Happy, Happy Halloween 2010!

 For Story Time at the Library this last week they had a Halloween Walk Trick or Treat through the City Building that is next door.  Aidan was estatic about getting to dress up in his costume and getting to go Trick or Treating.  He has been so excited about Halloween and all the decorations and festivities.  It's been so fun to see he so excited about it all!  He had a great time and had all the candy eaten with in an hour of getting home.  Can we say huge sugar high!

 Carving pumpkins!  The Boys did most of the carving and cleaning out themselves with us just supervising this year.  They did such a great job!  They even came up with their own drawings for what kindof faces they wanted on their pumpkins.  We had lots of fun and even yummy roasted pumpkin seeds at the end.  They love this part of Halloween and get crazy excited about carving their pumpkins into scary Jack o Lanterns!

 We are the only ones in Vernal with such a cool lighted Pumpkin for decoration in our yard.  This cool pumpkin came from my Aunt and Uncle who put on the Christmas Light Park at Willard Bay every year.  I love putting this cute pumpkin out each year because the Boys love it and it's pretty unique compared to all the other yards in and out of town.

 Meet Mario!.....

 And Luigi!

 I have to say we had the cutest, coolest Mario and Luigi this year!  The Boys and their Dad picked Mario and Luigi as their costumes and lets just say it got pretty tricky to find costume pieces like the right color hats and gloves and even shirts and overalls.  Mom and Aidan spent a lot of time driving around town from store to store to get all the pieces.  I was getting scared we weren't going to pull it off.  I didn't want to just go pay $20 for a cheap crappy costume they wouldn't ever wear again so we decided to get creative and make our own again this year.  It was worth all the stress and running around and searching the internet to find everything.  Better yet everything they can wear and use again and again....for a very long time until they get our moneys worth out it. 

Happy Family!  We had a lot of fun festivities going on for Halloween.  We started out our day with going to the walking park and collecting leaves and running around to get some energy out.  Then we came home and the Boys played at our little playground for awhile why I cleaned up the house a bit and made some lunch for them.  Then we started getting ready and all costumed up.  Nate took the Boys around our neighborhood before we went to the Church and had a Chili dinner and Trunk or Treat with 2 other wards that go to our building.  Then we came home and finished the night off with Pumpkin Ice Cream and a lot of candy overload and a spooky movie.  It was a ton of fun and excitement!  Great memories made.  I have to say my cute little Mario and Luigi were the most unique we saw all night so we are pleased with the results!  I love my Boys all 3 of them!  Thanks for making it a Happy Halloween!  I hope you all had a great night too!

Fall Outings!

Here are some fun things we've been doing this Fall.

 We love to go up the Canyon and picnic.  We try to get up there at least once to see the leaves before they fall.

 Here are my little Indians/Cowboys/Soliders.  Corbin and Aidan love to run around out in the open and use their great imaginations to come up with fun games to play.  They play so well together!  I love to just watch them and see what they are up to next!  They usually have Nate and I involved before they are done.

 Here we are on our imaginary boat.  It's actually an octagon shaped boat dock that has benches and places to fish off of.  To our Boys it's always a boat of somesort.  And yes, Piper got lucky and was invited along on this trip.  She loves to get out too.  So we try to take her places we can let her out to run and get all her energy out.

 We had an opportunity to go to some Monster truck races and the Boys loved it.  (not the best picture of Aidan.  I think I caught them a bit by surprise.)  The Boys loved it and were screaming and being crazy.  Their favorite was probably the Transformer Trucks at the end it was a pretty big production.  I was loving every minute of it because it reminded me of many fun outings with my family as a child to go see Monster Trucks or Drag Racing.  There is just a thrill and excitement that is there when at these kind of events.  Thanks Nate for getting us free tickets...it was a blast!

 More Trucks and some racing.  These were for my Dad and my Family...all night I thought about how my Family would have enjoyed being there to enjoy the show.

 For a Primary Activity recently we made doggie bed out of pillowcases and fleece strips.  We let all the Kids color their own pillowcase then let them stuff it and sewed off the opening.  We made over 60 doggie beds for the local Animal Hospital.  They all had a great time and it was a great easy project for them to do.

 Vegetable Creations!  Every year Corbin's school does Vegetable Creations and they have to write a story about their Creation.  Corbin loves it and so does Aidan even if he doesn't get to take his to school.  All the Creations are on display at the School for the day for all the families to come and see.  I like to get rid of a few extra veggies before they rot so it works out great!  This year we had Super Hero Romainan Cucumbers.

 So I got the blessing of teaching Aidan's Primary class a few weeks ago since we were out a few Teachers and had used up all our Substitutes.  I had about 2 hours before Church started to come up with the lesson.  Luckly it was on an easy subject "Being a Good Example".  So I made little star headbands for the class to color and it said "I can be a Good Example" around the band.  The Kids loved them, what Sunbeam doesn't love to wear a headband that draws them tons of attention.  Well Corbin saw my extras when I got home and wanted in on it too.  So I let him make his own and he wore it all the rest of the day.  When I went in to turn off their pumpkin lights after they had went to bed this is what I found.  Corbin was so proud of his headband he had gotten up and put it back on and fell asleep in it.  Too Cute!

