Oh!

Today, I put up the Christmas decorations up (most of them anyway) while the kids were napping.  On the piano, I put the Nativity set up that my mom always put out when we were kids.  I always try to keep the area around it clear so you can really focus on the nativity. This year was no different.  I have the nativity, our fish (who lives on the piano) and a clock up there.  Then I decided to add a small picture of the Savior next to the clock.

When Brandon woke Oliver up from his nap, he was pretty mellow.  Brandon carried him in, laying on his shoulder.  Oliver didn't seem to be awake, not saying anything, until he saw the piano.  Then his little head pops up, and he says "Oh! It's Jesus!"  Brandon asks where, and Oliver points to the nativity and says "Right there!  It's Jesus".

Things like that just melt my heart.

Somethings are just too Priceless

Melanie called me over!  "Mom!!!  Come look".  Along with me, both Oliver and Noelle ran over to where Melanie was.  There, on the pavement, were 3 ants.  "They are playing tag!  Don't touch them!  They are having so much fun together!"  She was so excited for them that she skipped off.  I didn't have the heart tell her that as soon as she skipped off, both her loving siblings began jumping on the ants.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Oliver

On November 19th, something unbelievable happened... This little man turned 2!  I can't believe he is 2 years old, but I also don't remember a time without him in my life.  I love Oliver!  He is such a fun little man, full of personality and smiles.  He also has a fiery personality that comes with the red hair.  I wouldn't want him any other way. 

 Tuesday morning started out with a little fun.  As tradition in our family, there were balloons and streamers hanging in the hallway to help celebrate that day.  Oliver really enjoyed having mommy "fly" him through the balloons like an airplane.

 After we took Melanie to school, we had a dance party in mom's room.  Oliver and Noelle were groovin'!  Then we had to take Noelle to school, and Oliver and mom got to play with toys together.

 Tuesday night, we invited the Orr family over to help us celebrate.  We grilled pizzas and then had cake.  I made Oliver a "Planes" cake because he has been carrying around a book based on the movie (even though we haven't see the movie) from the library for 6 weeks now.  In fact, I have had to renew that book so many times, I ran out of renewals.  

 As you can see... he loved the cake.  He kept pointing and screaming "Dusty!"  I was really happy he approved.

 After the cake, we opened a few gifts.  The Orrs gave him some tools so he can be like dad.  We gave him a copy of that book so he can always have it, and the library can have theirs back.

 Here is a picture of all the partyers (minus mom, who took the picture)

It was a fun day.  Thank you Orr Family for coming over and enjoying the night with us!  Thank you Oliver, for joining our family and making life so fun.  We love you!

Here is the annual "Birthday Interview"

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Movie: Cars

Favorite Book: Planes, Pout Pout Fish, Pigeon wants a Puppy

Favorite Song: Row Row Row your Boat

Favorite Animal: Elephant

Favorite Thing to Play: Trucks

Favorite Thing to do with Daddy: Ride the Samurai 

Favorite Thing to do with Mommy: Paint

Favorite Thing to do with Noelle: Play Trains and ride bikes

Favorite Thing to do with Melanie: Ride bikes

Favorite Thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: Play trucks

Favorite Thing to do with Grandma Traci: Play

Favorite Thing to do with Grandpa George: Play

Favorite Book of Mormon Character: ?

Favorite Subject in School: ?

Favorite Food: Bananas and Cereal (mommy's cereal)

Favorite Snack: Pop Tarts and "Brown Crackers"

Best Friend: Josh and Jason

What do you want to be when you grow up: Drive trucks

What do you want to learn this year: ?

Veteran's Day... Turning the Hearts of the Children to their Fathers.

Veteran's Day has come and gone, and as it did, we had some fun times together as a family.  On Saturday, we went to the Veteran's Day Parade.  Typically it is held on Veteran's Day, but for reasons unknown to me, this year it was on Saturday... 2 days before the actual day.  I didn't know about the change.  I had been planning all week prior to take the kids on Monday.  It just so happens that Friday night I was discussing it with Brandon and he mentioned that he had heard at the Varsity Scout meeting that it was on Saturday.  I looked it up online, and sure enough, it was.  I think that a lot of people missed that memo, because it wasn't nearly as crowded as it typically is.  I'm thankful that we were able to see the parade and that we had the date right.

Here are a few pictures from the parade.

