Saturday, October 24, 2009

Ward Halloween Party

Our ward Halloween party was tonight. Our whole family had a good time. It was so much fun watching the kids get excited and really understand what was going on.

Below are some pictures of the Thomas Costume I made for Luke it cost about $10 to make and was super easy, if anyone wants instructions let me know. I hid it from him until today because I knew as soon as he saw it he would want to play in it and I wanted it too last to the holiday.
The lights were some of those simple push one in the front and the black cylinder smoke stack is where he put his candy





I had just barely pulled out the train in this picture he was so excited and amazed that I had made this for him. His face was priceless!

Below we are making our round during the trunk or treat. I was a football player wearing one of James's jerseys from high school.



I was having a hard time deciding what to make Bella for Halloween I was debating Ursula (from the Little Mermaid or a black fairy). I had already made the black tutu dress when I asked her and she informed she wanted to be a spider (I honestly didn't think she would have an opinion) so she was a spider. When people asked her what she was she responded "the Itsy Bisty Spider" she sang the song on and off through out the entire night.Soooo Cute!




Luke caught on to the trick or treat thing pretty fast. He has never been super shy so he had no problem saying "trick or treat". Bella on the other hand is a little more timid and is lucky she has an older brother who took care of the talking part for her.



Luke, Bella and their buddy Tyson



Daddy was the referie (We totally copied Adam Hansen)

After we were done with the trunk or treat we moved inside for some games and prizes.
The kids roped some cows, Luke was pretty good at it. Bella is still not quite there


Luke won the trophy for best costume. He was so shocked when they called his name he just stood there and looked around until me and James encourage him to go get. He ran up grabbed it and ran back to us saying "Mom look what I got". Unfortunately we left the trophy at the church but at least I got a pic of it.





Bobbing for doughnuts, such a cute idea. When Luke finally got hold of the thing he ate it in one bite.

Happy Birthday Week 2009


We have officially unpacked all our boxes and are moved in. We are getting to know our area and surroundings. We really love our new ward!
Last week was birthday week James's is Oct 8 and mine is the 15th so we tend to celebrate the entire week. Unfortunately James was out of town on his birthday and most of the week of mine. We still found time to celebrate and have lots fun!
Luke having fun playing with a party favor above and being my big helper below taking all the candles out and licking them.


The cake James made me is above (red velvet and vanilla frosting) and I made the one for him below.




Our family eating James favorite stuffed shells.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Welcome to Texas

Well we made it, we are in Texas and still standing. Its been a blur of a week. If I ever catch up on unpacking, chores, and my two toddlers I will update more.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Happy 40th Anniversary Betty & Marc

We went up to James parents house in Layton for a little family get together this weekend. We were celebrating a group of events. It was for Marc & Betty's 40th wedding Anniversary and Joe & Marc's birthday. It was a lot of fun.


James I thought you had a bad back??? (j/k) They had so much fun on this homemade slip n slide, James did get a little crazy on it.


Little Bell snuggling Daddy to try and get warm


Luke completely enjoyed himself during the whip cream pie eating contest.


The guys got a little out of control with whip cream, luckily I stayed out of the line of fire.

The results of the whip cream fight, I'm pretty sure John won by the looks of his face.




Fun little video

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Hero Daddy 911

We had a scary experience yesterday with Bella. I don't know how many of you know this about her but sometimes when she is really upset she will get so worked up that she can't catch her breathe and she will go unconscious, just for a second and then her body takes over and she starts breathing again. The doctors have assured me that this is totally normal and just a temper tantrum. It was very scary the first couple times this happened did this but it she does once or twice a week so I have grown accustom to these episodes.

So we were at the bank yesterday and Bella got upset because Luke did something. She got herself all worked up and I could tell she was going to pass out so I picked her up ( because I didn't want her to fall and hit her head on something). She ending up going unconscious but this time it was different she didn't start breathing on her own. I yelled at James that she wasn't breathing and he ran over and went into Hero Daddy mode, I was so glad he was there. Her little body was totally limp and she was turning blue. He thought something might be lodged in her throat so he pounded on her back, with to result so he pounded a little more, we could finally hear her trying to breath through her nose but she had been sick and congested so it was forced a faint. James then flipped her over and tried to open her mouth to see if anything was lodged in her throat. When he tried to open her mouth her jaw was clenched really tight, so he just pried it open. When he did that she finally made a deep gasp and started breathing. When she came too a couple seconds later she was hysterically crying and it was one of the sweetest sound I've ever heard.
By this time the bankers had called 911 and the ambulance came a couple minutes later and checked her out, they said she was fine.
Were still not sure what happened. She wasn't choking on anything, she has been sick so maybe she was choking on mucus or maybe she had a little seizure.
Either way it was an experience that really helps but life into perspective and helps you remember how fragile it is. It made me reevaluate my priorities and made me more appreciative of the time I have with my loved ones.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

FYI: Were moving to Dallas

James came home last Tuesday for lunch and told the kids he had a new song for them. Then he started singing"Deep in the Heart of Texas". I thought it was a little weird until the end of the song where he said "cause that's where were moving to". The move is coming a lot sooner than we thought it would, originally we thought we would be here till Feb, but James company need us out there sooner.

