Happy Halloween

I wish you could see this top one a little bit closer, it is just amazing!

Isn't my mom amazing. The previous three halloween hangings were made by my mom. We have so much fun picking out fabrics and scary halloween faces. I love having my mom's handiwork on my walls.

Our Halloween family. Grace was a butterfly, Tyler a knight, Charlotte a lobster, and I was a seagull. The seagull costume was once used in the days of 47 parade in SLC. Tyler was a knight with all the gear, but by the end of trick-or-treating he didn't have is sword or is shield.

Charlotte and her favorite auntie.

Hats and Spiders

Tyler is so great! He is all boy now. He loves hats, which I see as a blessing since he is a red head with fair skin and freckles. So, all summer long he wore a hat and it was great not to have to worry about the sun as much. He has 2 hats now and you almost will never see him without one on. The one in this picture is a monster hat or reptile hat that has eyes. Just perfect for him.

Seeing spiders around this holiday season reminded me of Tyler last Spring. Tyler thought that anything like a piece of thread or a small dark feather on the ground was a spider. We had more entertainment with trying to scare him with a piece of fuzz. He would be very wary of it, not want to get near it, or just try jumping and stepping on it over and over again. Then we would blow the fuzz toward him and he would flip out again. Mind you he never cried or anything, it was just kind of silly.
Now we have a large fake spider for Halloween, and though he knows it is fake I can still get him jumping away from it.

Bike Riding

Last April Grace got a bike for her birthday and immediately became an expert. We don't have a great driveway or backyard for riding bikes, but with help I can take her on a good bike ride along the golfcourse where there is a really wide sidewalk and flat. A little while ago we went out so Grace could ride. She was showing her pro abilities: swirving along back and forth, no hands, and no legs, and riding while standing up. We were coming up on some people that were also walking in the same direction, but slower. Grace was quite a ways ahead of us, so it was hard to get her attention. She slowed down and was just kind of biding her time, when all of the sudden we hear her bike bell ring, "ding".... and she's off it got the attention of the people, who then of course moved over. She then bent down in cruising mode, and passed right on by, without even waving. I guess she's been in a car enough to know the rules of driving! Gotta love her!

May the force be with you

So, we just let our kids watch Star Wars for the first time, I don't know if I'm okay with this, still. Anyway, the other morning we woke up to lots of rain and then looked out our window to find that we were in a big cloud. Grace went up to the window and with her hands held up she tried to push the clouds away with her mind, and then said, "oh, it didn't work". She was trying to use the force, I got a kick out of that! I guess we might have to get a light saber for Tyler for Christmas. I was just laughing and remembering that I used to think that it was a light saver. Then Jeremy said, "Well, at least you didn't always think that line dancing was "lion dancing". Yeah, Jeff at least I didn't!

Charlotte age 4 months

We can't believe that Charlotte is 4 1/2 months old. She is cute as ever, her hair is starting to lie down, much to my brother Michael's dismay. She smiles all the time and really loves her mama! Noone, including Jeremy has quite the touch as I do. She'll be screaming for someone and then will see me and smile amidst the tears. And then once I hold her she is fine. Sometimes this is annoying seeing as I can't get as much help with her if she doesn't want anyone else. She still is as red as ever, as you can see in the pics. She is almost sitting up and I have started feeding her rice cereal, although she doesn't like it yet. I just had to show you a cute picture of her, because she makes us smile!

Mom of the Year

Well, so I had to tell you all that I got the Mom of the Year Award. I got it because one day I was outside in our backyard with the kids. You see, we have sweet pea, the flower/plant growing in our yard and I noticed that there were real peas on the vine. Hey, kids come over and let's try the peas to see if they're any good. They weren't that great, but tasted like a pea. The kids thought they were great! Jeremy got home and found out what we were doing. Did you see if they're poisonous before eating them, he asked. Well, not but they're just peas. Jeremy stormed into the house to google. I sheepishly went inside to see if Jeremy found anything. Yep, the entire plant is toxic to humans, it can cause paralysis and lots of other things in large quantities. No, none of us got sick, but I learned my lesson! So, please, noone eat sweet pea, it may be tempting, but not worth it!

