Annual Trunk R' Treat

Happy Halloween!!!

Cameron Puppy

Cowboy Logan, Kitty Ally, Batman Dylan

Even Super heroes have to stop time once in a while.

Newbie Higgs carving pumpkins! Go, Higgs, Go!

Purrfect!!

Time Management and Productivity!

Okay, set aside the fact that my laundry basket got dumped over and the dog is now sitting on the laundry, and there is toys and clutter everywhere, but my two boys decided that they would make good time with boredom. Here we have cowboy Dylan (Yeehaw) and Horsey Logan (neigh, neigh). I am quite impressed that he (Logan) volunteered for this. I couldn't help but to capture this on camera so that I could use this against him for the future! I love you boys!

Following In Our Footsteps

I never understood what was meant by you must always set an example so that your children can follow in your footsteps until today! While us was picking up the living room, I found Dylan down in the den going through all of the clutter baskets that we set out for the kids stuff during the day. I found stuff that I had just picked up all over the floor, so naturally I was upset, but then my little monkey does this.....Who can be mad at that! I love my Dylan and my fuzzy slippers. ( He has something in his hand that he picked up to put in the basket. Though I am uncertain what it is.)

~Farewell Elder Barry~

It was a sad night tonight for the Topps Family~ Our kids have become quite attached to this set of missionaries for some reason! It has been kind of neat to watch them interact with the missionaries. We just wanted to post a photo in memory of Elder Barry! We will miss you!

Sleep, Baby Sleep!

Today I was working in the kitchen trying to clean up from breakfast and lunch. I asked Dylan what he was doing and he told me that he was looking out the window at the Kitty. So I continued to do my work in the kitchen. The next thing I know, it was completely silent, so I went to go check on the boys. I found Logan playing with his train set on the floor and Dylan like this. It was too cute to pass up. Sleep my little monkey! I love you sweet baby!

My Hint That I Must Take Too Many Pictures!

So it is obvious to me that this is what happens when I take too many pictures at home. It is like day and night! But hey, there is always next year.

Allyson is doing very well in kindergarten. It seems that she is very much an over achiever. Her teacher loves her and seems to have no complaints so far. But we will see at Parent Teacher Conference, whenever that comes. She has gotten an Academic Achiever Acknowledgment from her principal. She loves to do homework so much, that when she brings home the homework packet, she does every page in one day. Anyone who has had experience with homework packets knows that there is supposed to be a page for every day of the week. Oh well, hopefully she will continue and have much success as the years go by. She has learned how to tie her shoes by herself like the second or third day of class, and now she wants to tie all of her brothers shoes and her classmates. It has been very fun to watch. I have joined the school PTA program and I have become a room parent for Ally's class. It has been super fun so far to be a part of her classroom so far. We have begun the busiest season of the year with all of the holidays approaching. It seems that there is a party every month for the rest of the year. My first one is next week! FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!

Logan is doing very well in Preschool. He just turned 4 last month, and he seems to be one of the most well behaved children in his class. His teacher tells me all the time how neat it is to see a child as young as he is so well behaved and such a great listener. I am glad to hear that even though they aren't listening all the time at home, that they are at least listening at school. I am very proud of him and his ability to work well with others. He is very excited to be at the same school as Allyson and they get to see each other through out the day in the hallways. He is beginning to recognize how to spell his name and how to write it. It is so neat to see him discover the way that different things work. He is a very hands on kind of learner, very much like his daddy. My little L man is growing up very fast. I didn't really want it to happen quite this fast, but it is very fun! His little brothers look up to him so much. My little hero!

Reflecting Back

I was just remembering back about a year or two ago when my daughter refused to get in the car when I picked her up from preschool and she was throwing a fit the entire way home. When we finally reached the driveway, I took boys in and went back out to get her our of the van. She still refused, then I remember saying "When you are ready to calm down and come inside to join us, I will be waiting." I walked inside the house and the next thing I know, in she runs tears rolling down her face with a fear struck look on her face. This was her reply, "Mommy, the cop was going to take me to jail because I wasn't listening." Me: "What police man?", her: "The one that just slowed down in front of our house." I looked out the window and sure enough there was a police man rolling very slowly down the street. Even though the officer wasn't stopping for her, it sure made her realize that she had better get inside the house when mommy says.

I sure wish that we could remind them of the moments of complete realization of what is right!

Midnight Caper....In my house????

I have had a bit of a rough week this week with some things and so I reached in to my freezer to have a nice chocolaty freezer pop and to my surprise there was an empty box. There must have been a bad case of the midnight capers in my house because I know that there were at least 4 the last time I checked.

I asked my oldest boy, "What happened to the ice cream pops that were in the freezer little man". Here was his reply: "I don't know mommy". I couldn't help but laugh because he was standing there with chocolate ice cream in his hair, on his face, running down his shirt. Here comes little D with his curly "brown" hair and his sticky fingers and a chocolaty face! So what a perfect opportunity to teach about stealing and what happens when we lie.

Me: "Logan, does it make Heavenly Father very happy when we tell mommy and daddy a lie or when we take something without asking?"

Logan: "No, but I pray."

Me: "How does it make you feel when you take it without asking."

Logan: "Did you see me? "

Me: "No, but I can see all of the chocolate on your face which tells me that you were in the ice cream."

I couldn't help myself but to think, Does he actually think that I can't see it on his face?

Moral of the story: Never leave your ice cream pops on the bottom of the freezer.

Is it really that time again?

I know that this may not seem like a big deal to some, but this is HUGE in my house. I was on my way down the hallway to the bathroom and what I thought was a gust of wind from the window, was really my 2 year old running passed me in the hallway only to beat me to the bathroom. He grabbed the potty seat out from under the cabinet and sat down on the floor and took his pants off and asked for help with his diaper and said, "potty mommy". Did I really just hear that! So I proceeded to help him up to the stool in front of the toilet and sat him down. I said, "I will be right back with a book." When I returned the next thing I know, he is pointing in the potty going "whoa!". So I looked and saw that he went potty!!!!

WHAT??? I am totally not ready for this yet! I was prepared to do it in a few months not right now! But I can't not let him go, so I guess I am doing the potty training thing early this time. EEK! Any advice would be helpful!

It's Party Time

Logan turned 4 and Dylan turned the big 2 this past week. They both got to pick their theme for the birthday party and guess what, they both agreed on a Cars Birthday Party! Thanks to all of you that got presents and/or money! They really enjoyed them especially the cowboy stuff. Move over sheriff, we're gettin' a new sheriff in town! The cake was awesomely perfect and the ice cream rocked! Thank goodness for Sams! Too bad the rest of the cake got left in the oven. Okay, I am going to tell on myself here: So I am notorious for leaving stuff in the oven and never remembering about it until I smell something burning the next time I use it. Yes, it happened AGAIN!