Random Things

D is currently occupied eating burnt waffles that were left on the kitchen counter to give to the chickens today. So I'll take this opportunity to document a few random things from the past month.

Kacin's class performed a song for the Veteran's Day assembly. He really wanted Eric and I to come so we postponed our anniversary trip by a couple of hours to make it to the assembly. Totally worth it and wonderful to see a happy, proud Kacin smiling at us. I adore this boy.

L sneaking Halloween candy from the basket on the counter. It looks like too much sugar for you, little one. 

Kacin's seed project.

Kyler's work hanging up on the wall at school.

Kacin went with the cub scouts on a field trip to the fire station.

Sharing a snack while we were on a walk while Kyler was at piano lessons.

D has lost interest in burnt waffles so now I am off to play playdo. Happy Thursday afternoon!

Our Tenth

Back in August, during our family journal writing time, E composed a piece of poetry to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of his proposal.

He shared it with me.

"Ode to the Faye"

10 years ago in a land far away

I proposed to my dearest Faye

Inspiration I received from a Native friend

As upon one knee I did humbly bend

The fountain exploded as words began to rush

I said a bit of this and some of that--it was all mush

I paused and waited would my heart be crushed

It was as if the earth and the air had been hushed

The response came, it was a yes

A big kiss ensued, could she ask for less

And that was the beginning of life that day

10 years ago in a land far away

How romantic is that to get an ode written to you. Well, not to you, but to me. :)
It's pretty cute that he put his rhyming skills to work. He is so sweet.

Last week we celebrated 10 years of marriage.
Ten years since this day in Arizona.

Can you believe it? Ten perfect years of fun and adventures and changes and good and bad and beautiful and ugly-- all wonderful years!

My sweet, sweet dad took time off of his work and traveled to us and faced his fear of stinky diapers and watched our kids for two whole days so we could celebrate. Praise to the dad!

It was the most relaxing two days I can remember. Oh my goodness, you can't go wrong when you stay at a place in which you can sit in mineral pools and saunas and dine on a 5 course breakfast all while overlooking a beautiful waterfall.

Our second night away we stayed in Bellevue so we spent the afternoon at Bellevue Square and then we were off to an iPic movie theater.

We woke up early the next morning and learned some things about temple work. Like, eat breakfast before you do sealings, but if you don't and you begin to pass out, they have a nice stash of emergency orange juice and a sweet lady who stays with you til you can walk on your own. Goodness I'm old.

We tried to do a little reflecting on our ten years together. I think we got as far as the fact that this has been the most busy, stressful year ever and that we have moved 6 times in 10 years and that we do love each other more these days than we did when we first got married. And then we moved on to more serious conversations, like Thor and E's facial hair and how stuffed we were from a five course breakfast.

Looking forward to the next 10 years! And many more 10's after that.

A Few Days with R

L has loved playing big sister/mom the last few days. She happily holds bottles and when R needed a diaper change she got the wipes and took the diaper and insisted "I do it". This two year old sure loves babies.

Even D joined in on the baby loving. He offered her her sippy cup and shared his precious set of keys. I've never seen him let anyone else touch those keys so it was a very sweet moment. By the end of three days, he was even saying her name!

We loved having R here for a few days. She is the sweetest. It's funny though how my mindset has shifted a bit and now 4 kids doesn't seem so hard--not compared to 5. :) :)

Happy Halloween!

Minnie Mouse, Cookie Monster, Harry Potter, and Gandolf all had a great time trick or treating this year.

We got plenty of treats and D even played his own little trick and scared a lady half to death. About 4 houses in he got ahead of us and was up at the doorstep before anyone else. So he just opened the door ad walked right in to the house and reached for the candy bowl. He definitely startled the sweet homeowner. From then on, he held someone's hand.

Kacin ran from house to house. You know, somehow his basket is always filled a bit more than everyone else's.

One house left a bowl of candy out for trick or treaters. While D tried to grab a handful, little L took everything out of her own basket and placed it into the candy bowl.

Kyler's hair and whiskers bugged him all night. I figured that would happen. He says long hair is not his thing.

