Pumpkins, Pizza & Caramel Apples

So last night, Troy and I decided to have a fun filled night of pizza, pumpkin carving and caramel apple making.....We had a great time and the kids attention span lasted longer than we thought they would. We started the night with a Papa Murphy's "pumpkin shaped" pepperoni pizza - this was a huge hit with the kids (definitely a tradition we will start if Papa Murphy's keeps it up)! After the pizza, we got started on the caramel apples and pumpkin carving. The caramel apples were made pretty quick, BUT pumpkin carving just isn't what it used to be when I was little.....it used to consist of two triangles for the eyes, one for the nose and a mouth with a couple of square teeth (one always on top, and one always on the bottom)....20 minutes and you were done! Well after 20 minutes, we decided what "designs" we were going to do on each pumpkin (4 total) and got the designs taped to the pumpkins......2 hours later, Troy was finishing the last details on the FINAL pumpkin and we had both about had it! The kids had fun pulling out the pumpkin "guts", but kept asking when they were going to be done.....they were each proud of their pumpkin and loved it when we lit them up as the grand finale!

Miscellaneous Summer Fun 2009

With summer ending and fall quickly on it's way, I realized that I have not posted some of our summer day-to-day fun! We have spent endless hours at parks, riding bikes, playing with cousins and friends, late night walks to get frozen yogurt from Maverik, Thrillin' Thursdays, late night movies on the tramp with dad, and eating endless amounts of otter pops and capri suns! Here are some of our pic's in no particular order....

Oceanside California - 2009

I am definitely the biggest blog procrastinator! This post has been on my list of things to do since the day we got home (September 19th)....so here goes.....

This year our big family trip was to a beach house in Oceanside California for 1 week! We flew out early on a Saturday morning and came home late in the afternoon on the following Saturday. We had a total blast - here was our agenda:

Saturday: Arrive, Go straight to Legoland

Sunday: Beach

Monday: Beach

Tuesday: Disneyland - Carson's favorite ride - TOWER OF TERROR (he is only 3 and barely tall enough to ride, but loved every minute of it)...Grace's favorite rides - Matterhorn and Soarin'!!!

Wednesday: Beach

Thursday: Beach

Friday: Farmers Market in the am, Beach rest of day

Saturday: Pack, clean and cry as real life starts to settle back in....fly home.

As you can see, we didn't do a lot except for sit and eat! I feel like I ate and ate and ATE....good thing I am pregnant so I could blame my hand to mouth problem on "eating for two"!!! The kids had a total blast living in their swimsuits, playing with cousins and hanging out on the beach! Since we have been home, both Grace and Carson have asked me several times when we are going back to the beach! I was a little nervous wondering how Chloe would be, but she was AMAZING!!! She napped regularly, hung out in her stroller on the beach and the few times we let her down.....she headed straight for the ocean and LOVED every minute of it! You will see from some of the pic's below, she would have no problem being a California-girl! It was so fun to go with family and friends so our kids would entertain each other and we had the opportunity to spend time with family and create memories together. I hope we can make this work for next year....with baby #4 coming the end of January.....I don't know how "relaxing next year would be".....we are going to TRY, TRY, TRY to make it work next year......we'll see.....here are some pic's from our trip:

Dad, Grace and Chloe on the airplane!

Carson on the airplane!
Just arrived - waiting for dad and the rental car!
Locked up at Legoland (I need some of these at home)

Carson lovin' life!

On the log ride with dad!

Dinner for Misty's Birthday!!

View from our balconyCarsonPlease pass the Diet Coke!
Chloe's 1st time in the ocean!

Chloe getting "tossed" by her dad!

California Adventure with Mater and Lighning McQueen!

Chillin' with Minnie....
...and Goofy...

....and Jessie....

takin' five...

Castle pic...

Washin' off the sand...

Happy 1st Birthday Chloe!!!!

Last Thursday (yes, I have been a slacker getting this post done)....Chloe had her 1st birthday! We waited until Friday to celebrate with lots of cousins and grandparents (thanks to all who came!!!) She had a great day and we decided that next year instead of presents, we will just get her some balloons! She absolutely loved the balloons, cake, presents, wrapping paper....and most of all being the center of attention! I can't believe a year has already gone by - it really is true to the saying "the days go by slow....but the years go by fast"! We are so proud of Chloe and are grateful to have her in our family! Here is to another year that will bring: first steps.....more words....more hair....more teeth.....a baby brother....and many other fun memories that we will hold close to our heart. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chloe-Bear....we love you! Here are some pic's of this past year and her party(sorry about all of the picture's....this is for my journal)

Grace lost her 1st tooth!!!!

Grace first realized her tooth was loose when we were eating corn on the cob and her tooth was bothering her. Troy asked Grace if her tooth might be loose and she disappeared as fast as she could to the bathroom to take a look in the mirror. When she came down the hall, she was so cute......smiling from ear to ear and her eyes as wide as they could possibly be, she asked me if I had her kindergarten teacher's home phone number because she HAD to call her and tell her that she had a loose tooth :).....

.....So for the past 3 1/2 weeks, Grace has been diligently wiggling, twisting and loosening her cute little tooth. On Sunday when we got home from church Grace came me a little upset because her tooth was bleeding......Troy was not home, so I got to do the honors! All it took was a little tug and it was out - Grace was so brave and so excited that she lost her first tooth! The tooth fairy doesn't come to our house on Sunday's so last night, she put it on her bedstand and when she woke up this morning, there was a $2 bill there....Grace was so excited and now you can find her trying to wiggle her other teeth to loosen them up so the tooth fairy can strike again......

It's a.......

BOY!!!!! Grace, Carson and Chloe are having a little brother and are SOOOO excited! We had a great time at the gender check this morning! We took Grace, Carson and our darling niece Landri with us and they had fun telling me that their little brother looks like an "alien".....Everything looked great on the ultrasound, and the baby is measuring a little farther along than my due date of February 4, 2010.....so chances are pretty good that he will be born the end of January 2010! Check out our latest baby blog accessory to the right - kinda fun to have the baby countdown :)

Grace's 1st Day of Kindergarten!

Today, was Grace's 1st day of Kindergarten! Wow, this day has been a day Grace has looked forward to for SO long, we have driven by her school endless times, with the her always asking how many more days until she gets to go. This morning, the whole family walked her to the bus-stop, and then we followed her to school to make sure she knew where to go. I have been so excited for her and didn't think I would be sad, but to be honest, when she walked through those big doors to school I got a little teary. We are so proud of you Grace, and know that Kindergarten will be full of fun, learning and the beginning of friendships that will last for years to come. Here are a few pic's of her big first day:

All set for her 1st big day!

At the bus-stop!

Hangin' out with some of her pals!

With her friend that helped her on the bus and find her class!

Only 17 kids at this bus-stop (and there is 1 other stop on our street)......

Here comes the bus!

We love you Grace!