Happy Halloween!

What a beautiful night! We didn't even need coats or jackets which always ruin a perfectly good costume. It rained a little, which made Anna's costume all the more versatile :) Josh and Eliza and Abe and Belle joined us for a fun night of trick or treating. Good times.

First we have, Anna the jellyfish.

She lost several tentacles at school yesterday.

All of the kids kept popping her costume.

Abby the good little witch

Nate the robot

with the "eyes" on

and last, but not least,

Charlie Brown

or as Ben says, "Chiey Bwown"

Am I the Only One?

Am I the only one who for years and years have been trying to empty my humidifier by tilting and flipping as fast as I could to get all the water out? Am I the only one who hadn't thought through the process by which the water travels down into the base and gets humidified or whatever it does? I happened to accidentally push that little valve thingy (see picture below) and stood amazed as every drop of water came flowing out with no tilting or flipping. I love emptying my humidifier now, but seriously, am I the only one that didn't know that?

(Yes, not only did I take a picture of and post about my humidifier, I also took the time to add an arrow and text to the picture.)

Weekend Update

This was kind of a nice low-key weekend. Soccer ended last week, so it was so great to have our Saturday back yesterday. Ben and Brennan have been a little under the weather so we pretty much stuck around. Saturday afternoon the girls were both with friends so Nate, Ben and I went to the park and I got to read while they rode their bikes. It was so nice to get out and get some fresh fabulous Fall air. The weather has been pretty spectacular and the colors are just stunning. Love this time of year.

Anna had her last game Thursday night. She loves to play defense and her coach usually puts her there because she rarely lets anyone by her; however, she did get to play offense long enough to kick a great ball over her opponents' heads and right into the corner of the goal. It's so much fun to see her really love and do well at something. She and Chloe are wrapping up the dance classes they've been teaching for some neighborhood girls. Each practice has a theme, and they try to work that theme into their rehearsal somehow, i.e. friendship. Cracks me up. We love Anna.

Abigail's school teacher is Chloe's Mom and lives just down the street. Whenever Abby has her friend Paige over, who is also in her school class, they find some really random treasure and deliver it to their teacher's house with an affectionate little note. One day they took her some puny little green beans from our garden, another day an otter pop, last week a brownie. Abby loves to give. We love Abigail.

Nate had his first field trip this week to a local pumpkin patch. He was so excited to ride in a school bus and have an adventure. He came home with a beloved pumpkin that he had decorated with little foam stickers. He had saved his extra stickers to bring home for Ben. He adores Benny. My parents went on a cruise so we've been talking about that a lot lately. A few days ago Nate was talking about going on a church mission when he's older and the girls asked him where he'd like to go. "Maybe on a cruise." Should we break it to him that a mission isn't exactly a luxury vacation? We love Natey.

I mentioned earlier that Ben had been sick. Let's just say that it brought out the tyrant king side of his personality. The other morning he crawled in bed with me at 2:00 am and because he'd been coughing and having a hard time sleeping, I opened my arms and snuggled right up with him. At about 5:00am I awoke to him kicking me and yelling in my face "Mom, don't sit wight dere (right there)!" Apparently I was hogging my pillow. Today at Church he was being characteristically loud and so I took him out to the lobby. "Benny, you have got to be reverent, do you know what reverent means?" In a weird low kind of burpy way he loudly said, "RRRRRRRRRIBBET!" Reverent, ribbet? Oh well, I tried. My new favorite thing is that he now uses the word "yes" a lot and he says it with the most adorable lisp. "Did you have a good nap, Ben?" "Yeth, I did." We love Benjamin.

Things I Don't Want To Forget

He has a dimple on his chin and if you look carefully you can kind of see his weird little dimple below his left eye. I love it.

Ben has learned a few phrases lately that have caught me off guard and made me laugh. Today he threw a toy at and hurt Nate. When Brennan looked at him and started chastising him he quickly cut in saying, "I didn't mean to!" As much as I detest that phrase, I have to admit it was cute coming out of his mouth for the first time. He's also learned to beg for "Fibe more minutes, Mom?" And, when I'm in a hurry and he isn't and I tell him to hurry he says, "One sencunt (second)."

Yesterday the boys and I were in the car driving along when Benny suddenly said, "Pretty hair, Mom!" Awww. Thanks, Benny. Funny how I know that my 2 year old son has no concept of what constitutes a good hair day, and yet it still made me feel like I was having one.

I love his little fangs, and the big swirly cowlick front and center on his forehead.

For some reason Ben doesn't know that the word "guy" exists without following the word "bad", so whenever he means to say "guy" he says "bad guy." The other day a man was here fixing our dryer. "What dat bad guy doing, Mom?" It's kind of embarrassing. "Oh, he's not a bad guy, he's fixing our dryer."

