Visit to the Natural History Museum

A bunch of wild animals.....

Brian in Africa

Megan digging for dinosaur bones

Ahh dirt...my favorite!

Building pyramids in the Egyptian Exhibit

I want my mummy!

In an effort to help the kids be more thankful for what they have, I created a Thanksgiving advent calendar this year (see earlier post).  Each day has something we are thankful for such as, "We are thankful for books...go to the library and check out a book"  Last Saturday, it was "We are thankful for our car.  Drive to a museum or activity together.  The kids chose to go to the Natural History Museum because we haven't been there yet.  One of the favorites was the ocean, or fishy room, as Colton called it.  The kids got to watch the workers feed small sharks and rays.  Colton did NOT like the life size T-rex in the preshistoric room that moved and growled but the other kids did.  They also had an African room, a rain forest, children's discovery area, animal room, Egyptian exhibit (my favorite!) and a Nevada room.  We had a great time and were defiantely thankful to spend time together.  I have to say that I don't think the kids took the "We are thankful for our mom" day very seriously.  I think we had more fighting and whining that day than usual.  Oh well, it's the thought that counts right?

Trunk or Treat

Witch and crayon

Fireman and hockey puck

Cute kids!!

Hockey player and hockey puck

Our ward had a hotdog and sloppy joe dinner for Halloween.  Afterwards we combined with another ward and did trunk or treat.  Fun and plenty of candy was had by all.  I was glad Brian decided to dress up this year.  Colton was really good at saying "treat or treat" this year.  Parker had fun skating around to get his candy and Megan was way too cute to be a witch.

Pumpkin Carving fun

Megan and her cat pumpkin

Jack Skellington!  And two cute boys!

Pirate Pumpkin!

Our family had a lot of fun carving pumpkins the other night.  Here are the results of our labors....

Things I've been up to...and crazy boys!!

Cute Halloween wreath made with black burlap.

Thangsgiving advent calendar I designed.  Each day has an activity associated with something we should be thankful for...ie we are thankful for Dad...do something nice for Dad today.  Hopefully it helps the kids appreciate what they have!

I have really been in a crafting mode lately.   These are my latest creations, along with the Christmas presents I have been making.  We have been really busy lately with dance, hockey, scouts, pee wee soccer, art,  etc, etc.  I feel like moms taxi but it's fun to see my kids progressing in their talents. 

I have also been having fun with toddler boys and the fun things they do.  Here is just a sampling:

1.  Peeing on the floor at costco.
2.  Streaking through a pack meeting.
3.  Burping and fluffing all through his older brother's school presentation on a famous Nevadan.
4.  Rearranging the Happy Halloween blocks with his older brother to spell "Pee on Al"
5.  Playing Hamster ball.

Gotta love him....it's never a dull moment.

Family fun at the corn maze!

Riding the wagon out to the mazes

All the kiddos climbing the haystack

Megan and her cute friend in the maze

A cute boy getting lost in the corn

I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to eat the maze!

Our family has a tradition of going to the corn maze in St. George every October.  The kids had a great time: ropin' cows, having duck derby races, sliding on the corn slide, riding the cow train, hanging out in the petting zoo and riding the horse merry go round.  We all enjoyed the ride in the hay wagon out to the maze and had lots of fun getting lost and trying to find our way back out.

I've been busy!!

Cute Halloween PJ's for cute kids!!

Pearl necklace and tote bag

Frankenstein light up glass block

Halloween Spooky Train

Because life threw me a curve ball I decided to turn to my creative side.  These are just a few of the things I have been working on lately...

Colton's Gymnastic's Class

Playing in the donut

On the balance beam

Climbing thru the barrell

Hanging upside down like a monkey

Happy boy!

Colton has been taking a gymnastics class at the rec. center for the past year.  He has really loved it and can pull himself up on the bars and walk across the balance beam all by himself.  We are proud of our little monkey!