Gabe did not want to sit on the couch. I guess the edge of the table is closer to the action and keeps him on alert! Since Nyah does whatever Gabe does, we had true stadium seating going on at our house that night with the kids up front and center while Eric and I relaxed on the couches behind them! It was so fun to spend an evening watching this "intense" movie together. :) I can't believe my kids are getting old enough for these kinds of activities. It's so fun!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
family movie night
Eric rented Cars 2 for Gabe as a surprise the other night and we had a fun family movie night. I had to take a picture of the seating arrangement...Gabe did not want to sit on the couch. I guess the edge of the table is closer to the action and keeps him on alert! Since Nyah does whatever Gabe does, we had true stadium seating going on at our house that night with the kids up front and center while Eric and I relaxed on the couches behind them! It was so fun to spend an evening watching this "intense" movie together. :) I can't believe my kids are getting old enough for these kinds of activities. It's so fun!
Gabe did not want to sit on the couch. I guess the edge of the table is closer to the action and keeps him on alert! Since Nyah does whatever Gabe does, we had true stadium seating going on at our house that night with the kids up front and center while Eric and I relaxed on the couches behind them! It was so fun to spend an evening watching this "intense" movie together. :) I can't believe my kids are getting old enough for these kinds of activities. It's so fun!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Puppy Love...the real thing
Every morning Nyah comes downstairs, goes immediately over to Denali's bed, puts her hands on her knees, crouches down and says "Hiiiiiiiii, do-dee!" right in sleeping Denali's face. It is so adorable!! Then throughout the day I'll see her take toys over to Denali (who spends 90% of the day in her bed) and tell the dog about them. Sometimes she'll just climb right on in and join her in bed for awhile! Other times Denali gets ridden like a bucking bronco (no joke) or climbed all over and mauled lovingly. Of course the dog never complains and sits through it all with a long suffering look on her face. :) I can't say that I love the dog hair that inevitably ends up all over my baby after these play dates, but I have to admit that I do enjoy seeing her love the dog so much. I think it's been really good for Nyah and Gabe to be around Denali. If there ever was a dog for little kids, this is it!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Happy Halloween!
At the ward Halloween party, we were a family of pirates, a witch and a cowboy. Yes, we're a unique bunch of characters! It was a lot of fun that night: a chili cookoff, tons of games and activities for the kids, and trunk-or-treating of course!
Gabe with is bestest buds, Jaden and Kira - our next door neighbors that joined us for the evening.
Halloween night we decided to stick home this year and have a little family party. It turned out really fun! Our little pirates looked adorable - AAARGH Matey!!!! ;)
Eric took the kids out trick or treating while I finished up making our dinner. When they got home, I had warm caramel apple cider ready and waiting. Then we dug into Jack o' lantern pizza and other goodies. After that the kids went to bed and we stayed up watching a movie with friends. Fun night!
Gabe with is bestest buds, Jaden and Kira - our next door neighbors that joined us for the evening.Halloween night we decided to stick home this year and have a little family party. It turned out really fun! Our little pirates looked adorable - AAARGH Matey!!!! ;)Eric took the kids out trick or treating while I finished up making our dinner. When they got home, I had warm caramel apple cider ready and waiting. Then we dug into Jack o' lantern pizza and other goodies. After that the kids went to bed and we stayed up watching a movie with friends. Fun night!
October activities!
Gabe, Nyah and I went on a leaf hunt then came home and make a leaf collage. Gabe's was fantastic - all the shapes, colors and sizes all displayed! :)
Grandma Cheryl sent a Halloween package that was welcomed with a LOT of excitement!!
What would October be without some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies?! Boy did those kids love applying the sprinkles... notice the large empty space in front of Nyah? We learned quickly that her cookie-decorating-enthusiasm had to be closely monitored! ;)
The Pumpkin Patch
We were all bummed to discover that they weren't giving hay rides the day we came. :( So the kids all climbed up in the wagon to at least get the feel of it. Gabe was super disappointed, poor kid.
There were lots of animals to meet though...