Its bitter sweet because we really lover where we live, and enjoy being around family but we are also excited about it. We both really like TX and this is a good career opportunity for James. It looks like we will be heading out there probably at the end of September.

If anyone knows of nice locations around Dallas to live or any good real estate agents out there let us know.

Tabiona

My sister Heather has some cows she keeps on land up in Tabiona, Ut. We went up there with them to hang out, eat, ride horses and four wheeler. The kids loved it Bella was fearless on the pony, and didn't want to get off. Luke was a little more nervous about the pony but loved the four wheeler he actually ended up getting a pretty bad burn on his leg from it.
James tried to play cowboy and forge the river. The horse ended up tripping in the river and falling over on him. Luckily he got loose and was okay.


I hadn't riden a horse since I was a kid so I was a little nervous. Luckily the horse did most the work. It was a lot of fun.

Luke with his cousin Haylie and Dylan



Luke with uncle Mario

Summer Update


After camping this past weekend we stopped at a restaurant in Heber called Dairy Keen. It has a train theme and the kids just loved it. They even had a train table inside for the kids to play at and Luke thinking he is the master and commander decided he got to control all the trains and dived them up to the other children.


We went camping this past weekend up in Hannah, Ut. It was fun except we didn't anticipate how cold it was going to be. The kids were fine but James and I were really cold. We kept hearing what we thought were moose yelps and Luke was quite curios about it. He got a little scared and when I asked him why he said.
" The big moose is going to come try to eat me and I'll have to punch his teeth out"
then with big eyes he contiued to say
" The moose will eat the big sticks mom"

nWe went to Liberty Park up in SLC. It is such an awesome park with so much to do. They have a little lake you can take paddle boats on, an Averary, a little carnival, a swimming pool, tennis courts, huge park, pioneer museum, ect, ect. In this pic the kids are playing in the Salt Lake :) Its like a little water play area that is a scaled down version of all the water, lakes and rivers in Ut. Very fun and very cute.


Little Miss Potato head. Bella thought this was a pacifier or something and was walking around with it in her mouth all afternoon. It was pretty funny
i




Happy Birthday Luke!!
Luke turned 3 on July 26. He got this ride on train for his birthday and as you can probably tell by his face was quite pleased with it. He rode it all day long and we had to charge the battery twice.


It was a lot of fun having so much family around. Lots of cousins and grandparents came, our good friends the Dixons came too with there adorable little girl.

After everyone finished eating Bella made the rounds collecting and eating the leftovers. She was a sticky, adorable mess by the end of the evening.

I am not as talented as some people I know, but I wanted to make Luke a train cake so I just used and engine of Thomas we already had and made the cars out of cupcakes

It was really hard for Luke to let other people take turns riding on his trian, he pretty much dominated it most of the evening.


Luke and Bella have such a bitter sweet relationship, I think that just comes with them being so close in age. The absolutely love each other one minute, sharing, and playing and tickling each other. Than the next minute they are each others worse enemy screaming and pushing. Bella tends to follow Luke around and want to play with him, and Luke has figured out that he is bigger than him so he tends to take her toys away, she does have her defenses though. If she starts freaking out, he will generally give her toys back to her.


Oh course we have been hanging out at lots of parks. This one is in Pleasant Grove and it is one of the more unique parks we have been too. I was pretty big and had a castle theme. Most of the equiptment was made of wood.


Steel Days in American Fork. My brother Steven and his family as well as my mom and dad came down and hung out with us. The kids loved the rides but James and my favorite part was the classic car promenade down main street.


Luke thought he was really driving this car, it was cute.


BEFORE
Luke's big boy hair cut. It was such a dramatic change because not only did it get shorter but we finally cut off all his baby blonde. I hated to see it go but the long hair was just to hot for the summer. At least I will always have pictures.

AFTER, sorry not the best pic


We went back for a visit in San Clemente the week before the forth of July. It was nice to go to the beach and visit our old friend and hang out with family. Bella was so silly, she would just lay in the sand, sometimes face down, just laying there. I think she liked it cause it was warm. Luke got to reunite with his best buddy Samson, they picked up right where they left off.




James and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on June 1. We got to get away for the weekend. We stayed at a cabin by Sundance and went mountain biking. It was a little scary at first (this was my only my second time) but once I got used to it we had a lot of fun. We also hiked up to a waterfall the next day. Anyways I can't believe we have been married so long, time sure does fly.
James looking all handsome on the lift.

One of James biggest accomplishments this summer was that he got a projector screen. He asked me if I wanted to get one and I said we needed to think about it, a couple days later he admitted to me that he had already ordered, so here it is. The kids think its pretty cool. The first couple they watched shows on it Bella would look behind the screen and say ware are u. I have to admit its pretty.


What is it with kids and mud puddles. You turn your back for a second and they are sitting in one splashing around. This is up at my sister Heather's house in Heber.

We have spent a lot of time at the pool this summer. This is at the Serra pool in Orem, but we have passes to the rec center in American Fork. Its only two blocks north or us and they have little slides like this, a big water slide, a lazy river, and little toddler play area. The kids really like it. Bella calls it the Baff tub.



Bella is our little artist she loves coloring. We have to make sure we keep all markers and other writing utensils out of reach or she will make her artwork on whatever is closest to, including walls, tables and books.


Yes we finally have a backyard and we love it. They spend hours out there which gives me hours to get things done.