Happy Halloween!

Ok, I am up really late tonight. I had to make sugar cookies for preschool tomorrow morning and I didn't get started until really late because I had an activity at the church tonight. Hopefully the cookies taste good. The kids are going to decorate them so I am pretty sure the only thing the cookie is good for is for attaching mounds of frosting and candy. You know, like a pedestal. Anyway, I just wanted to wish anyone who reads this a very safe and happy Halloween. We are going to a friends' house for dinner and then heading over to the student dorms for a little Halloween carnival and some delicious trick or treating. Boo is very excited, Bo has no idea what she is in for quite yet. It should be fun. Well, I am actually falling asleep as I type, but we just want you to have a happy ghouls day!

Goofin' Around in the PJs

The girls were playing together this morning and this is the result. We love the video. This is how they are together most of the time.

Driving Down South

We went south this last weekend and here are a few pictures from our trip. Most of them are of the mountains in the Matanuska Valley. They are quite picturesque and majestic. I thought they turned out quite well. We rented a car to drive down (David won't use our own car because he thinks the roads are too bad). We ended up getting a super fancy car with leather seats (don't worry, they were heated... very posh). It was a fun time, unnerving at times because of the snow and icy roads, but a fantastic family adventure.

This is Mt. McKinley. It has been rare, in all our drives down, to see it this clear. It is incredibly beautiful.

Another picture of Mt. McKinley.

Not Mt. McKinley.

This is what pictures look when you don't see much sun and the flash is on.

So very happy!

Butterfly gal.

'Cause You Gotta Have Cake, Oh, You Gotta Have Cake

That's for all you old George Michael fans out there, if you recognize my tweaked version of his once hit song. Ok, in the last two weeks I have made these cakes (except for the last one... I made that this summer, but forgot to put it on here earlier). David wanted to make sure that I put pictures up here for all to see. I am still not very good at it, but I am trying (and it is fun eating the mistakes). Here you go! (I will get the summer pictures up soon. There are only about four hundred or so of them so it will be quite easy, you know. Don't worry, I will attempt to narrow it down).

I made this for David's mom (the girls call her Nona) for her birthday. I had never done the flowers before so it was kind of challenging, but fun.

Just a side view.

Now this is what you get when you have left over frosting and flowers... a play dough cake. As I was frosting it I was laughing (I had left over cake mix because I made and white and chocolate cake for Nona's cake so I swirled them together and baked it). It looks like some one's preschool project... except much worse. David couldn't even look at it, and I noticed that the piece I gave him he ate in the dark. It really is completely unappetizing, but what can you do when this is all you have left??? As you can see there wasn't even enough to cover the whole thing.

This was Boo's fourth birthday cake (it was last week). I am putting it here since I am posting pictures of cakes. This only (ha ha) took me about five to five and a half hours to make. I am getting faster! Don't look too close into her eyes, you may end up doing things you don't want to do (like get sick). I tried to be symmetrical, but it just didn't happen. She was the hardest character cake to make (as you can see, I need more practice). Boo wanted a Belle cake since she is Belle for Halloween this year, but since I don't think I could free hand Belle (I don't even think it would end up looking like the Beast... maybe fungus or something on the bottom of a swamp), we decided for the princess theme and we went for Cinderella. Of course, I saw this cake pan when we were on vacation this summer and was sure they would have it up here. Um, no. In fact, I couldn't find it anywhere except for a whole lot of money online. I am telling you this to give a shout out to my dear mom for driving miles away (or for even driving somewhere for that matter... love you mom!!) to purchase this and then send it to me when I was all a wreck (You know, promise your child something and then you can't deliver... it was that kind of thing). So, THANK YOU MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!

This one I made for memorial day. It was pretty good with just Cool Whip as frosting. Nice summer cake.

Preschool, Pumpkins, and Fawkes

Today was a good day (yesterday was too). Today was Boo's first day of preschool. Some friends and I have started our own little preschool (little as in four children-- three boys and my girl and that is plenty!) and today was the first day. Things seemed to go really well. It is right by our house so I don't have to go very far, in fact, if I don't mind soggy socks, I could just wear my slippers. It's quite convenient for me... thank goodness. Anyway, we are going to be doing this twice a week. Wednesday and Thursday seem like odd days, but when you are dealing with people with actual schedules because they have older children in school and such, you have to take what you can get, eh. A friend of ours decided she wanted to teach the first lesson and would help out if we needed it (which is incredible since her only child is only one years old). Boo was a good girl and listened to most of everything. She is still learning that in dance class as well. She really loved it and looks forward to next time (we just have a planning meeting tomorrow). I am glad she gets to interact with other children (younger and older) even if they are all boys!

I curled her hair the night before for the carnival and, when I took the bun out this morning, it was so cute and curly that I had to do the rest of her hair to match. The tiara was her idea. She picked it up last night. The girls and I also got matching Halloween shirts at Old Navy for 50% and these are it!

