So I just downloaded all the photos from my camera and realized that I haven't been very good at keeping up with my life lately. The Halloween pictures hadn't even made it onto the computer yet!! As a result, this is going to be one big long post of what we have been up to this last month....Ready???
Our friend, Leah, came down the mountain to spend Halloween with us and went to the trunk-or-treat we had at the church. The kids LOVED it!! Lucas was so excited to learn that he got to eat CANDY!! He stayed with me at the car and I kept having to pull him out of the candy and keep him off the pieces that fell on the ground.
Emma was off like a shot as soon as we got there and we only saw her occasionally (she was with some older kids who watched out for her - just so you don't think we let her run wild!)
We found some really small pumpkins at the dollar store this year and Lucas thought they were all balls. He kept throwing them all over the place!! I'm warning you, don't come between this kid and his toys!!
My sister, Katylyn was also in town for a visit so while she was here, we took the kids to CALM. I have to say that I wasn't too impressed with it but it was a fun activity for the afternoon.
The kids of course loved looking at all the animals (especially in the reptile house).
Lucas kept wanting to touch all the creepy crawlies.
Emma and Zac actually did!! I was pretty impressed with the bravery!
I love this picture of Lucas. Zac ended up taking a pretty good tumble in these tunnels but we still had a heck of a time getting the kids out of them.
We gave Lucas a chocolate pudding pie on the way home and he was in HEAVEN!! He made such a mess that I ended up just taking the whole car seat inside and stripping both of them down for a good wash!
The next day, we went out to Murray Family Farms and let the kids play in the corn pits. Isn't it funny how all it takes is a bunch of dried corn and a swimming pool to entertain kids for HOURS??
Lucas had quite a bit of corn in some unusual places later on.....
We also decided to take a quick trip up to UT to see my Grandpa and Grandma Hulse before I got too big to travel. When I say quick, I mean QUICK!! We left early Friday morning and got back late Monday evening. I am very glad that we went but we all needed a break when we got home!
Emma got to play in a HUGE pile of leaves and loved every minute of it!!
Lucas didn't want anything to do with the leaves but LOVED all the fighter jets that kept flying over my grandparents house! Anytime he hears a plane (inside or out) he points at the sky and starts waving. It's pretty darn cute!
My cousin, Ruth, brought her little man over for a visit. I can't believe how much Bennett has grown!! My aunt and I snuck him a bite of pizza and he thought it was pretty good!
Damon, Joel, Katylyn and Ian all came too so we took advantage of the opportunity and got a picture of all of us together. The only kid missing is Colin and since he's on a mission (for a few more days) we'll give him a little leeway.
I love this picture of my grandparents. Can't you just see the love radiating from my Grandma? I am blessed enough to be named after both of them and I hope that I can live up to my namesakes. (Grandpa is Frank Clair and Grandma is Thelma Marie)
Sunday morning, we headed down to see Grandpa and Grandma Great (my Dad's parents). My Grandpa LOVES kids but they tend to be a little scared of him (he is a big man). However, he has figured a way around this....JELLY BEANS!! He feeds them all jelly beans (and whatever else he can) until they get comfortable enough to climb into his lap.
Emma is getting beyond the jelly beans stage and will give him a love all on her own now.
Aren't they cute?? I am so blessed to have both sets of Grandparents alive. They have all been having health problems lately and I am so grateful that we got the chance to go and see them.
We also went to my Dad's house for a bit. Emma and Aunt Deidra made these puppets for Emma to play with on the way home. Emma loves seeing all of her family and is very intrigued with how everyone goes together (which with my family can be VERY intriguing at times).
On the way home, we stopped at the Bellagio to stretch for a few minutes. Emma loved the giant pumpkins they had on display. Some of them were seriously 900 lbs or more! She also thought the tree person was pretty cool too.
Lucas was just as intrigued with all the decorations but he was so busy checking everything out that I couldn't get him to look at the camera.
During the middle of November, I got the flu and was out of commission for about a week and a half. It sucked and I wouldn't wish any of it on my worst enemy. The worst part was that my friend, Becky was supposed to come and watch "New Moon" with me on opening weekend and I had to cancel on her at the last minute. I was VERY disapointed but I DID NOT want to get her or anyone else sick!! If you haven't gotten sick yet, thank your lucky stars and enjoy it while it lasts. If you have gotten sick, I'm sorry. Drink lots of Gatorade and stay at home!
Luckily, I got better just in time for Michael's family to come in from out of town for Thanksgiving. We had dinner with Joel and Damon and their families and then we went to Ventura for the weekend. Of course, you have to rent the big bikes and ride down the sidewalk while you're there! It was pretty fun and I have to say that I didn't do much pedaling but I did help out a little.
Emma doesn't look very happy in this picture but she really did have a good time.
We went a little way down the road and stopped at the park to let the kids play for a bit. Lucas is a swing man through and through. However, he did love playing in the sand too.
Jackson on the slide.
Max hanging out.
Levi crawling all over the place.
Of course, Emma was the cutest kid on the beach that day.
Poor Milo was feeling under the weather so he was stuck in the hotel room for the majority of the time we were there.
Later that day, we found these cutouts and had quite the laugh getting pictures of everyone!
I like this one the best...
Everyone was leaving the next day, so we took a last minute opportunity to head down to the beach for a little more fun in the sun....
I told you he likes sand. At least he wasn't eating it this time.
Emma LOVED having the boys there to build castles with. Unfortunately, her pants got a little water-logged and every time she bent over, we all wondered if she has a future in plumbing...
Milo actually made it out of the hotel room and got to look at the water. These boys were so patient with Emma. She followed them all over the place!
I really had hoped to get a picture of all the grandkids but Lucas wouldn't sit still and Levi was busy when we took this one. Aren't they all so cute?
This Sunday was Emma's Christmas Program for her preschool. She got to be an angel in the choir and she was SO EXCITED!! We were really proud of her because she sang loud enough for us to hear her in the back of the chapel.
The next morning, she got all her stuffed animals out and they "practiced for their Christmas program." She is so funny. I really wish we had a camcorder so I could catch some of the funny things she comes up with. Right now, she loves to get all her stuffed animals out and play school with them.
While Emma was busy with her "class", Lucas discovered the bag of Halloween candy that I have been hiding and managed to dump the bag out onto the floor so he could figure out exactly what he wanted. When I found him, he had two pieces of candy in his mouth and three more Tootsie Rolls in his hot little hands!
And last (but certainly not least) Lucas has discovered the ornaments on the Christmas tree. He loves to look at them and only occasionally takes them off for closer inspection. I just hope he doesn't pull the tree down on himself like Emma did when she was his age.
Well, that's our life lately. Tomorrow we head off to LAX to meet my brother Colin on his way home from his mission in the Marshall Islands. I am SO EXCITED to see him!! He has two nephews and a niece that he will get to meet for the first time!! Plus, I can't wait to hear all his stories and watch him freeze his little warm-blooded rear off in the 60 degree weather! Don't worry, I will post pictures of the event!!
