Halloween 2013

I feel like I was slacking on Halloween photos this year.  It just seems the older our family gets (and the more members we add to it!), the longer and more chaotic everything seems to be.  I did manage to sneak a few in, though.

This year, we all went as monsters.
The boys in the process of getting ready for Trunk or Treat.

(I am SO impressed with Brychan's willingness to wear the make up not once, but twice.  It goes against every fiber in his being to have that stuff all over his face.  I guess certain sacrifices are worth it for the sake of Halloween fun).

My super cute skeleton, ghost and werewolf

Lala

David and I.

As always, we had a blast at our ward's trunk or treat the weekend before Halloween.  Halloween night, we did more trick or treating than we've ever done before, and the kids all got more candy than is ever necessary.  A couple of times we thought Jessa was getting tired, so we put her in the stroller.  NO WAY.   She knew exactly what was going in those bags, and she wasn't about to miss out on anything.

After Halloween?  Jessa quickly realized where we kept the candy locked up.  It was in the floor of my pantry, behind a locked door.  More than once I found her laying on the kitchen floor with her little arm and hand under the pantry door trying to steal a piece or two.  I'm tellin' ya - there is nothing that girl won't do for a taste of sugar!!

First Kindergarten Field Trip

Brychan's first field trip was to the Wildlife World Zoo, on Halloween.

There were so many parent volunteers that I was just in charge of Brychan and his friend, "H".

The two boys had a blast together all day long, and since NOBODY goes to the zoo on Halloween, we got to see lots of animals, up close and personal, without being crowded by anybody else.

After the field trip was over, all the kids climbed back on the bus and went back to school for the last few hours of their day.  Since I drove, I was lucky enough to keep Brychan with me for the rest of our day.  We had fun going back to revisit some of the animals (mostly the aquarium) by ourselves.  Once the school kids had left, there was literally no one at the zoo except for us and a handful of other people.

Lesson learned?  Go to the zoo on Halloween!!

Student of the Month

We were so proud of Brychan for earning Student of the Month at school for October.

Each Kindergarten teacher chose two students from their class to be students of the month.

Of course, the assembly HAD to be the same day as hat day.

And of course my son HAD to be wearing his hat like this:

David, Ashley, Kehlton, Jessa and I surprised Brychan by showing up at his assembly.  David at least got Brychan to turn his hat around (since he refused to take it off).

Brychan gets extremely serious if he's nervous or uncomfortable.

I think seeing all of us there kind of threw him off.

It was fun hearing the things Brychan's teacher (Mr. Fish) had to say about him.

Mr. Fish has obviously learned a LOT about Brychan in the short time they've been in school; everything he mentioned about Brychan's personality was spot on.

 He talked about Brychan's need to have everything "just perfectly so" before turning in his work, and the fact that Brychan is a super fast learner.  He also mentioned Bug's kindness and willingness to help others around him.

Way to go, Bug!! We're so proud of you!!!

Jessa's 1st Birthday

I always swore that this blog wouldn't get forgotten about or neglected.  After all, it is pretty much the only journaling I do, and the only picture "books" my children have to look at.

And yet, here it is, a month and a half AFTER her birthday, and I am just now getting around to it.

Don't be offended, baby girl.  Momma just has way too much on her plate.

For Jessa's birthday, she got her first real trip to the park, which included her first time on the swings.

She loved every minute of it.

When Daddy got home from work, we did presents and cake.

Jessa was super patient with her brothers continually stealing presents from her so they could do all the unwrapping.

She just wanted what was inside, anyway.

A new baby doll and stroller were among one of her favorite gifts

(we should have saved those for last.  She opened those first and we had a hard time getting her to focus on anything other than those afterwords).

  She also got a riding giraffe that she loves.  

She kept trying to ride her brothers' bikes, so this toy makes everybody happy!

And, her cake.

Which she enjoyed every bite of.

What are some of Jessa's favorite things?

Jewelry of any kind.  Preferably being worn by her.

Shoes.

SUGAR.

Seriously.  We thought Kehlton was bad.  But he doesn't hold a candle to her.  It's a bit out of control.

Her brothers!!!
Reading books
Being outside

Eating.  There is nothing this girl won't eat.

Her blanket

Sleeping in

Her Daddy.  He is, by far, her favorite person.  Which is good; 'cause he kinda likes her too.

We sure love and adore our little Jessa!  She definitely adds a little extra sunshine to our home!

Cake Smash (Finally!)

I just realized I never put Jessa's cake smash photos OR her 1st birthday photos on here.  Not that everybody hasn't already seen most of her cake smash photos, but still.  They need to be here too so they eventually end up in a book.  :)

I'm sorry if you're tired of looking at them.  I don't think I ever will be.  I absolutely love them and am so grateful that we have friends and family to help turn my ideas/wishes into reality.

And, because our world doesn't totally revolve around one little girl...

I love this picture of Kehlton.  I do wish he would have looked at Jocie, but then again, everything about this photo is Kehlton.  Totally laid back, slightly mischievous, always doing his own thing.

 And this?  Just makes my heart want to burst.

Man!  I love my kids.