Every day when I put him down for his nap we read his favorite book about a tiger. When I finished reading one day, I tucked him in and said, "Goodnight, Tiger." He laughed and said, "I not a tiger!" A few days later, he started calling me tiger back and now for reasons unbeknownst to me it has evolved into me saying, "Goodnight, Tiger." Ben then says, "Goodnight, helmet!" He gets the biggest kick out of his joke that it kind of doesn't matter that it makes no sense at all, to me anyway. I'm sure it makes perfect sense to Ben.

We love Benjamin.

Potpourri

(Ryan and Macy I promise I didn't steal your title, it's one of my regulars)

A few weeks ago during our whirlwind conference family weekend my Mom was sitting at the table with the grand kids and was asking Rex a question. "So Rex, why is your middle name Gregory (this is my Dad's name)?" Before Rex could reply Nate said, "Because he really loves the Brady Bunch."



The other day we went to my cousin's house for a Halloween party. As we pulled up my kids were asking if I was sure we were at the the right house because it wasn't where they remembered them living. I explained that they had moved (once in like 5 years) and Abby said, "Mom, they move a lot. They should really just pick a place and stay there."

Halloween party at my cousin's

Yesterday the kids took their bikes over to our neighbors' to borrow their pump for their flat tires. Later that day I said, "Abby did you thank Chase for pumping up your tires?" She looked at me like I had just asked what 1 + 1 is and said, "Why wouldn't I?" Moms are so stupid sometimes.

Bike ride at a nearby trail

my niece, Belle

The Great Pumpkin Patch Mystery

I attempted a garden again this year. A few years ago I got really into my little garden for a couple of weeks and then kind of forgot about it. Evidently veggies don't love that. Let's just say I reaped what I sewed. However, this year I was determined to get it right so I simplified and carefully picked a few things that we would actually eat, beans, basil, cucumbers, broccoli and tomatoes. I really did nurture and love my garden the best I knew how and well I got some interesting results. I did finally get some beans and tomatoes which just thrills me to no end. Honestly, I always thought people who got way into their gardens were a little odd, but now I get it. The excitement of compost and weeding and waiting and then eating. So fun.

yes, the tomato is tiny, we're not going for a blue ribbon here

The basil was a total no-show and I got one cucumber. The broccoli, however, was coming a long beautifully until one morning I saw some pumpkins on my broccoli plants. Weird. I have never planted pumpkins ever, and this is a garden box that we built several years ago that didn't exist previously. I still have no idea how my broccoli turned out to be pumpkins, but now it's very exciting and there just happen to be 4 fabulous pumpkins growing for 4 very excited children.

Weekend Update

Our Internet was down for a few days and I'm feeling lucky to have survived. Seriously, it about killed me. Fortunately we had a fun filled weekend to help get me through. Our friends, the Beechers, were in town and we had a great time catching up with them Friday night. Saturday night we got to out to eat with some friends. Sunday we woke up to a yard covered in snow. The kids couldn't resist so we spent the better part of the morning finding 4 pairs of mittens, 4 pairs of boots, 4 coats, snowsuits, hats etc. and somehow managed to get them out the door before the snow melted. They came in happy and cold. Later that night the kids and I went to my cousins', Seth and Sam, Eagle Court of Honor with an actual eagle on the program. It was huge and very impressive.

Kelly and Cole

Jackson

Emily and Anna

Hard at work on the first snowman of the season

Yesterday as Anna was getting dressed for Church she asked what shoes she should wear. I suggested her black boots since it was so cold and snowy. She looked at me and said, "Mom, I think that's a little too woo-woo (whistled)." Cracked me up. I'm so glad she's not in a hurry to be all grown up and woo-woo. Oh and she was sent to bed tonight a little after 8:00 so she could read til 9:00. She just came upstairs to confess her awakeness having "accidentally read" for two hours past her bedtime. I'm glad she loves to read and all, but lack of sleep for my kids really stresses me out. We love Anna.

Tonight we played a simplified version of Charades. Basically we just take turns acting out some kind of animal or thing. It's pretty straightforward and basic for everyone but Abigail. This child takes it to a whole new level and I don't think I can even begin to describe it, but you know me, I'll definitely try. We all sat there while she jumped up and let herself drop to the ground where she'd lay for a few seconds then start springing up with purpose and a wild look in her eyes. She would alternate between being really serious and giggling at herself. It turns out she was a seed being dropped into the ground and then sprouting and growing. It was indescribably hilarious to watch her take this game to a whole new interpretive dance kind of level. We love Abby.

Nate played his soccer game in the rain last week and told Brennan, "I love playing in the rain, it makes it intense like when Vince Papale played football in the rain in the movie Invincible." He is loving school and takes everything his teacher says very seriously. I love this phase when all the things I've been telling them since they were born are suddenly the gospel truth because "teacher said." We love Nathan.

