Trick or Treat!

We had a great Halloween. The kids did Downtown Alliance, which is where the local downtown businesses pass out candy and you go from store to store. It was lots of fun and the kids get plenty of candy that we end up not doing any more trick or treating. After downtown alliance we went to my sister Alyson's house and had a cousin's halloween party. The kids bobbed for apples, had a scavenger hunt, played pin the nose on the pumpkin, spin the bottle and decorated cookies. The kids had a blast bobbing for apples and it even helped loosen Gavin's 1st loose tooth to the point it should be falling out soon! Gavin dressed up as Eragon, shadeslayer, Jaycee as Little Bo Peep, and Kyson was a pea in a pod. It was a fun night, but now that it is over, we have to deal with all the sugar high for the next 2 weeks until all the candy is gone!

Pumpkins

We have a great little pumpkin patch here in Tooele called Pankratz's Pumpkin Patch. It is always lots of fun to go and pick out our pumpkins, but this year was a little different. We grew 3 pumpkins in our "garden" in the backyard, but Jaycee got to go to the patch with her preschool and pick one out. So she picked out this gigantic pumpkin!!! I tried to get a smaller one, but she wouldn't have it. Then, we carved pumpkins. It was a nightmare, because my kids pick out complex patterns, and then mom or dad gets to carve it. They didn't want to gut them at first, finally Gavin wanted to scrap out the inside after all the guts were gone. We stayed up until 11:00 p.m. Thursday night carving!!! It was not fun last night when they were dead tired and we still hadn't done any trick or treating. Oh, the joys of the holidays!

Firehouse

Jaycee's preschool class went to the Stansbury Fire Station to learn about fire safety and all that good stuff. I had to take Gavin, Kyson, Jaycee, and Franklin, but it was lots of fun. Gavin liked being the oldest and knowing the answers to all the questions. Franklin was elated to wear the fire helmet. They got lots of free stuff and had a great time.

My EXTRA children

Ok, so everyone knows that I babysit 2 kids. They are really great little kids with great big personalities. I had to take some pics of them and the things they do at my house. Mr. Franklin can't go 1 week without falling and get a goose-egg or bruise at my house. The lovely "shiner" is from falling off my front porch steps and hitting another cement step right on the edge. You can't tell by the goose-egg on his forehead was HUGE! I felt so bad for the little guy.
Elizabeth is really good at eating food by herself, Franklin, not so much. He makes GOOD messes. Anyway, I didn't think twice when I handed the oreo to Elizabeth, but as you can see, I should have. She was happy as pie and even posed for the picture.
Then today, my V.T.er's were over and Franklin came into the room and wedged himself between the chair and the sewing machine . The next thing I knew, he was sound asleep, so I just left him and he slept for quite awhile.
Both of these little kids are a dolls and even though I'm glad they aren't mine, I'm sure glad I get to have them in my home.

Kyson's Blessing

On Sunday we finally blessed Kyson. He looked so handsome in his outfit and very grown-up. We feel very blessed to have had so many family and friends in attendance. All of Phil's brothers were able to come and that was nice because we finally got to see his brother Jeff's little girl Braxton that was born in Feb. And she is one little chunky cutie! We also had friends travel from Vernal, Layton, Draper, and Logan. It was snowing quite heavily in Northern Utah, so many of them had to travel in the yuck, but they came, and it meant a lot to Phil and I. Phil's step mom got here on Saturday so she was able to come, and his Dad called us from Hawaii to tell us he wished he could have been there. We wished the same, but know he was were he needed to be, and we will get to see him soon. YEAH!
Kyson was a saint all through sacrament and didn't throw up or puke on his outfit. Well at least not until after pictures were taking. Grandpa Tom would be proud! We were able to clean the "blow out" off of his blessing outfit so that was a relief. I thought a lot about little Kyson and the blessing his dad gave him today, but more so I thought about my eternal marriage. I'm so grateful that Phil and I have been sealed for all eternity. I'm grateful that these 3 beautiful children are mine forever. I feel a sense of pity for those that do not have this great blessing and hope that someday they come to the knowledge and realization that they too can be an eternal family. And at that point I hope they grasp it with all their hearts and never let go, because the joy in that one tiny thought is incomprehensible.

Our new Family Tradition

So, Sunday I had this great brainstorm. Jaycee was doing my hair and I thought it would be fun to have crazy hair day. So before conference everyone got a makeover. I did Phil's, Jaycee's, and Gavin's, minus the make up, and Phil did my hair, the kids did my make up. I've decided this would be our new family tradition. Every conference Sunday we are going to do crazy hair and take pics. I actually think they turned out better than our family pics up the canyon. It was fun, and Jaycee left hers in the entire day. She did her own make up and I told Phil, make up only enhances her beauty, so we are totally in for it when she gets older.

(Don't think I'm being prideful,
I don't want it to sound that way.) We will see if the tradition holds up in April....

Kyson Update

Sorry, I have so many posts, but we've been busy. I thought I would let you all know that Ky went to the doctor on Friday and weighs 14 lbs. 1 oz. and is 24 inches long!!! I love this picture because he looks totally like a bulldog with jowels (however you spell it). He also had to get 3 shots and a syrup vaccine, but did great! He is such a great baby and is happy 95% of the time.