Senior pictures

 Last summer when Michelle F. took our family pictures, we took some individuals of Kyle.  They turned out great, so his Senior pictures are done.  I will enlarge my favorites.

 Look at that cute smile.  He has a sparkle in his eyes.

Annalisa's Mission Call

Annalisa has always wanted to go on a mission.  She is young for her age, so she turned 19 after her first year in college on June 19, 2015.  She was wanting to get her papers in right away, but had the impression that this wasn't the right time.  So, sadly she waited.  She continued to live her life,  worked for the summer at Sunnyside Gardens, went to BYUI and chose a major.  Then all of a sudden she started to feel like now was the right time.  So she started working on her papers.  She got them in about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  We were hoping that she would get her call this week, but no letter on Thursday or Friday, so we kind of gave up on it.  Then late Saturday night she called and said that she was holding the big white envelope that has the return address as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  She was giddy and wanted to open it so bad, but had decided to wait until family and friends could assemble.  We got to her apartment  after stake conference at about 12:45 pm.  As soon as everyone was ready, she opened her call.  She is going to Carlsbad, California, english speaking.  She is leaving on February 10th, which is the day that Katelyn is coming home.  This could be interesting.  The main thing is that Annalisa is sooooooooo happy.  It's nice to know what the plan is for you.  Now she knows.  She will be a great missionary!

 

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

So today, Nat and Olivia came home so excited because of the snow.  Nat immediately asked to go sledding.  Olivia wanted to build a snowman.  They ran outside and the snow was perfect, wet and sticky.  they got that snowman up pretty fast, requested a carrot and looked for branches for the arms.  Livvy went to find some rocks and Nat was looking for a hat and scarf.  Then they just played.  I saw Olivia who had made a snow chair just sitting there in her chair with her head back feeling the snowflakes hit her face.  It makes me so happy to have kids playing outside and being kids.

  It especially means a lot to me because this kind of stuff is winding down.  With Natalie 12 and Olivia 9, I know it will go too fast. I like to appreciate these last childhood moments.  It's not like they can't grow up, but I still love to see the kid in them loving the fun things in life.

Halloween Fun

 

Sometimes I feel like a kid when it comes to certain times of year.  I am very nostalgic and love traditions.  I think kids can be sticklers when it comes to tradition and I understand.  Every tradition is filled with experiences and memories of the past as well as the experience you are having at that moment.  So here are my moments tonight.  We had an early dinner and  Natalie offered to make pancakes with orange food coloring and make them into pumpkins with chocolate chips.

I know she nailed it!  Haha.  The good ones got eaten.




Nat and her friend decided to wear animal footy pajamas instead of their princess costumes for trick or treating for warmth.




 Nat asked me to paint a rabbit face. Olivia wore her same Little Red Riding Hood costume.

This is all the regular stuff, so why am I feeling so excited.  All I'm doing is giving candy and seeing all the darling kids in the neighborhood come with their cute costumes and I want to give them anything they want.  I have to take Kristen to a friends and I'm almost panicking that I will miss someone.  It's so silly.

 Kristen who was gone when we carved pumpkins so she decided to do a quick Captain America because you gotta carve a pumpkin.  Then I keep relighting them.  Why do I feel compelled to keep the magic.  Normally Jeff goes out with the kids, but he is in Utah, so he is  missing his thing that he likes to do.






So now my kids are downstairs sorting their candy and I am loving this fun night.




Sometimes people think that Halloween is all about having the best costume or getting tons of candy, but here are a few things that I love that just happen to be connected to Halloween.



1.  It's a time to look forward to something.  Kids think about what they will be and how fun it will be to wear that costume.  Then parents buy or create  that costume, using their talents and do something with their children.
2. You plan a night with your family carving pumpkins, eating pumpkin seeds and enjoying each others company.  Each kid picks what pattern is most like them.
3.  On the night of Halloween, magic fills the air as pumpkins are lit and neighbors hold their kids back until it is time.
4. The neighborhood comes together going door to door.
5.  I love seeing what each kid has chosen and see their parents making a memory with their kids.

For my kids their memories of Halloween are full of fun.   Can you see why I get a little thrill on the night of Halloween.

Last Day of Fall

So this fall as been amazingly mild, beautiful and enjoyable. One of my favorite things that has not happened before that I can remember is that my summer flowers have bloomed and bloomed.  I have loved having the fall colors with my flowers and have appreciated every minute.  Well this week the weather changed and my geraniums died and the others are going next.  This feels more like the Idaho Fall I remember on Halloween week.  So the kids went out with the neighbors and had one more fun day raking leaves, throwing leaves and playing outside.  I'm so glad that they took advantage of it.

Backyard Party

Our first college party occurred in June for Anna's birthday.  We played volleyball and had a fire with birthday cake.  It was fun!  Anna shared her birthday with her roommate Becca and a neighbor from Royal Crest.   

Week of the Fourth of July

I had just finished youth conference and we started off another fun week with the Christensen kids and a water balloon fight.  Sadly I actually pulled my back out on this one.  That is the first time that has happened. The fight was still fun and is also a tradition. 

 

 

We had a  birthday party for Nathan, Annalisa, Olivia, Michael and Sydney at Michael and Stephanie's place.

On the Fourth of July we started out with the parade.  This is our panoramic picture. See how I have about 6 legs. Then we took a picture of Mom with Jay Hildebrandt in the background.  He is a newscaster.  Nathan was in the parade for the Robotics Club.Erin also got a hug from a creepy character at Jeff's request.  It's traditon.

 

Kate Courley Park for a picnic and Ultimate Frisbee.

 

  Then we went to the Oklahoma Jones' for some good, clean fun.  We had the cherry seed spitting contest.  It is harder than you think.  I am remembering that  Michael got his the furthest.  I could have been the shortest. I am a bad spitter and proud of it.

  Next the harmless water balloon toss.

 that turned into a full on knock down, drag out, water balloon fight.  You have to know something about the Jones boys.  As sweet as they are, they never surrender and never give up.  I am serious.

 

The Water balloon Launch

Then on to Grammie's for the Dinner/ Barbecue.  It was a beautiful day and everyone was a little bit sunburned.

 

We had a delicious dinner,

 with homemade root beer,

 great company,

 Fourth of July hair,

 

sister time,

 

more Fourth of July hair,

 face painting,

 

and last but not least,  the fireworks.