Here's my Aidan...I mean my "Itsy Bitsy scary Spider Boy".  We often go to Story Time at the local Library and while there they always do a fun craft that the Kids just love.  A few weeks ago this is what they made since Halloween was coming up.  We love Story Time and Miss Julie is so cute and good with the kids.  She remembers their names and does a song and dance or stretching exercises with them as well as reads them several books on a different subject each week.  Then they finish with a craft that goes with the Theme of the week.  It's a nice outing out for both Aidan and I and I like to sit and watch him being so interactive and so excited about everything.

Corbin's New Adventure.

Corbin has taken up a new interest...Rock Climbing.  He loves it!  It came as no surprise that he kind of has a knack for it.  We have taken him and Aidan twice now and Corbin has asked us everyday since if he can go to the Rec. Center and try it again.  It's a good way for him to get all his energy out and it's free with our membership to the Rec. Center so we can't lose with that.  Maybe Nate and I will get brave enough to try it...maybe.  Actually I would love to try it because it's always intrigued me but I'm afraid of how stupid I'm going to look when halfway up the wall I get stuck and can't get up or down.  At least it will be something to laugh at, right? 

Here is Aidan trying it for the first time.  He did really well.  He climbed about a third of the way up and froze.  The Instructor and I tried to help him to keep going up and then tried to help him go back down, but he wasn't telling us what he wanted or what was wrong.   He was just frozen on the wall.  So I went over and put my arm around his waist and he burst into tears and fell into my arm.  I was so sad for him.  I think it scared him somehow because that's all we got out of him was that it was scary.  And now he has no interest in trying to climb the wall again.  So when Corbin climbs, Aidan goes up and slides down the spiral slide at the top of the rock wall and shares a treat or pop from the vending machines with Me.

And here is tooth #2 pulled out by Mom.  I may not be as good at pulling teeth as Grandpa but after a few tries we got it and I redeemed myself.  I can't believe I was brave enough to do it.  It made me squeamish at first and then Nate gave it a try and nothing happened.  So I tried one more time and out it came.  Corbin loves the Tooth Fairy and is already working on the next tooth just in case it's wiggly.  He's too funny!  He lets them get so wiggly he could pop them out himself if anyone could get a hold of those tiny little buggers.  But he likes the idea of having someone pull it out with the string.  They come out way easy as soon as we can get the string to stay tight around those small little teeth.  Funny thing is Corbin lets them get so wiggly that by the time they come out the next one breaks through the gum with in 48 hours.  So he won't have holes for very long.

Here's Aidan all grins and smiles!  He is proud to have all his teeth still in his mouth.  Though he is curious about the Tooth Fairy.  He likes to pull funny faces and is always trying out a new smile when I ask him to look at the camera for a picture.  What a cute funny Boy!

I Love My Boys!  They are so fun and cute and make each day so exciting and fun!

Back to School!

Here comes 1st Grade, Yikes!  As you can see Corbin is excited for School and couldn't wait to get to school on the first day which was last Wednesday.  I had to ask him to get out of the car so I could get a picture of him before we took him to school.  I, on the other hand was not too excited about school starting.  It seemed to come way to fast this year and it still feels like we should have a few more weeks of Summer.  Even though we were all ready by Wednesday it still felt like total craziness and like we were not prepared.  I still can't believe I have a 1st grader.  I think my Kids are growing up way to fast.  Something kind of funny was that on the first day of school, Corbin decided that he had all the sudden become all grown up.  He went into the Bathroom to brush his teeth and declared that he no longer needed to use the step stool to stand on to brush his teeth and do his hair because he was a bigger Kid now since he was going to 1st grade and he could reach without it..  All morning he was declaring that he was bigger and didn't need this or could do this now.  We had a few good laughs through out the morning.

Check out this huge back pack.  Where did Corbin go?  Corbin saw this backpack back when the
"How to Train Your Dragon" movie came out in theaters and wanted it so bad.  So I told him he could get it if he hung it in his closet till school started.  He still loves it even after sitting in the closet for several months.  There is a detachable lunch box on the front and he has been asking everyday if I will make him cold lunch so he can use it.  I think I've got him convinced to wait till next week when we have a better idea of the lunch schedule to see what days he might want to really start taking cold lunch. 

Anyway here we go another school year.  After 3 days of it so far it looks like it might be a better year than last.  I sure hope so!  Corbin has a good Teacher that has come highly recommended by other parents.  That should help and Corbin really does seem a bit more mature this year so I hope that helps too.  Wish us all luck that we may get through this year and it be a positive one!  Good luck to all you that have started or our starting next week!

Wow! 12 years and counting...

It all started 12 years ago when...

one boy and...

one girl...

fell in love and were married!

