Monday, November 2, 2009

Laundry Fairies


At the close of each day we gather someplace within the house for family scripture study, song, and prayer.  Sometimes there's a mound of laundry nearby, and it never fails that my laundry fairies are eager to help.

Sometimes the help is really that:
Help.

And other times, it's anything but!

Either way, I love it!  And I will surely miss these little hands when they are grown and gone!

Experience


It's been 2 months now that I've updated my blog and I'm missing it. So many memories are created every moment of every day. It is a blessing to look back and see what transpired...
both the good, the bad, and yes, even the sad.

"...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
Doctrine & Covenants 122:7

Such is life!

And yes, it is very much, a blessed life.


Saturday, October 31, 2009

Owen's Big Boy Bed


What happened to my baby?!?
He's all grown up and sleeping in a bed all his own.  He has surprised us all by doing so well too.  He runs to bed when it's naptime or bedtime and literally conks out everytime.

I love you sweetheart!

Sleep tight!

Happy Halloween!


This year we lined our walk with pumpkins.  My favorite part of carving them is getting all those yummy seeds out to toast!
 
My girls!
 
Ava and Isabella with their cousin, Abby!
 
Lennon and Jacob looking pretty scary!
 
A sweet kitty and a ghost!
 

 
Did you ever meet Sam's twin sister?
 
My sister-in-law Red and her sweet baby girl Miss V.
 
All wrapped up!
 
Aunt Leah, aka Pirate Booty, escorting the kids on their walk!
 
Later we stopped by my parents house and visited for a bit.
 
Grandma Lopez all decked out in her Halloween earrings!
 

 
It's neat to see Grandma telling stories to the great-grand kids.
 
Happy Halloween!
We hope you had a great time too!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Ward Halloween Spooktacular!


Our Ward Activities Committee put on a fantastic Halloween event!  This year Bella went as Mulan, Ava a zombie, Iris a princess fairy, and Owen went as either Diego or a fisherman (depending on who you ask!).
 
Everywhere you turned there was something fun going on!
 
Who doesn't love a donut on a string?

The best part of the evening came later during the Trunk or Treat.  Our kids love hitting each car one right after another-it's a candy bonanza!-so much so that it spoils them for the real thing when they actually have to walk from house to house!

Yesh!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

My Monkey




Ava's class donned their monkey t-shirts to the pumpkin patch!

Looking good Ava!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Really Big Trees



 
We have never visited the Redwood National Forest as a family and it's something we've always wanted to do.
 

 

 

 
Thank goodness for comfy hotel beds!  We rolled in at around midnight and literally crashed!
 

 
What's not to love about a continental breakfast eaten in your jammies?
 

 
And what about a warm fire to snuggle up to?
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
They had a heated pool and since we're fish we couldn't resist!
 
Yes, that's what you think it is.
I used my glasses so you could see the diapers to scale.
 
Packing up from McKinley-ville and heading north to Eureka! 
 





 

 
We stopped in beautiful Trinidad and checked out the gorgeous lighthouse!
 

 
The stairs down to the ocean are many and steep but totally worth it!
 

 

 

 
Lot's of climbing on rocks made us hungry...
 
and we explored the town until we came upon some clam chowder and garlic bread and fries!
 
We made it!
 
These trees ARE huge and so beautiful!
 
What a sight!
 

 

 
Inside a hollow tree. 
Who hasn't dreamed of living inside one of these as a kid?
 
Love.
 
My love!
 

 
The ultimate rock-climbing experience!
 
Background:
My grandparents were avid travelers and would take my younger sister and I up and down California.  A favorite stopping point was those horrible tourist traps in Northern California featuring the myriad of things you can carve from a piece of wood.  As you can plainly see, I HATE those carvings!
  
Yes, traditionally you bring home a souvenir, and in other cases, you leave something behind for everyone else to enjoy...

Way to go honey!