Nyah was the only one that truly appreciated the chickens. :)
What a good-looking guy! I tried to get the same picture of Nyah... she wasn't having any of it! 
That's better sweet girl! She just needed to be held at that time. And when Nyah needs something, you better listen or else! 
Grandma Cheryl sent a Halloween package that was welcomed with a LOT of excitement!!What would October be without some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies?! Boy did those kids love applying the sprinkles... notice the large empty space in front of Nyah? We learned quickly that her cookie-decorating-enthusiasm had to be closely monitored! ;)The Pumpkin PatchWe were all bummed to discover that they weren't giving hay rides the day we came. :( So the kids all climbed up in the wagon to at least get the feel of it. Gabe was super disappointed, poor kid.There were lots of animals to meet though...Nyah was the only one that truly appreciated the chickens. :)
What a good-looking guy! I tried to get the same picture of Nyah... she wasn't having any of it! That's better sweet girl! She just needed to be held at that time. And when Nyah needs something, you better listen or else! 
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Riding, applesauce,and Grammie's caramel popcorn!
Horseback riding!! We love riding the horses when we come home. Here is my little cowboy on Baldo. Doesn't he look so grown up and handsome?! :) 
Later he and Jack got on together and rode around with Papa taking the lead. There was only one bad moment... when Coal Train sidestepped or stumbled or something and startled the boys. Well Jack started wailing and within seconds Gabe was crying and yelling too! Poor Dad didn't know what was going on! Other than that small setback, they did great and had a blast! :)
For being so afraid of the horses in the barn, Nyah was remarkably happy to be riding around on their backs!! I thought to ease her into it by riding with her at first but she never seemed nervous at all. In fact once she got up there alone she would lean over and pat Baldo's neck like a pro - it was so cute!
One Saturday we spent the entire day making applesauce... what a big project! It was fun to work with Mom and Mindy though and we sure got a lot of delicious, homemade applesauce canned! Hopefully we will be driving up for Christmas so I can take some home! Here are the guys watching the kids out back for us. Mindy took a little break and was jumping on the tramp with the kids. They were loving all her silly antics - it was so cute! I caught a bit on video and snapped this one picture. What a fun Aunt!
And here are my kiddies gorging on Grammies irresistible caramel popcorn. They both felt it necessary to climb up on top the table... I guess it made digging in easier! They would have eaten that entire bowl themselves if I would have let them!
Later he and Jack got on together and rode around with Papa taking the lead. There was only one bad moment... when Coal Train sidestepped or stumbled or something and startled the boys. Well Jack started wailing and within seconds Gabe was crying and yelling too! Poor Dad didn't know what was going on! Other than that small setback, they did great and had a blast! :) For being so afraid of the horses in the barn, Nyah was remarkably happy to be riding around on their backs!! I thought to ease her into it by riding with her at first but she never seemed nervous at all. In fact once she got up there alone she would lean over and pat Baldo's neck like a pro - it was so cute!One Saturday we spent the entire day making applesauce... what a big project! It was fun to work with Mom and Mindy though and we sure got a lot of delicious, homemade applesauce canned! Hopefully we will be driving up for Christmas so I can take some home! Here are the guys watching the kids out back for us. Mindy took a little break and was jumping on the tramp with the kids. They were loving all her silly antics - it was so cute! I caught a bit on video and snapped this one picture. What a fun Aunt!And here are my kiddies gorging on Grammies irresistible caramel popcorn. They both felt it necessary to climb up on top the table... I guess it made digging in easier! They would have eaten that entire bowl themselves if I would have let them!
Hagatha the Witch's Halloween Party
Mom, (I mean Hagatha!) always throws THE ultimate Halloween party every year! We were thrilled to be able to attend this year. Well, I did beg to have the party moved up a few weeks and luckily I have an "in" with the hostess! ;) Everyone comes dressed up to arrive to spooky music and luminaries plus a host of creepy-cool decorations all throughout the house! 
My two darling little pirates!
