Happenings from NOVEMBER

The highlight for me this month was the beautiful music in our home being played on this!  I have always wanted a grand piano and was SO BEYOND EXCITED about this one.  My favorite part is that my kids can record themselves playing a piece, so that the piano can play it back for me when they aren't even here!  That means when Bryan leaves on his mission, I don't have to miss hearing him play - I can pretend like he's just sitting in there on the piano playing for me, like I've grown used to hearing he and Morgan do every single day (Colton is starting to do it more and more also).  It has been really fun to have my kids be as excited by this piano as I am.  They LOVE to go sit down and play (with the exception of maybe Kyle - he's not quite there yet, but he will be!).  It is rare in our house when someone is not sitting at the piano playing to their hearts content.  That has been a long time in coming, and I am relishing every moment - finally!

Another highlight this month was taking our family to go see the Broadway production of The Lion King when it came to town.  Wow!  The costumes and music were amazing!  That was fun.

Mark and Bryan have discovered the joy of Mano Sherbet.  Safeway, in particular, makes a store brand that is their FAVORITE.  They hide it from each other so that they don't have one of them eat all of it and not leave any for the other.  I laughed so hard when I opened the freezer the other day and saw this note on the Mango Sherbet.  Just in case you can't read it: 

"Father, there are 4 reasons why you should not eat this ice cream: 
A - It's good, and therefore I want it
2 - You don't deserve it...go run 6.325 miles first
D - You just shouldn't"

Pictures of Morgan and her friends at our Stake Youth Conference this year...

I got to chaperone Kyle's class to the State Capitol Building...

Our new Gilbert Arizona Temple is almost finished!  So, so, SO, EXCITED ABOUT THIS!  It's right across the street from our neighborhood!  I had to go shoot some pictures.  Trying to decide which I like best so I can blow it up and hang it on our wall.  I'm going to let my kids each pick which one they like best for their room, too.

We took family pictures to send out as Christmas cards.  I set up my camera the way I wanted it and stuck it on a tripod.  I had my friend Sarah come along to not only push the button, but to also let us know if everyone's eyes were open, or someone was making a funny face.  She saved me SO much running back and forth.  Thank you Sarah!

September and October fun stuff!

Morgan had her Young Women in Excellence program this month, and it was so well done!  This comes as no surprise, since the leaders in our ward are so amazing, as are these beautiful girls (inside and out)!  We love Morgan and are so EXTREMELY proud of her and the young woman she is becoming!  Even more so, we know her Father in Heaven is so proud of her and loves her beyond anything we mortals are capable of understanding.  Thank you Morgan for being such a great example to all those that know you!

Colton's scout leaders hosted a swim party for all the 12 and 13 year old scouts to celebrate all the work they had been doing.  All the families were invited.  It was too hot to sit out and not swim, so me and my friend Janae decided to do backflips together off of the rocks!  I think the kids were amazed that adult women would do that! I also took the opportunity to test the waterproof camera I bought to take to Hawaii with us...it works!  Can't wait to try it out in the ocean!

 

October means HALLOWEEN!  We cut out some pumpkin shaped sugar cookies and the kids had fun decorating them.  I also made pumpkin pancakes one morning...

Fall means SOCCER for my boys, even if it is still breaking 100 degrees every day!  Kyle is and AWESOME soccer player...

We carved our pumpkins 2 days before Halloween.  Any earlier and the heat turns them moldy pretty quick.  We set up a table in our driveway and the kids went to town!  It's nice that I only really have to help Kyle now with a couple things - I can just sit back and watch and take pictures!

I set my settings on my camera the way I wanted them and had Bryan take some pictures of Morgan and I.  Her Young Women leaders had asked for a mother daughter picture for a program they were doing.  We did one serious one, but the others Morgan wanted us to ham it up!

The big night! Bryan and Morgan went out with friends Halloween night, and I only had Colton and Kyle.  All I could think about that night was how we were all split up because my kids are outgrowing me (literally - the only one shorter than me now is Kyle).  I know that is as it should be, but it's hard as a mom to see your kids leaving.  Right now it's just for the night, but all too soon they'll be going off on their own.  Not ready for that yet!  I've still got a little time thank goodness!  Love all these kids!!  Thank you to my friend who sent me the pictures of Morgan with her friends...

Colton is the blue man, and Kyle is the Ninja on the right...