Flannel Sheets

I had bought a set of flannel sheets last year around the end of winter on clearance. I got them out tonight and put them on Dalton and Gunnar's beds. Gunnar got the bottom sheet on his bed, Dalton got the top sheet on his bed. I wish I had recorded the boys' reaction to climbing inside those sheets tonight. "ohhh, these are so warm! I feel warm all over!" Dalton said. Gunnar said, "whoever made these must really care about kids!" "Mom, you're the best mom in the entire world! No other Mom's even come close to being as good of mom as you!" They went on and on about how nice those sheets are. I love how excited they get over the simplest little things. It was the cutest thing ever! Imagine their reactions if they each had gotten their very own set;)

....A few of my favorite things

Today I got to do a few of my favorite things. Fist, I got to tend my cute little nieces Malory and Maddie. Maddie is five months old, it was so fun to get to hold a baby again:) Malory is 3 years old and loves horses. Jake saddled up Foxy and we took Malory on her first horse ride. Then Jake said he would watch the kids so I could take Foxy for a ride. I haven't ridden in forever! Riding horses has always been one of my favorite past times, but since becoming a mother I haven't found the time to ride very often anymore. It was so nice to get to go for a little ride. I even loped Foxy and tried a few techniques I haven't tried since college. It was so fun! It was also fun to watch Jake turn into a cowboy for a little while. I love seeing how much he enjoys riding, it makes me so happy. Then we taught Dalton how to ride all by himself. He caught on after a short five minute lesson and was soon riding like a pro. He's a natural! He even trotted her around the barrels and had her doing figure eights, going in and out of the ditch, and backing up. He said, "this is the best day of my life!" I'm such a proud mom! It brings me such joy to see him loving horses just as much as I did at his age and still do.

Merry Christmas

Girl's Weekend at the Cabin

A couple weekends ago we had a little girl's retreat up at my parents cabin by Lava with my mom and three sisters. We drove into Lava and ate at the Chuckwagon diner- it was so yummy! Then we went to the hotpots and soaked for about an hour. Then we stopped at the little grocery store and I got stuff to make shakes and lime rickies. Then we went back to the cabin and watched "Eclipse" and I made us some yummy strawberry shakes. The next morning we had a gourmet breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns. Then we went on a hike. My mom, Laura, and I hiked clear to the top of the BLM ground behind the cabin. It was a gorgeous day! The leaves were vibrant with fall colors. I love the mountains! After our hike we came back to the cabin and Candace and Natalie made us sandwiches, and I made our lime rickies, then we made a cute craft Natalie had came up with. It was so nice to be able to get away for a little bit. I'm grateful for Jake's mom for helping watch the boys and for Jenny for taking Ridge over night. Jake took Dalton and Gunnar deer hunting Friday night and Saturday day. They had a great time! Jake's dad went with them too. It was nice for them to get to spend some time with Grandpa and dad- even if they didn't get a deer:)

Happy Halloween!!!

Sorry these pictures are in random order.

We love the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks. Every time we watch I tell the boys how much they remind me of the Chipmunks. So what better Halloween costumes for the boys? It took a little persuading with Dalt, (he was worried about not being a super hero, and that a chipmunk wasn't cool enough for 2nd grade) but they turned out super adorable and everyone at school thought they looked awesome!

And I spent less $$$ to make all three of these costumes then I would have spent buying one costume!

We started off the morning having pumpkin and Frankenstein pancakes, then getting dressed up for the Halloween parade at the elementary. Gunnar had a bit of anxiety once we got to the school and refused to walk with his class. It took a ton of convincing to finally get him to walk with Dalton and Ridge with Dalton's class. It worked out good though having all the Chipmunks parading together:) After the parade the kids were supposed to stay at the school and have Halloween activities with their classes. Gunnar refused to stay, he kept crying and clinging to me saying that there were too many kids and he was scared. I ended up taking him with me because I didn't want his teacher to have to deal with him acting like such a baby. I took Gunnar and Ridge to Lee's with me to get dry ice for the 2nd grade Halloween party that afternoon. My mom watched Gunnar and Ridge while I helped with the "monster mash"- an assortment of "zombie body parts" the kids got to touch (spaghetti-intestines, peeled tomato-heart, wet string-hair, etc.) It was a ton of fun!

The boys entered their carved pumpkins in the pumpking contest at school: Gunnar got the "scariest pumpkin" award:) -Jake obviously helped Gunnar with his pumpkin.

Dalton got the "most unique" pumpkin award:)

For dinner that night we had stew and "monster drink." (rootbeer mixed in the witch's caldron with leftover dry ice from the 2nd grade party) the boys thought the dry ice was the coolest thing ever! It was pretty fun:)

After dinner I took the boys trick-or-treating to Aunt Jen and Uncle Nick's, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Weston's, and Grandma and Grandpa Weston's.

