Beautiful colors

I walked Nathan to school today and took a minute to look around at the beautiful fall colors.  I love the tree in our front yard.  The leaves are blazing red.  I had to take a picture.  This alone is proof that God loves us!  Happy Fall

Drew and his trucks

Drew has an obsession with trucks (see his birthday post)  I stub my toes on one of his trucks daily.  It is so funny to watch him drive them.  The trucks have to be hooked up to each other and he insists that the "man" that came with the dump truck (which is very large and portly)  has to sit with the man in the blue truck which looks more like the YMCA construction worker ...needless to say, there is a problem with fitting them both in the front seat - which is the only place they are allowed to sit per Andrew.  I just push the chunky guy in and slam the door as quickly as I can.  Thank goodness that is an "approved" method and makes Drew happy.

Suri Cruise?

When I get the costume box out each year the kids love to try on all of the wigs and capes and costumes.  Andrew put this wig on and I thought he looked a little like Suri Cruise...what do you think?

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year.  First of all the weather was so nice so the kids didn't need to bundle up to Trick-or-Treat.  Morgan was a witch, Nathan was Spider man (he was Peter Parker half of the night when he couldn't wear his mask anymore) and Andrew was a fierce lion.  I was a witch (big surprise) and David was a rock star.  He looked great.  I found him some leather pants in his size at Goodwill.  Then I bought a shirt that was painted to look like tattoos.  Then he wore a wig with a bandana, black nail polish and makeup.  He won the best costume prize at a party we went to.  When we went to our church party everyone took a double take because they couldn't believe the bishop dressed up like that!  We had a blast.   Halloween night the switch witch came to our home and traded the kid's candy for a prize.  What a win-win for everyone! We hope you had a great Halloween too.

Linder Farms Punkin Patch

We did it!  We went to the biggest and "best" pumpkin patch in the area.  Needless to say it was Saturday and one of the warmest most beautiful days in October and it was PACKED with people. We went with Brooke and Bill and their kids.  We caught the first hayride to one of fields and the kids carefully and methodically picked up every pumpkin and examined it and put it back down...picked up the next pumpkin and so on.  It was so fun to watch little Andrew find his perfect pumpkin.  It was the only one he could really carry with the stem.  After the very involved pumpkin selection, we went to the petting zoo and fed the animals.  They had a zebra, camel, bull, and random sheep and ponies.  The only disappointing thing about the day was the food line.  The kids were ready for some baby sized homemade doughnuts.  The only problem is we had to wait in a loooong line to get tokens and then wait in another loooong line to get the doughnuts.  We left and got a Peanut Buster Parfait at Dairy Queen.  Yummy!

Andrew is Two

Happy Birthday Andrew.  I can't believe that our baby is two.  It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital.  We have really enjoyed this little guy in our home.  He is so funny.  He does the funniest things like:

* lifting up my arms and kissing my armpits

*or burping and saying eeewww! right after  

*squishing a spider with his fingers and "playing" with the dead carcass

*going into the garage with me and  pushing me to our bike so I will take him for a ride

*running on the trampoline without moving his head (grandpa Allen's genes?)

*begging for a Matchbox car EVERY time we go to the grocery store and almost always getting one ;)

I could go on and on.  Needless to say he has our heart and David and I are so happy he came into our lives.  Our house is a little more chaotic but that's how we like it.  Happy Birthday angel.

Ride Baby Ride

Nathan can ride a bike without training wheels!  This has been a very big week for our family.  To top it all off, Nathan has been practicing on his bike without his t-dubs.  David (the patient man that he is) took Nate to a parking lot and worked with him for over an hour.  Yesterday Nate could ride up and down the street with very little help. The only little bit of advise we have for him is to keep his eye on the road (he learned that the fast way when he ran right into a basketball pole).  What a great job you are doing...watch out Lance Armstrong!

I Heart Tony Horton!

Don't rub your eyes...you are seeing me next to the one and only Tony Horton (please note I have post workout hair and face).  I heard that he was in town and just HAD to go see him -thanks to a gentle nudge from my husband David who isn't quite as star struck as I am.  He was doing a little fitness promotion for Beachbody.com so I went to see him and I ACTUALLY GOT TO WORK OUT WITH TONY HORTON.  He signed my very worn out P90X DVD case and posed for a picture.   Tony and I work out every morning whether we do Yoga X, Kenpo, Plyometrics, or lift weights and now we do 10-minute trainers together.  He motivates me to "do my best and forget the rest".  It was great to finally meet him.  I'll see you next year Tony!  

Needless to say my body is SO SORE today but it was worth it.

Congratulations Morgan

On Friday, Morgan was honored to receive the Citizenship Award in her 4th grade class.  She received a letter in the mail that invited her family to attend a special meeting where she will receive an award.  So David, Andrew, Morgan and I arrived at Morgan's school at 8:30 am to see what awesome award she would receive.  Morgan was very nervous as her name was called. She walked up to the front of the room and received an award for Citizenship (oh, and a free meal at Red Robin which is her favorite place to eat).   Her teacher was so sweet and said that she loved Morgan and said that she was always willing to help out.  We are so proud of you Morgan! Congratulations.

Farewell Friends

Dedicated to some pretty cool people who have decided to move on to greener pastures.  We will miss the Fabrizios (who have moved to Las Vegas and are no doubt one of K-Feds newest friends) and the Owens who will be moving to Arkansas in the near future.  We have enjoyed getting to know these families and think they are salt-of-the-earth (that means they are about two of the coolest, kindest, most generous families you'll ever meet).  Hopefully our paths will cross again.  GOOD LUCK!

