Disneyland!

Aiden and Parks had the whole month of October off for track break, so Cody and I surprised them with a trip to Disneyland. Grandma watched the twins for us so we could make the most of our trip and spend some quality time with the big boys. We had so much fun! We got 2-day park hopper passes for Disneyland and California Adventures. The parks were decorated for Halloween, the weather was perfect, and there were hardly any lines to wait in. We almost didn't need the Dream Fast Passes they gave us at the end of the Buzz Lightyear ride. (That was so cool. The first ride we went on was the Buzz Lightyear ride. When we got off the ride some park employees were standing in the exit tunnel handing out Dream Fast Passes. They were fast passes to all the coolest rides in Disneyland and California Adventures. We were lucky to be in the right place at the right time.)

Every kid needs some mouse ears.

A turn on the teacups

A tired and happy boy on the merry-go-round after a long day of fun.

Before we left for home, we stopped at the beach. Parks and Aiden don't remember going to the beach in Florida, so it was like being there for the first time. They loved it. We even found a real live starfish under the pier!

Aiden's Backyard Birthday Campout

Aiden is way excited about his new Heelys. Jake VanOrden loving the s'mores. Parks does his happy S'more dance. Nikos gets ready to roast some marshmallows

My camera was doing some crazy things around the campfire. That's Campbell being engulfed in "flames".

The weekend of Aiden's 9th Birthday was a three-day weekend for us, so we decided to have a backyard campout, and boy was it fun! We had a real campfire to roast weenies and s'mores. We played night games and kept the neighbors awake (just 'til 10:00). The boys slept in tents and Cody, my wonderful husband, slept on the trampoline to keep an eye on things. (Thanks babe). Parks said he's definitely having a campout for his b-day next year. I can't wait. That was the best birthday party we've ever had.

Garrett & Drew Start Preschool

My sweet babies started preschool on September 22. They were so excited to wear their backpacks "like big boys" and go to school at Carter's house. My friends Crystal, Alysia, and Susan Thiriot, and Candi Willhite and I are doing a preschool co-op where we take turns teaching in our homes. So far, it's been nice, but I haven't had a turn teaching yet!

Twins Turn Three!

Garrett and Drew turned three on September 20th. They had a playdate party with their friends Ryan Little and Carter Thiriot. Cody and I made a play kitchen for them out of the hutch my Grandpa Smith made for me when I was a little girl. They love it. They have a great time making brownies and spaghetti for me. The birthday party was on the 19th because on their actual b-day, we were at the Smith Family Reunion in Cedar Canyon.

My mom was in charge of keeping the kids entertained (which she's really good at) so there was plenty of fun stuff to do. (We told the twins the reunion was really their birthday party).

Garrett on the giant inflatable slide. Soooo fun!

Aiden and Parks make a necklace filled with colored sand.

Drew digs for treasure in the sawdust. Thanks Grandma for making the Reunion/Birthday party so much fun!

The Incident at the Springs Preserve

I took my twins to the Springs Preserve one morning a couple of weeks ago. We hadn't even officially been admitted to the park when disaster struck. There is a little box canyon you can walk through on the way in and there is a stream running along the path. The boys loved it, of course, and they threw a few rocks in the water. Then we got to the head of the stream where there is a small waterfall with a pool at the bottom of it. I thought, "Oh great! A photo-op!" I had the boys sit on some rocks at the edge of the pool of water and took some cute photos. Then I said these brilliant words, "Give each other a hug!" So they did. Can you tell from this next photo what happened immediately after?

If you guessed, "They fell in the pool," you win the prize. Luckily the pool was only as deep as a kids wading pool. I ran over and fished them out. Garrett was completely underwater with Drew on top of him. (I don't know how that happened.) They were both drenched and screaming. Luckily it was early enough in the morning that no one else was around. After I calmed them down I took more pictures for posterity.

Then I peeled each piece of their clothing off one by one and wrung them out. Then we went in the Preserve to spend a couple of hours because I did not drive all that way to be there for five minutes. I'm cruel I guess.

The Twins Learn to Pedal

Garrett (top) and Drew finally learned to pedal a tricycle. We figured out that the Thomas bikes they got for Christmas last year were the problem. Our family went to a BBQ at a friends house and they each got on the little Radio Flyer trike they had and just took off pedaling. When we got home, they got on their Thomas trikes and couldn't make them work. So, the bikes were defective, not the boys. I was starting to worry because Parks started pedaling a bike before he was two years old, and these boys were almost three and weren't even close. Once we figured out the problem, the Thomas trikes went to the D.I. and the boys got brand new Radio Flyer trikes which they absolutely love.

Tagged

My cousin Collette tagged me and I just now realized it. I have a terrible memory, so this will be tough, but here it goes.

20 years ago...

-I was 11 years old.

-had just started 6th grade at CVT Gilbert Sixth Grade Center in Las Vegas.

-had a really awesome perm.

-wanted a Boom Box for Christmas.

-loved my stirrup pants.

-wanted to be a teacher or an interior designer when I grew up

10 years ago...

-I was a fairly newly wed with no children.

-I was working at Temple View RV.

-I had a puppy named Otis.

-I was trying to get my Bachelor's (which never happened).

-was thinking about starting our family.

-was the Mia Maid advisor in the St. George 8th Ward (Cody's Mom & Dad's Ward)

5 years ago...

-I had two kids; Aiden was 3, and Parks was 1.

-we had just bought a house in Las Vegas (not this one).

-Cody was a brand-new attorney.

3 years ago...

-I was one week away from delivering twins.

-I was completely miserable.

-my life was about to change forever.

-I was about to learn that I am stronger than I thought I was (in more ways than one).

1 year ago...

-I was a kindergarten volunteer (for Parks's class)

-Aiden was preparing to be baptized.

-we were planning a trip to Disneyland (which never happened because of the California wildfires)

-I was finally feeling like I could handle four kids (the twins were almost two).

-I was dealing with turning 30.

-I was stressing about my church calling.

This year I...

-turned 31.

-became a digi-scrapper and a blogger.

-became at peace with the fact that I cannot keep my house clean (or maybe I just gave up).

-lost five pounds.

-gained five pounds.

-went to visit my sister in Houston and took all of my children (without Cody).

Yesterday I...

-took the twins to Petsmart to buy crickets for the lizard.

-took a day off from making dinner.

-organized my computer files.

-had a movie night with my kids.

Today I...

-will finish the twins birthday present. (I'm remaking a toy hutch my Grandpa made for me when I was a little girl into a play kitchen for the twins.)

-will make homemade instruments for my nursery kids (my new calling is Nursery Chorister, way fun)

-do some laundry.

-call my sister in Houston (Hurricane Ike).

-try to keep my sanity for one more day.

Tomorrow I...

-will go to church with my family.

-will eat our traditional Sunday meal of spaghetti.

-will relax.

Next year, hopefully I...

-will take a family vacation.

-will take a non-family vacation.

-will get a maid.

I tag Crystal and Jaclyn