Pumpkins on Parade

Every year, the kids' school does "Pumpkins on Parade".  That is where all the students bring in the pumpkins they carved or painted.  Then, the night before Halloween, everyone goes to the school to see the pumpkins and then to eat pumpkin pie.  To my surprise last year, Dallin INHALED his piece of pie - and this year was no different.  Matthew loved the pie as well.  This is something my kids look forward to every year!

Pre-school Halloween Trick-o-Treating

Gavin had so much fun at pre-school yesterday.  They all got to dress up (which made him very happy - he LOVES being Buzz) for school and have a party.  Then at the end they got to go trick-o-treating to all the mom's in front of pre-school.  I'm not sure who was more excited though - the kids or the moms!

Hair Cut for Brecken - YEAH!

Brecken really needed a hair cut.  It was suppose to get cut last week but he was too sick.  So, my wonderful friend (Dani) who is fabulous at doing hair was kind enough to come over to my house (she does not normally do house calls) to cut it (so I didn't have to drag 3 kids over to her house).  Brecken held really still but was NOT happy about it - those are real tears.  Poor little guy!  But he looks SOOOOOOO much better now!  Thanks Dani!  I owe you!

Pumpkin Brownie Pops

These really are cute in real life - and they are super yummy!  Enjoy!

In Need of Quick Dinner Ideas - HELP!

I am trying to be better about cooking dinner every night - but it is hard with Ed out of town or working late (he rarely is able to be home in time to eat dinner with us - it doesn't help that the kids are starving around 5:30 or 6).  Anyway, I am good about cooking on Sunday but I really want to be better about cooking every night (okay, most nights).  But I also need them to be pretty simple since my kids are extremely picky eaters (that is probably because I am a very picky eater too).  Anyway, I would LOVE any ideas that you guys have and/or recipes.  I would love to know what you guys cook for dinner during a "normal" week.  Thanks!

Gavin - so hungry!

The other day, Gavin was telling me he was hungry.  I was in the middle of doing something so I told him to wait a minute.  When I turned around, I saw him with everything from a whole shelf in the frig on the table and him digging in.  He said, 

"Mom, I hungry as the whole world!"

I guess I need to feed him more!

Chicken Parmesan & Fettuccine Alfredo Recipes

Here are 2 recipes that my family really like (okay - most of them, but even Dallin was okay with most of it).  Matthew had 3 helpings of the fettuccine on Sunday.  Anyway, I just wanted to share.  They are both really simple and don't take much time to make.  I hope you like them!

Disneyland!!!!!!

Yes, with 17 scrapbook pages, I know it is hard to believe we were only at Disneyland for 2 days.  But, that is it (aren't you glad we weren't there longer - imagine how many pages I would have then?).  Anyway, it was a fabulous, fast trip - I am so glad we went!  And I am especially glad we went when my mom (Gram) was out of school for her fall break - Disneyland with 4 kids 7, 5, 3, and 1, would have been way too hard without her help (especially since Gavin got croup and was sick the second day there - my mom and I walked around the park getting fast passes for the 3 big boys and pushing the 2 little ones in strollers).  Plus, it was fun to spend time with her.  All in all, even with a sick 3 year old, it was a GREAT trip!

Itty Bitty Football

Gavin loved playing Itty Bitty Football - he missed 2 times because we were at Disneyland, and he missed one because he was sick.  But he did get to go half of the times and it was worth it.  He had a great time!

Croup - Not Going Away

Brecken scared me yesterday - he thought it would be fun to not be able to breathe.  He had had a rough day - wanting to be held but wanting down - just not happy.  By the afternoon, he was wheezing and hurting with every breathe (and cried non-stop for 30 minutes and it didn't matter what I did).  We tried the hot shower, steam thing (not cold enough outside) but that did no good.  So, I called the doctor and said we were coming in.  Then called my cute little neighbor and she came over to babysit the big 3.  When we got to the doctors (which luckily is about 3 minutes away), they took us straight back to the doctor and he immediately gave Brecken a breathing treatment - which was me holding a mask over his face for 5-8 minutes.  Let's just say Brecken did NOT enjoy it.  But he was a MILLION times better afterwards - he could actually breathe and seemed to be more himself!  They also gave him another shot.  Today he is better - I did have to sit in front of an open window with him early this morning (it definitely was cold enough) for about 45 minutes - but it helped.  And so far today he is still breathing!  He doesn't go far from me - we have cuddled a lot (which is NOT Brecken) - but he is taking a nap (at least for a few minutes) and seems to be okay.