I am coaching the Young Women's Volleyball team this year for their short season! To all that know my real skill in Volleyball, they don't pick coaches to try to get the team to win, they pick coaches that are cute, really energetic and fun! So, I of course had to be the top pick! The girls are great and pretty good! our team name, the snaps. Go Snaps!

I'm out!

Summer Lovin

The craziness of having 3 kids is all around us, the summer is now behind us, so here are some pics to share some highlights from our summer.

Charlotte 3 months old














Grace and Clara with Sleeping Beauty Disneyland

















Grandparents with the grandkids






























Charlotte with cousin Claire they were a week apart.

our new home in Bountiful, UT

Can't get better than Alta and Cecret Lake

Rodeo with Papa Larry

THe kids were awesome on the horses

Yes, they still have this drinking fountain at the zoo

Jeff and Kelly's wedding

Grace climbing, she's pretty high

Charlotte Louise Has Arrived!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of a healthy, beautiful girl. Charlotte Louise arrived on May 21st at 1:52 P.M. weighing 7 lbs. 0 oz. and 20" long. Mary Kathryn was induced one day after her due date. Her labor was a speedy 2 hours and fifty-two minutes! Mother and baby are doing great! Thanks for all of your love and prayers on their behalf.

Charlotte sucking her finger/s

Blessings!

Goodbye to our wonderful home in Charlottesville!

Wahoo!!!! We sold our house! I can't believe it. 3 weeks on the market and it's done! This is very remarkable in this market right now. So, the only answer is that of divine intervention. An answer to lots of prayers and a little hard work. Thank goodness I don't have to keep the house sparkling anymore, now on to packing. We are out of here in 2 weeks. I can't believe that our life here in Charlottesville is coming to an end. I'm very sad at having to move from this beautiful city and all out wonderful family and friends here. But, we are excited for our new adventures in Utah and to be with family there!

Things That Make You Smile!

A couple of morning ago we were sitting at breakfast and just randomly Grace says, "Mama, this is a lovely house." Who knows where she got the word lovely, but it made me smile.

We were at Sears just walking through the kids clothes and Grace, who is very excited that we're having a baby girl, started picking out baby girl clothes for her little sister and told me we needed to by these things for the new baby sister. I can't believe she is so concerned about this new baby. I don't think we're going to have reenactments of Grace beating up Tyler with this new bundle.

Tyler just always makes us smile! He loves balls, and cars and anything boy. He runs after Grace all day long wanting to do exactly what she is doing. Right now Tyler loves to pretend to snore when he is pretend sleeping.

Grace got a ballerina outfit with shoes from Nana this week. Ever since, if we are in the house she is in this outfit spinning and dancing. I had to talk her into wearing her ballerina pajamas instead of the real leotard, only after much discussion! I think I do love having a little princess!

We are crossing our fingers for an offer on our home now that it is finally listed online. We had someone come yesterday and then they returned today to look at the home again! I would love not to have to keep the house sparkling clean for the next month!

UTAH SNOW here we come!

Our gymnist and her outfit for Christmas!

Santa hat craft

Caroline is a great cousin!

Tyler didn't really like Santa

Grace loved Santa!

Our pretty girl!

Fun at the circus!

It's official, we are moving to Utah. It has been quite the rollercoaster trying to find a job over the last 8 months. We actually found a job in Utah, which I didn't think would ever happen. We move the end of February, just in time to get settled for the baby in May. IT'S A GIRL! We also found out this week that we're having a girl, another Grace running around is just irresistible to us. So, for the next 6 weeks I have to keep the house super clean, pack, and do everything that is involved in moving. Good luck to me! Good luck to our house as it tries to be sold! Above are fun pics from Christmas and the month of December!