Busy Ty and Sweet Potatoes

1. Ty made it home last night, but he was called back in around midnight and he is still busy at work. 

2. In the church bag today; notepads, pencils, crayons, magnet boards, chocolate chip cookies, and cheerios.

3. We are learning the song, "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus" in primary. I think it is a beautiful Christmas song!

4. I have 3 sweet potatoes in the oven right now, but I still don't know for sure what I am doing with them for dinner. It will either be sweet potato gnocchi or sweet potato soup. 

5. We are driving to Utah on Thursday afternoon. I am not worried about the older 3 kids. They love movies and snacks, and they are old enough to understand the whole driving thing. I AM worried about Zoey. I would really hate for her to be miserable and scream the whole time. Any tips for traveling with a busy 1 year old?

Saturday

I love weekends!

I love waking up on Saturday mornings and not having to get everyone ready for school. It is so lovely :)

Today Ty was on call and I was at home with the kids. We spent the morning crafting and listening to Christmas music.

After crafts we watched "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl". I recorded it when it was on earlier this week. Max and Mia liked it so much that we had to watch it again!

 When all the movie watching was through we made some cookies.

I saw these Soft Gingersnaps with Butterscotch Chips on Sally's Baking Addiction a few days ago. We have been waiting for a good time to make them.

We actually left out the butterscotch chips so that Zoey could eat the cookies too. They were super yummy. Mia loved the dough and I stopped myself at 3 cookies.

I sent the kids out for a little bit of sunshine before it got too dark to play. We had a wonderful Saturday!

Thanksgiving Table

I have very few seasonal decorations. It was not a priority while Ty was in school and we had very little money and even now I find it hard to buy decorations, but I do love how festive they can make a room feel!

Our dining room is a bit more colorful today!

(I especially like Mia's kindergarten turkey!)

 I hung our Thankful chain from the chandelier.

I love fall colors. I have always been a fan of red, orange, and yellow. In my wedding bouquet I had red and yellow daisies.

This is Zoey with 2 bruises on her forehead. Learning to walk is hard.

She was playing under the table while I was working:)

Do you go all out for holiday decorations?

Swings, Falls, and Cocoa

Mia has been participating in her school choir, the Sundance Singers. Rehearsals are on Thursday afternoons after school. I typically bring the last of Max's homework for the week and have him work on it so that when Mia is done we can head home to a homework free few days!

Today I decided not to bring any homework and I took the boys and Zoey out to the playground while the choir sang. I took Zoey on the swings with me. I haven't been on a swing in years. I don't know if it was because I was wearing heavy boots or because I was holding Zoey in my lap, but it was hardcore exercise and by the time I was done my thighs were hurting. I guess I should spend a bit more time hanging out on the playground!

When there were just a few minutes left of rehearsal I took everyone back into the multi-purpose room to wait for Mia. We were probably there 30 seconds when Zack fell flat on his face and came up screaming and covered in blood. I rushed to pick him up. Another mom that I know was there and she said she could watch Zoey for me. I ran Zack to the bathroom to have a look. Luckily it was nothing serious, just 2 fat bloody lips, a bloody, nose, and a sad face.

I cleaned him up as best I could and we came back out to collect everyone. I decided to take all of the kids out for hot cocoa. Zackary especially loves hot cocoa and I wanted to give him a happy treat. We walked into Starbucks, with Zackary's face covered in dried blood, and I ordered all of the drinks. We were a happy little group drinking our cocoa and warming up. I am sure we looked ridiculous but sometimes that's okay!

I am very thankful that tomorrow is Friday and that Monday is a holiday.

Hurray for surviving the week and for 3 day weekends!

Thursday Things

1. Last night I was asked how many children I had and how old they were. I heard myself say that I had four children ages; 7, 5, 3, and almost 1. I felt blessed and very old!