You've Got to Be Kidding - Brecken has Croup!

My cute little guy has croup - no, not Matthew - Brecken.  That means 3 of my 4 boys have had croup in the last month (Gavin got croup at Disneyland - which I hope to be done blogging tomorrow).  Anyway, it has been a long day for Brecken - I hope it isn't too long of a night.  But again, there are way worse things (but my little boy not breathing is definitely up there).

Student of the Week - Dallin

Dallin is student of the week this week in his class & I was suppose to make a poster about him - so here it is.  I took the 3 12x12 pages, printed them at Costco, and put them together as one long poster.  I think it turned out to be pretty cute.

Barnyard Boo!

I must say I am very proud of myself - I rarely take all 4 boys anywhere by myself (way too hard to keep track of 4 little kids) but last Saturday, when Ed was at Bear Lake with his brothers, I took all 4 boys to Barnyard Boo at Thanksgiving Point, ALL BY MYSELF!  Usually if I do something like that, I at least go with a friend.  But it turned out great.  It is a small enough place, and close to home, that it was great.  The boys were all very good and had a great time.  I guess I need to be more brave and do more with my boys!

Painting Pumpkins

It has been a busy few weeks at our house.  I think we have done more in the last 2 weeks than in the last couple of months.  

Screaming Brecken

The other day, when we were eating dinner, Brecken was being his normal self and screaming (not always a mad scream - more of a look at me scream).  Matthew said,

"Maybe Brecken, we can change his name into SCREAMER!"

Sad but so so true!  

P.S. He is not screaming in this picture.

More Fall Fun - the Witches at Gardner's Village

This week is UEA here (i.e. the kids don't have school for a couple of days).   So, Carol, Angie & I took all 10 of our kids (7 & under) to see the witches at Gardner's Village.  There were tons of people but we had fun walking around & finding the witches - all the little girls decorated witches hats and my boys got their cheeks painted.  The whole way home, Gavin kept asking me if his spider was still there.  He was pretty sad the next morning when it was mostly gone.

Fall Fun at Corn Belly's

Every year, in the Fall, we take the boys to Corn Belly's.  There is so much to do there and the boys LOVE it- cow train rides, corn mazes, pumpkin patch, hay rides, food, pig races, corn box, slides, and more!  We went Wednesday right after school - Ed had been out of town and flew in just in time to go (YEAH) - and we got there right when it was opening and left right as all the teenagers were showing up.  

Brecken's Birthday

I can't believe it - my little guy is a year old!  His birthday was last week - and I am finally posting about it.  We had some of our friends over for cake and ice cream (some couldn't come) and some fun Mickey Mouse shaped brownie pops (cuter in person).  It is always fun to watch the little ones destroy their birthday cake (I made Brecken his own little one) - but Brecken was not happy to be in his high chair and just wasn't happy until we let him down and he got his presents.  He is a silly little guy - and we are so glad he is in our family!

Quick & Easy Rolls

This is a recipe I got from my friend Paulette.  These rolls are pretty yummy without taking too long (I like the crescent looking rolls better but they take a lot more time to make).  I made them today for dinner since I didn't have much time - and my kids love them!  So, for quick and yummy rolls - this is a great recipe (and so easy).

What happened to Fall?

We got back late last night from a FABULOUS (and quick) trip to California (I will write lots more about that soon) and the weather was a little different than when we left.  When we left, it was shorts weather and the AC was still coming on 

some.  

Not the case last night or this morning.  It was only 57 degrees in our house when we got home last night - and this morning there is snow on the ground.  What happened to FALL!!!!!