Mom's big 50th birthday party!!

We just celebrated my mom's fiftieth birthday!! We just can't believe she's half way to one hundred! We were able to go up to Sun Valley for most of the day and go on a sleigh ride with all the big kids. The little ones stayed home this trip. We had such a great time. Everything up there at this time of year is so magical. The dinner was fabulous and the accordion player sure spoiled my mom with all the song requests. The carolers were sure a highlight. They were the REAL THING, and so was Santa. It was fun being with everyone since Landon got home. Happy Birthday mom!

He's BAAAACK!!!

My brother Landon recently returned home from serving his mission in Peru. For those of you who have had family serve missions you know how fun it is to get them home. I think he's adjusting pretty good, but he may disagree. It's got to be a hard transition for these missionaries coming home. Either way it's been fun having him home and watching him get to know his neices and nephews. We love you Landon! Thank you for your example and for being such a wonderful missionary!

YEAH!!!!

We're super excited that Alyvia is finally going to be a big sister!

OOOOPS!!

I think she knows she's in trouble! She wouldn't even smile for a picture.

What a great night for Hula Dancing!!

We've had quit a bit going on at our house lately! October was full of lots of fun things and cruised on by entirely too fast. We had a great Halloween and Alyvia was so proud of her hula outfit. Our friends Kevin and Amber were here the night before Halloween for the Great Pumpkin Race, so we got to take the girls to the Trunk-or-treat at the church. Amber did great in her race, and the girls got too much candy!! I think Alyvia loved her first real trick-or-treating experience. She still makes me let her outside so she can ring the door bell and say trick-or-treat. Brady's brother Chad and his family were here for a couple of weeks too. We had a ton of fun with them and the kids had a great time hitting doors on Halloween night. They were all soo cute!








We went out to this great pumkin patch outside of town. Alyvia loved picking out the biggest pumpkins for dad to carry to the car. I was amazed at how cold it was that evening, but Halloweeen night was beautiful!!

Uncle Merrick "The Great Pumpkin Head" SCARRY!!




WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT OCTOBER--NOW BRING ON THE FEAST!!

We are amongst the living!!

So I officially survived one of the longest weeks of my life. It made me so grateful for good health, and great family and friends. I got sick last Tuesday afternoon and it just got worse from there for a WHOLE WEEK! It usually sounds like a great idea to lounge around on the couch, but boy did I get sick of that stupid thing. My poor sister got the swine flew a couple of weeks before and I felt helpless as to how I could help her. I guess it just didn't pay off to stay away, we got it anyway. I wish that I had done more for her. Luckily I had some good entertainment for my week long excursion on the couch. Alyvia had me either laughing or crying. She'd come in with her back pack and announce that she will be right back she has to go to preschool. She tried to reassure me that she would be OK and to not miss her while she was gone. She also put on some pretty good dances for me. I'm really glad I had her around most of the time. So if anyone ever tells you not to fear the swine flu, FEAR IT!!!! Stay as far away from it as possible it does bite. "HARD" Something I have learned is that I'm just flat out not tough. So for most of you you can just disregard all of this whining!! I'm pretty good at that too. I am so glad Brady and Alyvia some how snuck around it. Brady is taking his first section of his CPA exam this nex Tuesday, so we have to keep him healthy.

Girls will be girls!!

Last Wednesday night Brady and I were able to go to the temple TOGETHER!!! A couple of my Beehives, Sunny and Ali, were nice enough to come and entertain Alyvia for a few hours. This is what we found when we got home. They had put every single hair bow that Alyvia ownes in her hair. Brady and I just about died laughing. I'm sure glad she had a good time with her "fends". We have the best pick of babysitters!! Thanks Sunny and Ali. You're too cute.