New Pics

So I finally braved it, and got the kids in for pictures. You probably can't tell, but Brenna was crying most of the time. She wouldn't smile in the group shot for anything. So we settled for a picture that didn't have a huge scowl. =) The boys were awesome and help up well. Near the end when the photographer was really trying hard to coax a smile out of Brenna, Ryan had a locked smile on his face, and through clenched teeth said, ever so politely, "Just take the picture."

My mother-in-law took the boys for a stroll through the mall so I could work on Brenna's singles. Wouldn't you know, as soon as I got her naked she was happy as a bug. So we'd take her picture in one outfit then I strip her down and let her chill for a minute before dressing her again. That would give me 3 minutes before she'd cloud up. I was so glad when that day was done!

This is the dress that we blessed Brenna in. It's also the dress that I was blessed in. Sweet, huh?

Thanksgiving food

This is mostly a reminder for me so I remember what foods I made and how much work it was! haha Well, it wasn't that bad. =)









Great-Grandma Helen
Aunt Marta did a great job on the napkins. =)






Here's my clean up crew.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So before I crash for the day, just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thankgiving and let you all know how grateful I am for your friendships!

I pulled off my first Thanksgiving today for 12 people (yes, I did include Brenna). I had some great help from my mom (thanks, mom, otherwise we would have had a lot of COLD sides). I don't know how people do it without more than one stove or by themselves and keep all the food hot! But nothing burned, it all tasted yummy, and my fridge is bulging from leftovers. Which mean: let's go out to eat tomorrow!

ps good luck to any of you 5 am shoppers and remember: I got here first, saw it first, so hand the toy over! j/k

Leap Frog What?

I'm looking into getting Ryan a Leap Frog Learning System for Christmas but I'm so confused. There's seams to be a Leap Frog Pad, a Pad Plus, a Pad Writing, a Leapster, etc. Does anyone know anything about these and what would be best for a 4 year old?

Plus I just read on CNN that they are recalling AquaDots! I'm so sad since I had gotten them for Ryan for Christmas. Oh, well, back to Costco.

Say what??!

So Ryan has come up with a bunch of interesting topics today....

We're driving in the car, when Ryan asks:

"Mom, can I eat people?"

"No!"

"Even if they are a stranger?"

"Of course not!"

"What if someone takes me and Kevin away and we bite him so hard that we accidentally bite him in half. THEN, can we eat him?" (I've told Ryan to scream and bite if someone tries to grab them)

I then proceeded to try to explain how people meat isn't good for us and how we should respect our bodies that Heavenly Father has given us. That led to talking about funerals, since Ryan had to know what we would do with the body once he had bitten it in half. Which in turn led to talking a bit about death and how it wouldn't happen to him or me for a very, very, very, very-times -3000-days-long time. Which then led to this statement:

"Mom, the day before you die, you will die tomorrow."

"Umm, yes."

Birthday Week

So I had my "birthday week" this week and it was awesome. The birthday week idea is from my sister-in-law Jamie. She is all about stretching the fun out. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried pushing for the "birthday month." Well, I'm now 27 and still feeling like I'm way too young to have a 4 year old and 3 kids. I am just babysitting, right?

Saturday was great. A day that's pretty tough to top. I had a massage in the morning and a hair cut in the afternoon. Nothing drastic, just a trim and lots of layers added. But I bought my first round brush and after 1 1/2 hours on Sunday trying to recreate the proper look I have to give props to all of you out there that know how to use one. I actually scratched my face with the darn bristles and worn my arm out. My other sister-in-law Trisha has promised to give me lessons.

Then to top off the day, I went to Costco sans kids! Seriously, as a lot of you know, I LOVE COSTCO!!!! If you ever come to our house you'll see that our house is made from Costco. And they have the BEST return policy (that's for you Asialene). So I got to browse the isles without chasing down kids or hearing my sweet hunny asking if "we're done yet." And I got out of there under $100. (My secret fantasy is to go to Costco some day and spend $10,000. Trust me, I could do it.)

Halloween Party

Roxy threw a surprise birthday party for her hubby, Steve. It was a lot of fun since they rented out a bowling alley. There was yummy chow and games. We were supposed to dress up. I was going to but Jeff said he wasn't. So I just had the kids wear their stuff. Then as we are walking out the door, Jeff grabs his 7-Eleven costume and teases me about not being dressed up. Auuggghhh!!
Me and my sister, Ciara.















Kevin is a rooster and Ryan is an ER doctor. At least they were for about 2 minutes at the party before the costumes came off.


Ryan loves to play doctor so I figured it would be a great investment as a Halloween costume. Here, Brenna is getting her checkup and received a clean bill of health.