BOO!!!

Happy Halloween!!! It sure was a fun time, and the kids had a blast. We started the day out, enjoying a breakfast with some friends, carved our pumpkins, ate chili and brownies at Grammy's, got on costumes, gathered bags, and hit the streets to fill up on as much candy as we could...and oh boy, did the candy come in. Tai's final count was 144 pieces of candy....UGH! Now comes the hard part for Mom, keeping the candy intake down to a minimum each day...yeah, good luck on that one! Anyway, it was a great night, and soooo beautiful out, take a look for yourself...
Can't complain about the beauty that surrounds us as we walk each street in search of treats!!!

One of our jack o lanterns got a little sick after so much candy...

Go Utes!!!

A Friendly Witch!!

And then, of course, there are the costumes...
Our Cute "little bunny"

Super Girl

The "tough" football player

The "we're not sure what to call it" costume..

Way to stay in your costume's character, Tiare!!

FALL!!!

I have always looked at Fall as a time to reflect. As the leaves begin to change and fall from the trees, our lives, too, begin to take on a new chapter. Bring back the days of pumpkin bread, soups, warm flannel sheets on the kid's beds, hot chocolate and spiced apple cider, making my home cozy with the scents of the season...a new cranberry orange candle or cinnamon scented pine cones, nights of snuggling in soft, down blankets, warm fuzzy pajamas, pumpkins on the porch, oh...how the list goes on. Although I am a sucker for the long, lazy days of summer, I must admit that I am eager for these cozy, fall days. How lucky I am to look outside and see the brilliant vibrant colors that splash around outside of my window, the red that blazes across the mountains, the frost-tipped grass in the mornings that shimmer, yes...I am lucky to live where I live, and be surrounded by good beauty, good friends, and a wonderful family. Which brings me to my next point...every fall I take a few days and allow myself to feel a little melancholy. Not because it is cold and my summer days are gone, but because fall brings on the realization that another year is coming to an end. My kids are getting one year older, one year closer to beginning their own lives, also, one more year has passed that I have been without loved ones who have gone on to the next life, and I, who still feel 18 inside, am adding one more year to my life. Do I want time to freeze? No, that would be silly. Time equals memories, and there are SO many more to make, but, pause...I wish I had a pause button to just sit back and look around whenever I want to. Then, when I am ready to go on I can resume and continue playing the game. But, alas, that won't happen. So NOW is the time. This is the time to love, live, laugh, and enjoy. And now that the cold is here and we are drawn to the warmth of our home, it is time to cuddle a little longer, listen a little closer, love a little deeper, and enjoy a whole lot more! I am blessed. I love my family, I love this time of year, I love all that I have. I couldn't ask for more. So welcome Fall...and thank you for all that you bring to my life.
Picking out pumpkins at our favorite pumpkin patch...

Having a picnic in our front yard under the beautiful changing leaves of our tree...

At the Pumpkin Patch...

After the final football game of the season...

She's the Birthday Girl!!!!

October 22nd, she turned 6!

Here are the presents that she looked at ALL DAY and BEGGED ALL DAY to open...

Here are the cupcakes she sprinkled herself...

Here is the excitement she couldn't hold back when she opened her birthday wish come true...

Here are the gifts that Mom carefully picked out...

Here is the birthday party that friends celebrated with her...

Here are the girls patiently waiting to watch High School Musical 3...

Here is the family that loves this girl...

And HERE is the girl that is 5 no more, the girl that has to use two hands to show how old she is, the girl that loves to dance, create, play, laugh, be silly, and fun! The girl I will always remember when I first held her and looked into her big brown eyes and thought she was the most perfect thing ever. The girl I love to see everyday as she runs to my car with a big smile on her face after kindergarten. This is Malia!! Happy Birthday Malia, I love you...

Fun Times!!!

This past weekend we got to have our cousins come up from Las Vegas! We had a blast just hanging out and being silly. Here are some of our favorite pictures...

The two "studs" of the group, Tai and Kainoa...


Having fun and playing dress up, Malia and Maile...
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I don't even have words to describe what was going on here, Tiare and Kaylee ...


Brotherly/Sisterly/Cousin Love!! Malia, Tai, Kainoa and Maile


We're the happiest when we're with our cousins! Tiare, Kaylee, Malia, Kiana, Maile, and Tiani

Oops...She's Clumsy Again!!

Soooooo....I'm not always the most graceful person! I've been known to run into curbs, thus popping tires, tripping down the stairs, thus breaking my foot, falling on my behind as I attempt to sit on a chair that has wheels, and the list could go on. HOWEVER...how does standing in front of about 40 people, surrounded by a room full of girls that YOU are supposed to be an example to, and knocking down pictures of Jesus sound??? Well...lucky for me, I got the chance to experience this! Tonight we had a wonderfully nice dinner for the Young Women and their families at our church. I, one of the leaders, "got" to sing with the girls at the close of our meeting. During the song, as I was leaning against the wall, I gracefully fell into the picture and knocked it down. The room was silent, I was red, and my dear friend next to me was cracking up, which, in turn, gave me the uncontrollable hysterics! Imagine standing in front of these girls that look up to you, their parents, who trust you with their daughters, your own daughter and husband, and the women you work with watch you as you hit the picture of the Savior, knock it down and then laugh about it!!! Not to mention, during the closing prayer I had a hard time controlling myself and had to squeeze my mouth shut so I wouldn't burst out in laughter. Obviously, it is time for me to either grow up, pay more attention to what I am doing, or be released from being in charge of being an example to teenage girls!!! Where is the maturity level here???