And here we are now 12 years later...very happy and with two amazing little Boys that we love to pieces! 
Nate and I just celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary.  We took a two day trip to SLC and had 2 wonderful days together hanging out going to the Temple and eating good food that we don't get to indulge in often.  First night we went to an awesome sushi place called Simply Sushi and the next night we dug into crab at Joe's Crab Shack.  Yummy! 
Happy Anniversary, Nate!  I love you!!!

Summer Fun at our House!

Our Summer started with lots and lots of Dandelion Bouquets.  I loved every one of them.  When Aidan was done picking our yard clean he went and found tons at the park next door.  Aidan would bring me in a handful at a time to put in water.  As soon as those ones died he'd bring me in a new handful.  It was too cute, especially when he smelled them declaring that they were "bootiful flowers" and ended up with a yellow dot on the end of his nose.  I don't think I will ever get enough Dandelion bouquets.

We had a Family Reunion at Seven Peaks with my extended family.  It was a blast!  Aidan loves, loves, loves snow cones and Icee's.  He won't stop until it's all gone.

My little Seal!  Corbin loves the water and loves to show off and try any trick he can think of.  We were laughing all day at what he would try next.

Aidan loves the water too and would stay in it all day if we let him. They finally kicked us out at closing time.

What a fun trip and so much for the Kids to do!  We loved it and loved seeing all of our family too!  Good Times!

Aidan learned to ride his bike this Summer.  Thanks to the help of his brother Corbin.  Corbin took Aidan and pushed him and instructed him on how to pedal his bike all by himself.  A few minutes later Aidan was riding all by himself.  We were very proud parents!  One for Aidan learning to ride by himself and one for Corbin being such a nice big Brother and helping him.  It was very cute to watch and they both did a great job!

Many days were spent playing in the pool in our yard.  My Boys love the water and

know how to throw a good little pool party.

Our first keep out of our Kids bedroom sign.  Only they reversed it and actually let us in once we told them I couldn't come in and help them clean their room or put away their clean laundry if I had to stay out.  Corbin saw the idea on T.V. and had to try it.  He came and asked how to spell some of the words then went to work.  Pretty good work for a Kindergartner.

Camping with Nate's family at Lodge Pole Campground.  The Kids painting crafts.  Corbin made a Helicopter and Aidan made a Snake.  It was a lot of fun and nice vacation good to see Family and the Kids

loved playing with Cousins.

Corbin lost his first Tooth while on Vacation with my Family in Escalante over the 24th of July.  Thanks to Grandpa Haws who helped him by tying a string around it and popping it out.  Corbin's tooth was super, super loose but he wouldn't let anyone touch it to give it the final tug.  So I told him how my Dad(Grandpa) use to pull mine out by tying a string around it.  Corbin was way excited to give it a try so we did.  Once Grandpa got the string around that tiny, tiny tooth it came out with hardly any effort.  Corbin was stunned that it came out so easily but smiling with a little gap in his mouth.  Yes, the Tooth Fairy came to that nervous little Boy that was so afraid the Tooth Fairy was going to take his tooth and not give it back.  And he still has the tooth with the string attached to prove it.

While in Escalante we also went to Bryce Canyon.  It was a beautiful day for awesome views.  Nate

took the Boys and hiked one of the trails.  They were all troopers and it was fun to greet them when

they made it back up to the top.

The Famous Escalante House.  This is the house that my Grandmother Eva Spencer Haws grew up in.  My Grandparents bought the house with my Dad when I was just a little kid.  It was pretty trashed at the time and had graffiti all over inside.  Anyway the stories are pretty neat that come with this house.  My parents own it today and we try to go down and vacation at least once a year or so.

This year we all entered the 24th of July Parade in honor of my Grandparents J.C. and Eva Haws and their

pink and white house.  It was a ton of fun and I think we all enjoyed being in the Parade this year instead of watching from the sidelines.  I hope we do it again just for tradition.

Later that day we went to what is known as the Devil's Garden.  It's a bunch of sandstone rock formations just outside of Escalante.  The rock is a lot of fun to walk around on and climb.  My Boys were getting a bit sick from all the Sun and heat but they didn't let that stop them from having a ball and running around with their Cousins.

Lagoon!  What a fun day!  Yesterday we spent the day as a family at Lagoon.  It's been years since we've been here so it was good to see all the new rides.  We rode most everything as a family.  The only ones that the Boys couldn't go on were the great big coasters like Wicked and the Spider.  So out of the whole park there was really only like 3 or 4 rides that they couldn't get on.  It was great though we just bypassed those and went back to the rest that we could all ride together on.  Nate did go on Wicked and loved it.  Most of the Kiddie rides were just miniatures of the bigger ones.  Like the rocket, tidal wave, music express they had miniatures that were just as fun and we could all go on all the big and little ones.  It was a great day with lots of fun memories made.  The best parts were spending the day together and watching our Kids light up as they were having the time of their life.  Corbin and Aidan were so good and waited well in line when we had too.  I loved it when they giggled or seeing the look of excitement in their face as we were whizzing around on the ride.  We picked a good day to go.  It rained all morning so we didn't get there till the Afternoon, but it cooled everything down and keep a steady breeze the rest of the day and there were less people and fewer lines.  What a great day!