Sac-relig

Seriously, who would do this to a nice family like us? Why are we being discriminated against? Pure blasphemy, sac-relig and hatred. We got home from our nice Sunday spent with family and a wonderful baby blessing to these adorning our porch - for all of the city to see. The boys were mortified, until they found the bag full of red candy that accompanied them. Our list of suspects was short, only 3 families really. I mean it's pretty easy to narrow down because there are so few Ute fans. But narrow it down we did, we have identified the perpetrators and the boys are busily planning their revenge.
It does, however, help that our dear neighbors have the cutest girls on the block! Gage openly calls them his girlfriends, and why not, he points out that they do have a yard, a trampoline and a dog! What more can a boy ask for? Oh, that's right, a COUGAR fan!

'Tis the Season...

...to catch the flu. Oh the joys. Well, at least the boys took advantage of not feeling so well and took a much needed nap. It seems that this is only a 24 hour flu accompanied with high fever and chills and aches and pains. Not as bad as it could be.
Don't let the pictures fool you though, this was between whining, crying, complaining, etc. And now they are feeling so much better and had too much sleep during the day to be able to go to sleep at a decent hour. Put away the Motrin, bring out the Nyquil.

Trick or Treatings Pics

What a night! These little ghosts and goblins had the time of their spooky little lives. Our most fun Halloween night yet.

I only doggie paddle!

I recently came across a list of 100 goals that I wanted to accomplish from college. One of my professors had us complete this list as part of our curriculum. I did it as an assignment and probably really thought seriously about the first 50 goals, then just started listing them to try to come up with a hundred.
I finally came up with 100 and got my "A" grade on the project and neatly filed the list away with the few assignments I actually saved. So when I found it I was excited to read it. I was utterly amazed at how many of the goals I have accomplished over the last 13 years (it hurts to write that!). I was surprised that I can cross so many off that list, close to 3/4 of them without even looking at that list and consciously thinking of them.
But there are two on there that have me especially concerned - funny that they both have to do with physical fitness. That is where the fear comes in.
The first unfinished goal is to run a half marathon. I actually think that I can do that one if I can keep up the training. Thanks to my sister-in-laws who got me started running again this past year to participate in the Ogden marathon relay - my portion was only 5 miles. But it was so much fun that I am looking forward to doing it again. The plan is to follow that up with a half marathon in the fall.
But the second unfinished goal is what scares me. Participate in and complete a triathlon. What was I thinking? I was hired to be the photographer for three triathlons this summer and I really enjoyed them from behind the camera. In fact it made me want to do one. But I have a slight problem - I only doggie paddle.

Happy Haunting

Happy Halloween from our scary little family to you!
We had a great Halloween, probably our most fun one yet. The kids are getting old enough to really get into all the parties, scary music and of course the costumes! The kids were good to let me "help" them choose their costumes this year, I don't think that will keep up for much longer so I had to take advantage of it. We went back to the classic Halloween costumes this year and our goal was to be home made. We had so much fun making the costumes together. The boys helped with everything from picking out material to using the hot glue gun - that's right, very little sewing here! Except for McCall's dress, I couldn't figure out how to make a dress with a hot glue gun, suggestions are welcome!

Trick or treating was so much fun this year. The weather was great and the boys were ready to conquer the neighborhood. They had practiced their "trick-or-treats" and even had a great trick up their sleeve for our bishop. His family happens to be Ute fans so the boys carefully picked out a great big pumpkin and carved it all up into a nice Y for BYU. They helped sneak it onto his front porch and leave it there all lit for the neighbors to see. Unfortunately, Gage has a hard time keeping a secret and immediately told them as he asked for candy.
Just the same it was great fun. We later found a nice red U pinned up over our large BYU flag on the front porch, the boys and their cousins wasted no time in getting rid of it.
Back to trick-or-treating, Brad and the boys joined us this year through the neighborhood. The kids were literally running from house to house, Gage didn't even bother to hit the sidewalks, he took shortcuts to each house by running through the yards - aaaggghhhh! He was so excited about the whole thing this year. He ran his little heart out, had a few collisions with candy buckets and treats going flying, and only a small bruise to show for it. He was slightly upset when the bath water that night would not wash it off.
Tate was thrilled to have received an entire candy bar, not a small one, but a real big one. But it happened to be his father's favorite kind so he generously handed it over without a second thought.
Connor was done with trick-or-treating after just a few houses and wanted to go home. He was concerned about getting cavities and was happy with his few treats. He was nice enough to accompany his little brothers around Grandma's neighborhood, leaving his bucket behind. But he was thrilled to find a dollar bill in his bucket amongst the candy. Which he gave me this morning to help us buy a house. I gave it back to him and told him he got it for being such a great big brother.
The boys have counted and recounted their candy, they have sorted it many times and in the end we combined it all and they all get to share it until it is gone, or until I get tired of picking up wrappers. I wonder which will happen first. Good times, great life.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

2009 Pumpkin Patch was a success. We went later than usual this year, as somehow October just passed us right by. But we had a lovely evening going through and picking out our pumpkins. The boys were looking for the biggest and fattest pumpkins they could find. They had big plans for their jack o lanterns this year. They found the perfect pumpkins, one with blemishes all over it, they were convinced that that particular pumpkin had swine flu. So it was a must have. Gage preferred the rotting ones, we nicely declined and had him pick a less soft and mushy one. McCall could care less and was just along for the ride.
Uncle Korlyn accompanied us, as he was here visiting from Canada. I think this was his first trip to the pumpkin patch.
McCall just happy to be along for the ride.
It shouldn't be so hard to get 4 kids to look and smile at the same time should it?



Korlyn is a big fan of Nacho Libre, he thinks that he has some great moves. I don't necessarily agree, but it made for a funny shot that he will probably regret most of his life!

Gage insisted on his own wheelbarrow and was pretty good at directing it in the right way.



We have this same picture from last year, fun to see how the boys have grown.
I love this time of year. Things are still crazy busy and hectic, but it seems we spend more time at home and with family and for that I am grateful.

Emma turns 5 in Utah!

We were pretty lucky to celebrate Emma's 5th birthday at our house! They came to visit from Canada and we got to go to the movie, play in the bounce house, have pizza, cake, ice cream and of course girlie presents! What a fun day. Thanks for sharing with us Emma, and of course for bringing Grandma Fox for Gage to see! Although, he did get a little shy, he was thrilled to have seen her.
Happy Birthday Emma!