Feeling Thankful

We had a quick opportunity to take "retakes" of family pictures this weekend. The boys were in a way better mood and they turned out great. Between the two "photo shoots" we got some wonderful pictures. I am so grateful for my little family and am constantly amazed at how blessed I am to have three healthy children. Ben made some Thanksgiving feathers at school today and the things he was grateful for were: 1. Star Wars, 2. Movies, 3. Jeffey and, 4. Spence (preschool buddy). It warms my heart that Jeff made the cut! I truely am overwhelmed by the joy and purpose they bring to my life.

I am also grateful for my husband. He is supportive of all the things I try with the boys and our home and gets excited about the little things. One of my favorite things is to hear him use words or phrases with the boys that I coined. I am so proud of what a hardworker he is and that he keeps getting A's at school (we can't quite figure out how, with everything else he has to do). We have so much fun together and I love going through all that life brings with him. Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends.

Great Christmas Gifts

My friends make these and I love how original they look. Check out the link for a cute, affordable Christmas gift.
http://www.unlikelyletters.blogspot.com/

Bringing Back the Magic

The first year of marriage was so simple and so much fun. We lived in a little apartment and had not a care in the world! Then in what feels like a second, life got so complicated and busy. Last night we took a trip back in time and all slept on the floor in our new apartment. Yes... thats right, we scalled down all our things and tucked them tightly in a three bedroom basement "hometel" (as Ben calls it). Life is simple again! I'm sure I will tire of no yard or garage, but for the time being it is a fun little adventure until we find a house we like. The boys think it is great and the extra thirty minutes I had to get the kids to school this morning was golden. It was so heartwarming to watch my little men carry twenty #10 cans into the house. As completely exhausting as this process has been, I do love moving. There is something magical about the smell of new carpet and fresh paint, and the completely spotless house.
I feel a little like a newly wed again and we do definately need another honeymoon when all this is done!
Thanks in advance to everyone who helped or loaned their husbands to make this happen.

Spooky Week

We have had such a great month getting ready for Halloween. It feels like what used to be one night when I was young has now turned into a week long process with even more prep time. I guess if I didn't make such a big out of it, it wouldn't be so much work but this is the most fun part of my job! Our "Ghosty the Mosty" Monday night pizza.

Carving the pumpkin with Daddy. Our family is lacking the talent of others in this area, but the boys sure had fun.

Visiting our grandparents, showing off our costumes.

At the office with Grandma Jones and cousins. Ben had already disrobed from school.

Halloween night at the ward "Trunk or Treat". I loved that our ward did it the same night as Halloween. Getting Lukey to wear this much of his costume was a chore and one day was enough. We had a great turn out this year and it was very well planned and the food was great. The boys had fun with all their friends.

After telling me for weeks that he wanted to be Yoda, he decided at the last minute that what it took to look like Yoda wasn't worth it. (Fickle two-year old!) Oh, well I had fun making the hat and he loved his belt that held his "Lightsaver".

I think Jeffey was a dead ringer for young Anikan and he kept telling me that Annikan didn't have a light saber when he was a "wittle boy". He loved his costume and didn't take it off all day.

I spent the least amount of time on the costumes this year and the boys had the most fun. Ben loved being Obi Wan and practiced the stance from the movie all week. It was so much fun to watch them trick or treat. Luke loved the candy and eagerly went door to door gathering treats. Ben commented: "These people are giving us candy and they don't know us". Oh, what a wonderful concept!

My Jedi Knights

Lukey was exatic when we let him take the Yoda hat off. Amazing how some $6 light saber and two bed sheets can make my little men so happy! The fun continued when the great pumpkin came and took the candy they left out and left them each a fun Star Wars figurine. Mommy doesn't have to say no to treats and they are entertained for our with their new toys. Now that is what I call a "win-win" situation. Happy Halloween.

Many Thanks and Moving!

Thanks to my friend's husband Chad for stepping in at the last minute and snapping a few pics of our family. I think we may have one out of 236 that might make the Christmas card. With limited time and a very stubborn, cranky little boy (as shown above, in one of the few happy moments) it was a tough job! We are so busy right now that we took the opportunity when we could. We have found great renters for our home and will be moving in three weeks. We are still looking for a final destination, but I think it will all work out. We are so excited to be closer to most things in our lives and very sad to leave behind our wonderful life here. This has been the longest I have ever lived in one home and have grown so close to our ward and little community. It will be bittersweet to leave one "family" for another. I will update when we know more and will post more pictures after much photoshop time! The holidays are here....

Gearing Up!

It is so fun to get excited about Halloween with the boys. They can't get enough of all things gross and spooky this year. It was a little harder to steer the boys towards matching costumes this year, but they are ready and I can't wait for Friday. One highly-altered pattern, some slighty creepy Star Wars websites (I had no idea the devotion people give to these movies!), and two glorious days of sewing and we have some pretty handsome Jedi this year. Here are some pics of Halloween's past: 2004- Our little monkey
2005- The Hunter and the Hunted
2006- Fun party at the Castles
2006- A very pregnant mommy and her little dinosaurs (Thanks Sandra for sewing while I laid on the couch)

2007- My little Super-Heros (and the spider that bit spiderman)

Something about Jeffey

We love Jeffey, he adds a certain spice to our family, to say the least. He has a number of friends that I can't see and the most incredible imagination. He aks me each day of preschool: "This is the first day of school, right Mommy?" There are days when I am so glad I have a front row seat to watch this kid figure out life and how to make it fun. Lately we've had some great little moments with Jeff that I don't want to forget:

(Waiting for my sister at the mall)
Jeff: Lets play a game to see who can see Auntie first, that be a good idea mom?
Me: Sure would Jeff
Jeff: Lukey, she has red hair, actually orange, just look for her kay?

Last week the boys were saying goodbye to Brian in the morning and Brian told Jeff he couldn't hug him because he had a dirty face. Jeffey promptly went over to the chair in the living room, wiped his face on it and then gave his daddy a big hug. I guess no hug wasn't an option!

I am trying to see the world the way Jeff does, he can see the bright side of everything...I want to be more like him. Thanks for making me smile Jeffer Babies!