Shiver me timbers

Rieley had a Pirate themed birthday party for her 5th birthday. We chose this theme because she would have both girls and boys at the party....I'm not sure the parents want their sons in princess dresses. It was a lot of fun. We had to follow little maps on a treasure hunt to find the treasure chest of gold and jewels. Then we played pin the patch on the pirate(seen below next to Rieley). You would think that such an occassion would cause great joy in each childs heart...all but one. The most important one. The day went great and Rieley was anxiously anticipating her party. Just before friends arrived the adults dug out their cameras. Bad idea. Rieley suddenly HATES pictures being taken and will not allow it. This will be a fun party!


Rieley cried during the treasure hunt because someone else grabbed the map from its hiding place just as she was about to. I can't have the birthday girl crying so I have to announce to everyone that Rieley gets to grab the next map. there aren't enough maps for everyone to find one so now I have ruined someone elses chance. I didn't like feeling that way, but I didn't want Rieley so sad either. Isn't this suppose to be fun???


She's right in character for a MEAN looking pirate. What a good actress!

Anyhow, things eventually got better. Rieley got a ton of presents and now shouldn't have a Christmas because of it. It was great and I'm glad I'm done with parties until next May. Leyton can share a New Years Eve party at someones house.

The Great Wall is great!

Of course this is the toilet!

I'm not sure if it was one from back in the day when they filmed "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or these are the accomodations that Todd was given. At any rate he's a boy and it doesn't really matter where he.....you know whats. My thighs ache just looking at it.

These are some of the super cool things that Todd got to see. I'm so glad that he got to take a fast, FREE trip to China and I didn't. Honestly, why would I want to leave the kids for 4 days and travel to a foreign land that has designer items for super cheap. I don't have time for that nonsense, PLEASE!



I'm not going to say anymore because I just don't want to talk about it.

Family relaxation

We went down to Payson for my nephew, Cayden's baby blessing. It was fun for the girls to play with cousins and by the end of the day they were tuckered out. I"m sure it had nothing to do with the BBQ we had the night before with friends that lasted until 9ish but no one got to bed until about 11 or 12. Then we had to get up really early because the blessing was in Payson(1 1/2 hours away) and it started at 9:00 a.m. It was a very rushed morning, but worth all the effort. Leyton fell asleep on her uncle Rob's tummy. She woke up a little shocked and upset, but was fine while she slept there.

I was trying really hard to get some cute pictures of Leyton but she wouldn't hold still. Or somehow the lighting wasn't right, as you can see.


This was an attempt at a cute pumpkin picture with her cute orange Halloween shirt. Maybe next year.


My little climber!


This is Rieley, Morgan and their friend Riley. She lives two houses behind us and they play nearly every day. It is so fun to live here.


Well, let's see.....we bought a new camcorder because ours was stolen along with our home videos. We figured that we needed one pronto for the holidays and so we splurged. I hope that we are using it correctly...it is a DVD one and they seem to have very specific instructions. I don't know how to rewind it to make sure it is filming. We'll see. But we are glad to have it. We have also now purchased all the furniture needed to furnish our 3 separate living areas. We went on to ksl.com and found some great deals. I love that web site. Todd has been called to be the Young Mens president. I think he will be perfect and what better way to get to know the ward. I am now the Family Home and Personal Enrichment leader. I like this calling...and I finished my visiting teaching this last month, wahooo! Way to go me!!!!

Trick or Treat?

For Halloween this year I decided to make the girls characters from movies I used to watch back in the day. Plus, I always like to use Morgans red hair for inspiration. This is Rieley as Pollyanna. Who doesn't remember her?! We did have to rent the appropriate movies so that the girls understood who they were dressing up as. Then they were excited.


Can you tell who Morgan is??? "Pippi Longstocking is coming in to your world....a freckle face, red haired girl..." That song is now constant back ground music in this house. Leyton was a little more tough. I didn't have many ideas for a baby...and then.....I thought of Pebbles from the Flinstones. Maybe I should have saved that for Morgans costume next year(her red hair and all). It was pretty easy to accomplish and I like the bone in her hair.


I don't give my own costume near as much creative thought so I'm always rushing to come up with something suitable. Then come Halloween night and I'm irritated that I don't have anything clever and nothing in my closet that will work. This year as I was looking online on Halloween day, I saw Wonder Woman. My hair is now short, but I figured I could atleast curl it and get that awesome body that Wonder Woman has. Then I found a top that was red, a bottom that was blue..and wasn't a swim suit, I covered my belt in tinfoil and made a crown.

Too bad none of the adults at the trunk or treat were dressed up. Needless to say, I was sensitive because I wasn't able to come up with an awesome costume and then I felt a little stupid because no one else was dressed up. What a day! And it was only Tuesday, Halloween wasn't until Friday. I stayed home and passed out candy that night.


That's the spirit, Morgan!



It's always funny to see Todd with hair. We may have used this trick in AZ, but we're in new territory here and nothing's off limits.