Halloween 2011

Paige as "Strawberry Shortcake"

Sierra as "A good Witch"

Riley as "Cleopatra"

Owen as "a Dragon"

Carving Pumpkins

The finished product

Halloween night with Friends

I would love to dress up more but since

I only have the one costume then

I got to be a Witch. (A nice witch)

My girls loved it!

Halloween Piano Recital

Riley has been taking Piano for a few months

and had her first Piano reciatl. The kids got

to wear their Halloween Costumes which was

fun. Riley was very nervous and did not know

what to expect. But she did fabulous!

Halloween crafts and food

So I got a little excited about Halloween

this year and made some fun treats

and crafts with the kids and had

some good friends over for a party.

Of course I copy all my ideas.

This one was quite fun. A watermelon

brain.

Some friends made these cute eyeballs and fingers

for the party. I wish I would have got pictures

of all the creative food brought for the party.

The kids made pumpkin bats.

And they helped me make a spider nest.

Which took longer then expected.

Paige's Field Trip

I was able to go with Paige as a

Chaperon to her kindergarten

Field Trip to Black Island Farms.

The class made Tye dye shirts for the

field trip.

Out of all the things Paige got to do there, pick

her own pumpkin, go on the hay ride, play on the

tires or slides her favorite was probably

getting to ride on the school bus. It was mine too,

since it was so bitter cold there that day and the

bus had heat.

Zoe, Paige, Sophie

New Piano

So after having Riley in Piano for a few months

and having her practice on a keyboard I've had for

years it was time to get a new one that actually

had the required 88 keys. It was delivered to

our house before the kids got home from school,

and Sierra couldn't wait and had to play it.

We decided to go the digital route. Which we

are so glad we did.

Black Island Farms with Friends

We another time to Black Island Farms.

It was our 3rd time there this year. And Paige

still had not gone on her field trip there, so I was

completely sick of the place but my kids were

excited to go with all their friends. We went

last year with the neighbors and the kids loved it

and so we went together again this year.

Thank goodness it was much warmer this

year then it was last year.

Top: Sierra, Zion, Hallie

Bottom: Lincoln, Riley, Taebia, Paige

Owen loved the slides. He loved going down on

his belly. He probably went down 50 times.

The corn box they all loved! And even Jill was

a good sport and joined the fun!

Sierra's Preschool Field Trip

Sierra's Preschool Field Trip was at

Black Island Farms and a Brandon got

to come with us this year since he was

working his late schedule.

We also got to be with cousin Josh.

Josh and Sierra got to pick out their

own pumpkin. They were told by the

farm workers to find a pumpkin

raise your hand and they would come cut

it off.

We were lucky it was pretty decent

weather.

Owen got to get his own pumpkin

too. He thought that was pretty cool!

The kids liked pumping water. So cute.

Owen loved the slides

Sierra's Preschool field Trip

Sierra got to go on her preschool

Field Trip to the Black Island Farms.

And her cousin, Josh was there also

with his preschool class.

They picked out their own pumpkin.

They for some reason loved pumping water.

Owen had no idea what he was doing but

thought he was big.

Sierra's favorite thing there is the big blow up

pumpkin but since it was down that day,

she went on the animal train ride.

We were all lucky to have Brandon be with us

that day. He was working later at night so

he had the days free.

Elmo's best Friend, Owen

Owen had discovered ELMO and absolutely

loves him. Elmo is all he thinks about when

he gets up in the morning. He reads his

Elmo book and wants to watch his Elmo

DVD's and play with his Elmo toys.

And when he is not doing the Elmo thing he

likes to climb on Mom and Dad's bed.

2nd Grade Field Trip

Riley had her 1st 2nd grade field trip to

Black Island Farms.

Mrs. Sube's 2nd Grade class

Riley is on the top row 3rd to the right.

All the 2nd graders got to tye dye a T-shirt

so they could wear all year on field trips.

Picking our Pumpkins

Every year as a family we go on a hay ride at

Day farms and pick out a pumpkin for everyone.

But this year Brandon was working a crazy

schedule from 4 pm to 2 am and so we just

picked them out at Day Farms with out the

hay ride. Sierra was completely bummed.

She had asked to go on a hay ride everyday before

that for weeks.

No matter what the kids still know how to

have fun. Paige pulled the pumpkins, Owen

thought his was pushing them. And Riley

stood close by making sure Owen was okay.

Sierra got the fun idea to ride with the pumpkins

and before you know it the kids were giggling

and all muddy.

And here are the wonderful pumpkins the kids

picked out.

I hope they call me on a mission...

Brandon's cousin, Ty got his mission call to

California. The family was in town to see him off

so we had a dinner at Grandma Gardner's.

Ty is going to be a great missionary. He is very

sweet and good with people.

Good Luck Ty!

Guy, Ty, Owen, Brandon, Josh, Jeff, Tate and Bob

Mowing the lawn

Brandon is really anxious for Owen to grow up

so he can mow the lawn. But until then Riley

will have to do. But hey she likes it and who

said your lines have to be straight!

I remember growing up always being the one

my dad asked to mow the lawn. So to this day

I don't like to mow the lawn. Specially bag it.

V.I.P. and new car seats!

Sierra was only in school a couple of

weeks and got to bring the V.I.P.

poster to celebrate her birthday which she

had right before school started.

School gets out before her 5Th Birthday

so instead of celebrating her birthday

3 months before Mrs. Katie decided

to celebrate it a couple weeks after.

Most likely with year round school,

Sierra will still be 4 years old when

she goes into Kindergarten.

Which is so weird. She already

is so tiny for her age. But I think

she will be ready.

So it was time to get Owen out of the carrier car seat

and into a bigger one. So Sierra got to pick out

her new booster which she was thrilled about and

thank goodness Owen does not notice how old

Sierra's old car seat is. He is just happy he gets to

face forward and look at everything. His new favorite

is to be able to watch the movies his sisters got to

in the car now.

I'm a big boy now!

Owen is only a year and a couple weeks

and thinks he can go down the big slide.

He makes me a little nervous when he climbs

and tries to swing he legs over at the top of the

slide. But he loves it and does it over and over

again while laughing and screaming the entire

time.