Cookie Cutting

My sister is a sugar cookie maker extraordinaire. When we were looking for a way to entertain the kids on a rainy Saturday evening. She pulled some home made, pre-rolled, sheets of frozen dough from her freezer. Yes, she is magical! The kids had a great time rolling and cooking and decorating.

And, as a side note, frozen cookie dough is the way to go. The shapes pop right out without much flour. Just in case you wanted to try your hand at cookie making.

And, as another side note, if you run out of white flour you can roll them in whole wheat flour. The frosting covers it right up, and adds some nutritional value. Not much.., but some!

Ta Da!

Lunch Date

It's kind of confusing to young children when they have a Grandpa Carl, but they eat at Carl's Jr. with their Grandpa Neal. I know, wrap your mind around that one. On Saturday afternoon Bethany and I broke my dad out of jail. Or more specifically 8 hours of AP teacher meetings. So, pretty much jail.

Anyway, we rescued him just in time. Not only did they force him to sit for hours on end listening to teachers teach teachers, but they had the audacity to serve a vegetarian lunch. So we took him to Carl's Jr. stat! He entertained the kids with some of his classic magic tricks, and they entertained him with their chatter and banter. So all in all, it was very entertaining.

We were able to snap a few photos before we had to return him to his meetings/teacher jail.

The Last of the Aquarium {Photos}

Caleb was happy as a clam {har har har} sitting in his stroller...As long as it was moving. Christian and I pushed him through that aquarium at least 20 times. He especially liked watching the bright Amazon river fish, I was mildly frightened by them, but Caleb seemed to like them.

I stood on the "kid step" and held Carter up for {what seemed like hours} at least 20 minutes so he could get a good look at the penguins. They are pretty awesome, and very fun to watch, but he was getting heavy!

Cali wanted her picture taken in the fake coral. She also wanted to plug her nose so it would "look like she was underwater"...So did it work?

Bethany gave Nemo a little pat for good luck before we left.

We Are Sisters and...

we kind of like each other!

Thank you Arrested Development for reminding me of one of my favorite lines of all time.

Gob Bluth to Michael Bluth, "We are brothers, and we kind of like each other!"

How fitting!

Our Wild Weekend

It all started very early on Friday morning. We left RS at 7am to have a wonderful day filled with dr.'s appointments and family fun. Christian took the day off to help with the dr. situations, so we decided to make a weekend out of it!

Our Friday TO DO list went something like this:
My dr. appointment. Check.
In N Out for lunch. Check.
Shopping at Hobby Lobby. Check.
Caleb's dr. appointment. Check.
Shopping at the Gateway. Check.
Playing on Bethany's playground. Check.
Birthday dinner with Bethany and Tyler. Check.
Cookies from Paradise Bakery. Check.
Relaxing at Grandpa's apartment. Check.

The next morning we had big plans to hit the zoo. But the rain was too much for me and my new gray suede boots...and the kids too! So we went to the next best place, the aquarium! Hurray.

Cali finally was brave enough to touch the sting ray...Carter, not so much.

Instead Carter yelled..."Ty Ty Ty Ty Ty! You have to see this!" about 14000 times. Thank you Tyler for following Carter around.

Carter's new picture taking face is just too precious! These two are up a creek for sure!

The Best Big Brother

I never had a big brother, so I'm not entirely sure how that dynamic is supposed to work. Christian is a big brother to four siblings, but both he and I are the oldest, and don't know what it feels like to have someone older and wiser than us.

However, if I were to pick a big brother, I would pick one like Carter. He is attentive, kind, sweet, and patient with Caleb. He reads him stories, {tries to} snuggle him, gives him walking lessons, and reads to him.

Caleb is well aware how lucky he is, the very sight of Carter will send him into hysterical laughing and lunging toward him. He misses him when he's at school, and claps when he gets in the car.

I'm not sure if Carter will still think Caleb is cute and fun when he's 16 and Caleb is 12, but I sure hope so, because they are so fun to watch!

We Will Not Knock! We Will Rock!

Last Saturday my sister Bethany came for a much needed {both she and I} visit to Rock Springs. She came to watch the Cali and Carter's final soccer game and to bring the boy's some early birthday presents. Carter loved his nerf gun, we ate all the Kit Kats, and have watched "How to Train Your Dragon" at least 25 times.

We had a great time together soccer, relaxing, eating, going for a walk, and just trying to reenact the days when we lived closer. We couldn't resist the photo op...and another shameless plug for me pushing these T-shirts. Although, by the looks of this picture it looks like I should stop rocking Rock Springs. Or else I've rocked it too hard. Man, I look a little rough.

