BETTER LATE THAN NEVER-HALLOWEEN 2010!

I am so behind in blogging! I know it is November already but, I have not had the time to post pictures from Halloween yet so I figure better late then never. It was a good Halloween. Saturday night we went to our church's Trunk-or-Treat and the kids scored big on the candy! It was enjoyable to see all the little ones dressed up and having such a good time. Kevan was able to visit with friends and enjoyed that since he doesn't get to come to church due to having to work Sundays. On Sunday we all went to grandpa & grandma Smith's house for a dinner which was a Taco bar, SO yummy! Then we all went out and sat on the driveway and enjoyed passing candy out to the kids that were out trick or treating. We enjoyed a portable fire pit that my sister Shanna and her husband Brian brought over and as always we enjoyed each other's company. The cousins dressed up in their costumes and had lots of fun being together.

KEATON WAS WALUIGI!




BAILEY ROSE WAS AN ANGEL!



HALOWEEN 2010



THE CANDY LOOT!

A HAPPY DADDY AFTER IMPOSING HIS "DADDY TAX!"


THE COUSINS AT GRANDPA & GRANDMA SMITH'S


MY SISTER SHANNA & BRIAN AS AN AMISH COUPLE!

KEVAN & I AS OURSELVES!

MY SISTER DEB AS HERSELF BUT, FESTIVE!

MY LITTLE BRO. CHAD & JOLENE AS MICHAEL JACKSON AND A PEASANT WOMAN!

CHAD IN ALL HIS GLORY IMPERSONATING HIS IDOL!

HANGING OUT WITH FAMILY!

LAST VACATION OF THE YEAR

During the kiddos Fall Break we drove the very LONG drive to Fort Worth, Texas to see Kev's parents and his sister and her family. It was not the best of vacations simply because Keaton got sick the Friday before we left. Instead of leaving on Sat. morning as planned we left Sun. morning in hopes that Keaton's fever would be gone and he would feel better. However, he ended up being sick the entire week we were there and was just miserable. We ended up in the Dr.'s office Tuesday morning because his fever was so high and he had a cough that sounded horrible. Prognosis was a really bad sinus infection. With antibiotics and other cold medicine we thought he was on his way to a recovery but, the fever kept spiking and his cough kept him from getting any real rest.

We did manage a few outings like going to see the movie, "Secretariat" which by the way is a WONDERFUL movie! We also had dinner at the Olive Garden with his parents, Sister and a niece and nephew. We also were able to go to the Dallas World Aquarium which was fantastic! They had some amazing animals and sea life. The kids really enjoyed it and so did Kevan and I. The pictures that follow are the only ones I took on the entire trip.
















I wish I had gotten pictures of the sharks. There were fascinating! They also had these two Giant river otters that were just too cute and such show-offs. Kevan also got to hand feed the Toucan birds blueberries. Keaton and Bailey were too scared to try it. Something about those long becks gently pecking your hand to feed turned them off to trying it. I didn't even get pictures of half of the things we saw. There was just so much.

Aside from Keaton being so sick the entire trip we had a good time. We got to visit with Grandpa & Grandma Roth and that was enjoyable. It is always good to see loved ones and spend time with them. However, being home is nice too and now that we are back into our life with busy schedules and all we can start thinking about what we will do on our next vacation.

PRODUCTIVE WEEKENDS!!!

This past weekend was one where much was accomplished. However, I am glad that it is over and we have only one more week until Fall Break! My kiddos have started their countdown!

This weekend we decorated for Fall and Halloween!



Kevan did yard worked and cleaned the backyard!



Kevan helped Keaton build his "working" Egyptian Shaduf for a school project he has been working on.



I helped Bailey Rose with her book report project which was a lot more work then a written report but, fun!







My dad let me borrow his workout gym so I could start building and toning my muscles which don't seem to stay toned like they did when I was much younger. We went down to my parents and picked it up and set it up for me to use! I am loving it!!!




Bailey Rose's eye went from bad to worse, but by this morning she was back to normal and happy to be feeling better!





I also baked 7 dozen cookies for the Bake Sale that Coca-Cola is having. Kevan so sweetly volunteered cookies and then informed me he needed them by the 5th of Oct. Thanks Hon!!!

