aunt Mel and Uncle David were here visiting so that alone made the whole day wonderful. Aunt Mel gave Kennedy a manicure and pedicure and fixed her hair all cute and curly.

She got to invite two friends over after school to have a playday/birthday party. The girls all had fun playing. We also made braclets and ate pizza and homemade twinkies. Grammy Gillette came that evening and we opened presents and played dominoes. All in all she had a very fun day.







Layton liked her new bike helmet.

Deer Hunting 2010

Austin had a good Deer Hunting season this year, now lets pray that Elk season is the same. He hunted in the Pocatello area. He spent the first week in September hunting and then went back the next weekend. Austin was able to shoot this nice buck on saturday afternoon. Damon drove up and helped him pack it out.





This is a beautiful picture Austin took in on of the areas that he hunts. I love this picture!

Harvest time...

Layton's favorite thing right now is TRACTORS. As we drive Kennedy to school everyday he points out every tractor he sees, and if he hasn't seen a tractor in the last 30 seconds he asks me, "See 'nother Dactor Mom?" At first I thought he was saying Doctor, and I thought that was really cute. But no, he was talking about tractors. Still cute.

When the farmer's started combining the grain in the field behind our house Layton was SO EXCITED!!! He sat at the window and watched all morning until it was warm enough outside.

Fun Run

On Saturday we went to Idaho Falls so the kids could participate in a Fun Run. Ty and Kaly's kids were also running in it. Tori and Kennedy were pretty excited to run in the race.

Tori, Kennedy, and Shay


Layton did not want to stand next to his sisters to get a picture.


Kennedy started off a little rocky, not wanting to run by herself, but she finished strong. At the end of the race she told me that she never stopped running, she was really proud of that. She ran 1/2 a mile.



Tori and Raliegh at the start of their race.


Tori ran a mile, and was pretty tired at the end. Austin jumped in and ran with her for a 100 yards or so until she saw Kennedy and I and kicked it in full gear for the last 100 yards. She did great!
I was so proud of both of the girls. They ran hard and had a fun time doing it. They were both a little sore on Sunday, but want to do it again next year.