New boots

So, because of winter coming up I wanted kids to have boots to play in outside.  Evelyn has hand me downs, I bought some BRIGHT RED ones for Sam for his Christmas present... he loves red, and we went to Kid 2 Kid to see if they had any for Ada since she keeps growing so fast.  She went in telling me that she wanted purple striped ones... they did have purple ones but she ended up falling in love with these black ones with glitter on the top.  She's been wearing them around since we got home with them two days ago.  What do you think?  Does she like them?

Just dying to get a video of...

So, my 16 month old has picked up a new habit from watching the older kids.  She tells Knock-Knock jokes... the problem is that she isn't one that I can just tape doing it... as soon as I turn on the camera she says, "Cheese!"  Which is way cute, but I have yet to record her Knock-Knock.

She says, "Knock-Knock...(something that sounds like she's intoning "Who's there")... and then starts to laugh maniacally....

I die every time.

Sunday

I LOVE playing the piano in Primary... I kind of wish it were my regular calling... It's especially fun to watch how enthusiastic Ada is about singing time.  Love it!  Evelyn went to Nursery today too, because I was needed in Primary and Jer was teaching in Elders Q...  She loved it until they had to start cleaning up toys.  Then she cried. 

And seeing as I don't currently have a job outside my home besides the once a week toddler fencing class that I teach... and my children all play pretty well on their own now... I have had more time this Halloween for "projects".  I saw this on facebook, loved it and wanted to try it.  Here's my result.

Melissa and Jed

K, I haven't seen this woman for about 10 years.  But I have to tell you how sweet she is.  She and her sister moved into our church ward when she was 16 and we were friends... not best friends... but friends.  But when we turned 18 and went from Young Women's to Relief Society together we sat together a lot and I really have a soft spot for her.  She's so kind and was always smiling and kind of quiet.  Her family has been through and survived a lot... and she's married.  She looked beautiful, it was an honor for me to come and help out.  She already had her groomerals taken so I just did the groups.

This is his son... now their son.

This one's for you mom!

Photographers and amatuers

Here is a piece of unasked for advice.  When you're shooting a wedding at the Salt Lake City Temple... do not walk up to the group on the steps with their 40 people and ask how long you're going to be.  The "poor" photographer and wedding party had had to wait a whole 20 minutes.  For some reason, I don't feel sorry for them or inclined to hurry up my shoot. 

There are somewhere in the range of 40 couples married in the Salt Lake Temple on a Saturday.  There are 4 sets of stairs for group photos... one of them was being painted this morning.  Our group waited for two other brides and grooms to finish before we were able to hop on for our turn.  I had three big families to deal with, not two... so it did take longer than it usually does... but do not ask me to hurry up because you have waited for a whole 20 minutes. 

Pumpkin patch

We went to pick out pumpkins for decorating tonight... SO fun.  We also got to watch 5 trains go by while we were there.

Evelyn

I rarely get a picture of this beautiful baby without a binkie in the mouth or a cheesy smile on her face... She makes me laugh.  Even if she's throwing a fit and crying the minute before she pauses when I pull out the camera and gives me a cheeser.

These last two are for you Nella... Notice the hand down he diaper...Do you think it's hereditary?

Family

This week has been full of family.  We had Arwen's baby blessing, birthdays, and Emily E. up looking for a minivan with her cute boys.  I took the opportunity to take pictures of cute cousins together...

Yes, my mess maker strikes again.

Rachel, Anya and Ada making "Birthday surprises" for each other.

Cousin Wesley

Matching outfits even

These two are cute buddies... I love watching how they follow each other around and play.

My sisters

I have to say that I have pretty wonderful sisters... I love them, my kids love them... and they come to visit.  Since I live between her work and home I'll get a brief visit every little bit from my sister Janelle.  Love every minute...

Halloween's a comin'

So, I'm extra excited this year for Halloween because I've made at least a little bit of each of my kids' costumes.  I'm excited to see how fun they are together, all dressed up.  They're getting old enough they they can really get it.  (Sammy didn't really get it last year... he did win cutest costume though... He was a sock monkey that ran around looking like Max from Where the Wild Things Are.)  For Ada's birthday, her cousins, Aubrey and Devin gave her this Halloween gingerbread house kit... so we put it together.  A little bit of frustration on my part, but not too much... Ada wasn't being a good direction follower... but we got it decorated and LOVE it.  It's our kitchen centerpiece.

Linguistics fail

Our friends down the street speak spanish... I love it, it gives me a chance to practice... but it's also gotten Ada interested and registering that people actually speak different languages and what that really means.  The other day she told me, "Yummy is Spanish for delicious!"  Not quite, but at least she knows they mean the same thing even if they are different words... good step there.