I am constantly surprised by how much Ben observes. Tonight we announced we'd be playing a game and he immediately ran into the kitchen and came back with a couple of soup cans saying, "I got our game!" A few weeks ago we played a game involving soup cans and so when he heard game time he was ready to contribute. His newest phrase he's picked up whenever I ask him to do something or come to me, "Pibe (Five) more minits (minutes), Mom?" It's like this child is made of sunshine and whenever you're around him when there are no clouds in the way, you can't help but feel happy and warm. We love Benjamin.

Little Women

When is the last time you read Little Women? It's time to pick it up again. We're doing it for our bookclub and since it's been many years since I last read it I intended to re-read it. Unfortunately I didn't get to it until yesterday and don't think I'll finish in time but these last two days have been pure heaven. Here's just one little excerpt:

"If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than father, to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of life-long peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

Between this book and General Conference last weekend (a semi-annual series of meetings wherein our prophet and many other leaders guide, counsel and uplift us) something may get through this thick head of mine yet!

After All These Years

Today I got a call from Brennan asking me if I could go out to lunch with him. I couldn't, but it still makes me so happy to be asked out by him.

Christmas Came Early This Year

Benny kept talking about Christmas this weekend. I was a little perplexed as I was quite sure that none of us had started talking about Christmas yet and wondered why on earth he was bringing it up. Then I realized there was a pattern to his bringing up Christmas and it had to do with my brother Christian who was in town this weekend.


Untitled from Andrea W. on Vimeo.

Here's Christmas and Rebecca's cute little Oliver who happens to be obsessed with any car, truck or bus

We met up with Chris, Rebecca and Oliver at the zoo on Friday afternoon. Later that night we left the kids home and just the adults went out to dinner and then to Ryan and Macy's. It was really fun, except I waited too long to find a babysitter and couldn't find one. Brennan kindly volunteered to stay home and let me go. So other than missing Brennan it was a great night, we laughed hard.

zoo pictures

A close-up of the sticker Benny chose from the doctor's office that day

Rex

cutest little Molly

Saturday morning we woke up to a lot of rain. Nate's team played their soccer game, but the girls' were cancelled. It was kind of fabulous to have a relaxing Saturday morning to just enjoy General Conference on cozy rainy day. Later that day we headed to my parents to watch the 2nd session with my family. My mom went to amazing amounts of work to have conference activities for the kids which they actually really did and loved. We all ate together and the men headed off to the Priesthood session. My mom then gave each of the kids a cute little bags with a treat and modeling clay inside. That was a big hit and they happily created while the moms got to chat. We got the kids ready for bed and got them settled for their sleep-over downstairs. After about 327 trips upstairs to report someone was keeping them up, or someone was dying of hunger and really needed some licorice etc., they did finally go to sleep. In the meantime we adults had a good times schmoozing.

Sunday was another cozy conference day at my parents'. We left after dinner last night tired and happy. It was a great weekend and we're so glad we got to hang with Chris, Rebecca and Oliver!

Benny and Belle

Tagged

7 wonders of Andrea. Thanks, Amy, for tagging me although it was kind of painful trying to come up with a measly 7 things that are remotely noteworthy for this fun tag. I did come up with 7 things (I need not mention, but as usual will anyway) I really stretched the standard of "noteworthy" to get there.

1. Before we had Anna I worked as a legal secretary. I started out as my Dad's secretary, but then he moved on to bigger and better things and I stayed there for several years. I think I was actually pretty good at it. I enjoyed what I did and I loved working downtown.

2. Brennan and I went on our first date Feb. 3rd 1997, got engaged Mar. 18th, and married June 7th, 1997. We both tend to be a little bit impulsive, but we also tend to be very happily married.

3. I have 4 brothers and finally when I was 11 and 3/4 I got a sister. Maybe it's because of that or maybe it's just because I'm some kind of mutant, but I usually feel more comfortable conversing with men than women. Fortunately for me and perhaps unfortunately for them, I have found several groups of women that I cannot get enough of and have no problem conversing with. Because that has been a little rare for me, when I do find those kindred spirits, I value them greatly.

4. I had my picture in the local paper once because in highschool I was selected as "P.E. Student of the Month". I'm still trying to top that accomplishment.

5. I can't even explain how happy and proud I get when "no misspellings found" pops up after I spellcheck. It's rare, but so exciting.

6. I have wonderful parents who deprived me of nothing except a middle name. They always told me they just felt like it was too cumbersome to deal with a first, middle, maiden and married name. My sister has a middle name. Weird.

7. In high school there were 4 of us that were the best of friends. All four of us are left handed. I always did and still do love that fact.

I tag and remind you that if I can do it you can do it:

Cheryl
Mandolin
Brynn
Megan
Amber
Monica
Kristin