Tyler and Marie...K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Who would have ever thought someone would actually take Tyler off of my parent's hands?! Marie, welcome to the family. This month we made the trek to SLC to see Tyler and Marie married. We had a great time at the wedding breakfast and the reception. Our family liked the live band and we danced all night. I wish David wouldn't have run and slid on the grass so many times for his "Risky Business" dance. Now I have all these grass stains to get out! Thanks for the memories. Tyler and Marie, we hope the best for you and your new life together.

Supastaaaaah

Is that Nathan or did David Beckam come to visit?  Nate just started soccer this month with his best friend Beau and has enjoyed it thoroughly.  5-year old soccer is so fun to watch.  First of all it's three on three and 2 kids on the field at any given time are twirling around in circles or waving to their parents.  Beau scored two goals and Nate was great "bullying" the other team...or was he twirling in circles?  It's all a blur.  The Green Dragons were triumphant.  Way to go boys!

Labor Day in Sun Valley

Oh, the glorious Labor Day holiday. Our family meets the Jenson families in Sun Valley this time each year. We take our bikes, swim suits and lots of yummy food for our last summer vay-cay. We like to go during Labor Day because it coincides with Wagon Days...which means pancake breakfasts, a carnival for the kids, a parade and shopping galore. (oh, and I saw Jamie Lee Curtis at the grocery store but thats a story for a different day. Suffice it to say we are bff's now). Thanks to Rich and Kim for a fabulous dutch oven meal. It kinda made me want to be a pioneer for a second if that's the kind of food they ate! We fretted and worried over a fire consuming BOTH Bob and Corene's and Rich and Kim's home but after all was said and done, everything turned out fine.

Why do we buy kids toys?

I was busy at the computer balancing my checkbook or shopping on-line or something else really important and Andrew entertained himself with a bag...not just any ordinary bag but a zebra print bag. Perhaps Santa should shop at Papyrus for this little tot. He's a boy after my own heart.

Who in the Shiz saw Wicked?!

Oh my word...one of the big things on my "bucket list" was to see Wicked...guess what?  My dream came true.  My mom and my two sisters and I saw the glorious performance in Chicago.  The theater was so beautiful and we had kick- @$* seats.  It was fun to get dressed up and go to the city.  I loved the play...it gave me a greater understanding of Elpheba and her nemisis the wizard.  I loved the dancing and (well I loved it all.)  Thanks my darling sisters and mom for indulging my dream.  The only thing that guaranteed to me that it wasn't  a dream was that we ate at MCDONALDS when the play was over.  Talk about a dream crasher.

Kristen and Andrew...for better or worse

Kristen and Andrew tied the knot on a beautiful day in Chicago.  The weather was perfect and I had my new handy camera to take pictures with (oh and the recent memories of a delicious pizza pie from Gino's East or West...whatever direction it was it was yummy!) It was great to see my sisters and my mom and dad there as well as the Butler clan. Kristen you looked beautiful and Andrew you were a vision (not quite a deer in the headlights but close).  I know you will love the married life.  It's the best.

Nate Goes to Kindergarten!

Nathan started Kindergarten this year which was really hard for his mommy.  He seems too young to start getting all messed up by the public school system!  School began on August 25th and he seemed pretty excited to go...did he want to leave the nest?  Was he tired of his mom hugging and kissing him all day?  Did he think he was ready to be a big boy and hang with other 5-year-olds while learning how to read and choosing between milk, chocolate milk, or (a new one for Nathan) STRAWBERRY milk?!  He still hasn't had the courage to try the pink mystery drink but he loves school.  I know he misses his mom a little too because when it is time to line up to go into the building he waves at me at least three times. whew.  He's still a mommy's boy at heart.

Morgan's first day of school

Morgan started school on the 13th of August!  Even though we did a lot of fun things, summer flew by this year.   Morgan was ready to get back into a schedule but she has homework already!  I don't think I'm ready for school to start.

Anderson Ranch

Our family and our dear friends the Cottles spent the weekend at Anderson Ranch lake.  We had planned on boating and RVing for a couple of months.  The idea sounded really great but the prep work was way involved.  We had to plan a menu, shop, pack, rent an RV, drive, find a camp ground, set up camp, cook, clean, spray for mosquitos, watch kids, use the facilities in a room no bigger than an airplane lavatory.  

The interesting thing is we had a great time.  The kids got along well, we star- gazed, roasted smore's, water skiied, (or in my case tubed), caught a lizard, played charades, fished, ate yummy food, and enjoyed each other's company.  We loved the lake and the beauty that surrounded it.  Thanks for a great get-away Cottles!

Nathan's 5th Birthday

Nathan turned 5!  We had so much fun celebrating his birthday...in fact he had many, many people sing "Happy Birthday to you".  He is so cute and appreciates all you do for him.  His favorite gift were Blendy Pens.  He saw the commercial for them about 5 months ago and couldn't hardly open his gift fast enough.  He plays with them every day now.  Happy birthday Nathan.

Thompson's Visit

We had such a great time last week.  My sister, Janette and her husband Steve went to Seattle to run in a relay with some of their friends and work associates.  Their Three boys came to stay with us for a few days and we had a blast.  Here are a few of the things we did.