Because Gunnar chose not to go to school, Jake and I decided that he would not be allowed to go trick or treating in the subdivisions. It was one of the hardest parenting decisions we've had to make. But we both decided that he can not be allowed to pick and choose when he goes to school. We had better nip this in the bud now rather than have it still be a problem when he's 14:(

Dalton got to go trick or treating with Braxton and Dakota again this year. They had a great time! I got to be the parent to take Dalt and Braxt through the haunted house in the subdivision a few blocks away (Dakota opted not to go through). It was a ton of fun! I love holidays with kids- it's more fun enjoying it with them then being a kid!

(Pumpkin and Frankenstein pancakes)

Green Smoothie!!!

Well I've officially jumped on the green smoothie band wagon. I love the energy they give me and and I love to find any way I can to cram more fruits and veggies into our diet. And an added bonus: My kids love them! I've been trying out different recipes to try to find one that I don't have to add any sugar to. I came up with one tonight that I absolutely love! Thought I'd share:

-one handful grapes

-one bananna

-about 2 large handfuls spinach

-2 cups pineapple (we just used canned pineapple)

-1/2-1 cup pineapple juice

- one apple

-1 cup vanilla yogurt

-1 heaping cup crushed ice

-I also added a trace minerals Greens Pak for some extra vitamins- why not?

Blend it all up real well and enjoy:) So good for you and it tastes great!

Happy Fall!

I love decorating for fall! I visited my Grandma Dalton in Layton today. While I was out that way Candace and I stopped at Hobby Lobby. I was eyeing some gorgeous fall wreaths they were displaying, but took one look at the price tag and quickly changed my mind. But then I thought, I bet I could make that same wreath for a heck of a lot less. So I grabbed a few supplies and came home and this is what I came up with! I was quite proud of myself, especially since I'm not very craftsy! If anyone wants to make one like this I just used a plain straw wreath, stuck some fake leaves all over it, stuck in some flowers, and stuck a few corn stalk tops in the back. It was pretty easy!

Soccer Season!

Yay Gunnar!!! He's such a cute little soccer player!

Ridge cheering from the sidelines:)

Dalton's team played Dakota's team this first game. Gunnar was torn about who to cheer for- his favorite cousin and best buddy Dakota or his brother. Dalton heard Gunnar cheering for Dakota and he said, "hey, you should be cheering for me! I'm your brother!"

This is Gunnar's first year of soccer. Joe Hurd (Gage's dad) is his coach. He's been so excited! Unfortunately he got sick this week. The school called me Thursday to come get him because he was throwing up at school:( He was feeling better by his game on Saturday, but still not 100%. He did great during the first half hour which was just him and his team practicing. But when they let the other team loose to start playing, he came crying to the sidelines. He sat out for a few quarters. I had to leave early to take Dalton to his game. Jake said the last quarter he went back in a played really well. He even stole the ball from the other team!

Dalton hasn't played soccer for over a year. We took last year off. He scored an awesome goal for his team! He was so excited, jumping up and down and yelling "YES!!" It was fun to watch.

What!!!??

I'm rarely shocked by the things I see when I hear the words, "look what I caught Mom!" Snakes, grasshoppers, frogs, potato bugs, worms, butterflies....you get the idea. But when Dalton walked into the house holding an IRRIGATION BIRD I was at a loss for words! I finally managed to scream, "get that thing out of the house!"

Labor Day at the Cabin and Downata Hot Springs

Jake left Weds. morning for a 6 day deer hunting trip with Shane to Wyoming. I decided to go up to my parents cabin Sunday afternoon after baby Maddie and Tinley's blessings. Jake ended up coming home Saturday night because the deer moved out of his unit. I decided to still go because I had already made plans to meet Natalie and my mom up there and I had invited Dana to go with me. Dalton stayed home with Jake so it was Dana, me, Gunnar, and Ridge who rode up together. We got up there in time for dinner Sunday night, then we watched Soul Surfer. Monday morning Natalie made us pancakes, eggs, and bacon. After breakfast we cleaned up then Dana and I took the boys to Downata Hot Springs in Downy- about a half hour away from the cabin. We had a blast! Dana got some cool pictures of Gunnar doing flips off the side of the pool. Ridge had a good time splashing away in the baby pool.

Ridge loves Dana! He would way rather she hold him then me! He kept telling her, "want you hold me!"

Kynlee and Ridge were such good helpers to help Natalie make breakfast.

Gunnar loved going down the slide!

Ridge was a little more nervous to go down, but once he did he loved it!

We were pretty crammed with all of our gear in the car. My parents just closed on this cabin the end of August so there's no beds or anything up there yet. Once it's more stocked and furnished we won't have to bring up quite so much stuff.

When we were leaving the hot springs we drove alongside this train for a little ways. The kids loved watching the choo choo and Dana was able to snap this cool picture of it.

Dana and I have been friends since we were three. I'm so glad she was able to come along on this trip:)

In front of the cabin is a huge open meadw where Gunnar got to practice soccer a little.

My favorite part of the cabin is the beautiful front porch that faces the meadow. My parents have watched quite a few deer come down and eat in the meadow. I'm pretty sure Ridge scared off any deer that thought about eating in the meadow this trip:)

Even though it was just a short trip, it was so fun to enjoy one last day of summer:)