My Favorite Things

Can you solve the puzzle?
Our Kiddos:


"Thing 1"

"Thing 2"

"Thing 3"

"little Thing 4 in the BLUE BUNDLE!"

We are excited about our growing family: Our little GUY will be here at the end of April!

Does the name make a difference?

Apparently to Taylin it can make a president a winner or not. Taylin has really picked up on Barak Obama. She even told me to vote for that Rock Bama guy before I went to vote. I did vote against my daughter this time. Her little four year old vote stood above mine. I hope I can win some in her teenage years...unless she has changed her views!



We were reading the Old Testament (these have proven to be some memorable times in many ways). We had just read that God took Moses. Taylin asked an obvious question, "Where did God take Moses." I explained he was old, it was time for him to die, so he went to live with God. We have had the death conversation a few times already. We have had a few more conversations of things I never imagined so early in her life. We ended the reading for the night with Moses' death. I told her we would read about the new prophet, Joshua. I then explained how when President Hinckley was taken by God (to stay with the wording earlier), President Monson was called as the Latter-Day Prophet. She proceeded to tell me that when President Monson dies that Rock Bama guy will be the prophet. I then had to explain a little bit about the separation between church and state. We hit the politics and gospel in one night! His name really stands out. I hope she will come to realize there is more in a name when choosing friends and her future husband! She picks up on so much, even though it isn't everything.

The Ten Commandments

We have been reading the Old Testament as a family. Cohen only wants to take note on some of the most exciting things...like bloody water or cutting heads off. He gets concerned. Taylin amazes me at how much she absorbs. We got to the ten commandments...all at once was a bit much. We will break them down next time. For this time we were able to remember and "apply" a few.


Anywho, the next day we were talking about their playing pretend. Taylin was telling Cohen we can't kill it is a commandment and we can't pretend to be Hannah Montana either. I recalled talking about "Thou shalt not kill," but had to flashback to remember, Thou shalt not pretend to be Hannah Montana." She picked it up pretty good as I tried to make it age appropriate. She was referring to "Thou shalt not have any other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not worship idols." I had used the example of Hannah Montana. If "we" made our life all about Hannah Montana and hung her posters all over the room, etc., etc., it would be breaking the commandments. I already had to discourage her hanging a poster last spring of Hannah Montana (from a Wal-mart ad) on her wall. Just one of my pet peeves.


I am still not sure about how to deal with the kids pretending to kill. Although they are always brought back to life at the hospital (in the kids' imaginative play). Wow, Scott and White is really the place to go! I try to encourage minor injuries or sickness. I know...I am lame.

Super Halloween at Storybook Village

After much traveling and a family back together, we got the kids dressed up and enjoyed the festivities of Halloween. Last year we all dressed up as Alice in Wonderland characters. I was able to put everyone together with limited sewing or buying...thanks to Goodwill! This year was all sewing, so David and I were not characters. The kids repeatedly asked what David and I were going to be. I joked and said I would be the book for their problem solving (we did Super Why this year, a PBS show). So everyone expected to see a book as the kids told everyone. Sorry, David and I were the nice parents this year...named by Taylin. I told her she might want to tell people what we were they might not get it with my tired eyes after late night sewing. Missouri set me back more than I had planned and the oops on Cohen's costume.


I am embarrassed to post a picture of Cohen's original, but I thought it was pretty funny. The problem is the proportions. I wanted to make sure he had enough room for his bum. Well, that was there as well as an extended torso...maybe if he were built like Micheal Phelps, it would work.
I am a big fan of patterns and fitting kids when they are awake instead of going by their PJ's. Not a good idea. I didn't get a picture with him in it, because he could only tolerate it for a few minutes. So instead I bought some green sweats, which I should have done from the beginning...simplicity. I cut the belt from his original costume. For the super hero underwear he got to wear my cheerleading bloomers from high school. Luckily, (I am not sure what is lucky about wearing your mom's bloomers.) I found a pair that didn't have 'Coon' paws on the bum. Hey, the cape would have covered them anyway.



Cohen was Super Why...he has the power to Read. Taylin was Princess Presto (she was able to be a princess again!)...she has the power to spell.
Kennedy was Wonder Red..with word power.



I had to include the one they were standing...the saggy drawers. He was so much more comfortable in the sweats.


We participated in the ward chili cook-off and trick-or-treat. We are going to have to limit the events we attend or stop having kids. Just with two filling their bags for two trick-or-treats (we did one in Missouri) makes for a lot of candy. On second thought I will make small, but cute trick-or-treat bags next year. Since I have insisted on not making costumes next year. We plan on going to get 50% off costumes for next year. We already have a plan for what we are going to be...wait and see! We will see if I stick to my simplicity rule next year!


For kicks: I was asked to help a friend with a Nacho Libre costume. I don't have a picture of him in it, so I had David model. Their measurements are a little different, but I was just making sure the look was right. If we had known, I would have thrown some stuff together, so David could be his sidekick. I can't recall the characters name at the moment. I will spare you all the full body shot, since David didn't have the red shorts to cover the tights. A bit too revealing!


We didn't decorate our pumpkins until the following day. The kids had a great time.


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Thank goodness for washable paints. Even mom had some fun! The time it takes to wash off depends on the texture and make of the wall. Hey, it came off and we had lots of fun. Kennedy wasn't sure that making a mess was a good idea. Once it got anywhere but her hands, she wanted nothing to do with it.
Then we baked the seeds. I did a little garlic and they were so yummy. Next year we will have to do a pumpkin per family member for more seeds. Those were sooo good. I am trying not to eat them all in one sitting!