The kids start off the night by playing "Find Frank" - a favorite game of searching for hidden Frankensteins and running back to Grammie with their finds for a treat. This year it was monster teeth - as Gabe is showing off! 
My two darling little pirates!The kids start off the night by playing "Find Frank" - a favorite game of searching for hidden Frankensteins and running back to Grammie with their finds for a treat. This year it was monster teeth - as Gabe is showing off! Next we all gather round as Hagatha cooks up a wicked stew with ghastly ingredients like: mummified toenails (chopped onions), rat brains (browned sausage), swamp weed (chopped up kale), and werewolf saliva (cream), to name a few! The kids get to add each ingredient then Hagatha says her funny spell over the cauldron and the witch's stew is ready! :)
Dinner was Witch's Stew (Zuppa Toscana), Bones 'n Blood (breadsticks and marinara), bat wings (chicken wings), spooky spider eggs, and swamp juice (a great punch with tapioca/fish eggs in it as well as gummy worms! And with dry ice to make it mist all over the table!!) It was all presented SO fun and cute:
Mom really knows how to make a party AMAZING!!! Here is Griff with our littlest monster Colt, watching the show from the couch! :)
Dinner was Witch's Stew (Zuppa Toscana), Bones 'n Blood (breadsticks and marinara), bat wings (chicken wings), spooky spider eggs, and swamp juice (a great punch with tapioca/fish eggs in it as well as gummy worms! And with dry ice to make it mist all over the table!!) It was all presented SO fun and cute:Mom really knows how to make a party AMAZING!!! Here is Griff with our littlest monster Colt, watching the show from the couch! :)
We ended with more fun games like pin the nose on the Jack O Lantern and Guess the Ghost (everyone took turns hiding under a sheet while one child was sent out, then they would come in and get to guess who it was!) WHAT A FUN NIGHT!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Utah October trip
I can't believe I haven't been home since last Christmas!! That is just way too long. Never again. Every time I go back to Utah, we have a wonderful time. This fall trip was full of fun activities. I got so many cute pictures I don't know where to start! Chronological order seem easiest so here it goes! First we had a lot of one on one time with Grammy and Papa which felt really good, I have to say. They came out to see us in April and we got to see them for 2 days in Magrath this July but it still feels like we don't get nearly enough time around them. One day Dad stayed home from work because of a dental appointment and the kids had fun snuggling with him early that morning.
Grammy read lots and lots of books to Gabe (and Nyah when she would sit still long enough). He loved it! He even started "reading" books to Jack one day - it was really cute!
Papa took Gabe out to the horses almost every day. Gabe was a big helper with feeding them - he is awesome at kicking that hay down the holes! In fact one morning he and I were supposed to do it ourselves (Dad had to leave super early that morning). Anyway, Gabe was so adorable. He showed me how to do the first two, then he encouraged me to do the last one all by myself... and when I successfully kicked it down the chute he said "GOOD JOB mommy!!!" with a big smile! Oh my goodness, he is so cute!
Nyah was not such a big fan of the horses at first:
She was terrified of those big, hungry beasts looming in the semi-darkness of the barn when we would enter. She would cling to Papa like a little bur! No crying or whining but no looking either. I don't think he minded one bit! :)
Grammy read lots and lots of books to Gabe (and Nyah when she would sit still long enough). He loved it! He even started "reading" books to Jack one day - it was really cute!Papa took Gabe out to the horses almost every day. Gabe was a big helper with feeding them - he is awesome at kicking that hay down the holes! In fact one morning he and I were supposed to do it ourselves (Dad had to leave super early that morning). Anyway, Gabe was so adorable. He showed me how to do the first two, then he encouraged me to do the last one all by myself... and when I successfully kicked it down the chute he said "GOOD JOB mommy!!!" with a big smile! Oh my goodness, he is so cute!Nyah was not such a big fan of the horses at first:She was terrified of those big, hungry beasts looming in the semi-darkness of the barn when we would enter. She would cling to Papa like a little bur! No crying or whining but no looking either. I don't think he minded one bit! :)
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