November 1st-7th

 With November starting and Christmas stuff already out, we decided to do something for the month of November to help us remember Thanksgiving and gratitude.  We are doing "Give with Thanks" from thesmallseed.com.  Every day we have some act of service we can do and we put up leaves when we do those small acts of service.

 Logan helped me put up the poster.  I'll probably have some pictures each week so we can see our progress.  I think my favorite act of service this week was writing 10 things you like about someone.  I got some sticky notes and put them all above the kids' beds so they could see and read all the things that I love about them.  Damon joined in that one too and wrote 10 things he liked about Tragon, it was really sweet.

 Last week was Rylea's first week in Nursery.  She did pretty good considering it was our first full meeting schedule since the ward split and time change.  It was pretty crazy in primary and nursery, but Morgan was able to slip out and be able to teach his class still during the third hour.  I just made sure Rylea never saw me checking on her.  :)

 The weather has been beautiful since Halloween, it is getting a little chillier, but that makes it really fun to be outside.  Me and Jaron and Rylea were enjoying some trampoline time together.

 On one of the "preschool" days with Brittyn, she wanted to make a bunny, soooo, we made a bunny.  It was actually kind of fun...gotta love the internet for all the easy ideas out there.  Most of the stuff I already had from past projects.

 Voila, two paper plate fluffly bunnies....in November.  haha

 We had a bubble blowing contest at dinner...not intentionally of course, but it happened nonetheless.

 Auri will be frequenting our home more often, since Raquel starts work next week.  We are going to have lots of...fun.

 We've been pretty good at remembering our service wall so far, the kids get excited to put up a leaf when they do service.

 Even Rylea girl gets to help.  She is out little family angel sent to keep us all from going a little crazy.

Friday was my birthday and for the past year we have been planning on going to Time Out For Women and it was finally here and it was amazing.  The experience was just as good as last year, if not a little better.  Even though it was in St. George, we decided to still get a hotel for the night and we stayed up late playing Canasta and talking.  It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.  Morgan was able to be with the kids so I could go and I'm so grateful for him.

This was my craft I wanted to get for my birthday, I love it.  It goes perfect with our November theme.

 The kids had a lot of fun with Morgan this weekend while I was at TOFW.  I'm sure they got to play outside and run around a lot.  :)

My goal is to limit my focus to smaller bites that I can actually accomplish instead of trying to do everything and then not doing anything.  My blog right now is a pretty high priority along with praying with my kids every night before bed during our bedtime routine.  I want to be a mom that lives in the moment with my kids and has more patience for the crazy shenanigans.  One piece at a time and bit by bit I will get better.  Until next time....

October 25th - Halloween

Last week Tragon fell on his scooter and hurt his elbow.  We ended up spending a good 3 hours at the Instacare on Sunday morning (good thing church isn't until 2:30).  It wasn't broken, but he'll end up in a splint and sling for a couple weeks.  This boy is earning his medical frequent flyer miles.  He was pretty excited though that he got to play Angry Birds while we were waiting, so he didn't mind.

 Rylea is still a pretty good eater, but she loves treats too.  I always forget how messy red licorice really is.

 My friend Jenny set up a tour at the Fire Station and invited us along.  It was a perfect preschool activity and the boys loved it because we got to go right after they got out of school.  They got to talk to some firemen and climb in the truck.

 My favorite was Logan's idea that if there was a fire he could just jump out of his window on to the trampoline that was near it.  Haha, I guess we need to have a safety and fire emergency plan in place again.  I think they have forgotten what we talk about .... eh, probably two years ago.

 We had 4 adults and 10 kids with us (6 of them were mine, haha)

 It was a preschool day so Brittyn got to come with us too.

 Since Halloween is getting close the boys have been wearing their costumes a lot, Rylea likes the bat wings, so it was an easy decision for her costume this year.

 I don't get very many sleeping pictures of her because that's when I get busy getting stuff done, but I snuck in this week, she hasn't been feeling very good.

 We went to Costco to get some shopping done.  It was fun only have two kids to shop with.

 She likes toast.  :)

 And our Halloween Boys.  Logan was Superman.

 Damon was a skeleton and made me take a picture with his creepy eyes.

 Tragon was a smurf.

