Garden Fun

The local library, in conjuction with the botanical garden that's next door to it, does Storytime in the Garden once a month. We sat on the grass of this beautiful garden and listened to Miss Nancy, the children's librarian, read stories about pumpkins, harvest and fall. We made a pumkin craft and then walked around the garden with some friends for the rest of the morning.

Lizard

Banana Spider

Statue of Mercer (namesake of the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens)

Brinley, Jack, Elise, Sam, Eli, Jared

The inmates from the local prison weeding the gardens. :)

Happy Halloween!

We had our ward carnival and trunk or treat last night. The kids all looked great. Henry's Lego tower turned out awesome. Kayla was a beautiful gypsy. Jack was a "nice pirate". Brinley had good intentions of being a pumpkin, she told everyone who asked she was going to be a "punkun" for halloween. When it came right down to it she would have nothing to do with the pumpkin costume. I had already put her black leggings on so I grabbed one of Kayla's old leotards and she was a ballerina - without a skirt. We put the skirt on her and she cried for 5 minutes... so she was a ballerina/gymnast. Brinley didn't really know what to expect when we talked about trick or treating but she caught on pretty quick. After a couple of people put candy in her bucket she didn't need coaxing anymore. Jack started to complain about his bucket being heavy so I was helping him carry it. I offered to help Brinley, she said, "No mom, I got it." It was so funny because people would lean down to put candy in her bucket but since she is so short they couldn't reach her bucket. They'd say, "Lift your bucket honey." She couldn't because it was so heavy. It was hysterical!!

We had a great time.

Haircut!

So Brinley's hair has bee getting longer and not very cute! She won't leave anything in it for long enough to get anywhere (she yanks ponies out in the car). The never ending question with little girls... to grow out the bangs or not? I've been wanting to take her for a haircut for a long time but wasn't wanting to pay the moula and she would probably just cry for the whole time like she did for Eve back in Las Vegas. So Saturday night the boys were lined up for haircuts and I said, "Come here Brin, momma's gonna cut your hair." She came over and 2 suckers later she is looking as cute as ever.

Cute hair shot - she had just sneezed.

Soooo cute!

Forest Oaks Park

One of our favorite parks is Forest Oaks Park. I think it's the best kept secret park in Spring. It is BEAUTIFUL and never crowded. We took a picnic dinner and went this past weekend. The sun was just setting and made for some great picture taking. Kayla was running around and flying past on her scooter every once in a while... that explains my lack of photos staring Kayla! There was a slight hill and Brin had a great time riding her bike down and going back up and down again. I'll try to post the video... wish me luck.

Henry was sneaking up on the ducks - it was adorable!

Brinley took a spill but was only down for about 60 seconds. She is TUFF!

Video was a no go... sorry.

The Perfect Day

Last week I had, what I like to call, a perfect day. I should backtrack and say that the perfect day is only possible when a "perfect night" precedes it. Which means all kids went to sleep and stayed asleep all night... so I in turn slept all night too so I was well rested for my big day! I didn't get a picture of it but I made dinner and had it in the fridge by 10:00AM.

I did 7 loads of laundry - folded, hung and put away! (this is a major task for me - I usually have to empty the clean clothes out of the baskets in order to do the laundry the following week)

Jack, Brinley and I built a fort in the family room. Since Lars is the "expert" tent maker this was also a major accomplishment for me.

We had a picnic lunch in the tent.

Silly cute kids!

And we crafted! We'd been to storytime at the botanical garden the day before and we made these cool butterflies. We made some more. At storytime they took paper doilies and colored them then cinched them into a clothes pin. Since we didn't have any paper doilies we made the butterfly wings out of paper snowflakes.

I had to document this day because it was PERFECT!!

Cinnamon Rolls and Fireboats

Lars took the younger kids to The Home Depot kids workshop on Saturday morning before conference. They made fireboats and got a ton of fire safety stuff. they had a great time. Kayla and I made cinnamon rolls. She is becoming quite the little baker/chef. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product - they disappeared pretty quick!

Naptime?

Brinley doesn't usually take a nap on the weekends. There is just too much going on and not enough quiet time. She has taken to falling asleep in strange places.

Under the coffee table

In her closet

Swingin' Good Time!!

Some ladies at playgroup were talking about a family in our ward that had recently moved. They mentioned that there was a swing set in their backyard that nobody had claimed... Me! Me! Me! We went over, took it apart, put it in the back of the van (really missing the truck), brought it home, put it together, bought 2 new screws and bolts and Voila! Hours of fun and happy kids outside enjoying the 75 degree weather for the low, low price of $.50. Yep that's 50 cents! Had we known the joy and satisfaction this would provide we might have purchased one it sooner. Brinley has figured out how unlock and open the back door - it's her new happy place.

Slightly excited... you think?

Look at all those monkeys! Kayla's friend Bailee enjoyed it too