{Week in Review}

Well Fall is here and that means everyone is running around, busy, busy! I love it - most of the time. My kids love to hear what's coming up, on what day, etc. You better not make them a promise you can't keep, they will hold it to you!! They have been looking forward to the Halloween Party at Alec and Emma's house for weeks.

There were so many fun games, pumpkin painting, pizza, and cake. Oops I forgot lots and lots of candy, what more could a kid want? Here the kids are shooting silly string at bad guys.


Then they went on a bone hunt all through the house, they thought that was spooky and fun!

They got to dress up in lots of toilet paper and turn into mummy's. It was tricky to get toilet paper to stay on Ethan's slick (plastic) Buzz Lightyear costume!
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Today was the primary program in church. This is Rhett's 3rd year...the first year he was to scared to even say his part, he just stared at everyone and then went and sat down. Last year he said his part, but was too close to the microphone and it was all muffled. This year he had a long scripture. He memorized it, and said it slowly and clear in the microphone. I was so proud!! But not as proud as he was, smiling and giving me a thumbs up when he got back to his chair. It's funny how the small things make you so, so happy!!

Grandma Flake, and Aunt Brittany and Ally came to hear him give his part, and then stayed for dinner. Later we went to the part to launch rockets. Here's Kade, so happy. This is right before he lost his balance and fell off. He'll have a goose egg, poor baby. He is so wild in church, he can't stand to be held. He just wants to be free and roam the halls. I'm not kidding trying to hold him while he arches, twists and turns completely wears you out. I still have over 5 months until Nursery, yikes! He is also into biting, you think he is kissing and then he clamps down. Very painful.


This last week has been warm. The sprinklers came on at the park and Ethan begged to go run through them.

Ally had to go into the water and rescue Ethan when he slipped and had an injury. He is either tough or very dramatic when he gets hurt.

The highlight of Rhett's week was getting a "cougar shirt" - his school spirit shirt that they wear on Fridays. He is so, so proud!! Here he is doing THE CLAW.

Here I am with two of my cuties before church today. Of course they are smiling great for the camera as usual.

Cody is heading out of town to New Orleans early Monday morning. He will get back late Friday evening. He is so excited to use that as an excuse to miss dressing up for the 80's adult Halloween party we are invited to! Luckily I am going with my hot date Kathy and we are going to put on lots of blue eyeshadow and tease our bangs to heights never reached before. It will be fun! Then on Saturday we are getting family pictures taken for Christmas cards. Last year Cody complained and complained about that brown sweater I made him wear. If it's not a grey t-shirt he's not happy!! We'll see what I make him wear this year....

I am up late doing homework so thought I'd post a little something while my house is all nice and quiet and kids are sleeping! Today April and I swapped kids while the other got their hair cut and colored. A girl in April's old ward did it, I don't have white trash roots anymore, woo-hoo! The kids play so well together, I had to take a picture. This is Chloe (3) Ryya (17 months) Kade (1) and Ethan (3).

Later, I was on the phone and heard Kade and Ryya laughing and laughing. This is what they were up to:

I had to go grab my camera and catch them in the action. Darn, it was Charmin the good stuff! And you know how I am about conserving my paper products (right Dustin??). All bathroom doors have to be shut or Kade gets into everything!!

Last weekend Cody was touching up some crown moulding and Kade just climbed up the ladder. He's not walking yet, but climbs like a little monkey! Today he officially took his first steps, he would go two steps, pause, then two more, pause....it was cute. I'm sure we're in for lots of bumps and bruises. Hopefully none before we get family pictures taken in less than 2 weeks.

On Saturday my sister Brittany went to homecoming. I got to go there and give her a french manicure on her toes and then see Sam when he picked her up. It was a bit awkward, he is shy!! Don't you love how his fists are all clenched in this picture! He looks like a missionary!! Brittany was super cute in her dress with her hair all done cute. I never looked that cute in high school, that's for sure!! She is an amazing dancer, in lots of ballet classes and doing so well.

Here is me with Brittany, as Cody put it "this is not the best picture of you...." but oh well!

{Blessed}

Today I was trying to vacuum, and Kade was following me everywhere I went, placing himself right in the spot I was trying to vacuum next. I kept moving him, but then he would go right back to the next spot I was working on. I took him in the family room, gave him some toys, and as I turned to go back to the formal room he just started crying with these big alligator tears. I went and picked him up, and we just snuggled on the couch for..um about 30 seconds which is a record for him (he never snuggles). Then he wanted to get down and play.

I just sat there, thinking about the stages that my kids are in right now. Kids are hard at all ages, but I think that they are the most demanding the younger they are. It seems like too much sometimes, like when you are trying to cook and they are pulling you in every direction. But if you look at it from a different perspective, you can see it as the only time when someone loves you so much they cry when you go in a different room. Or they smile that sweet smile everytime you just look at them, and raise up their hands for you to pick them up whenever you come close. Right now my boys think their mommy and daddy hung the moon, I don't know what I'll do when they start knowing otherwise!!

