Bubble and Squeak

Zoey loves to drink from a straw.

 She loves blowing bubbles into a straw as well.

 It's extra fun when she can do it in the tub.

 and the tub is already nice and bubbly :)

Good clean fun!

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

This is a good one.....Happy Friday!

The Pumpkin Patch

Ty was home today and I wanted to do the pumpkin patch on a weekday so after school and Sundance Singers we took the kids out for an afternoon of play at the Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch.

It's a  little more than just a pumpkin patch. They have all kinds of games and rides for the kids. It is ridiculously entertaining for them!

Max started out by shooting tennis ball cannons at some pirates and winning a foam sword.

and then he did a little bouncing :)

We kept trying to get him to do a flip, but he was content just to bounce up and down.

Mia took a turn. Her little ballerina self came out as she danced through the air.

Zackary didn't join in on the big jumpers, but he LOVED the bounce houses and slides!

and his very favorite activity was racing the mini four wheelers.

Such a happy face!

Max and Mia raced as well.

I didn't end up with a good picture of Mia racing, so here are just the boys.

There was a hay castle that was really just a very tall stack of hay.

The kids were still excited to climb to the top.

Zackary was happy to be there.

Mia was happy to be there.

I think Max may have been less than happy.

Did I mention my parents were with us!

They were a great help and SUPER fun :)

This last picture will show you what Zoey enjoyed most about the pumpkin patch.....a root beer italian cream soda....and my dad!

We had a great time. We ended up leaving with only 1 pumpkin because we had only $2 left after everything else, but we can get our pumpkins from Albertsons later!

You Are Beautiful - Grantsville West Stake (AKA: Cutest Thing Ever!)

Hurray!

It's National Chocolate Cupcake Day :)

I was unaware of the big event until last night when I read THIS post on Sally's blog.

Chocolate, cupcakes, and a national day of celebration....what could be better?

I found 2 recipes especially appealing;

THIS ONE for cookie dough frosted fudge brownie cupcakes.

 and

THIS ONE for snickers chocolate mousse cupcakes.

The kids will want to help make the cupcakes. They will lick the beaters and taste the batter with little wooden spoons. They will wait patiently for the cupcakes to cool and they will be delighted to frost and decorate them. When it comes time to eat the cupcakes, they will eat all of the frosting off the top and leave the rest for someone else.

That's just the way it works around here!

Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

That Time of Year

I was at Target this morning. I was there to look for fall decorations. I ended up with 2 fall scented candles, and a few other non-fall related items. I tried.

On the way to the checkout line I glanced at the magazines. I rarely buy magazines from the racks at the store. I subscribe to Self and read it on my elliptical. I treat myself if we are planning a road trip or a plane flight, but for the most part I don't buy magazines. Today was different, because the November/Thanksgiving issues were out. I LOVE Thanksgiving. I love planning and prepping for Thanksgiving. That being said, I bought the newest Food Network Magazine. I came home and started getting very excited about what I can make this year. I have a few recipes that I make every year, like THIS German Chocolate Pecan Pie that I have been making since Max was born, but I do love trying new things each year!

This year we are hosting Ty's older brother and his family as well as my parents and brothers. I am really looking forward to it.

I know we still need to get through Halloween, but if I wait that long Thanksgiving comes too quickly and then Christmas comes and goes and I don't know what happened, so Happy Early Thanksgiving Season!

Good Morning

Ty replaced my old dead car battery with a new working one :)

It was so awesome to turn the key this morning and hear the engine start right up.

After dropping the older kids off at school I did a grocery run with Zac and Zoey. We stocked up on bananas, apples, milk, yogurt, and graham crackers.

 Zoey wore her hair in pigtails!

Now she looks a lot more like her "bug" nickname.

I decided we may need these little mugs from Crate and Barrel.

They would be great for hot chocolate and cider!

The snickerdoodles we made yesterday were amazing. I don't even like snickerdoodles and I LOVED them. Mia and Zack snacked on them all afternoon and we may need to make more soon.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday

1. It's Monday and the car battery is dead. 

2. Ty is replacing it with a new one later this afternoon.

3. Friends and neighbors are driving my kids to and from school.

(This was Mia eating her breakfast cereal while wearing her Snow White bow)

 4. I am at home with these people:

Little Miss Zoey :)

 and Little Mister Zackary :)

They are pretty fun, and big helpers with laundry unfolding and cookie dough tasting.

 5. Speaking of cookie dough.

I am out of chocolate chips and since we cannot drive to the store to buy more maybe we will bake these:

Brown Butter Snickerdoodles! (recipe: HERE)

Have a great Monday!

Keeping the Sabbath....

Sunday is the day of the week that we set aside as our Sabbath. We attend our church meetings and we try to keep the day special by doing things a bit differently than we do on the other days of the week. Today Ty was on call so we were taking separate cars to church; just in case he ended up at work. Ty helped me get the kids into my car and I turned the key to start the engine.....and nothing. We were able to start the car with a jump and make it to church without a hitch. Sadly after church ended, the car refused to start again. We jumped it once more and came home. I decided pretty quickly that Ty would need to go out and buy a new battery for the car. I need my car to drive the kids everywhere all day long every day. Ty will be leaving tomorrow morning for work before 6 and there will be no opportunity to remedy the situation until he comes home! Surely we needed to get the battery today. Ty and I both felt like this was a very "Ox in the mire" like situation and while we try not to go to the store on Sundays as part of our Sabbath observance we were willing to make an exception. I was in the kitchen working on dinner and I told Max that Ty was going to go get a battery for the car. He looked at me with a surprised expression and said, "but it's Sunday." I explained that, yes it was Sunday, but I really needed my car to work in the morning so that I could take he and Mia to school. Max said that he could go with the neighbors to school. Max really does not like to drive with the neighbors to school. They have offered many times, but I take him because he is not comfortable with it. I asked him if he was really okay going to school with the neighbors so that we could avoid going to the store on a Sunday and he said that he was. I was so impressed with his willingness to make a sacrifice so that we could keep the Sabbath Day. He was so ready to do what needed to be done that I quickly decided to put the battery off until tomorrow. I made some phone calls and organized carpools to and from school for the kids. Everyone was willing and able to help us.

I am so impressed at the simple faith of my children and the wonderful example they are to me.

I am thankful that Max was willing to do the right thing and help me to do the right thing as well!

Friday Things

1.  The Pioneer Woman recommended THESE jeans from American Eagle. They are slightly boot cut skinny jeans and I think I need them!

2. The kids and I are going to bake up some cinnamon buns this afternoon. Max has been telling me all about the families in our ward that spent conference weekend enjoying home made cinnamon buns. It's not conference weekend anymore, but he needs to know that his mom can deliver when it comes to cinnamon buns!

3. Ty worked an 8 hour shift yesterday and will be working another one today. He usually works between 12 and 14 hour days. It made us laugh that his 8 hour day seemed so short! He was home for hours!

4. Who loves Mason Jars?

Me!

I found this cute tutorial that uses mod podge and food coloring to make colored jars. Super cute for gift giving!

5. Whoever came up with Ninjago has got to be making a killing.

$10 for one spinner. 

Zack and Max could play with them all day long!

6. We start rehearsing for the primary program on Sunday. I am kind of worried.

Happy Friday!