November 2014

Something we discovered on a hike up Mueller Canyon in Bountiful!

My mom and I started art classes at her home - the first month we focused on great artists.  Van Gogh was the first and it was fun to dig out some art history stuff (literally and from the depths of my brain too!)

Caleb and Avery and Presley loved learning about Van Gogh's life and did such wonderful sunflower works with oil pastel.  Caleb also did a Starry Night work too!

The girls got a big jump rope for their birthday and one awesome fall day I captured some of the best poses and faces as they jumped (I was turning on one end and taking pics at the same time!)  It was very entertaining for them to see what they look like while doing it - lots of giggles!  Priceless!

We had lots of cavities filled in November - think Presley had eight or something.  Yikes!  Definitely not a fun thing to do - they were troopers!

Caleb had a piano concert at the church close to his teacher's house.  He did a wonderful job and it was fun to have grandparents there to see it!

Thanksgiving feast pictures taken at Erin and Joseph's home - we had dinner with Dad and Myra and Grandma Johnson came too.  Tons of scrumptious food brought by all and such fun company.  We played some fun interactive games during the course of the afternoon and it was so fun to see that grandma wanted to participate too.  She's such an awesome lady!

His hair for a Kendama!

So for the last 8 months or so, Caleb has not wanted to cut his hair.  After about 5 months Aaron and I quit coaxing him to cut it.  It didn't matter what we said, he just wasn't going to cut it.  There was a couple of very awkward months when it wasn't short and it wasn't long, but then when it did hit the point at which it definitely was long, really long - I have to admit it was pretty cool.  But right before his first real piano recital, it had gotten so long, I couldn't see his eyes!  I told him I'd just trim the front so that he would look a little more clean-cut for his performance, and so he could see!  He surprised me when he agreed and I went for it, fast!  Needless to say, I don't know how to cut bangs on boys so it looks natural instead of a straight across the forehead deal - as Aaron said, "like in the movie Dumb and Dumber".  When Aaron saw his hair when he got home from being out of town the day of Caleb's recital, he said right away that we had to go fix it.  Caleb was really bummed out, but Aaron finally was able to drag him to the car and they went.  The fix-up job was okay, but it still didn't look very natural.  I had messed up royally.  So, this weekend was a long one (Thanksgiving) and Caleb spent some time with his cousins who all own these toys called Kendamas, and he really wants one of his own.  So when Aaron said, "I'll go buy you a Kendama if you cut your hair. " He said....okay!  Just like that - okay!  Within a couple hours they returned with the new toy and a handsome short haircut.  It's so handsome that I think I still prefer short over long.  He had me won over for a while, but I'm glad to see it short again.

Halloween 2014

Black Cat Avery!

Cowgirl Presley!

Harry Potter Caleb!  Complete with the long hair and scar...

I love each of their faces this year - sweet nose and whiskers, missing teeth and freckles and serious HP with glasses.

On our way to the annual Tolman Elementary Halloween party!

On Halloween there was no school, so we went and said hello to grandma Jeanne - she was so happy we came and we loved seeing her in her face make-up!

We also stopped at Grandma Ts to show off our costumes and see Dylan as a zebra.  That night we went trick-or-treating in our Bountiful neighborhood and got plenty of candy of course.  Happy Halloween!

Seven!

We had a fun birthday weekend for the girls!  We went to the movies and then had some rainbow cakes the day of their birthday.  Skittles!  The Jeppsons stopped by and shared it with us.

Happy 7th to you two!

Fall is here!

Cute little costumed faces!  We went to Lagoon with Jon, Heather, Dylan and Chandler at the beginning of October.  We had a blast and made some memories we won't forget - there were scary masked zombies and other things walking around and we had some pretty distraught girls a few times!

We went hiking up the canyon near our house - we were missing the NC outdoors, so it was fun to go explore a different kind of scenery!

A visit with Great Grandma Johnson at her house -she's happy to have us back in Utah!  Presley sang for us!

At the tale end of the mountain leaves changing, we made it up to Silver Lake one day.  Mom and Rick came along - so fun!

We got to attend Elise's book one harp recital - she is so talented!  Look at this group!

Who's that sitting next to Caleb??  Stuffed Halloween man that was part of some decor up at the base of the lift at Sundance.  We went as a big group of cousins to hike up to the falls.  Brian even came and he organized a game of football with everyone before we headed up.  He's the best uncle ever!  (We were missing other dads and Amberly...)

Hope this will become a tradition every fall!  On the way back down the canyon we stopped at Vivian park and sang Happy Birthday to Avery and Presley and shared some donuts.  I actually locked my keys in the car right as I was getting ready to grab the donuts...ahhhh!  So silly and such bad timing.  Everyone was really patient while we waited for someone to come and unlock the car.  

Kids in silly, fun hats they earned at Tolman because they participated in chocolate candy bar fund raiser...

We had fun raking leaves at the house - there were definitely enough to go around!  The kids helped me out quite a bit with gathering and bagging  - it was a beautiful day to do it!

Avery and Presley's classes went on a field trip to a pumpkin patch in Farmington.  Both Aaron and I followed the bus out there to be chaperones.  They went through a hay maze, listened to the farmer talk about all different kinds of pumpkins, ate lunch and got to pick out their own pumpkin to take home.  I was assigned to Avery's class, so that's why all the pictures are of her and her friends and class.  We all had a great morning!