Cherry Pie

Not the Cherry Pie you were thinking....am I right?

This morning I was taking Tanner to preschool and turned on the radio.  Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" was on so we listened to it and I sang along.  I like a little Bon Jovi now and again, but it certainly isn't our usual listening repertoire (and yes, I had to look that word up in the dictionary).  By the time we arrived at school, the song was still playing but I got out to walk Tanner in.  When I came back to the car Bon Jovi was over and Poison's "She's My Cherry Pie" was on.  A bit too much "rock" for my taste, so I turned the station.  Next thing I know Ellie is telling me from the back, "other song Mom, turn it back!"  So I turned it back and we listened until the song was over.  Ellie then said, "That's a good song Mom."

Oh dear.  Should I worry?

She's my Cherry Pie

Halloween weekend

It's no big secret at our house that Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday.  The costume dilema alone is enough to call it quits for me.  Call me Scrooge (or the halloween equivalent) but it's never been my favorite.  Even when I was younger, I didn't really like dressing up and walking around outside in the dark. Sure, I loved getting candy, but it was usually freezing, and I don't like having people jump out of nowhere just to scare me and see my reaction.  

I make weird faces when someone jumps out and scares me.......have I mentioned I'm a bit vain? 

In the neighborhood that I grew up in our neighbor would dress up as the Headless Horseman every year.  We're talking real, authentic looking costume here. Every Halloween night, he would ride his horse around the neighborhood streets. IT WAS TERRIFYING!  Seriously so so soooooo scary!!!!  I always wanted to be done trick-or-treating, home, safe and sound by the time he started doing that. 

So anyway, I'm a bit of a debbie-downer when it comes to Halloween.

BUT, my dear, sweet mom has saved just about all the dance costumes from me and my 3 sisters years of dance!  That's like 15 years worth of costumes!  It is "dress-up heaven" at her house!  The kids inevitably find something amazing to dress up in, and wwwhala! ...instant costumes!  Easy for me and the kids are happy.  2 birds. 1 stone.  This year we have:

Meagan: Joker

Lindsay: Pocahontas

Tanner: Pirate

Ellie: Cheerleader

Kaylee, my niece: Ladybug

 It was rough getting everyone to look and smile at the same time!

My sister Aimee and her family have come up to Morgan the last couple of years to do the Business Trick-or-Treat with my kids.  Its kinda tradition now.  We love having them up!  That was Friday afternoon.  The weather was perfect!  Not even a jacket needed.

Saturday was the 3A State Volleyball Tournament in Orem.  We love our Lady Trojans!  So we went to cheer and support and came home the State Champions!!  Yahoo!  The game got over about 7ish, so we took the kids trick-or-treating to a random neighborhood in Orem.  What nice people we met!  I kind of felt silly going to people's houses that we didn't know, but we promised the kids that if they'd come to the volleyball game, we'd take them trick-or-treating.  So that's what we did. 

Later that night, we met the Volleyball team as they were coming in to town.  Firetrucks, police cars, and a HUGE line of cars paraded into town with horns honking and lights flashing!  It was so much fun!  I love our small town spirit and commraderie!!!

Sunday morning came a bit early, but we did make it to church on time. :)  And after church......yum, our traditional Halloween dinner!  Pizza dip in a Pumpkin with breadsticks and Orange Halloween drink!  I started doing this about 6 or 7 years ago, and we love it!  The picture isn't the greatest, but trust me, its delicious!

Just in case you want the recipes:
Pizza Dip in a Pumpkin
1 small pumpkin (about 2 1/2 lbs.)
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup green pepper, diced
1 TBSP butter
2 1/2 cups pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup ham or pepperoni (chopped)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
*Breadsticks

Scoop out pumpkin; put lid on; place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes.

In saucepan saute onion and green pepper in butter.  Stir in pizza sauce, mozarella cheese, ham or pepperoni, parmesan cheese, and Italian Seasoning.  Heat through until cheese is melted.  Pour into hot pumpkin.  (The pumpkin doesn't change the flavor of the sauce, it just keeps it warm and looks really cute).

Orange Halloween Drink
1 can (46 oz) pineapple juice, chilled
3 cups Sprite
3 cups orange drink (I usually use Koolaid)
2 Liters GingerAle, chilled
1/2 gallon Orange Sherbet
*Mix the liquids together and serve with Orange Sherbet.....rootbeer float style!