It's hard to believe she is growing UP! (or growning up as I noticed I just typed... that's how I feel... it's going all too fast!!!)

Last night we went to the annual Fall Carnival at the church. Daddy couldn't go so I took one of my new friends who just moved up here from SoCal. The girls dressed up in their costumes and headed outside for a few minutes for Trunk or Treat, which up here should actually translate to "Hurry Up and Stick the Candy in my Bag Before I Turn into an Ice Sculpture Trunk or Treat." Or, "Let Me Get Into Your Trunk and You Give Me Treats." Either way, it goes fast because it is cold. Of course, even Boo started to freak out a bit over people's costumes. Once we were inside, Bo wasn't having any of it. She, not even knowing my friend, wrapped herself around poor Christine's leg and wouldn't let go until she picked her up. We have scared children, but I trust their instincts. Some of those people did look pretty scary! They participated in fun little events like fishing, hockey shooting, cake walk, bean bag toss, ring toss (that one was great because Boo just walked up and put them in the jar... one for the kid!), etc. We had a nice time, but after carrying little Bo around for an hour, Mommy and her tummy/back were ready to go. They got lots of nice candy, which Bo decided to open in the car and start stickifying everything, and had a good time seeing friends and playing games. There are always a ton of people there and it is always fun. Our friend made her 23 month old son into a can of worms (cardboard in a circle like a can around him, with rope holding it up, jagged lid attached to the back and socks with eyes and stuff hanging out of the can for worms), her husband was the fisherman with the pole and outfit and she (she's a few weeks more pregnant than I am... I am boring, I picked up a Halloween shirt at Old Navy for $2.50... can't make a costume for that unless I was trash) had "Hali" taped to her rear end. I thought it was pretty creative. It took me a while to catch on to what it meant (pregnant and I try not to look at people's posterior), but I finally got it. Anyway, fun night.

The Blonde Belle. My mom and I made this costume (my mom did the hard part like that fancy poofy thing) and I thought it turned out beautifully. But it could just be me!

The Belle and Cowgirl of the ball (Bo is a cowgirl, but you can't really tell too much in this picture. She wouldn't have anything to do with the cowgirl hat. Apparently it isn't in this season).

Contemplating crying or begging for candy.

You can see a little more of the costume here. This picture makes her skirt look really long.

Boo was waiting in line when this little gal grabbed her hand. They did have the lights turned out and could be considered scary, I guess. I just think little girls (most of them, not all) can be very loving and they just wanted to hold hands. Boo is never opposed to a good hand holding event.

She shoots, she misses! Poor girl, can't blame her too much, she is related to me "Ms. No Hand Eye Coordination Girl." Don't tell David I said that, he gets mad at me. It's just because he is in denial but, unfortunately it's the truth. You should see how long it takes me to type all this stuff up!

With yet another friend and princess. Boo is in the same class at church with her. This little gal was funny. She was giving Boo stuff out of her pumpkin so that she could take stuff out of Boo's pumpkin. You best believe I put the smack down on that one. No one messes with my baby! (I really do think I was nice about it :)

For you those of you Harry Potter fans, I added a little secret code into the title of this bit. I guess it only makes sense in my mind until I explain it which, in the end, means I just should have said what I meant in the first place. Anyway, as some or all of you know, David has been asked to go to Arizona for a job interview (if you know what Fawkes is, you will know where) in November. We are very excited, scared, overwhelmed, and pretty much speechless. A detective called him yesterday to talk and invite him down. David kept asking me what I thought and all I could do is sit and stare at him with an open mouth. We have applied to so many jobs over the years and haven't heard much of anything (or nothing... glass half empty or half full? However you look at it). We prayed to know if we should apply to this job back in April and we both felt very strongly about it. Now, after a weekend of religion down south, we got a call on Monday from the detective. Kind of crazy, kind of cool. I, in my crazy fashion, have been looking up apartments and schools for the past 24 hours. I have to admit that moving to a large city after living in a small one is quite intimidating. I know I spent the majority of my life in larger cities surrounded by other large cities, but I have gotten used to small city life. I have even forgotten what it was like to live in Vegas, and that was only a few years ago. I am a weakling! Oh well, what can I do? We will just wait and see what happens. Of course, I just looked up the high today in Fawkes (ha ha... I am seriously so lame) and it was... 95 degrees!! Guess what it is here right now??? 14 degrees! Jealous? You bet your sweet bippy you are jealous! Only the Lord knows, only he knows. I just hope we are able to do what is right for our family... if he gets the job. If not, we love 14 degrees and will continue to keep keeping on!

Happy Birthday Boo!

