October Happenings

Well, alot has been going on in October and now that it is Nov and I am about to have this new baby, I thought I should quickly get all of this on here. It is long, but there was so much happening . . .

FRIDAY NIGHT VISIT WITH HONEY AND POPPY:
Honey and Poppy popped over for a visit one Friday night. It was such a fun treat. Sam and Mason love seeing them. We made some popcorn, hot chocolate and read stories. Thanks for the fun visit!

SLEEPING IN MOM AND DAD'S BED:
Sam and Mason have started a little bit of a bad habit. If they wake up in the early morning, they will come in and get in bed with us. Well, luckily it hasn't been happening as much, but one morning Ben and I both got out of the bed and we found our entire bed taken by these 2 bodies. I don't even know where Ben and I were sleeping now that I look at the picture. And there won't be much room once the new baby comes, so they better just stay in their own beds.

I even had to bribe Samantha. I told her that if she would stay in her bed the whole night until morning, then I would give her a treat. One morning she came into our room once she heard noises and imediately asked where her treat was.

GARDNER VILLAGE:

We went to Gardner Village with some of the cousins. It was way cold, but alot of fun. Luckily I brought the kids jackets but I forgot mine at home. They just love getting together with their little cousins.

SLUMBERING KIDS . . . IS THERE ANYTHING GREATER?!

Ben and I had gone out and gotten a sitter. We always stay out long enough so that the kids are asleep by the time we get home. It is just such a nice break to not have to put them to bed once in a while, and our sitter always gets it done. She is so great. But, we came home and I went to check on them and I couldn't help but take a picture. They both looked so cute and peaceful.

They are both afraid of the dark as of recent, so they sleep with night lights and their doors open.I just love them both to pieces!!!!!

HALLOWEEN PARTY @ JESSICA'S AND SPENCER'S:

So I decided that my sister is a ton more fun than me, and that's why my kids are always asking for her. Mason is constantly asking to call and talk to Jessica, or go swimming with her or just go over to her house. But she and Spencer hosted a Halloween party at their house. Samantha and Mason were so excited about it. Sam dressed up as a witch and Mason was a pirate. I love watching them get excited about little things like that.

We had homemade pumpkin shaped pizzas, brain jello, juice with eyeballs, dipped carmel apples, and Samantha even got to watch a Halloween movie. It was alot of fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN (EARLY):

Ben's Birthday is the 3rd of Nov and I am being induced on the 2nd, so we thought we better celebrate a little early. Joanne had everyone over for dinner and then we carved pumpkins. I just love Ben so much. He is such a great provider, a hard worker, an awesome dad ( I always joke that we can't get divorced because I would end up alone. The kids would probably rather be with Ben than with me. They just adore and I mean ADORE him), a great husband and I just am just grateful that I have him. He says you can only shorten eternity from here, but I can't wait to spend forever with him!!!!! Happy early Birthday Benj! I love you!!!!!

PRESCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY:

Well, another day to dress up so why not be something different. Sam was a witch earlier this week, so she decided to be Little Mermaid for her school party. She loves dressing up and I just think she looks adorable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN:

Ben had to work late and so we went trick or treating with my brother and his boys and my 2 sisters. Samantha of course wanted to be something different, again; so she dressed up as Minnie Mouse. It was my favorite of the 3 this week. She looked so dang cute. And my cute little Mason was a chicken. It was such a cute, puffy outfit. It kept him plenty warm. It was sad because I could tell he was starting to not feel good. He would look up at me and tell me he was all done, or that he wanted to go home. But he was such a good sport. He carried his own little sack and didn't want to be held, just wanted me to hold his hand. Samantha on the other hand just wanted to keep going and going. She loved every second of trick or treating. Such a magical holiday for little kids. Ring a door bell, say trick or treat and someone gives you candy. (then Mason would say "Thank you" til the person looked at him and he knew they heard him. He is so polite)

We had a blast with my family and then we headed over to see Honey and Poppy and Corbin. I just love watching these little kids get excited about the cute little things!!!

Sleep Over with Aunt Jessica and Uncle Spencer

My sister is so sweet, basically my saving grace! She had my kids sleep over for 2 nights. I dropped them off Tuesday afternoon, then she dropped them back off Wednesday morning and then after preschool she came over and we all went back to her house to play.

