Finally - Family Pictures 2009

Photographer - Jaime Mortensen - http://accidentallycreative.blogspot.com/

Halloween Finally

Well, I want to post our family pictures but figured I better get a few posts out of the way first. Halloween wasn't too big this year. The school quit doing their Halloween Costume Parade (DUMB, DUMB, DUMB!!) and Jackson is in elementary school now so neither got to dress up for school.

Also, Jackson was scheduled to have his last football at 3:00 and all the festivities started at 5:00. Luckily Jackson's game was cancelled due to forfeit so we were able to come home and get the kids ready. Jackson was going to be something else but he was still dressed for his game and asked if he should just be a football player. I said YES! ABSOLUTELY! One less costume for mom.

Jake and Joey had already been through the costume box and decided on a Ninja and Spiderman. Generic for me, I know but it was all about easy this year, except for Gracie. I was so excited to have her costume made by my cousin Sara. Her little girl wore the same outfit last year and I just knew I needed one for her. She turned out fabulous and even though I was afraid she wouldn't leave her hat on, she did almost the entire night.

So we took the kids to our ward Trunk or Treat which lasted all of about 1 1/2 hours and then came home with way too much candy. Scott and Jackson changed clothes and headed to the EAC football game while I cleaned up kids, sorted candy, got them to bed and had a few quiet hours to myself. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Mesa for the Weekend

This weekend we got the chance to go spend some time together as a family at the condo in Mesa. Friday night we got together with all my siblings and their families at my brothers house and had a BBQ. It was great fun and the kids had a great time playing together.

Saturday we went and spent some time with my mom in the care center. She's going to be there for about 6 weeks recuperating from a bad infection she got. Then it was off shopping with the fam and lunch at my favorite place, The Cheesecake Factory. Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls and Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic. YUMMO!! My two brothers joined us and shopped with us.

In the evening we spent some time with my dad and brothers and they agreed to watch our kids while Scott and I got out for a couple of hours and then Sunday we visited parents again and headed home.

There were plenty of things to forget about this trip but there are plenty of memories as well.

Things I want to remember from this trip:

- Crazy fun time with all my siblings and their families under one roof.

- Gracie climbing up the foot of the bed where Scott and I were sleeping

and yelling "BOO!"

- The few hours Scott and I had to spend time together.

- The way my kids love their grandparents and can't wait to visit them.

- Getting to pick up our pictures and see them for the first time.

Jake & Joeys conversation...

While I was getting ready in the bathroom this is what I heard from the breakfast table this morning.

Jake - "Is there such things as elves?"

Joey - "Yep, they have pointy ears like this. See I have them. Did you know I was one of Santa's elves?"

Jake - "No sir. Then why aren't you at the North Pole?"

Joey - "Santa kicked me out. I found myself sitting out in the middle of the forest and that's when you found me and we decided to become brothers."

Such imagination!! I love it!

Sneak Peek of Family Photo Shoot

Had a fun photo shoot with an old friend I grew up with. She's so creative! Check out this pic of Gracie! Thanks Jamie! Can't wait to get them all.

Love these one's by the car. Can't wait to see all of them by the car.

No Opportunity Wasted

Last month the weather was nice and so I had all the windows and doors open. My front door doesn't have a screen so I just had the baby gate up. Gracie was standing at the gate watching the birds in the yard and I was on the floor playing with her when I noticed the light hitting her. It was beautiful and what any professional is always trying to achieve. I believe they call it rembrandt light. So I grabbed my camera and started snapping away. These have had very little editing and came out just beautifully.

My First Rag Quilts

A few months ago I went to Enrichment Meeting (the first one I wasn't in charge of in forever) and we made rag quilts for all the missionaries in our ward to give them for Christmas. They turned out so cute and were really quite easy so I decided I wanted to try to make one all by myself. So I made one for Gracie.

It turned out pretty cute especially since I had Nana embroider some cute bugs and stuff on it. It's ok unless you look at it closely. My squares don't really match up on the back but luckily the raggy edge hides that on the front. I learned a lot from making this one. So I decided I could do better next time and thought I'd make one for my new baby niece, Ava who will be born in Dec.

This one turned out much better and I'm proud to say almost all my squares matched up. I learned that the way you cut your squares is almost the most important thing. I also learned from my mother-in-law to use much smaller stitches. Those two things made the biggest difference in the quilt. I'm pleased with both and now feel much more confident in my sewing abilities.

Gracie's Quilt

Davery with her's. I think she really liked it. These are all the colors of the new babies room. Oh, and I made that matching burp cloth on her leg too. Super easy.

Soccer, Soccer & More Soccer

Soccer and I have a love hate relationship. I love it because my kids love it and they get good exercise out of it. But I hate it because it takes over my Saturdays, EVERY SATURDAY, for about 3 months. It has the longest season! We now only have one game left and I'm so excited but my boys have really loved it.

This was Joey & Jake's first year to play and I was pretty sure Joey would be bored and Jake would get right in there and be my "athletic" one. Boy was I wrong. Joey took right to this game and was always right in there pushing his way through to get the ball. He has scored several goals through the season and is probably the best on his team. Maybe a bit too aggressive but still pretty good.

Jake on the other hand loves soccer and loves to run around the field but that's about it. It's a major accomplishment in a game when he actually puts his foot on the ball at all. He runs around with the pack chasing the ball but in the mean time he's looking at us on the sidelines or the sky or wherever else he can look except at the ball. He's so funny. It may be an age thing so we'll see how he does next year. Yep, I said next year because as much as I hate it I have to give my boys the opportunity to develop the talents they love.

Here's Joey

always leading the pack.

Here's Jake. He's not the only one though so maybe it is just an age thing.

Jackson's First Year in Football

Jackson started football this year instead of soccer and he absolutely loves it. He wasn't so sure when they were practicing in August in 110 degree weather but once they started games in September he loved it! He plays on the Peewee League for the Dolphins and has a great team. They're actually 7-0 right now with only one more game to play this Saturday. If they win they will have a completely undefeated season and will win the championship.

We're so proud of him. He's learned a lot this season. Most of his team has been playing for 3 years and this was his first so he played second string but he's got a lot more playing time as the season has progressed and he's doing really awesome. I know it will help him in the years to come when he plays ball for Junior High and High School.

He's #35 and plays defense

Just won game #4! Go dolphins!

His cousin and best friend, Justice is on his team with him.

Coaches giving them a pep talk after the game.

Cake Pops!

So I attempted my first batch of cake pops from the bakerella.com website. I made a batch for my sister-in-law, Davery's baby shower. She had a pink and orange theme so I made strawberry cake for the inside then dipped them in orange chocolate and sprinkled with pink sugar. They turned out so cute and were absolutely delicious! Loved them! Lots and lots of work but still yummy so probably worth it for a special occasion.