It was also General Conference weekend which is always pure enjoyment! I taped the Sat. sessions so I could watch them Sat. night and Sun. sessions we watched as a family. It was a wonderful Conference and I feel so spiritually full! Many talks sparked wonderful discussions with my children. I love watching them develop testimonies of their own!

DARN MOSQUITO!!!

My sweet little Bailey Rose woke up this morning with a mosquito bite on her eyelid and her eye was all swollen over and looking just awful. She went to school but by the time we got there it was worse then when she woke up. She is doing a play in her class today so she didn't want to stay home but, I know it is pretty uncomfortable. It keeps watering so she has to keep wiping it and I will be amazed if she makes it through the day. She is the only one in our family who reacts to insect bites like this. Hopefully she will feel better by this afternoon and that her eye will go down. Normally when this happens she is like this for a few days!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVAN, WE LOVE YOU!!!

1ST SCOUT CAMPOUT

Friday Keaton went to our Stake Scout Camp Out for the 11, 12 & 13 year old's. It was his 1st official Scout camp out. He was SO excited to go and Kevan made sure he was able to go and share in his son's experience.
After they go home and gave us the details of the camp out Keaton told me that he did not like camping with the Scouts. Apparently there was poor execution of the things planned and the 11 year old's did nothing but sit in the hot sun and listen to someone talk for two hours about" leaving no trace". While the older scouts got to go to different workshops and do different things. Sounds like someone doesn't know 11 year old's too well. Breakfast was biscuits and gravy which the boys thought were disgusting and my guys were so glad that I packed them some breakfast goodies just in case.
I feel so bad that he didn't really enjoy himself. Kevan said there were some fun points. They bailed on the closing ceremony and went to the lake and went swimming. The boys loved that! I think they should make the first Scout camp out experience one that makes the boys want to continue to go to the camp outs not one where they never want to go again which is how Keaton felt. If Kevan hadn't been there I know it would of been total disaster for Keaton. We tried to tell him that it would be different as he got into the older scouts but unfortunately it has already been ruined for him and he does not want to go camping with the Scouts again but, I am hoping that will change as time goes on. Fun or not he came so exhausted and actually napped which he hasn't done in several years.
I asked Kevan to take pictures so that I could see Keaton in action but his phone battery died and so I got very few pictures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT DEB!

Just want to wish my little sister Debra a very Happy Birthday! I hope your day is a FABULOUS one! We love you!

I remember when my kids were very little how I looked forward to hearing them wake up and start their days of exploring, learning, playing and though I would be tired throughout the day because my little girl use to get me up every night I would still find so much thrill and enjoyment in watching them grow and discover their world. I don't think I ever thought about the day they would become old enough to go off to school until it became a reality. As I wait for my kids everyday to meet me after school I watch the little Kindergartners come out the doors to meet their mom's and dad's and I remember how little mine once were and how excited I was to see their little faces as they told me about everything they did that day. I still get that little thrill when I see my two kiddos walk around the corner to greet me. However, now there are no hugs because at their age it just isn't cool to hug your mom in public and I get that! I also now have to pry information out of them about how their day was or I get the standard answer of "fine" or "good". I remember my dad saying to me once after their nest had been empty for a few years that he missed us kids being little and running around and making noise. He said it went by too quick. My kids aren't even teenagers yet and I already miss the "little". Don't get me wrong I love the ages they are now and the independence that they are acquiring but, with each year that goes by I become more aware of how grown up they are becoming.

Tonight Keaton went of his first overnight Scout trip. Kevan was able to go with him and to be honest if he hadn't been able to go, I don't believe I would of sent Keaton. Yes, I am an overprotective mother but, that is my right so I have no trouble claiming it. Here it is almost midnight and I am up wondering if he is warm enough or if he is having a good time. I know he is safe because his dad is there with him but, I really don't like not being able to go into his room and check on him once he has fallen asleep. How and I going to handle Scout Camp next summer for an entire week?

It is so extremely hard to let go and yet I know that little by little every year more of the "apron strings" get cut and he grows closer and closer to leaving the nest altogether and Bailey Rose is only two years behind him. I honestly don't know how my mom did it five times over! I have never liked changed! Yet, I never thought watching these little ones grow up would be one of the hardest changes that would affect me the most. I know I have more then a few years before they leave the nest but, I know the reality of how quickly those years will pass. I am excited for all they have yet to experience in life but, I think I will always miss them being little!