They're home!

It's been an exciting week. We're all home and safe and everyone is just settling right in. None of the kids are appearing to be having any adjustment issues at all- they love each other to pieces.

We spent a week in a hotel making the transition and then came home. We have been to the park, John's incredible pizza, made cookies, looked at Christmas lights... mostly we've just been having a lot of fun and laughing. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

A little Christmas Candy

In the store the other day Kelsey picked up a very pretty looking oversized candy cane. I had told her she could choose a treat and she was admiring this one. Then it happened. She quickly put it down and exclaimed, "Ew, yuck! This is hand made. I don't want to eat something someone put their hands all over."

Yes, my child is her mother's daughter.

These little guys

We meet them in a few days. For names we really like Isla (pronounced eye- lah) and Alex. We think these little guys are just too cute and we can't wait to bring them home!

Big Changes

Today we made the yes call, and began a very different turn in the path of our lives. We are excited to announce we will have a new daughter- 3 and son-1. They will be moving into our home a week before Christmas, and all four of us couldn't be happier. What a wonderful blessing! Names to follow.

I wonder who wrote on my calendar, "Kelsey is awesome all year."

While vacuuming my house , I came across some confidential information. In case you needed it or were interested in the new spy club, here is the code.

This Sunday (after I found the "spy schedule"- complete with times each day to spy)
Me: Kaiden, Can I please join your spy club?
Kaiden: No, you are not a kid.
Me: Please, I really want to spy
Kaiden: No, you can't. Otherwise we won't have anyone to spy on on Sundays.

Movie trip

We saw this movie. It was very well made, and the kids loved it. I do not recommend it for kids who are under 7 or scare easily. We drove to another town to watch it and I never see anyone I know anywhere, ever. But, there has been a fluke. This month I ran into two different friends at different doctor appointments, and imagine our surprise when we got to the movie in Ontario and ran into our family friends! We had gone to Costco to get the discounted tickets and then to the movie. Unfortunately when we got to the theatre we realized the matinée prices at that theatre were less than we paid at Costco- not the case for the one near our home. It pays to do your homework, I guess. =)

Halloween Fun

What a fun weekend! We had a great Ward party on Friday night. The kids loved the pirate theme. Saturday there was trick or treating, and a visit to a carnival across the street. We tried to watch scary movies, but with 457 trick or treators, it just wasn't working out. Did you just hear the doorbell again? Oh, and in case you didn't know, Tony made a rather large and green new friend at the pumpkin patch. Yes, that's a real man who came up and put his hand on T's shoulder!

toilet paper roll

It is my official analysis that if Charmin makes the toilet paper any bigger it's going to have to come with some type of carving tool to scrape out the wall so it will fit in the toilet paper holder!

Happy Birthday

Kaiden had a fun birthday. Tony also had a fun Kaiden's birthday as the two celebrated with this new remote control truck. We had donuts out, and a pj party at night with 6 boys! It was great fun. I had to include this picture with Uncle Ron. Kaiden loved having him and Aunt Maya come to his part.

Pumpkin Carving

Kelsey enjoyed her first year of carving the pumpkins. Kaiden had fun drawing his for mom and dad to cut out. He got the chance to cut the top out. It was a fun night followed by some cocoa.

The newest bear scout

Introducing Kaiden, the newest bear scout. Congratulations to him for earning his Wolf, and to mom, for learning what a wolf was early enough that he had that opportunity! Tony took Kaiden to the pack meeting last night and they brought home a decorated paper bag mask on Kaid's head, and a little pin- which was not on his head, that he proudly pinned on mom's sweater.

It was a chilly night last night. We had the pleasure of collecting our fall decorations off the lawn- where the Santa Ana winds decided the proper place for them was. Right now they are decorating my entry way instead. A fall evening was a welcome change, except to poor Kelsey- who had swim practice outside.

This darn cold and all that

This is the third, yes third time we have had a go around with this cold thing. It's miserable and my sinuses are paying me back. My solution? I bought orange juice, which got dumped on the floor this morning. Oh well.

Today I'm pouting a little because I don't want to go to court tomorrow. My solution? I'm going to work some more on Kelsey's room this morning and then I get to spend the afternoon with her since she has a minimum day. I should probably rest, but I'm not very good at sitting still. No pictures yet of her room, but here's a hint- today I bought pink and black paint. Hope you're curious.

I better get to that painting if I want to change before kid pick up. I don't want people to think I dress in paint clothes, at least not every day! Yes, the multicolored fingernails from all that paint are clue enough.

