Happy Saint Patricks Day

Brynlee with her Saint Patricks Crown

Avery doning her sideways smile. She looks just like little Cindy Lou Who.

The Boys enjoying their green dinner. I enjoy it more than they do, the whole anticipation and planning for such a fun day makes me happy . There is nothing better than seeing my childs smile filled with complete JOY and utter happiness!

Green Eggs and Ham. I finally figured out how to make the eggs look like Sam I Am's. Fill a spray bottle with green food coloring and spray it on the eggs. It only took three years to figure it out.

We made our Cereal and milk green for breakfast. Kade's favorite color is GREEN, I think his new favorite holiday just might be Saint Patrick's Day

Who else, other than Grandma is fit to read Green Eggs and Ham to the kids!

"Can I go to the Funeral with Jack?"

I have been meaning to document this sweet conversation with Kade. He loves to talk and think about heaven. His Grandpa Hess passed away when he was just a few months old, this has given us several opportunities to talk about what happens when we die. I guess we still need to work on a few things?

Kade: Where's Jack going mommy?

MaRea: A funeral.

Kade: What's a funeral?

MaRea: When someone dies everyone gets together and share their love for that person.

Kade: You mean Jack gets to go to heaven?!!!! I want to go to heaven too, can I go?

MaRea: No he doesn't get to go to heaven, the person who dies gets to go to heaven, like grandpa Hess. Those who love that person gather to talk about him, then we bury the body in the ground.

Kade: Oh mommy I love digging can I go, I can bury him.

MaRea: No, I don't think they want a 4 year old digging the grave.

Kade: Mommy I have my very own shovel!

MaRea; Kade look at the ground it's frozen, it would be really hard to dig!

Kade: And cold mommy!

This smile kills me, she reminds me of the little girl from the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

1st piggy tails!

Avery got her first pair of piggy tails today. Oh she is cute, but man she is a little fire cracker!

Make a Smilebox collage

Kade's Christmas Party

Kade had a wonderful Christmas party. He loves parties, I can't imagine who he got that from? That cute little man had been waiting for his big day for all of his friends to come over. He was cute the night before we made 12 gingerbread houses, he loved every minute of it. He helped, mix, cute, bake and of course worry if the the little pieces were going to break. We are so lucky to be his parents.

Our cute little host.

Trying to get those darn gingerbread houses to stand. I guess I need to find a better pattern for next year.

Kyle was Santa, and I attempted to be Miss Clause. Kyle told the children the story of the "True Meaning of Christmas." I think for the most part the kids thought he was Santa. Kade thought it was weird that Santa had the same voice as Daddy. Once Kim told him that it Santa was really his Daddy he wasn't scared.

Christmas Tree

For family home evening we went and picked up a little tree for Kade, he loves it. We learned about the true meaning of the Christmas symbols. Here are a few I found interesting

The Star: A heavenly sign of prophecy fulfilled long, long ago- The shining hope of mankind.

The Color Red: The first color of Christmas, symbolizing that Savior's sacrifice for all.

Christmas Tree: Evergreen- the second color of Christmas shows everlasting light and life. The needles point up to heaven.

The Bell: Rings out to guide lost sheep back to the fold, signifying that all are precious in His eyes.

The Candle: A mirror of starlight, reflecting our thanks for the star of Bethlehem.

The Candy Cane: Represents the shape of the shepherd's crook, used to bring lost lambs back to the fold.

The Wreath: A symbol of the never ending eternal value of love… having no end

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• This little girl sure loves her DADDY, it warms my soul to see them together!

Kade dragging his tree to the car. Kade was so excited to pay his $2.00 for his very own Christmas tree. We went to Walmart and he picked out some lights, I let him get colored I had to tell myself "this is his tree, not mine!" I'm not a fan of colored lights. It was such a fun family home evening.

Angie is selling Christmas tress this year across from Zollingers Cold Storage. She has worked really hard to get everything ready. If your in need a beautiful Christmas tree stop by her little Stand from 2-9 pm. They have the best customer service in the valley, at least that is what she says.

Halloween Overload

I know, I know, I have way to many pictures of Halloween posted! I haven't done any scrap booking or journaling in the past months or years so this it, this counts as both. My poor kids are so deprived of a mother who loves them and has their lives chronologically indexed. Get over it kids things aren't changing:).