They went swimming, watched fun movies, and just played. They LOVE being with Aunt Jessica and Uncle Spencer. They kept telling me about this bucket at the pool that dumped water on them while they were swimming. So Wednesday I went with them to the pool and oh boy, I can see why they were a little nervous about the bucket. I was picturing a small little bucket and it is no small bucket.

They bucket is huge, and it fills up with water and then when it is full, the bell rings and it tips over and dumps out. It was the cutest thing to watch Samantha and Mason; every time the bell rang, they would both stop and turn and slowly back away (even if we were on the other side of the pool).

There was a fun little lazy river to go around, some fun little kid slides, and tons of fountains and stuff to play with. Samantha and Jessica found a fun little hiding place under the bucket that if they stayed there, when the bucket dumped out they wouldn't get wet. It was just so fun to see them play and love the pool.

Then when we were leaving, Samantha saw some girls with towels twisted on their heads, so of course she wanted her towel twisted on her head.

Then we got home and Spencer had made us dinner, and we got the kids in their jammies and put them to bed. Once they were asleep Ben, Micah, Hilary came over and we all watched The Proposal (it is such a funny movie). Then Ben and I headed home to our own comfy bed, and Jessica dropped the kids off in the morning. Even though my kids are a total handful, Jessica and Spencer are always taking them for me and helping me out. They are the best.

Long Days and even LONGER Evenings

Ben switched branches and is now a service manager. It is great, we are thrilled for him. Now at this new branch he works a little different hours. I was so used to him leaving around 8:30 and getting home around 5:30. Well, now his hours are from 10 to 7, except some days he still leaves around 8:30 and doesn't get home til 7:45 or 8. So that is a long day right, I know a long day for him . . . . . but an even longer day for me and the kids. We are pretty much done with eachother by 5 or 6, so are you wondering what we do to keep ourselves busy for those extra 2 or so hours.

Well, one night we finished dinner (which was really quiet because it was just the 3 of us, pretty weird), cleaned up and got our jackets on and went on a walk all the way around our neighborhood. It is pretty far and no, we didn't even take a stroller. Mason and Samantha walked the entire thing. We left around 6 and got home pretty close to 7. They picked up leaves (which they told themselves were flowers because we aren't allowed to pick other peoples pretty flowers) Samantha found little pebbles, and Mason just brought up the rear.

We have been going to my mom's in the late afternoon, and staying til dinner time when we head home to fix dinner at our house. Today we got to my mom's house and both the kids really wanted to earn some pennies, so they got out the buckets and picked up apples. Til the neighbor's dog barked through the fence and then they were done. But they each earned 25 pennies. They put them in their banks when we got home, and I told them they could save up for a toy or something.

When we come home for dinner, it is always a mystery what we are going to have. Since Ben doesn't get home til later, he usually doesn't want that much to eat. So it is just the kids and me. Tonight, the easiest and pretty healthy thing to do was make eggs, toast and strawberries. Doesn't that picture of our dinner look like it came right off the food network, or straight out of a magazine. I'm sure it is making you all really hungry. Well, my kids loved it. And after we finished dinner, we cleaned the kitchen, got in our jammies, got out our little picture scripture book, and had a cookie while we read scriptures. (thanks to my mom for the yummy home made oreos. She knows the way to Ben's heart) Then we snuggled under a blanket and watched a little Disney Channel til Ben walked up the stairs.

They are long days, but Sam and Mace are learning to be kind and loving with eachother. The other day on the way home Sam told me to look back and see that they were holding hands. I was driving but that didn't stop me from trying to take a picture. It is those moments that I see my kids love eachother and it makes it all worth it. Even though the picture is crappy, I got the most important part, the holding hands.

And even though they are long days for me and the kids, and we 3 are learning so much patience and love for eachother; we are really grateful for our dad who puts in the even longer hours for us. Sometimes Mason will ask why daddy is at work. And I tell him he is there so we can be at home together. Ben never complains, he just does it with a smile on his face (for the most part) and when he comes home, he jumps right in by helping me put the kids to bed. I just love him and all he does for us, and you should see the cute little smiles on Sam and Mason's face when they see him come up the stairs, they just adore him!!!