Hope your Halloween was fun.

More fun than scary! :)

Things I've learned...in the last week or two

Throw up STINKS!  At all hours of the night and day.

Technically I didn't just learn this....my knowledge of it was greatly reinforced.
Ran into the grocery story to grab 7-Up and a DVD rental for my sick boy....and didn't realize that I'd left the car running in the parking lot.
Nice going.  I should have left a note saying....Free Car for the taking!
I love soup.  All kinds.  It's comfort food.

Yesterday Brad reached into the trunk of the car to get something and the lid came down and bumped his head.  ouch.  Then he slammed the trunk in retalliation....but shut his finger in it.  double ouch, but kinda funny.

Carving pumpkins is NOT an appropriate child's activity.

Who thought that giving a kid a knife and telling them to cut away on something where they could slit their wrists was ever a good idea.

No injuries at our house, just a basket-case mom and dad.

The jack-o-lanterns turned out cute.....and scary.  Tanner definitely wanted scary.
It's time to vacuum out the couch in the basement again.
A couple days ago Ellie came up from the basement saying, "Marshmallows.  Yummy."
.....I haven't given her marshmallows for about a week.
Gross.
We've been listening to Christmas music for over 2 weeks now. 

Super excited for the holidays.

The snow can stay until Christmas, but come January, I'M DONE!

I usually don't like surprises, but I make a BIG exception when that surprise includes my sister and neice visiting from Hawaii.

The Witches at Gardner Village are adorable.

Speaking of "adorable", Tanner randomly said the other day, "Mom, when I was a baby I was 'dorable.'" That made me smile.

I haven't been very good at using my camera lately.  I don't have one picture of my sister when she was visiting.

Fall soccer is over, and I'm kinda bummed. 

Glad to have my Saturday mornings back, but sad because I really enjoyed watching the kids.
Tanner and Ellie have control issues with one another.
Everything is a competition for them....who gets up the stairs first, who finishes lunch first, etc.
They are always nagging at one another.
Today, in settling an argument, Tanner tells Ellie, "No you can't, because you're not the bus."
He meant "the boss"

Lindsay (8 years old) is gaga over Justin Beiber.

Like really really gaga!

My kids have good friends.

That's a relief.

I have awesome neighbors.

I love my husband.

And he loves me back.

High school basketball season is just around the corner, and I can't wait!

I'm not reading anything good right now.  I need to go to the library.
Apparently sandwiches have genders.
Tanner asked for "girl (grilled) cheese" today for lunch.
Ellie promptly responded, "I want boy cheese."

I'm rambling.  A lot.

Have a great Halloween!

 Kaylee, Rian, Ellie, Tanner

Time flies by

I'm having a "moment" this afternoon.  We all have them from time to time....when you just can't believe how your kids grew up right before your eyes.  I don't recall giving them permission to do that.  Why can't they stay my babies forever?

I got these pictures developed on Saturday and was so excited and pleased to see that they turned out so well.  After church today I went downstairs to do the annual "changing of the pictures" routine.  I usually just stick the new picture in and leave the older pictures in as well.

So I sat and looked through them.

From tiny newborn babies, to toddlers with pudgy cheeks, to grade schoolers who've left all their baby fat behind and blossomed into beautiful individuals.  

What?! 

Oh my.

I can't take it.

My throat formed a big lump and tears gathered in my eyes as I sat and looked at my beautiful children.  I think of who they've become and how proud I am of each of them.  They are all so different and unique. What a blessing it is to be their mother!

 Meagan, 4th grade, 10 years old (in 2 days)

 Lindsay, 3rd grade, 8 years old

 Tanner, preschool, 4 1/2 years old

Ellie, 2 years old

 Enjoy your Sunday afternoon.....and give your babies a kiss!

preschool, soccer, and a kitty

My handsome boy is going to school!  Tanner loves his Teacher Nancy!

It's not very often that we get a rainbow in the morning before school starts.  It was only there for a few minutes, and we were lucky to capture it.