Spooky

To earn one of her "try it" patches for Girl Scouts, Cali had to make or decorate a mask. Thanks to Emily for successfully orchestrating the mask decorating extravaganza. There was glue, glitter, hair, feathers, and jewels as far as the eye could see. The girls had a great time, and Cali loves trying hers on and wearing it around. Which, freaks me out just a little...They are kind of creepy...In an-appropriate-for-girl-scouts kind of way!

Phew...It's just her under there. I would like to take credit for bringing the crazy fake hair. We bought it several years ago for some Christmas puppets that we made as a family. I could never quite find a craft that needed "hair", so I'm glad it was put to good use!

And lucky for Carter {who was helping me at the activity} Emily had an extra for him to decorate as well. The next day he made mouse ears in preschool as they studied the letter "M". I have to thank Emily for the mask and mouse ears combo, it's priceless!

Easy {& Fun} Dinner

Last Friday night Cali and Carter made their own dinner. They were so excited to make their very own pizza pockets.

Two Grands rolls, rolled flat. Three tablespoons of marinara sauce {home made if you're lucky like me and have a mother in law that makes it by the gallon!}. Cheese. Ham. Pineapple. Spread it around, put the other flat roll on top and pinch the edges.

Carter's creation.

Cali has skills with the rolling pin.

Nothing Out of the Ordinary

Last week Carter had a stellar dentist appointment. No cavities + he entertained the staff with his endless banter and random facts about life. He also told the hygienist that, "my mom doesn't have a car". When the hygienist asked how we arrived there, Carter replied, "we walked". Duh! Who doesn't walk to the dentist at 9am?

Caleb wanted to get in on the action by riding the chair up and down...as you can see from his blurry little face.

I also tracked the Schwan man down so that I could buy two cases of Push 'Ems, yes chocolate and orange thank you very much. We are now officially added to his bi-weekly route, therefore I won't have to stalk him anymore. We all love these things, and have learned how to eat them without getting a brain freeze. Caleb, on the other hand, still has a lot to learn. Every time he eats one he does so with such enthusiasm that he gives himself a brain freeze. I have to keep a bottle of warm water near by.

Soccer Shots

Saturday is Cali and Carter's last soccer game of the year. They both had a great season, and I think their pictures turned out pretty great too!

Flaming Jaguars

Bear Tigers

What would a photo shoot be without the token "silly" picture?

A Ten/Eleven Month Old

Somewhere a long the way, Caleb turned ten and eleven months old. He is now in the homestretch to being a one year old, hardly the baby we were hoping that he would stay. Here's a few things that he can and cannot do:

Can:
Drink whole milk. {the dead bug formula was enough for him to quit cold turkey}
Crawl faster than the average baby.
Push the garage door button EVERY time we leave the house.
Wave and say "bye bye".
Pull himself up on random objects.
Pretend to walk.
Sleep from 8pm-6am!
Growl at friends and strangers.
Hug, kiss, and give pats on the back.
Play with cars {complete with sound effects}
Go up stairs.
Point at and lunge for things he "needs".

Cannot:
Hold still long enough to get his diaper changed.
Fight the compulsion to stand up in the bath tub.
Get his ears wet {dr.'s orders}
Walk by himself

So, far it's been a pretty great 10/11 months. I also recently discovered something else he can and should not do again...

I think the swing...

will need to be...

retired or given to another baby!

No squirrelly 11 month old was harmed in the taking of these photos. He was only in slight discomfort and pretty proud of himself!

Seriously....DON'T!

My facebook friends have already seen these beauties, and you may have seen me wearing mine around town. But, what started as a joke between me and my brother, ended up being a home- made going away gift for a friend, and is now out of control.

The tank tops sold out in seconds, and I only have a few shirts left. For $12.00 you can show your Rock Springs pride + be cool!

Gratitude

Listening to President Monson's talk this weekend reminded me of this note that Cali wrote to Christian. It's just a green sticky note stuck to our dresser, but it's a cute reminder of simple gratitude.

While Carter was having his date at the circus with his grandparents, Cali and Christian went on a date of their own. They washed the car, ate dinner at Applebees, tried out the new road {there's a new road in Rock Springs!}, and went to the movies. Once they got home Christian let her lay on the couch and watch TV until she dozed off to dreamland.

The next morning this sticky note appeared stuck to our dresser.

