Rake the leaves at 52 degrees for 45 minutes, and enjoy!

As you all know we don't have any trees in our yard. The boys have been begging me for weeks to jump in some leaves. Well, ever since they noticed that the leaves are changing and falling. I told them that because we don't have any trees, therefore no leaves, we needed to go find some leaves elsewhere. We decided that for FHE we would go work hard to rake leaves at an elderly couples home in our neighborhood. The boys really enjoyed the work and hopefully they will want to do it again. You can't see Ben very well in this picture, or any of them for that matter, but he is there working hard! Harder than all of us actually. Noah, Adam and I were really busy throwing leaves at each other.

After all the hard work was finished we got to play in the leaves! YEAH!! That made it all worth it.

If you have the means I highly recommend it!

My family got to go to the Black Island farms last week. It was a little pricey, but so worth the money! They have so many fun things for the kids to do and you can stay there for the whole afternoon. We were there for 4 hours and only left cause it was getting dark and cold. The things that we got to do but I didn't put a pictures on here are: Walk through the petting zoo and feed the llama, practice roping a bull, duck races, pig races, corn shooters, paint ball, farmers market, the 3 story tall slide, pumpkin bounce house, baby hay maze, and 3 different corn mazes, They even have a haunted Barn, and maze after dark. It was so fun! Check out the website at www.blackislandfarms.com for more info. They are even supposed to have coupons there too. Can't find Noah in the corn! The boys lost in the Edward Maze. FYI: Everyone but me (Heidi, the mom and only girl) got seperated from the family and got lost in the maze at one point or another. Including the baby who got lost with Dad.

Ben and Seth on the fun and bumpy train ride.

Noah in the cow car on the train.

Adam making a corn angel in the corn pit!

Seth loved the corn pit and got really mad at me when I took him out.

Adam on the train.

Me going down the tall hay slide. It was so fun!

The boys searching for the perfect pumpkin. Everyone who goes on the hay ride gets to pick a free pumpkin. They said there are over 500,000 pumpkins there so you are bound to find the perfect one for you!

The boys in front of the farm!

Doing what suits you?

We have had a huge issue with Noah not tucking in his church shirt. He hates to tuck in any shirt especially his church shirt. He also likes to suck/chew on his tie claiming that he was hungry, or bored in primary. So, last month Ben challenged Noah to keep his shirt tucked in all through church and not eat his tie for a month. 4 weeks of church. Surprisingly he did it! So, Ben had to come through with his part of the deal, whcih was to buy Noah a suit for church. I don't know why he wanted a suit when he couldn't keep his jean shorts and shirt looking nice, but he did. Here is a picture of Adam wearing what Noah used to wear. Then a picture of Noah with the suit on, sorry it is kind of fuzzy! Good job Noah!

WARNING! Some content may be offensive to the reader.

Well, as most of you have already heard we just returned from the vacation from he**, literally! When we weren't melting from the heat and humidity we did have fun sitting on the beach and doing nothing, parasailing, going to the temple in Merida, and visiting Tulum and Chitzen Itza. We could have done without the crappy resort, food, and all the Mexican people who were less than cordial to us. (and that is putting it politely) We actually had merchants on the street call us names in spanish when we didn't stop in their shops. I wanted to say to him: "I can speak spanish and since you called me that name I have changed my mind and am going to buy everything in your store now. Isn't that nice of an A-hole like me? Just kidding, I'm out of here." None the less here are a few pictures of the fun things we did, and hopefully all the bad and painful memories will soon fade so we can move on with our lives.

This one is for Aubrey!

Or anyone else who wants to guess, except for Steph cause I know she knows it. Name this movie Quote. What do you call this place again, the surface of the sun?!?!

Just canning the night away!

I love the fall because of all the yummy food that we get to pick and can/freeze. This year I was so excited to have a ton of tomatoes in my own garden so I canned some yummy cilanto lime salsa! Then I had so many left over that I canned some crushed tomatoes.

My family loves fresh corn on the cob so every year we freeze our own corn off the cob.

My mom found a steal of a deal on strawberries so we froze some strawberries too.

I got myself some of my favorite fruit in the whole world and even though they were quite sour this year I canned some peaches. Hopefully they will sweeten up in their simple syrup.

Last I have plans to scour my sisters grape vines for what I can find and juice some grapes. The bad news in she said her husband cut them way back last year so she isn't sure what is left. I am going to go and see what we can find sometime in the next couple of weeks.

So fun to have yummy fresh tasting food all winter!

ca

Does it blow your mind like it blows mine???

