Family fun in Spokane

I have no clue where any pictures are of Christmas, and honestly that is alright with me. I already can't remember what the children got for presents anyway, and our Christmas Eve was spent with family and every year traditions (regardless of how great, it tends to be the same every year...) but this year, the day after Christmas, Mom and Dad took our family to Spokane to River Front Park, and that is a memory the children will never forget. We rode the carosel, fed the the ducks, and watched a little christmas movie at the imax, ending the day with going to dinner at the spagetti station. It was a cold but beautiful day and will be in our minds and hearts forever! Thanks so much Mom and Dad!

As a side note, homemade gifts that year were memorable and deserve a mention: Aaron made Ele a little doghouse for her stuffed animal dog foofa. Ele made Aaron a dog made out of golf balls. Livi made Isaac (with a lot of dads help) a blanket with tags on all four corners. And Isaac made Livi (with a lot of moms help) a bag for her to carry all her STUFF around.

That's right, I was surprised too!

I took Aaron and Ele to school the other day and when we picked up Rachel this is basically how the conversation went

Rachel: "my dad is going to be a pirate".
Aaron: "Really, my dad would never dress up."
Ele: "he will if I ask him"

Matt, later that night: " I don't care what it is, just put it together for me and please make it have a gun"

You can't see the gun but it is there! He is a sucker for his girls.

School Parties

My kids made it really easy for me this year. After looking for hours for a costume for Aaron he decided he would rather just be the Ninja Turtle again, and was very happy because he was the only one in the whole school. Ele was adamant about being a bunny again this year, but after going to her party and sitting down in her "tight" bunny suit she gave in and was a pirate for the rest of the day, I thought she was darling as both. Livi wanted to be a cheerleader which I somehow missed pictures of and Isaac refused to be anything or do anything.

7 years

-My sweet Aaron is 7-
7 years ago I brought my little pumpkin home from the hospital on Halloween day, literally as a pumpkin.
What a great weekend for Parties!

Pumpkins

Green Bluff

The apple orchard and pumpkin patch at Green Bluff is one of our favorite places to go.
It starts the holidays off for us.

These are just some random pictures of everyone.
Donetta and Mark came all the way over just for this day.
We sure do love having them here for these important memories and miss all those that are not close anymore!

updates FINALLY!

So, I have been very bad at blogging and I know there is never really a good excuse for not keeping up on my children's life but moving might qualify as an adequate reason. And not moving just once but twice in a matter of 3 months.
As many of you already know but more of you don't, my Uncle Wally moved here to CDA and decided that his house would be a good place to live (which has been my home for the last 4 years) As much as I loved the home and was bummed about leaving it I was thrilled to have him come home, I have been begging him to do this for years. Well, 4 children and hearing aids don't get along very well. He was amazing and would have been willing to make it work with us living there but I could not ask him to do that.
Move #1-my parents graciously took us in. We moved into their attic while I looked for a rental home. Every day my children would ask in their prayers that they could have another sleepover at Grandma's and Papa's. Those sleepovers lasted for 2 months and the children never got tired of it. Not that they would, Papa made papacorn almost every night for them, and UNO and Mexican Train were a nightly favorite. Aaron was content being Papa's shadow, Ele loved the fact that we had a big family sleepover every night, Livi loved her 5:00 am snuggle time with grandma, and Isaac loved making Buffy's life miserable. I believe that time will be a major cherished childhood memory for them. Thanks Dad and Mom for everything, you are the best and we love you the most!
Move #2- I am very picky. I wanted a nice, clean, home in Dalton gardens ward, and close to Dalton school, I didn't want it to be too big, but not too small either. I wanted a big, fenced, back yard, good neighborhood, and I had to keep my cat (I am anti mice these days.) Big closets in the bedrooms, and I was determined to have a fireplace,- Matt did not consider that priority but I did. I wanted all of this to be under $900 and I did not want to sign a lease. Miracle of Miracles, as I was driving around I saw a tiny, homemade "For Rent" sign on the garage. Heavenly Father was truly watching out for us that day. The house is only 3 years old and darling. We all love it! I cant wait to decorate it for Christmas, the fireplace is going to be a perfect focal point.....
Now I'm ready for the holidays.
Continue to scroll down. There are a few fun posts there!

