Halloween 2011

I've had this idea for years and this year we talked the boys into it.  We had them all dress up as our basketball team--Monty was the basket and I was the Ref.  On the basket Monty wrote, Roasted Nuggets, Go Lakers!  This wasn't a hit with the Colorado crowd, but it was all in good fun.

The team!

Sugar High?!  or just Boys being boys...is there a difference?

First Snow!

FIRST SNOW!!!

We knew snow was in the forecast, but it was still a chilly surprise to wake up to this this morning.  Burrr!  The boys were so upset that they still had school, but I had to remind them they live in Colorado...not California! 

Makai was so excited for the snow.  When the older boys and dad left this morning he wouldn't stop crying till I let him out!  So, I put on his gloves and took him to the backyard.  He LOVES snow!!  Here he was throwing snow and saying, "Bye, Bye snow!"

He enjoyed playing with the snow on his feet.

He enjoyed eating the snow. 

Must remind him of shaved ice.

He was mesmerized by the falling snow.

Then he went back to eating it.

Unfortunately, all good  things must come to an end.  Just as I thought he was part Eskimo, he burst into tears.  I'm guessing it was the point I'd hit 5 minutes prior when you can no longer feel your toes.  I took him inside and gave him a nice warm bath.  He was all smiles once again.  Whenever he gets out of the tub I always wrap him in a towel and say, "Nice and Warm, Nice and Warm" while I dry him off.  When he was ready to go in he said through the cries, "Nice and warm, nice and warm!"  I thought he'd learned his lesson, but no, when the boys got home from school he wanted back outside.  He played outside for over an hour!!  Gotta love the First Snow of the year!!

Kory's 7!!

The day Kory has been waiting for finally arrived.  For about 2 month now he's been asking me, "How many more days till my birthday?"  We can't believe he's really 7!!  He asked for strawberry shortcake.

His expression says it all!!  Thanks Grandpop and Mammy!!

The second favorite gift...ninja gear!  Thanks again Grandpop and Mammy.

The classic finger hold up so I don't forget what birthday it is.  Lucky number 7! 

We got him a Bronco jersey and the Broncos even won today as a gift to Kory.  We also got him a Broncos blanket which I think he will appreciate more on Wednesday when the forecasted high is 39degrees.  Just for the record Kory is a great kid.  He is doing amazing in school.  He is reading so well for the first grade and has really caught onto math.  He's especially good with money!  A few night ago he had three pages of money worksheets.  Less than 5 minutes later he was up playing.  I said, "Kory what are you suppose to be doing?"  He said, "Mom, I'm done!"  Sure enough he was done and he'd gotten them all right.  His two front teeth are finally coming in after about a year of being the toothless wonder.  We love you Kory!  We are so happy to have you in our family.  It's been a wonderful 7 years. 
Kyle and Tyler made some pretty fun cards for Kory as well.

Kyle's card was a Star Wars card with Yoda saying, "Happy Birthday you must have!"

Tyler's was an origami card with Yoda and Darth Vader which read, "Have a clashing Happy Birthday!"  From: Yoda and Vader.  To:  A very special 7 year old who is strong in the force.  p.s  lie of our death the movie does!! 

Again, we LOVE YOU KORY!!!

Keeping up!

We just finished first quarter!  This school year I've noticed to takes a little more diligence to keep up with everything.  Tyler has homework everyday, Kyle has homework due every Tuesday, Kory has homework due every Thursday.  Kyle and Kory both a spelling tests every Friday.  Tyler says he does too, but doesn't need help. Each of the boys have to read at least 20 minutes a day.(I have no idea how anyone home schools.) Then, Tuesday Tyler and Kyle have scouts, Wednesday I have Young Women.  As the boys are getting older the laundry pile seems to grow a lot faster and the cloths a lot smellier.  They are suddenly eating a lot more too!  I usually start making dinner or preparing it in the afternoon so after they get home from schol I can help them with homework.  Tyler and Kyle can both eat more than me and Kory and I eat about the same.  The other night a dozen potatoes were eaten!  I thought I was making too many and I'd just make hash browns with the extra, but they ate all 12!  AHHH!! 
My days are filled with TREY!!  Having the older boys at school all day was suppose to be a break, but that leaves ME to entertain Trey all day.  Makai has the personality to go off and play by himself every once in a while, but Trey not so much.  He loves attention.  He is doing well on his reading though.  He's reading words like:  cat, hat, pat, mat, sat, rat, ran, can, fan....you get the picture.  Some days he does better than others.  He always wants to be an action figure and at times I get frustrated and have to ask him to just be himself for a while!  It usually lasts about 5 minutes and then he's another action figure and asking me who I wanna be.  Makai is learning his shapes like a champ. I was helping Trey with shapes last week and Makai kept saying, "Triangle, circle, square, star."  Anyway, then when we were in the car he pointed to a shape on my dashboard and said, "Triangle!"  He was so right.  It was a triangle!  I was so proud. 

Monty started  a new job.  After finishing his masters degree he took a job with Hostess Brands.  However, we quickly found out that it required more hours than it was worth.  He would often work over 80hours a week and the hours he was home he'd be getting phone calls.  So, he started looking around for another job and got one working for ThyssenKrumpp Elevators.  He has been working there about a month and enjoys it.  The best part for me is he has weekends off!  I mean, completely off!  He also pretty much works 8-5 which I love.  He has a sales position with the company so he's actually not allowed to touch the equipment, but he says they have some amazing mechanics and he's always pleased with their work.  He works sometimes in Cheyenne, our old stomping grounds, sometimes in Estes Park, and surrounding parts of northern Colorado.  I'm thankful for the job because it allows him a work/life balance. 

I've been trying to get up early before everyone else and get a workout in at least 3 days a week.  This is getting a little harder as it's getting a LOT colder in the morning. Wednesday it was 29degrees outside!  I'm trying to get ready for Winter, but I'm so not a 29degrees type of girl.  However, I feel so much better the entire day when I get up early and work out.  I HATE getting up more than words can express, but LOVE how I feel after I work out.  Last week I started doing the stair stepper and that thing is no joke!

Everyone is doing well and I know Heavenly Father blesses us everyday.  I feel the blessings that come from saying prayer, reading scriptures, and just enduring.  All is well!