Case Loads of Fun

Thanks to my mom and Vicki, we are now stocked full of canned goods. I put off going to the case lot sale in RS, and when I finally got around to it, there was one case of black beans and one case of pineapple left. Lame! Luckily I have a two mother's that were on top of it for me. So between the Smiths in Price Utah and Stewart's Thriftway in Castle Dale Utah. We have food, and cases of it!

Big Brother & Sister

On Tuesday morning I was trying to get ready to go to the dentist, Carter went into Caleb's room to talk to him for a few minutes before I could come and break him out of {as Carter calls it} "Baby Jail". I could hear them playing so nicely that I finished a few extra little chores before I went to release him. I found these two big boys with tons of toys in a crib.

So, I took a few pictures as I told Carter to get out. You know, just to really send a mixed message about climbing in a baby crib. But, they are pretty cute, and the moment was pretty sweet.

And just for comparison sake. Here's one of a big sister. Sorry about the "boob" shot. She was barely three and I think the cut-off for topless pictures is at least four. Anyway, Cali used to do the same thing, but she was a little to small to jump in the crib.

Carter is two months younger in this picture than Caleb was in his, but it's a pretty close comparison. Carter's face was so chubby and yummy to kiss all day, and apparently he could pee a lot too. Check out that diaper. That's one night! That's impressive!

Bear Tigers & Flaming Jaguars

That's what you get when kids get to name their own soccer teams! Carter is a proud Bear Tiger. Last week he scored 10+ goals {we stopped counting}. We told him to pass the ball to his teammates when he got down to the goal so they could have a turn too. His response, "no, they didn't steal the ball away." Noted. Carter is very aggressive in his soccer approach, but has been able...for the most part not to "attackle" anyone. Somewhere along the way, the word "attack" and the word "tackle" became one in his mind.

If he steals the ball from the other team, he wants to score the goal. I can totally relate to his mentality. I have vivid memories of the playground at Castle Dale Elementary. And distinctly remember having an overwhelming urge to steal the ball from the other team, and to score more goals than them too. I don't know if aggression and competition is something that can be taught. However, I do know {from experience} that it's something that has to be reined in on certain occasions.

Caleb is just happy to push a ball around the field. He tried to get in on the action, but was forbidden to cross the white line, which resulted in a massive fit and ended him back in his stroller. This kid cannot be contained.

And here's the happiest Flaming Jaguar you've ever seen. Cali has a very loud, aggressive, hands-on coach this year. She is very interested in making sure that everyone gets to play, and works tirelessly to compliment and encourage girls of all ability levels. She has taught Cali a lot this year about playing different positions on the field and makes sure that everyone gets a chance for offense and defense. Cali is a fast runner and does a lot of it! She works hard at playing her position and making sure that she's doing what her coach taught her. She hasn't seen a lot of scoring action this season, but she is so happy to be on the field and have a blue Powerade at half time. What more can you ask for?!

And here he is, back in his stroller, sippin' a bottle and enjoying the weather. Did I mention it's been the nicest fall here? Well it has, beautiful weather bordering on hot. I'll take 80+ degree October at the soccer field any day.

How Many Grown Women...

does it take to wrestle a 10 month old whilst taking a picture. The answer, only two if you're these two! Last weekend we made a quick trip to Salt Lake. Carter had a very important date with his grandparents and the circus {his pictures of this event are featured in a previous post...scroll down}. In the mean time I met up with my sister who went with me to visit a friend {more on that previously too}, raid Hobby Lobby {that adventure needs its own blog all together}, and ate WAY too late at In N Out {also, scroll down}.

After Carter's circus adventures we spent the night at Bethany's apartment and then hurried home Saturday morning just in time for some soccer action {featured above}. It was a quick trip, but well worth it. Carter had a great time, and so did we.

...It's What a Burger's All About

I'm not going to say that I was the one who brought In N Out to Utah. The fact that I don't even live in Utah anymore, kind of ruins that argument.

But I will tell you that during the first craving infested trimester of my first pregnancy in late 2002. I emailed the corporate headquarters of In N Out and kindly suggested that they expand their operations eastward to Utah. I provided a very well thought out {I was pregnant!} argument and some very compelling {I was pregnant} rationale.

They responded within in the week of my request and kindly told me that "at the present time we are not interest in the Utah or Salt Lake City market". Well, I am certainly glad they changed their minds. I am also certainly sad that the In N Out featured in this picture is only a stone's throw away from our old house in Herriman...Maybe it's better that way. Can you imagine...Having this deliciousness so accessible? Maybe it's better that we still have to make a drive to get it!

Here are Bethany and Caleb...In N Out virgins no more!