Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season

Here are some pics of us decorating the tree last weekend. Katie got to help this year and she was really excited. Every time she sees the lights turned off she insists they must be on. Even if we are leaving the house - and I insist they need to be off when we're gone and we can turn them back on when we get back. She'll sneek back to the light switch and turn the tree back on when I'm not looking. I have to double check to make sure it is off right before we head out. We usually put candycanes on the tree every year - we did again this year but Katelynn kept swiping them off the tree and eating them. Time outs and going to her room didn't work - so I took them all off and put them in the pantry.

She loves to lay under the tree and look at the lights.

So do Mommy and Daddy!

Help me teddy

The other night Katie and I were in her room singing bed time songs. She spotted what she thought was Daddy's feet under the closed door. She soon discovered that it was actually a blanket. So she started pulling the blanket under the door. She was yanking with all her might. Then she says: "I need help", turns around and spots her teddy. She brings teddy over to the door and uses his paws to help her pull on the blanket. She soon discovers that teddy's no help and chucks her to the side. Then she resumes yanking on the blanket till it finally all slides under the door. Ahhh - triumph! (Mommy laughing all the while - at least when she grabbed her teddy to help - don't worry I would've helped her if she didn't get it soon).

Inexpensive fun

Katelynn started playing with a paper bag the other day - she put it on her head and was having fun chasing Daddy around the kitchen blind. Then Daddy had the idea of cutting eyes and drawing a face on. And he cut armholes too. He held her up so she could see herself in the mirror and she giggled and pointed. She also thought it was fun to have us hand her snacks through the eyeholes.

"Tea Party"

Katie and I were invited to a "Tea Party" themed birthday party with some friends of ours. It was their daughter's 3rd birthday party. Here we are all dressed up for the party. Katie's new hat, purse and shoes came in handy.

We painted nails - this was the 1st time I painted her nails. She didn't know what to think of it while I was doing it. But now she wants her nails painted all the time.

This was a good party for Katie - she just loves to dress up. The whole morning before the party she knew we were going and kept saying: "party", "party". I'd say "not yet", not till this afternoon. She was so excited when it was finally time to go.


We also decorated our hats. (This party was a couple of weeks ago - the weather was perfect).

All the kids got ring pops. She loved it! They also served Raspberry lemonade, chicken salad or PB & J sandwiches, coffee cake squares, apple pies and birthday cake. Yummy!

They had a game like pin the tail but with pin the table accessories to the table.

Here she is eating her candy bracelet. Love those blue lips from the ring pop. She was still working on the ring pop for a while after we got home.

Happy Halloween!

This year we dressed as Hippies for Halloween. Here's our family pic:

Here's another family pic with Katie's other costume: a pink bunny. She got this from her Grandpa and Grandma Floyd:

Trick or treating at Chris' work:

At Stillman and Michelle's house for dinner and games:

The kids had a blast playing in the leaves

Taking a whack at the pinata:

Ahhhh, the spoils:

Trick or treating begins again around the neighborhood, starting with a goodie bag from Grandpa and Grandma Norton:

Happy Halloween!

Ward Halloween Party

Our Pumpkins

Here's Tamara's pumpkin. Deedra and Tamara went to a Ladies Night Out friday night where they carved pumpkins and watched the movie "Watcher in the Woods". It was fun!

Here's a shot in the dark:

And here's all three of our pumpkins:

Happy Halloween!

Fun at the Farm

Last weekend we went to a corn maze. They had lots of fun things to do. We went in the longest maze: 3.4 miles and got through it in approximately a half hour - whew! Then we hitched a hay ride to the pumpkin patch and we each picked a pumpkin. Hitched another hay ride back to the barn where we paid for our pumpkins and Chris took them to the car. Then we met up with Stillman, Michelle, Alex and Jayden and hitched yet another hay ride over to the petting zoo. They had animals like goats, ponies, camels and oxen. Katie's favorite were the ponies. Then we had another hayride back to the pumpkin patch so Alex could pick out a pumpkin (by this time it was dark so it got a little difficult). We found the smallest one we could find (Alex insisted on a small pumpkin). And then a final hayride back to the barn (where Alex traded his pumpkin in for a small gord - just right for him to carry around). After that the kids hopped on the Cow Train for a ride, which they loved! And last of all homemade donuts and yummy nachos! MMMMMM good! We had a great time! Check out our slide show!