* * *

My sister Aimee and her husband Brennen stayed over in SLC last weekend and we got to watch Kaylee!  The kids had so much fun and Kaylee was sooo good!  She'd get so excited with each new toy the kids brought her. When she walked into Tanner's room, she started walking in one direction towards a toy, then stop and look somewhere else, and then walk in that direction.....too many things to choose from!  It was funny.  I think her favorite was the kitchen.

Funny little Kaylee and her sweet attatchment to her toys.......bath toys are no exception.  She held onto those the entire time we were in the bath!

Bath buddies....kinda.  Two very different personalities.  Ellie: very noisy and a splash king!  Kaylee: dainty and content to sit and hold her toys.  After a few minutes Ellie said (in a very grown up way), "I not sit by Kay-yee."   oh dear. :)

* * *

Tanner's first soccer game!

He has been anxiously awaiting this day.  He had his uniform, shin guards, and shoes set out the night before.  In the morning he was a little upset when I put his socks OVER his shin guards.....until the girls told him that's the way they were supposed to be.  (Am I already old enough to have my opinion not matter?!)

He had a huge perma-grin plastered across his face the entire game.  And he giggled up and down the field with pure happiness!

And apparently at this age, it's every man for himself.....there is no teamwork.....just boys wanting to kick the ball.  Brad and I laughed so hard!

Kaylee was with us and between the early morning soccer game and bright sunshine; she just couldn't last.  At first she used the baby doll to shade her face......then she just gave in:

* * *

This morning I came outside to check on the kids and this is what I found:

Tanner grinning, and Ellie trying to hide...

then deciding it's not worth it to hide.....just be honest about the fact that they're playing in Daddy's car.....with the neighbors kitty!

oh, those two!!!!

Go Cougs!

We have been anticipating this day for a month! BYU vs. Washington, September 4, 2010, 5pm, opening day of the 2010 football season at LaVell Edwards Stadium! 


Let me back up a few years. WE LOVE BYU! Always have, always will. I grew up going to BYU games every Saturday with my parents, my brother, and our neighbors, the Davis', and two of their kids, usually Nate and Spencer. We had some pretty great times! I remember our car rides on the way to the ball game: writing notes and holding them up to the window for the car next to us, getting other BYU game-goers to honk their horns for us, typical kid stuff. Our parents seats were on the east side, and our seats (the "kids") were on the west side...no parental supervision for 3 hours.....we may or may not have gotten into trouble a time or two. Like the time our neighbor may or may not have accidentally dropped a full bottle of Coke over the top, just to see where it landed. I still remember (hypothetically of course) watching the oranged-shirt Event Staff running around and looking for "those obviously naughty, and ill-mannered kids". Ah, those were the good ol' days. But I digress. Back to the here and now.   

Here we are......in all our Cougar Blue glory!

My cousin Tristan lives in Provo and comes to all the games with her friends.  She sat and visited with us during the 3rd quarter.  Thanks for stopping by Tristan!  We love you!

Lindsay and Meagan before the game looking out over the top.

Brad's parents.....and loyal BYU fans too.  (C'mon, did you really think I'd marry anyone who didn't bleed cougar blue too?)

My awesome dad and gorgeous sister Aimee

Aimee, Kaylee, and Brennen

Becoming one with the nacho cheese.....

Fun halftime show:  Previous All-American quarterbacks from BYU were there to present the new Quarterback Scholarship Program along with LaVell Edwards himself.  We saw (but didn't get a picture of....what was I thinking?!!!!) Gifford Nielsen, Virgil Carter, Marc Wilson, Steve Sarkisian (currently Washington's head coach), Robbie Bosco, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer. It was very cool.  I guess the only thing that would've totally topped it off for me was to have The Ty Detmer Rap performed.  Now that was a cool song. Yeah, I know, I'm a nerd.

Brad with his game-face on! 

How have I never known about the "Cougar Tails?"  Oh my, delicious!  Basically a 2 foot long maple bar.  Heaven!  Thanks Aim for sharing!

Kaylee was inseparable with her new friends: pig and horse. :)

My little man (and major Daddy's boy) Tanner!  Before the game started, we walked over to the bookstore for a looksie and found this football for Tanner.  The best $9 we've ever spent!  He was in heaven the entire walk back to the stadium. He wouldn't put his football down for anything...not during the football game, and not even when we got back home and went to bed....

What a fun day!

And it sure didn't hurt that BYU won!