This is the bomber that flies over the route right before the parade starts:

 Here is my cute family, enjoying the parade.  This is the first time that Brandon has been able to enjoy the parade with us.  Typically he is busy working.  I was really happy to have him there.  Not just for the memory, but to help with my run away Oliver... who didn't have any fear of running into the road.

 Here is a picture of Noelle and myself.  Noelle was starting to get really tired and hot at this point.  I think you can tell by the picture.

 At about an hour and a half after the start of the parade...  we got this:

That was when the parade ended for us.  It was almost over anyhow, but it was after 1 and my kids were just done.

Melanie's kindergarten class did something neat for Veteran's Day.  They put together a little tribute to the veterans in their life.  Melanie submitted the names of her great grandfathers on her dad's side, and a great great grandfather on her mom's side.  When I went to pick her up from school, this is what I saw:

I was instantly reminded of the scripture referring to Elijah and turning the hearts of the children to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to their children.  I would like to get some nice stories of these men to put with these pictures for Melanie and my other children.  I plan to do that some time soon.

I am sincerely thankful for this country and the men that have given everything to make it "free".  Freedom is never free.  I'm also so grateful for the families of those that protect us.  They sacrifice so much for us as well.

Mom...

Yesterday, I was in the kids bathroom, brushing Oliver's teeth... getting everyone ready for church.  I hear my Ms. Melanie ask "Mom, can I wear this to church?"  I couldn't see her at the moment, so told her just a second.  When I came out of the bathroom, I was greeted with this:

I couldn't help but chuckle and take a picture.  Then, of course, I had to veto the entire look.  Thank you, Melanie, for keeping me on my toes and making every day an adventure.  I love you!

The Things They Say...

Noelle goes walking by dressed as a ballerina, complete with a tutu that sticks out.  She looks at me as she walks by and says: "I'm going hunting".  To which I ask: "Are you going to wear that?"  Noelle: "Of Course!"

At the zoo this morning (in the monkey cage): 
Noelle: "Mom! I saw the girl monkey!"Me: "Oh, How fun! But how did you know it was a girl?"Noelle: "Because she was wearing a necklace mom!"

Oliver: "Frogs"
Me: "No. We don't eat frogs for breakfast"
Oliver: "Wanna eat Crocodiles!" 
Me (giggling): "You want to eat crocodiles for breakfast?"
Oliver: "YeP!"

Me: "Melanie, go clear your plate, honey"
Melanie: "Mom, you can do it and call it service"
Me: "Melanie, go clear your plate"
Melanie: "But service is good mom. you can serve me."
Me: "Melanie, go clear your plate"
Melanie: "fine, but you are missing out on blessings"


Oliver (every time we drive through the neighborhood during the month of October): "Ahhh!!! There's a spider on it!" (There were a lot of houses in our neighborhood with giant spiders on them.

Me: "Oliver, what do you want for breakfast"

Melanie (after watching Peter Pan): "Before he had the hook, did they call him Captain Hand?"

Me: "Melanie, what did you learn at church today"
Melanie: "We talked about Moroni"
Me: "What did you learn about him?"
Melanie: "He was pretty awesome."

Ooooooooooh, 'Tis the Night of Halloween

Halloween came and went, and I completely forgot to write anything about it!  I can't believe that!  Our fun started the night before Halloween, when we watched "The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", and then wrote our letters to the Great Pumpkin.

 Halloween Day was full of activities all around.  Oliver and Noelle participated in the Boo Parade at the Red Mountain Library, where they did a few crafts and then trick or treated through out the library.  This year they even got new books!  That was a nice surprise!

 The trick or treating happened during what is usually Oliver's nap time.  As you can tell, he was really "enthusiastic" about it.

 Here they were after the trick or treating.

 Here were are with a friend!

 Melanie had a party at school and really enjoyed herself.  She came home with these teeth...  And Noelle modeled them for us.

 Eventually, we got to the trick or treating part of the night.  That was a lot of fun.  Here I have my 3 goons.  Melanie is Periwinkle, Tinkerbell's twin sister.  Noelle is Barbie in the Pink Shoes.  Oliver is Clark Kent.

 Then the group got home, we went through our candy and picked out 10 favorites.  The rest was left for the Great Pumpkin.  Then Melanie was thrown into the shower to wash all that white spray and hair spray out of her hair (it took 4 washings!)  

 Here are all the cute pumpkins full of offerings and letters waiting for the Great Pumpkin.

The girls wanted barbies, but the Great Pumpkin decided to bring them Barbie Books instead.  Oliver was surprised with the movie Cars.  It was definitely a fun treat for everyone.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!  We definitely did!