Garden of the Gods

November - Birthday Weekend

Well, we have lived in Colorado now for three months and we still hadn't seen one of the main attractions; Garden of the Gods.  For my birthday I wanted to go on a hike because the weather was really beautiful and not every year will it be just this nice on my birthday weekend.  As we stepped out of the car I took a look at the car next to us.  I sighed as I started remembering Georgia.

 Some nice folks took our family picture.

 We packed our lunch.  Really it wasn't a hike at all, just a nice stroll around the area.  The rocks were really pretty.  The boys ate a good lunch.  As we walked around we pointed out the dogs and talked about if they were big or small.  Then as we walked past someone I heard them say that the chip bag that Henry was holding was as big as he was.  It was great.  Henry is one of our smallest kids still being able to wear some 12 month clothes and he's 2!

 We saw some people rock climbing.  While we watched Parker had found this little crevice to play in.  It was pretty cool but there is no way I was going to fit in there.

 The day was splendid and the boys did great.  I'm glad they took a nap on the way home.  Well now we need to make a bucket list for Colorado.  I think we'll go back to Garden of the Gods sometime and maybe we can take our bikes.

A Belated Present

November 2012

I've been talking about putting Caroline's hair up in a ponytail but I need to get the little rubber bands to do it.  Parker had been hearing me talk about it and he wanted his hair done in ponytails.  I used my smallest hair bands and this is what he came out to look like. 

 Henry got a gift from Grandma Joan in the mail.  All the boys were excited to help open it up and to put it all together.  When dad came home they all hid in the boxes.  Henry really had to put up a fight to get to ride in his own new car.  Thanks Grandma for all the fun you have provided in this great car.

 

 

A Quick Visit.

November 3, 2012

About two weeks before this time I got a call from my sister, Jessica.  She let me know that she was making the decision to take her endowments out at the Temple.  Willie and I knew this was a big and very important decision so we planned to drive out on a Friday and go to the temple with her on Saturday.  Then we traveled back home on Sunday.  We had one week pretty much to get a couple of names ready for work in the temple.  In the House of the Lord we do work for those who have passed on already.  I prepared two names, a male and a female so that Willie and I could do the endowment for those two people.  I'm grateful that we were given the opportunity to show my sister that we love her and that we are proud of her for making such  a decision.

Saturday was a very busy day.  We had a birthday party for the two year olds; Reagan and Henry.  They are two days apart.  It was fun to have a party.  My family watched all the kids for us while we went to the temple.  I felt bad for Caroline because she wasn't trained on a bottle yet.  Three-four hours was a little bit of time for her to be away from me.

It seems that we have a small tradition in the brewing.  Parker and Kaylee had Mickey and Minnie cakes as well for their second birthday.  Next in line will be Caroline and Cooper.

Caroline was in the shade part of the stroller.  She fell asleep there on their walk.

After the temple we met up with my family at the Sizzler in Salt Lake.  Caroline was so happy to see me.  I loved that she was able to hang out with some of my family that she may never really know.  My Aunt Nona and Uncle Corey as well as my Aunt Carolee.

The boys really love to play Angry Birds on anyone's phone; something Willie and I don't have.  We are old school and don't have smartphones.  This is one way to entertain our kids for hours.  That's what they did at the restaurant most of the time.  I am very grateful for eternal families.  I'm grateful that we can be sealed and  know that we will see each other again one day. 

Halloween 2012

 October 2012

The boys were excited all month long to wear their cars costumes.  We grabbed our pumpkins and picked a few simple patters to cut out.  Once again this year the boys didn't like getting the guts out, but maybe one year they will really love it.  This was our fun Family Home Evening activity before Halloween.  The pumpkins did well to last until Halloween a few days later.

 Lincoln and Henry like to set up camp most days.  This is where they go; in the island in our kitchen.  There isn't much in there so they take their best friends (their dogs, cars, etc.) and their blankets and pillows and they just play/hide.  Sadly I had to stop them from playing in here a few months later because they broke one of the doors a bit.  Kids really love to play in empty cupboards so if you have one, stick you kid in it.  :)

 I really wanted to do something girly for Caroline's Halloween costume but in the end we went simple and dressed her in the Penguin costume that Parker wore when he was her age.  I just added a little orange flower to her hair to show she was a girl.

 Nearly 6:00 and it was time to head out the door.  Henry decided he was done with his costume.  He also decided that he would let daddy carry him pretty much the whole way.  At first we were a bit disappointed that we didn't get to have a trunk or treat with the ward like we have done in the past.  It was said that the neighborhoods did really well and so our ward didn't host a trunk or treat.  Our little star of the evening was Lincoln!  He was way excited to run to each house and say 'Trick or Treat.'  This was a lot of fun for our family.  It's good to start little neighborhood traditions such as knocking on doors.  Some homes would even put their candy in a bowl and leave, and it was still full near the end of the evening.  Great trusting kids around these parts.

 The sunset was perfect.  Oh how I love sunsets.

 Willie was kind to me and allowed me to dress him up as Waldo.  He only received a few comments through the night.

 The haul.

Growing UP.

Little Miss growing up.  Her hair gets longer every month.  I love to put in her little flowers in her hair.  The following pictures are from her four, five and six months.  Some of the faces she pulls are pretty fun.  She is very photogenic.  I love it. :)