Bats and bows

Today Katie and I went to the dollar store and Wal-Mart. I couldn't resist getting Katelynn some dress-up clothes. Check out her new hat, purse and shoes. The shoes had bows on them but she ripped them off already - I think she thought they were tags and not supposed to be there. But she loves them!

I also got this pinata for our family halloween party we'll be having. In honor of our theme: KISS (keep it simple stupid), I opted to buy the pinata rather than make it.

It's almost as big as Katelynn!

Katie had fun helping us stuff it with goodies. She also had fun pointing out his eyes, nose and mouth to me.

Marshmallow fun

Today after church we gave Katelynn some marshmallows to snack on while we got lunch ready. She lined them up on the floor and started to jump over them. Had to get a video of it - so cute! Whenever she knocked her marshmallows accidently, she would carefully line them back up again.

Football cake

Here are some pics of a football cake Tamara did for our nephew, Garrett's birthday:

The Last Political Post

Well, it's been fun adding these political posts to this blog. However, I am finished talking politics on our family blog. I apologize if anyone was offended. My intention was not to create a rift within the family or the friendships we have with you. My hope was to provide an additional view point regarding a particular candidate. I hope you will all feel comfortable visiting our blog in the future. Talking to people on both side of the political isle can be kind of like talking to an Idaho Vandal fan about how good the Boise State Broncos are in football; it can get very ugly (as many of you can attest!). In closing this political post, I do have one request though, and that is you pray about each candidate, and follow the direction provided by the Spirit. There are many people who say that we should leave religion out of political decisions (this is not in reference to just one individual's statement) – However, this could not be further from the truth. We should not let our pride get in the way of getting on our knees and praying for inspiration and guidance in the decisions we make, whether it is about voting or whether it is about other things which impact our lives. May the Lord bless each of you. We love you and hope the best for each of your family's and pray for the best for our beloved Country.

Sincerely,

Chris

Does anyone own the moon?

Apparently Katelynn does. The other day on the way home she points out the window and says: "My Moon," "My Moon." She has said "moon" and "the moon" before but it was so cute cause she said "My Moon" this time. She gets so excited whenever she sees the moon and wants to make sure that Chris and I or whomever is riding with her at the time sees it too.

Animated Halloween Cake

Check out this youtube video - this is a cake. (And no I did not make this - I'm not that creative). Isn't it cool! I found while I was googling Halloween cakes.

See two new posts below.

You know you have a girl when....

It was fun to read Stillman and Michelle's blog entry: You know you have a boy when.... so here's our version. These are things Katie does:

You know you have a girl when...
1. She wears dresses everyday and throws a fit if you want her to wear pants instead because it's cold outside.
2. She wraps blankets and sheets around herself and wears them like dresses.
3. She loves to play dress-up and even will use daddy's shirts to dress-up in.
4. She tries everybody's shoes on.
5. She wants to put on make-up like mommy.
6. She wants to make her hair look pretty with piggy/pony tails or barrettes (but she always takes them back out shortly after – which makes it hard to want to do her hair).
7. She pushes robots in her toy stroller (along with dolls, bears and other stuff animals).
8. She compliments Mommy and Daddy on their outfits.
9. She asks you if you’re okay after you sneeze, cough or burp (“okay?”).
10. She’s always offering you pretend food as she plays with her kitchen toys.
11. She loves jewelry, especially necklaces.
12. She thinks all animals are cute (even spiders).
13. She kisses the animals and babies in her picture books.
14. She has her pink and purple teddy bears fold their arms to say prayers with us at bedtime and insists you give them a hug and a kiss goodnight too.

Scary faces!

Chris got Katie into making scary faces. Check these out! Well .... it's getting close to Halloween - Trick or Treat!

(Happy first day of Fall!)

More cute stuff

Today after lunch I give Katelynn a cookie and a glass of milk. I say to her "dip your cookie in your milk." She says "okay" and throws her whole cookie in the milk (I can't help laughing). She fishes it out and drops it on the table and then proceeds to poke at it and say "eww" cause it's all soggy. So funny!

Another cute story: the other day I asked Katelynn if she woud like a little baby brother or sister, like baby Jayden (her cousin). She thinks to herself for a minute and then says "let's go". I ask "go where?" She says: "get baby."

Cute stuff

Katie has found something new to dress up in:

Daddy's shirts!

Katie learning to brush her teeth

Katie's learning how to brush her teeth. She sure likes it a lot better than Mommy or Daddy brushing her teeth. Now she insists on brushing her own teeth.