 And Jaron was crusher from Skylanders...sort of.  We got him the costume and he wore it a ton before Halloween and then on the day of Halloween he wouldn't wear it anymore and wore the old blue ninja costume...which I didn't really take pictures on Halloween..these are from Friday when they dressed up for school.  :)

 And Rylea-bat girl.  She was in the stroller or wagon most of the time, but loved going for a walk, especially when some friend gave her some M&Ms

 Damon's pictures from school.

 Last Sunday Morgan built a fort while I was at instacare with Tragon.  It lasted about 6 days, it was awesome.  They got to sleep in in one night.

 On Saturday, my mom came to visit and drop off Halloween treats for the boys, so of course we got in a quick game of Canasta.  ;)  I love my mom.

 And Rylea is going to be just like her cousin Harlee and want to play too.  :)  She actually does pretty good not to grab at the regular cards while we are playing.

Yes, my dear, we all feel like this when we are done trick or treating.  :)  It was a fun-filled week and I'm glad I've been taking more pictures to keep these memories.  I'm already forgetting a lot about my kids when they were younger unless I look at pictures.  Until next time.....

Oct 18th-Oct 24th

Brittyn left her doll here on Monday and this little girl loved it!  She walked around the house for two days carrying the baby.  I think I know what to get her for Christmas this year.  :)

 I'm the 3rd Counselor in the Primary Presidency and we have a huge primary and are still growing really fast.  One of the projects I took on was to make some seat covers for the teacher chairs so parents and subs would know where to go.  I can't say they are super professional, but I can say I have really done my best and I'm pleased with how they are turning out.  We have a little pocket where we can print of a quarter sheet and stick it in.  We are already thinking of multiple uses for these covers.  This calling is probably going to be more demanding and time consuming than being Relief Society Secretary, but I'm working with some great ladies and I'm excited and think it will be a really fun calling.

 This Little Foot loves to go down the stairs forward now, it scares me to death, but she's pretty good.  When she can't reach the rail, she just uses the wall to keep her balance.

 Morgan had his last combined activity with the ward we just split from.  They got to watch a question and answer interview with the Piano Guys, I was a little jealous.  I love Piano Guys.  Even though we split we still have the majority of the youth too.  Morgan was called to be Deacon's Quorum Advisor again, so he stayed in the same spot, so did most of the other Young Men leaders, so he's happy about that.

 We've been really focusing on Tragon to help him not be so violent on his tantrums and to listen the first time we ask him to do something.  I'm happy to say he's definitely improved, but I think because we've been focusing and giving Tragon so much positive attention that this fella right here is getting a little jealous because this week the volume and anger from Damon has increased, so I guess next/this week is his turn to make some anger management goals.  I don't really feel like Morgan and I are angry people, I'm not sure where they get it.  Either way, I'm feeling the challenge of having so many kids and trying to help them through the tough stages and give them all enough attention.  I know if we are trying the Lord will help us and bless us to find the time to help them, but it's really hard when you feel like they ALL need you RIGHT NOW.

 My favorite part of the week was Friday when Morgan came home and said his boss had a couple extra tickets to Piano Guys at Tuacahn, which of course I said yes we are going and I had about and hour and a half to find a babysitter.  We did and it was awesome!  It was so nice to go on a grown up date with my man.  And it was really cool watching them in person.  There is something about music that is able to take you beyond our mortal comprehension and give you a glimpse at the divine.  It was a really neat experience and I'm glad I got to share it with my eternal companion.

It doesn't look like it from this picture, but we actually had really good seats, we were close enough to see facial expressions without having to rely on the screen.

I hope this video works out okay, It might be sideways, I always forget to turn my camera the right way so I don't have to adjust all my pictures and video..for some reason, I thought that was automatic?  Anyway, Tragon loves his little sister and has always been one to make her laugh.  I love when the kids have fun and laugh together.

We finished up the week getting some cleaning done around the house and resting, Morgan has a cold and hasn't been feeling super great this week.  Speaking of updates there, I guess I ought to post for posterity, he went in for another brain MRI and also did a spine MRI, the brain came back just like last time, so no changes there, just the same 3 lesions, but the spine was clear which sort of but not completely rules out MS.  Either way, it just means a different direction to figure out what is causing all of his health problems.  I have faith that we will figure it out. In the meantime we are trying to learn patience.

Until next time...