Brecken's 1-year Check-up

Yeah - Brecken was finally healthy enough for his 1-year check-up (just a month late).  I am just glad he is feeling so much better!

Brecken's New Favorite Toy

Brecken LOVES this new toy!  And Ed likes that I didn't buy it.  The Taylor twins were done with it and are letting Brecken use it.  He thinks it is a fabulous toy!  Part of why he likes it I think is because he can "jump" on it (like his bouncer from when he was smaller).  It is so much fun to watch his face light up when he is on it and listen to him SCREAM with joy!

It must be winter!

My boys were so excited to wake-up to several inches of snow today.  They spent a good 15 minutes looking out the window and discussing what was covered with snow.  Then they said they couldn't possibly walk to the school bus in the "blizzard" and that I would need to drive them to school.  I actually agreed.  Of course, after a few more storms, I won't be so willing to drive them - but it was fun to drive them to school (and know they got there safely).

Matthew - my AWESOME helper!

Lately, Matthew has LOVED doing the dishes!  Anytime there are dishes in the sink, he asks if he can wash them.  I sure hope this lasts - I'm sure it won't so I will enjoy it while I can!

Happy Halloween!

Not the cutest pages but it was a fun night.  Amazingly enough, the weather was pretty good! Usually on Halloween it is FREEZING and/or SNOWING.  So, this year when we just got a few sprinkles and it was pretty warm out, we were so happy - except it was too warm for hot chocolate.  The kids have so much more fun trick-or-treating when they aren't freezing to death.

Brecken was so cute as Mickey Mouse (not a lady bug like Tappin said).  He even left his costume on.  I took him out to a few houses (until it started to sprinkle) and then he came home with me to help pass out candy (well, he tried to eat it).  It was so much fun to watch him.  Then, not long after Brecken & I got home, my cute Buzz Lightyear came home (after seeing how much he loved Buzz at Disneyland, I couldn't resist having him be Buzz and not a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) - he couldn't understand why he was going door to door getting candy when we had a HUGE bowl full at home.  And the big 2, lasted for 2 hours with Ed.  They had a fabulous night!

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!