Pajama Day

Kelsey came home determined it was pajama day today at the junior high. She got all ready in her pjs. She even tried to get me to say she could bring her teddy bear and a little blanket. I wouldn't go there, they had to stay home. When we got to school I looked around and said, "Are you sure it's pajama day today?" She asked to be taken home to change when she saw no one else in pjs, let alone slippers. I parked and we watched a few kids walk in, seeing two in pajamas. I commented, "Good thing you didn't bring your teddy bear and your blankie!" We got out together and walked around a bit until she was confident it was pajama day for the other kids too.

MOOOOOMMMM

I am on the phone with a business with the other ear plugged so I can't hear the kids trying to get my attention! Agggh (Kelsey is... something tattling, by the way. Just in case you needed to know). Maybe I'll try this next time.

Blog about the dog

It may be incredibly annoying when people talk about their pets, but I just have to join the crowd and share our weekend story. Kaiden picked out a holiday baking candle to make our house smell yummy. This weekend we were put it on the island and were burning it when the dog smelled it. Watching her squirm around, sniffing, and trying to hoist her body up to help herself to whatever I had just baked made our night. Poor doggy couldn't stop trying to sneak the food that didn't exist! It was great fun.

Air field

If you have a military air museum in your area, I highly recommend it. The whole family had a blast. It was a great way to spend Labor day.

Apple Picking- well, sort of

Last weekend we took a drive up to Oak Glen for some good ol' fashioned apple picking. We were waiting in line to pay for our bag, which would then be filled with apples we picked when a man came and let everyone in the line know the apples were gone- the entire orchard had been picked. Hmm. The only other options were to pick pumpkins to add to the ones we already had at home, and glean the left raspberries on the bushes. It was still wonderful. The scenery is gorgeous up there, the air was cool, and the orchards were amazing.

I found one apple, I just couldn't reach it!

Kaiden thought it was torture. There are bees there. I'm sharing a grumpy picture. It was great fun. Then he realized the size of the pumpkins in the carving patch. Do you see any change in disposition?

Don't you love fall?

I adore crunchy leaves and warm soup, blankets, and walks in the crisp air. Nothing is quite as comforting as fall, and nothing quite gets me in fall mode like general conference. We stay home and eat breakfast that doesn't consist of protein powder and milk, this year I made soup and homemade bread, we curl up on the couch, and take a walk. I love it all!

Here's a little of our fall fun for you to share.

We went to a carnival. Have you noticed how parents hate those things and kids love 'em? Kaden's favorite part was the pony ride.

The rodeo was good family fun. Kelsey got to bring a friend. So did I (wink- it was Tony).

Kelsey and growing up

What a beautiful daughter I have! I can't believe how fast she is growing. So far this year we were introduced to junior high drama, learned how to juggle two different school schedules (they start and end over an hour apart), figured out weekend practices are the only way to get in two full hours for band each week, have gone to the dark side- ripped up acid washed jeans- if you can believe that's back, decided shopping is fun, and... the drum roll please... asked to get rid of all the purple and butterflies. Her room is officially in transition from little girl to very chic. This means right now I have turned her room into a big mess and am covered in paint. I'm expecting it to take a couple of weeks to finish, but will be posting pictures for you when it's ready.


I must admit I found a designer I love and pulled an HGTV move. Yes, I am officially a copycat. That's what you learn in business school. Too bad I didn't just go to design school and then I could have figured it out on my own!

When they are playing fair

Last week we thought we would be troopers and pay off our car. So I went to the bank and got a friendly cashier's check and took myself down to the post office and sent a certified letter to Wachovia Dealer Services, to the address they requested I send the payment to. The next day a person by the name of R. Quinonez stamped their Wachovia stamp with their name and took my payment who knows where. Interestingly enough, the payment got itself lost somehow between their signing for it and when it was supposed to post to my account. I keep getting calls from their collection department telling me they are going to report me to the credit bureaus. I keep telling them I have proof they received my cashiers check and proof of the amount. I told them to contact the post office if they needed to, sent them copies of everything, and now they are disappearing. No one is available to talk. Go figure. Last night Tony filed a complaint with the attorney general. They are demanding payment. Does the 5 figure check I sent them count? They don't seem to think so, but the law is just not doing it's part to agree with them. Wow. It's just one of those weeks.

A little summer

San Diego zoo

Trip to Ocenside and visit to nature preserve

Lake Havasu, AZ trip
Lake Havasu- and the original London Bridge
Girls weekend to Disney and a little home dec shopping.
Kids and I at Disney