1st day of school

Aaron is in 1st grade with Mrs Wold. He was bummed at first because he did not get into Mark's class but was relieved when he saw Kiley and Karsten there, fortunately he is not shy at all and has already made several new friend. He loves the social part of school but it is like pulling teeth to get him to do homework. Oh wait, he hardly has any teeth left to pull! He is now gone all day long and I cant begin to tell you how much he is missed. I love you Aaron.

My Electa is in Kindergarden this year with Ms Elliot, and boy was she ready. She loves to learn and comes home every day so proud that she actually talked to someone. However she is very missed at home, without our peacemaker my two very determined "babies" are quickly learning what the word SHARE means. I love and miss you too Ele.

About a month ago our family went on our traditional picnic to Manito Park. I love this particular day for taking fun, casual pictures with cousins, it was a beautiful day, one of the last warm weekends of the summer.

Several years ago I sat down with Matt's mom, his sister Candy, and sister-in-law Missy, and they all helped me start Aaron scrapbook. Candy is amazingly good at it and she taught me to be very careful to not cut out too many things in the background of a picture, she said "those are the things you might someday consider priceless".
In case you cant tell it is my dad with Isaac. I even love the dirty fingernails.

Cousin Time

There is nothing better than spending time with your best friends, what a great summer we all had!

Silverwood

What did we do every summer before there was Silverwood?
We love this place. Aaron can ride alone this year and Ele was able to go with an adult, poor Livi is going to have to wait another 3 years before she can go on anything, she is so stinkin' short Isaac will probably get to go before her. Oh well, as long as she is with Kimmi she is happy!

Our Summer consisted of 2 things. Hydes and Girls Camp

Debbie and her kids were able to come and spend a whole month with us. It always amazes me how the children can go months without seeing each other and are best friends immediately. Life is so great when all the family is together!

As soon as Debbie left I turned into Florence Nightingale. I was asked to portray this amazing woman and her Good Works to the girls at Girls camp, along with many other incredible women. It was way out of my comfort zone but I feel blessed to have played a small part in that wonderful program.

Memorial Day Camping

Bryant came with us this year and played the fiddle, what a treat that was. He is so very talented

Aaron Played Soccer for the 1st time this year and loved it! He had some great friends on his team so that made it even better. I know that it is just my 1st of many sporting events, but I think I had as much fun as he did. He is excited for the golf season, and baseball, and tennis, and football, OK so every sport. I hope my excitement continues also!

On a side note - I asked Ele if she wanted to play Soccer next year and she said that she did as long as she could get a cute ribbon for her ponytail. Matt got her even more excited by telling her that he would get her matching socks too! She is so girl.

Weeds or Flowers?

As much as I dislike those little yellow flowers/weeds that seem to take over the lawn, and no matter how hard I try to get rid of them every year I cant help but love them at the same time.

Who wouldn't?

School is almost out!

Aaron with his buddy Mark

More Friends.... Where is Gabe???

This year Dalton Elementary decided to combine the Teddy Bear Tea (a performance of all the songs they have learned through the year) with the kindergarten graduation. It was great to get them both done at one time but was bummed when they said that they still had to stay in school for the last 3 weeks even though they graduated! I am SO ready for him to be home, I really miss him while he is gone for those few hours. I don't know what I am going to do next year with him gone all day. Way to go Buddy I love you the most!

They Love their Dad!

Girls Night

Once a year, when all the boys are out for the Father and Son's Campout all of us girls get together. We had a few new additions this year which was great because we really missed Jen and the girls not being with us!

Isaac Wallace

I cant believe that my baby is 2. What an angel. For the 1st year of his life he had to be the easiest baby ever! So good in fact that I could put him in his bouncer or bumbo or high chair and you would not hear anything out of him for hours. He sucks his thumb so he started sleeping through the night almost immediately, and easily 8 hours a night! He has a ready smile and great laugh. He is the light of our lives and truly another miracle in our family, oh how we love our little Zac!

Our Livi

Olivia Deanna Caudle

She is 3 today! What a joy this little girl is in our lives. I have not told her that today is her birthday because Matt is out of town so we are going to wait until he gets home to have her party! We Love you Livi