Sometimes when Rhett wants me to snuggle with him, I get teary eyed because I start to think of when he's older and I can't hold him on my lap anymore (yes, he still let's me do that now! I know he's big, but I'll take it as long as I can!). Oh man, if only I could keep this perspective all day long, I would have a better attitude and be a better mommy. But I'll just do the best I can, and treasure the little moments as they come, even if it means my house doesn't get as clean as I would like it to.

{Fun at Jennie's}

We had a fun week, besides Rhett being sick on and off throughout the week. He is finally over it, thank goodness! He's had lots of homework to catch up on, and can't wait to be back in school! On Monday my friend Jennie had us over and she had lots of cute Halloween activities for the kids to do. They made spiders and then two kinds of cupcakes, bat cupcakes and monster cupcakes. They had so much fun making them, and even more fun eating them. Here are all the cute kids showing off their cupcakes:

Here's Me, Becca and Shelby:

And since Jennie wouldn't let me take a picture with her, here she is when we had a girl's night out...also here's Kathy and Candace - WE MISS YOU CANDACE!!

On Tuesday night I went to a cooking class. One of my good friends from high school, Julie, has a husband who is an amazing cook. He showed us some fabulous new recipes and some cool techniques. It was lots of fun, I learned a lot. Also, some exciting news - on Saturday I took my BIO final - so I am done with that. Yeah! Those who don't know, this summer I started working towards a nursing degree doing most classes online. I did a class this summer, I have two others right now (Math and Eng) and then I have three more science classes to take (two this spring, one in the summer). I plan on applying in the summer for nursing school in the fall. It usually takes about a year to get in so during that year I can complete some co-reqs that will make my load easier when I'm in nursing school. The program I am trying to get into is all online, but there are clinicals every other Saturday at the hospital. It's a fast program, done in 16 months. I'm really excited about it, but overwhelmed sometimes. Cody's been so great, he wants me to do it so he's been helping with the kids lots when he's home. I was so impressed - on Saturday when I was taking my final he got all the kids dressed and out the door by 7am so he could take the van to the dealer to have the brakes checked. Then he took all 3 to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then took them to Kohls, Target, and Best Buy! Not easy with 3 crazy boys! They love their daddy and had so much fun being out and about with him all day. What a great guy.

{Happy 30th B-Day Cody!}

On Sunday Cody had his 30th Birthday! He woke up to a car decorated with candy and other things...let's just say it looked like a newleywed's car (thanks Dustin and April). Funny. This picture is after Rhett blew out his birthday candles, little stinker. Happy Birthday Cody, we love you!!

Speaking of love, a lot of people have done nice things for me this week, I have the best friends and family. I have a big final this Saturday, and Cody has been doing a lot for the kids so I can study. Then yesterday on my mom and Ally's day off the watched the boys all day so I could finish my study guide. That same day my friend Jennie dropped off 3 freezer meals so I don't need to cook this week. How SWEET! I am so lucky. I will be happy when this class is over, it has been so time consuming! I have learned a lot though, so if anyone wants to discuss Cell Biology and Genetics just give me a call :o).

{Happy 1st B-day Kade!}

I thought it would be fun to show how much Kade has grown this past year! We love him more each day and are so glad he's in our family.....

1 Day Old

1 Month

2 Months

3 Months

4 Months

5 Months


6 Months


7 Months


8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

1 Year Old!

{Sick Boys...all 4 of them}

Last weekend was lots of fun, mostly! On Friday Cody's parents flew into town from Utah. They were coming for Dustin and April's baby Titan's blessing, and to pick up the cabinents for their new home they are building. That night we went over to Gene's brothers home in Peoria. They fed us a yummy dinner and the kids had fun playing with their cousins and swimming in the pool. The pool had a big slide and diving board, much to Rhett and Ethan's delight. The water was a bit cold, but not cold enough to stop them.

Later in the evening Kade threw up without warning all over their beautiful new wood floor so we quickly cleaned up and made our exit. In the car as we drove away he threw up again, all over himself and his seat. And again at home. Repeat, repeat, you get the picture. Saturday the girls (Cassie, myself, April, and her mom) all went to a cute store called Poppy's that has nice home decor and then we had lunch together. That night all the adults went to Macayos for dinner.

The next day was Sunday and Titan's blessing was so sweet. He looked so cute in his little white outfit. That night is when everything went downhill and everyone got sick. So today I have been being the nurse, and I even made homemade Chicken Noodle soup for my poor family who hadn't eaten much all day. It took over 2 hours!! Good Night! It was good, but not near as good as my mother-in-law Cassie makes. Oh well, they ate it up and now everyone is snug in bed except me. I am hoping for a peaceful night of sleep with no one waking up sick!!!