We had a wonderful time trick-or-treating down in Ogden with Kyle's family. Kyle has the most wonderful brother in the world. My family thinks Kyle is nearly perfect in every way, I tell them they haven't met his brother Travis. The man cooks, gardens, cleans, serves, works hard and is dedicated, kind, genuine, and never stops serving! Those are just a few wonderful things he shares with those he meets. Kyle's father passed away the first year we were married so I often think of Travis as how Kyle's dad must have been.

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Avery only cared about one thing, the candy bars in her bucket! Have I mentioned she is becoming so spoiled and might I say a brat. Love and Logic is not even working.

Halloween Night was gorgeous, it was perfect!

Kade and Tyler had a blast.

The Trick-or-treating crew. Justin was the Grim Reaper, Rachel was Hanna Montana, Tyler was Optimus Prime, Kade a Pirate.

Kyle and Avery, these two together warms my heart.

Carving Pumpkins

Avery was a Skunk again. Last year I bought two skunk costumes for $1.99 at Children's Place, She was using both! Plus I couldn't resist she is so stinking CUTE!

My delicious Skunk.

Kade at school with his teacher. He is loving preschool, I think he would go everyday if he could. I miss little man when he is gone.

Kade thinks pirates act like Ninjas. He was a Ninja last year so, I guess he thinks Halloween costumes are a progressive thing, why not?

Murder Mystery Party

We actually had a successful organized Murder Mystery Party with the Thatcher family. It was a blast, everyone put a lot of time into their costumes, characters and food. Who wouldn't enjoy a Murder Mystery Dinner with a bunch loud people!

Linda was the arrogant witch. Her costume was perfect! She wanted to cast a spell on the vampire to kill him.

Brent had the lead role in the Murder Mystery, he was murdered! He did a fabulous job playing the role of the vampire. Melissa was an executioner, but she did not kill the vampire.
I had been working on my mummy costume for a few weeks. I changed it the night before the party. What I thought would be the winning costume was quite a disappointment. It took an hour to wrap just my arms, half my legs, and head. When I got done wrapping one leg I would start wrapping something else and half of what I wrapped had fallen off:(. The mummy in "This Is It" movie was much better. Kyle was the host he was funny, charming, and well organized. I thought he was so darn cute!

Lee was really funny all night, you just didn't want to get to close to him. I think he made up his own character. Kim was a crazy Alien, they got best costume of the night;).

Kolby was the swamp creature, he put a lot of time into his costume so I guess it is fitting that he got the most votes for best costume. He won an IHome. Angie was Frankenstein's Bride. She is preparing for a similar event in the future, I think.
Karen was Dr. Jeckle Hyde. I loved her costume and character she played the role perfect. What a fun sister!
Riley was Freddie Kruger. His face looked much better in real life. I think Riley should start a creative business called " The Perfect Costume." He can come up with several great ideas for everyone. Lindsey made a very scary clown. She spent two hours on Youtube learning how paint her face, she was the perfect scary clown.
We didn't really get any good pictures of the fun food and activities of the night. This was suppose to be ribs with a knife in the heart.

Kade's Long Awaited Halloween Party!!

Kade has been waiting, and waiting for his special Halloween dinner party for all his buddies. We started planning and talking about it way to early. It was one solid month of getting asked everyday how many days until his party. Kade and all of his friends had a blast.

These are some of the fun treats they had to eat. The eyeballs are doughnut holes dipped in white chocolate stabbed with a fork, Carmel apples, and creature cupcakes.

My mom dressed up as a which. She was such a fantastic witch, the kids loved her.

Kade insisted I be a Pirate too, this is the best picture I have.

The Haunted Mansion Dinner party for all the boys. It turned out great we got black plastic table wrap and made a little room, lighted some candles, and turned on the fogger, I forgot the scary music:(!

They loved the fake bloody hand.

They each got their own mummy goblet. I went through three sets of goblets to find the perfect ones, I love them!

Eyeballs and spaghetti, they actually tasted really good too! You just put a green olive in the middle of the eye ball.

The pirate host, this little man was in heaven all day!

Megatron, played by Max.

The one and the only Mr. Incredible, played by Jack.

The deadly Dracula, played by Ryland. He was so worried that his face paint was just perfect.

Indiana Jones, played by Carson.

The famous Magician, played by James.

Optimus Prime, played by Tyler.