Yesterday (I know it is late, but I had a lot going on yesterday) was Boo's birthday! She is an old-timer now. Good grief, time flies when you are having fun (or are mentally incapable of keeping track of it, which is how I feel most days). I can't believe she is four. Incredible... she had a great day talking with her uncle on the computer, getting her fantastic card and present from Nona, getting a personal phone call from Belle (she called... if you want to know how that happened, just ask me), talking to Grandma, going on a lunch date with Daddy to the fabulous restaurant of McDonald's (say with a French accent), and a very nice birthday party. We had grandparents and friends attend and she had a blast! She received lots of nice gifts and had a grandiose time. She was the princess at her ball and I will get the pictures up soon... (I know, promises, promises). I just want to wish her a very happy birthday and let her know that we love her to pieces! Happy Birthday Boo!

And Baby Makes Five

I finally scanned two of the ultrasound pictures (the other ones you would not be able to tell what is what). I thought they turned out really good. I will have to put this next to the girls' profile pictures from Disneyland!

Summer's End, Winter's Begun

Well, it's the end of another wonderful summer. We spent the first half enjoying the weekends up here (it rained during the week), having BBQs, and hanging out with family. We spent the second half with Grandma having fun with family and friends down there. I having been waiting for Grandma to send me some pictures so that I can get the summer pictures up. I guess I could put up mine, but I have been lazily unpacking and have just been plain lazy. Actually, I read the last Harry Potter (NO!!! DON'T END... I can't believe it is over!!!) and the Twilight series (fantastic books... I haven't read the latest one, but the first two are fabulous) and that has taken up a lot of time (as my husband will agree... he says all life stops when I get into a book. Yeah, that's why I try not to read so much. I have an obsessive personality). I will get those pictures up with some details of our travels and good times.

We also found out in June that we are having another baby and, well, kind of found out it is a girl. I say "kind of" because the baby was scrunched up in a ball and you couldn't see anything too clearly. She said because of a few lines that it is a girl, but only because of the lines. You couldn't really see anything (we could tell both girls were girls during the ultrasound). Of course, we totally believed her because, well, what else would it be??? Anyway, when I went to the doctor a week ago, both the nurse and the doctor (separately) said, "so they couldn't tell the gender?" I am thinking the tech thought it was a girl because of the lines, but that the radiologist couldn't tell so he/she didn't put it on the ultrasound report. I am sure it is a girl, but after talking to three different people who knew of something that happened similarly to someone in their family or, it happened specifically to them, I am not so sure any more. We shall see. I will have another ultrasound in the next few months. Hopefully she/he won't be as modest (that is a hope just for time in the womb, of course).

David is moving along with his MBA classes. I read him an email from one of his classmates last night while he did something. Uh, yeah, I didn't understand anything other than words such as "and," "the," and "a." I am glad he knows what is going on. He said that one of his professors went moose hunting a few weeks ago down one of the rivers around here and, while coming back, his air boat flipped over and he had to punch his way out of it. Apparently it had a cabin and he couldn't get out of the boat and had to punch his way through. David said that no one but him seemed interested that his professor almost died on a Sunday and he was back in class by Tuesday. I guess they have all almost died on a random moose hunting trip and that's why it didn't phase them... who knows. And, speaking about David (I hope he doesn't mind that I share this) Boo looked at a picture of him when he was about nine years old the other night and blurted out, "Daddy, you have big teeth!" It was a pre-braces picture. Kids are so honest, but so cute while they are crushing your dreams and realities. Maybe they should run the world. At least there would be honesty in politics, even if they did turn the White House into a Barbie Dream House or Castle Grayskull.

The girls are doing well. Boo started her first dance class. She is taking ballet/tap/tumbling. She loves it. The first day I was watching her and talked to some moms in the waiting area. One lady asked which one was my daughter and, after I pointed her out, she said, "You mean the only one listening?" She didn't listen the whole time, but she had a blast. She loves it and loves all of the dance clothes my cousin gave her this summer. Of course, she already left her tap shoes at the studio, but I guess that is my fault. I shouldn't expect an almost four year old (next week... goodness!) to put her shoes back in her bag. Bo is as feisty as ever. She thinks she is as old as Boo and tries to do the same things (climbing up the stairs holding on to the railing, trying to wash her hands by herself in the sink, opening the refrigerator and looking for cheese, etc.) She has had a runny nose the last couple of weeks, but, while changing her one day, I realized she is getting three teeth (two are molars... our girls get teeth in weird stages), so that explains a lot. She has also grown two shoe sizes this summer and is as tall or taller than some of the children older than her in nursery. We have just thought she was so short for so long that it is shocking to see that she isn't. She and Boo play for hours (which is fun to watch and great when I need to do things) and she and her "sissy" (as she calls her) get along really well (except for when they fight. That isn't too often, however). They keep us happy :)

Other than regular life and it snowing for the first time on Saturday and it hasn't really stopped, life is well. The girls are enjoying watching the snowflakes and I am enjoying "fall." Well, as much fall as I get (it usually lasts about two weeks). I love the scents and the feel of autumn. For me it is a time of spices and soups and another time to realize how blessed we are. It's hard to believe we just celebrated our sixth anniversary and that our oldest child is turning four this month, but the world keeps turning whether you are ready for it or not. I just hope I am ready!