Carving Pumpkins

We carved pumpkins for Family night yesterday. Brianna helped the boys draw out their patterns and Gabe and I helped the kids carve them. I wanted to do something a little different this year, so I got a white pumpkin and made a haunted house. I'm pretty excited at how well it actually turned out.


The kids weren't too excited about putting their hands in their pumpkins and made sure to keep the pulp at spoon's length.

Brianna's pumpkin

Hayden's "Jack Skeleton" pumpkin

Tucker's pumpkin before it lost an eye and got an eye patch

After we finished carving the pumpkins we of course had to take them outside and light them up. They look pretty good out on the porch.

The last 12 days of October

The last 12 days of October have brought us: 1 black eye, 2 parent teacher conferences, 3 birthday parties, 4 extra days off of school, 5 things sold on Craigslist, 6 runny noses, 7 trips to the grocery store, 8 missed naps, 9 turns in time-out, 10 completed sudoku puzzles, 11 loads of laundry and 12 family hugs.

Yesterday we went to Aurora's birthday party. The kids had a lot of fun playing with her new moon sand (Kelsey is a brave woman), and of course eating cake and ice cream.

Brianna watching Aurora open her new jewelry box.

Tucker really wanted to hold Jemma, he's a natural.

This week I made the boys felt mustaches for their Mario and Luigi costumes. They insist on wearing them nearly everywhere. So I have made quite a few because they keep loosing them.

Mario and Luigi

A long time coming

I know we've been a bit remiss in keeping family and friends updated on our lives. Despite the fact that the dishes are piling up in the sink, the kids are running around half clothed and we get to cereal for dinner (again), I am dedicating myself to posting updates and pictures of our "eventful" lives for all to read and see.

Gabe: Continually working hard on his career, his second job, his schooling, and his roll as father and husband. Despite the demands on his time, he still schedules in moments for telling the kids stories, doing the dishes, and taking the kids on a walk so "mommy" can look for her sanity under the misplaced couch cushions and toy covered floors.

Anna: Aughhhhhh! Well not so much anymore since we've hired a "Mother's Helper". Oh yes I did, and I'm not ashamed! Gabe was thoughtful enough to suggest I get a little assistance, and it's been wonderful. My days consist of the normal motherly duties, as well as the "usual" heated dart gun fight with the boys, a couple races on Mario Kart, assisting Brianna with homework, working on sewing projects, wishing I had time to scrap book, and exercising.

Brianna: Delightfully energetic, stubbornly opinionated, a second mother to the boys (mostly the bossy part), and extremely imaginative. She is a fun older sister and one of the most sought after kids on the street to play with. She is a great help around the house and is a budding artist.

Hayden: AKA Mario. He loves to play with Tucker, and they love to play Super Mario Brothers. He is going to be Mario for Halloween and he and Tucker call each other Mario and Luigi wherever they go. He is enjoying kindergarten and loves to read books with mom.

Tucker: AKA Luigi. He too loves playing Super Mario Brothers and is going to be Luigi for Halloween. He also enjoys playing with and teasing Mason when Hayden is gone at school. He loves to walk to the mailbox with mom and get the mail with the mail key all by himself.

Mason: He's an energetic 14 month old, but still loves to give mom and especially daddy hugs. He's learning to say a few words, "hello", "ball", and "uh-oh". He spends most of his time watching the front door and waiting for his chance to escape. He's been found crawling in the street, eating out of the flower beds, and sampling the decorative rock landscaping in the front yard. I've decided we need a chime on the front door so that it sounds every time the door is opened and mom has a heads up.

Spanish Fork: We moved to our new home in Spanish Fork In July of 2007 right after Mason was born. We love living here and especially enjoy the close knit community we have with our neighbors. Unfortunately for Brianna the boys out number the girls 1 to 5 on our street, but she enjoys getting a little rough now and then.

We were able to get our yard in this last Spring as well as install a patio and pergola in the backyard. It was a labor intensive project that was well worthwhile and one we plan never to do again. We did put in a huge sandbox for our kids, about 10 x 6 ft, which has been the hot spot for all the neighborhood kids.

We hope to have a guest room created by next summer and would love to have any and all come visit.