2. It is a sweater and boots day. Yay!

3. This Monday is a holiday from school for the kids and a day off for Ty. I am thinking a day trip sounds perfect :)

4. Zoey had chocolate milk for the first time this morning. It was a huge hit!

5. I think cake-pops are gross. (random, I know, but people were talking about them this morning...)

6. Thanksgiving is almost here and I have been getting my menu plan together. I have several pumpkin pie recipes to try. What do you think?

There's this Nutella Swirled Pumpkin Pie from Sally's Baking Addiction

A more traditional Pumpkin Pie from Cooking with the Big Dogs

 and this Candied Pecan Pumpkin Pie from the Primlani Kitchen

I think Ty would prefer a traditional pumpkin pie, but I love recipes that take an old idea and give it a new twist. I may end up making more than one.

Happy Thursday!

Bows and More Boys

 Mia has started to be quite particular about her hair. She has ideas and thoughts about the styling process. We had talked about cutting it, but she told me we couldn't cut it because then she would be unable to put it into a bun for ballet.

 Wednesdays are dance days and Mia always wears her hair in a bun to school in preparation for ballet later. I am very much enjoying all this girly-ness!

On the other end of the spectrum I have Zackary. He is all boy and not concerned at all with his hair.

Today his friend Jonas is here to play. Both boys are wearing their own packs filled with "gear".

 They are busy constructing train tracks....

....and demanding quesadillas :)

Boys

Max spent yesterday afternoon with his friend, Ian.

They went to the park and got seriously muddy. They had a great time exploring. Ian's mom sent me some pictures of the fun.

 (Max, Ian, other friend....sorry I don't know who he is!)

I am so glad that Max has some great friends. I am so glad that they can get together and be boys.

Little boys are messy and loud, but I am thankful for them in my life!

Hope

I went to bed last night feeling discouraged. I was worried and concerned for our world and for my own family. My thoughts quickly turned to my God and my Savior. How blessed we are to know that our Redeemer lives. I found hope and strength in the knowledge that it is only through our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can be saved. It is time to be the best we can be. We can fortify our homes with strength by reading the scriptures and sharing them with our children and our friends. We can prepare to make good choices and difficult choices. We can be obedient to the Lord's commands and live so that we can be prompted by the spirit to do His will.

I have hope. I have faith.

"The future is as bright as your faith."

-Thomas S. Monson

Election Day and Jam

1. I Voted! 

Several weeks ago, by mail, but still....Happy Election Day!

2. It is a mini muffin baking day at my house. I bought 200 mini muffin liners covered in gingerbread men and reindeer to delight my little people.  There will be chocolate muffins, blueberry muffins, and some peanut butter chocolate chip muffins. Yay!

3. Zoey took a few steps this morning. I just weaned her and now she is starting to walk. I am thrilled to see her grow and develop, but sad to say goodbye to the teeny squishy baby she was. Thank goodness other people keep having babies so that I can continue to enjoy the squishiness.

4. I love southern California, but sometimes, in November, I start to wish that it was slightly less....HOT!

5. Have you tried this jam: Bonne Maman'?

It is the best jam! I typically buy the raspberry, because it is Ty's favorite, but the Pioneer Woman recommended the Blueberry so I gave it a try. I spread it on hot bread with butter and it was the best thing ever. You should buy some :)

Happy Tuesday!

Thankful For....

My Children!

I love these kids so much :)

I am so thankful for the opportunity to love them. They are the best. They give me so much! I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for sending them to me!

My boys!

Zackary and Max are great brothers and friends.

They are hilarious. Just ask them. They think so too!

 Miss Mia who has decided that she would like to be a pop-star, after watching the Barbie, "Princess and the Pop-Star" movie.

She has been making up her own songs and singing them into a homeade microphone. I'm not ready to recommend her for American Idol yet, but maybe soon :)

 and "Princess Pea", as Ty likes to call our Zoey.

(because she is the smallest!)

She is our darling and we love her!

I love them.

I always will.