How sweet is this--the kids all helping D calm down and get his costume on.

Phone pictures of the friends we went trick or treating with this year

Happy Halloween!!!

Potty Talk

Disclosure: do not read ahead if you are not comfortable with the "P" words

I had no intention of potty training either of my littles right now. I still have no intention, but I guess they think otherwise.

I am scared of potty training. I've never done it before. And I'm especially nervous about D because I know it will be a long while before he is consistent and has it down.

D went potty once in August then not again until our trip to Idaho in which he started telling us he had to go and then actually went in the potty. He now says "gottagopotty" often. Either that or "gopoopoo".  Except he doesn't really go poo poo in the potty yet. But that's the word he has picked up on.

Since D is more interested in the potty, L is interested. Which means some days I spend a lot of time in those there bathrooms. No one is consistent yet. Like I said, I'm not ready. Can we wait a few more months please?

L went through a little stage of teasing. She would smile and say "Daddy poopy". laughter. "Kacin poopy". laughter. "Papa poopy." laughter. "Jesus poopy." (yeah, L, you probably shouldn't have said that one.)

L peed on the floor two nights ago right after bath and before we got her diaper on. "Uh oh, potty" she said and squatted down right there on the carpet and went. So then last night, after bath and before that diaper, she looked right at me with a big mischievous smile and squatted a little and said "potty" and then started laughing and laughing. The little tease didn't go,but she tried her joke a few more times and smiled and laughed.

We were at the store one evening, so L picked out Minnie Mouse underwear. And insisted on carrying it around for the rest of the evening. Kyler was especially embarrassed about this when she clutched her Minnie undies while we ate our dinner at 5 Guys. Then, in the car, he convinced her to put her underwear on her head.

Halloween Preview

Four kids, four halloween costumes.

Any guesses on who will be out and about on Halloween?

We had a fun time at the ward trunk or treat tonight. Our littlest two actually caught on this year and did super great at trick or treating. Everyone was happy. Then we came home and Eric and I played a little game with the boys. They had spread out and sorted their candy. The rules were that Eric would call out a candy that was on the line. We would ask a trivia question (from the Disney trivia board game). If you got it right, you kept the candy in your safe basket. If you got it wrong, the question went to dad. If he got it right, the parents keep the candy. If he answers incorrectly, the candy remains where it is. I was actually quite surprised we got as far into the game as we did before the mutiny. You see, the boys didn't really like this game after all. Eric was even accused of cheating. In the end, the boys still each had a big pile of sugar to hold them over until Halloween, Eric had a little stash, and we have a big pile set aside to use for a service project or something yet to be decided (ok, ok, and I set aside a few butterfingers for me as well). The boys have requested that we do not play this game again on Halloween.

D's Crazy Socks

It has happened that
every day
is crazy sock day
around here.
I have everything against me in matching his socks
because D takes them off and throws them around in the car
or he hides them amongst his toys.
Try as I may,
there are many a day he goes off to school with two different socks on.
I think I need to invest in all white socks. All of them.

The other day, when it was time to go to school,
I told D the bus was here.
I was happily surprised when
he said ok and went over to L,
gave her a hug and kiss
and said bye.
So sweet that he initiated this farewell with his sister.

D calls all kids "baby".
He calls dolls "baby", too.
When we were playing at the park,
there was a little girl there carrying around her doll.
D passed her, pointed at her, and said "baby".
The girl protested, "I am not a baby."
D stared at her and again pointed and said "baby".
The girl insisted again, "I am NOT a baby."
D was a little bewildered and sat down and again pointed and labeled "baby".
She was getting quite angry and so again yelled "I am not a baby!!"
I don't know why,
I must be mean,
but I was observing and trying really hard not to laugh at the whole thing.
But at this point I stepped in and reassured the girl that she is not a baby,
and that he was probably referring to her doll
and that he is still learning words.
She marched off.

D is quite independent.
He gets out the coloring books and markers whenever he wants them.
When he wants the play dough, he pulls it off the shelf and brings it to the table.
He gets the juice and milk out of the fridge and pours himself, and the kitchen floor, a big drink.