I love to see the Temple....

It is a tradition, for most families I think, to visit Temple Square at Christmas time. The lights are incredible but the feelings are indescribable. There is a certain reverance and awe that I feel when I visit. Oft times it is short lived because my kids start/continue to pester each other...but just that glimpse into Heaven is enough for me. Plus, my kids are my Heaven on earth(most of the time).

Baptism day.

Rieley was baptized yesterday, December 3rd. It was an incredible experience! Some family showed up and we also had a lot of really great friends that came and supported us. Of course, I cried. It was so sweet to watch and I'm a Mom. I especially loved watching the large cirlce of men with the Priesthood who surrounded her during her confirmation. The spirit was so strong and we had a great time. Afterward we had a big spaghetti dinner with family and friends. It will be a day that we will always remember.

Thanksgiving 2011/Rieley's birthday

We didn't get too many pictures of this day but we definitely enjoyed it. Our good friends and neighbor invited us to spend the day with their family. It was really fun and I only had to prepare a fruit salad. The kids even participated in a "Pilgrim production". Thank you, Chris and Lani!

8 is great!!!

The party is finally over! One less thing to plan for. We did a "minute to win it" type of party and it turned out pretty easy. The girls basically entertained themselves. Rieley was really sweet....she made nice signs to help the guests feel comfortable and to avoid any confusion.

Growing up

For Rieley's 8th birthday we decided to let her have her own room. I have been trying to plan for months. There are still a bunch of finishing touches that I need to do, but I did find a fun night stand/ magazine rack at D.I. for her room. I wanted to paint it blue to give a little pop of color. The day before her birthday we began the undertaking. We had to move the office out and back downstairs(not our first choice for the office, but worth it). Then we moved Rieley up and then re-arranged the girls room to accommodate one less child and one more office. It is a huge room down there. It was a ton of work and I was tired, but it was a success. Rieley feels so big and she loves having her own space.

Cinderella!

Last saturday was a day of work. We have been pretty good about chores but the transition between summertime chores and schooltime chores tends to be difficult. Some days they get forgotten. Not this saturday! Infact, I made a list of extra chores along with a price tag for each. I have never seen such hard, fast work with such little complaining. I will not always pay them, but sometimes it is nice to have an incentive. They did a great job! Devyn usually helps too but in this picture she is actually hiding somewhere to poop.

Leyton's Halloween program.

Now that Leyton is in pre school she can participate in her own programs. Leyton and her classmates sang us a few songs and then marched around their little table playing instruments. It was so cute!

The school has a Halloween parade to show off the childrens costumes. It starts in one class and then snakes in and out of hallways and through classrooms picking up kids as it goes. All the parents can line up in the halls or in the gym to take pictures and watch. Immedietely following the 1st graders have a program.

Trick or Treat?!!!!

I love Halloween! It holds so many good memories for me. The excitement could hardly be contained when I was little. Now that the girls are getting a bit older they are getting that same excitement. They also have more input on their costumes(which isn't always a good thing for me......but I guess it is for their development and creativity, whatever). This year after watching "Hocus Pocus" it was unanimously decided that the Dewey sisters would become the Sanderson sisters. Too bad they were so scared of the movie that all three of them were in my lap! Really, I had no idea. They loved it too, though. It is a love/hate relationship. Anyway, I always like to find Morgan a costume that includes red hair. That will run out one day, but for now, it works well. So "Winnie" from Hocus Pocus was perfect...and I think it turned out quite well. I think they all turned out great! As far as Todd and I go, I came up with our outfits this afternoon. Johnny cash and June Carter. I think Todd looks pretty HOT! Maybe his guitar could be a little bigger, but you work with what you've got. We had a great time trick or treating and now have 4 giant bags of candy to sift through. Like the temptation wasn't great already!!!!!

The carving of the pumpkin.

For family home evening we decided to carve our pumpkins......since we were running out of time and, it is a fun family activity. We had to hunt down some pumpkins from a farm, which was closed so we owe them some money, and we selected some great pumpkins. Morgan and Rieley got some really huge ones! I love all of these traditions that come with the holidays and I really love figuring out the ones that I want to continue(or begin) in our little family.

Pumpkin rice crispie treats

We did these treats the other night to get us excited about Halloween..not that we needed any help. They taste good, it was fun and easy....which is most important. We had a great time and I ate way too many. We even have enough for another batch.

Look at how good Devyn holds her pencil already. I was quite impressed with the way she held on her own. I'm sure you are all feeling the same way and are so glad that I posted about it.

The Dewey get together.

During this whirl wind trip to Texas we spent the first day with my brother in San Antonio. Then on friday we were picked up by the my inlaws and headed towards Austin which is about an hour and some. We stopped a little on the way and didn't get to our hotel until about 4-ish. After a quick shower and a speedier blow dry, Todd and I headed back south 30 minutes to get in the car with one of his old high school buddies and then head another 15 minutes south to meet another buddy for dinner at Rudys bbq(which was only about 20 min. north of San Antonio where we started off in the first place). A little crazy in the traveling department but w managed. The food was great and the company was even better. We had a really good time! Then we drove back to Austin(45 minutes) and found that the inner door on our rooms, which were opened to make one big room, had been shut and thus locked without any way of opening it without being on the other side of the door. We were not given a key for the other room because they were booked as one room and it wasn't needed. It was late and we were tired. Devyn hadn't been sleeping well on the trip. Todd went down to the front desk for a key to the other room. Unfortunately the metal latch on the inside of the door was engaged and we couldn't open it. The lady attempted to find a special tool that they use to open it, but to no avail. She then offered u a room across the hall until the maintinance crew could assist in the morning. Too bad our luggage was locked in the room. Luckily Devyn was not. She was still on grandmas bed. While arrangements were being made and another crib was being brought up, Todd decided to use a credit card to get through the inside door. After some effort it worked and we got in. We unlocked the front door to find that it was broken and barely on its hinge....no wonder the latch had been set...so that no one would use that door until it had been fixed. We finally went to sleep. Saturday morning we headed into Austin to do some shopping. I thought that I had figured out where to go previously, but I was wrong and we made some stops and drove around but did not accomplish what I had hoped. The time was getting later and we still had to check out by 2. From Austin we headed east 30 miles to Bastrop where the wedding was taking place. It wasn't until 6:30 and we were early. Luckily the Wells love us so much that we were able to impose on their hotel room for a bit and visit. The wedding and reception were nice and it was really good to visit with Ken and Paula. At 10:30 we headed south to Alice. It took us 4 hours and I hate driving at night because I can't sleep in cars. I worry about the driver falling asleep so I have to stay awake. I was so tired!!!!!!!! I never want to do that drive again! On sunday we skipped church which wasn't originally the plan but the best idea anyone could have. We slept and then had time to get ourselves ready for the family get together at 1:00. Although it was busy we finally were in one place. Devyn was able to relax and even nap. I took a nap myself while I helped Devyn fall asleep. On monday morning we headed 2 1/2 hours back to San Antonio to catch our flight back. Both ways we had a lay over so we road on 4 planes. Devyn did great but would not sleep until the last 10 minutes both directions. I'm not sure that I can say it was a vacation, but it was fun. I'm glad to be home.