Adam started pre-school officially this week. I am actually shocked at this. With Noah he seemed so ready to be in school since he was 3. Adam has been my little man for so long it seems that he can't possibly be old enough to go to Pre-school. Alas he is. He is going to Jump Start and he absolutely loves it. I picked him up the other day and all the kids had little bags with their names and felt frogs on them. In the other hand was a bag of goodies that Adam told me they got from going on a treasure hunt. His teachers have a lot of great and creative ideas. I think that both he and I will love it. Good luck Adam, and have fun learning! It only gets harder after Pre-school.

This post is for Heather

Granted Max is almost 2 in this photo but the resemblance is just spot on! Their eyes, their lips, their noses, their hairlines, even their fingers curl the same. So cute!

Remembering September 11, 2001

I am just sitting here remembering where I was and how I felt that day. We were moving and Bens mom was coming over to our house to give us something. I was unpacking and Ben runs into the room throwing cables everywhere yelling like a mad man things like, "I have to set up the TV!" "We have to watch the news!" "My mom just called and said something about how there was a plane that crashed into the twin tower. She said it may be an attack on the US." I remember thinking to myself that she was crazy and there was no such thing happening in the USA. Who would dare attack us? By the time we got the TV hooked up the second tower was hit and I remember sitting in front of the TV the rest of the day watching the burning buildings, then the Pentagon, and then the other plane that was taken over by the crew and passangers. What kind of fear and courage those people must have felt. I remember sitting in front of the TV for like 2 weeks straight watching the events unfold. I would stop watching long enough to shower, eat, and go to work, where I would just sit and watch it there too. My boss didn't care cause he and everyone else was sitting and watching as well. What a horrific day. Almost 2000 people died. I am just remembering.

The Piggy Party was a squeeeeel!

The only thing that our Sethy has ever shown preference for (besides eating only carbs) is his blanket with pigs on it. Every time he sees it or hugs it he squeels and shudders with excitement. So Noah gave me the great idea to have a piggy themed party for his 1st birthday. Here is our little piggy now! He loved the pig cake and ate two pieces. I have never seen a one year old eat all of their cake and then have their uncle slip them another piece. He was so excited...he was laughing, waving his hands, and truley enjoying the pig and the sugar! We played pin the tail on the pig, we had a cake walk to win pig snout cupcakes (unfortunantly I didn't get a picture of them), took photos in our pig breakfast sign, and he got lots of fun new toys. We love Sethy so much, and are so greatful that our families love him too. He has been a lot of fun to be around this past year and I can't believe it has been a year. Happy Birthday Sethy...we are so glad you are a part of our family! We love you!

Our last chance to camp before school!

We got to go camping with my family for one last hurrah before school started and we went to Bear Lake. We all had so much fun! We got to go out on the boat, sing songs, shoot bottle rockets, eat lots of yummy food (including the delicious crack..thanks Carina for providing it for us), hike to and rope swing at Bloomington Lake, watch Ben and Joey float a log to shore, chasing away an attack skunk in the middle of the night, smores, shakes, and all the other great stuff that is included in a Bear lake experience. The only down side was Seth hated sleeping at camp. He cried all night...well it wasn't crying it was flipping out. I think he was scared and confused so he didn't fare very well the first night. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us crash the second night in the trailer...he did much better. All in all it was a success...Thanks Carina for your planning and everyone else for all your hard work to make it so much fun! P.S. I will get my pictures off my camera and post them soon. For now I copied Carinas slide show. It is at the top of my blog!

Shout out to my peeps!

This week has gone by very slowly. It has been a long, and sometimes tough road physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I just want to say thanks to all my friends and family who called, stopped by, brought me food, gave me pills, offered future assistance, let me clean their house, took my baby, took me to the surgeon, said a prayer, thought about, or any and all of the above this week. I feel very blessed today that 1) the week is over, and 2) I have so many people who care about me. Thanks and here's to next week.

Ist grade and counting

Noah started the first grade this week. He absolutely loves it! He is enjoying riding his bike to school and eating school lunch. He was very particular in his request for a sling backpack. (I think that is what they are called) He likes his teacher and is so excited to get back into the routine of things. I can't believe he is so big. He can't possibly be old enough to be in school all day. In the wise words of Willow, "we are real moms now." Have a good year buddy, we love you!

Airplane

the good news is I don't know the next one, but will think about it. Give me until Monday and if I can't remember you can tell me and then I will shoot one to try and stump you next week.

The Burbs

This post is for Aubrey: Oh come on...challenge me!?!?!