Little Red Riding Hood

My mom found an adorable Little Red Riding Hood costume at a store one day when she was out and about and called me to see if Paige had decided what she was going to be for Halloween. Well she had talked about being a princess, just like every other year, and I was able to convince her how adorable this new costume would be. I told her it was red and while and that it had a red cape. After I said it had a cape she was all for it. When grandma brought it over, Paige was so excited and had to try it on. In fact one day she wore it most of the day to "make sure it fit!" Well yesterday she finally got the opportunity to wear it outside and to show other people. It was her preschool's Halloween Party and she was the inly one dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and she was adorable. There were several other "Princesses" and so I think she was glad that she went with something different. We even put together a basket with a napkin and cake in it to go along with the story. She had a fun time and was excited about the treats she came home with.

Now both her and Paxten have been fighting fevers all night long and we are hoping they feel well enough later to go see Parker in his school's Spook Parade and to do a little trick or treating later tonight. We are all so excited about Halloween and then Parker's birthday tomorrow. So we have a busy week this week!

Snow Day

We got our first snow storm last week on the 25th of October! What?!! The kids were super excited, more than me of course! After Paige got home from preschool she was adament about playing in the snow, so Paxten wanted to as well. I got them all dressed up warm and out they went...for about 15 minutes. Then they decided they were cold and wanted to come in and have Hot Chocolate. I think that is they real reason Paige wanted to play in the snow, just so she could have hot chocolate afterwards. They are so excited about winter and the snow and all the fun that comes with it. As much as I don't really like the slick roads, and cold cold temperatures, I couldn't imagine the holidays in Idaho without snow! I love seeing the kids so excited about something new, and being able to do a wide variety of fun activities throughout the year because we live here!

10 Days

That's right, 10 days until we are at the Happiest Place on Earth. We are just a little excited!!!

Pumpkin Carving

We have to keep to our tradition of carving pumpkins. Our next door neighbors, the Cooks gave the kids each a pumpkin this year and so we didn't even have to go our and buy some. Matt and I decided that we would end up carving them anyways, so we didn't get one for ourselves this year. We decided that it would be a fun family home evening on Monday, the 22nd. The kids invited Claire, Avery, and Brittany over to join us and we had a good time cleaning out the pumpkins. The kids ended up playing and the adults did the carving, but it was still a fun tradition to keep. Parker wanted the grim reaper, Paige chose a mummy, Paxten got a traditional jack-o-lantern, and Claire chose a bat. They all turned out great and look awesome all lit up in the dark. Now we just have to keep the squirrels aways for a few days so we can enjoy them!

Goodbye Twenties

I had a birthday last week, a very sad birthday...I turned 30!! I can't belive it. I don't feel thirty, not that thirty is old, but when I was younger it did seem old. But now that I have reached that age, I realize that I was wrong. I had a great birthday week and had some sort of celebration almost every day. It was great! My family got together the Sunday before my birthday and we had birthday dinner. Our regular Yancey tradition. Charyn, Jackson, and Zander came from Idaho Falls (Mike was in Seattle at a football game). We had pulled pork tacos and pumpkin pie. My choice and it was delicious! I was spoiled and got 2 new purses from Charyn. Some scrapbook paper and stickers from my mom along with a Frankenstein candle warmer, some Halloween lights, 2 new books by Josi Kilpack, and a picture frame. My dad gave me some money and Matt did as well. I have been wanting a new pair of Shears so I am going to save that money to go towards those, maybe fore Christmas. I also had several friend drop by during the week and drop stuff off to me. It is nice to be thought of and know that you are loved. So on my actual birthday my mom, Charyn and I, and our friend Sheri, went on our semi-annual scrapbook reatreat. I was so excited to go and told Matt that that was all I wanted was to be able to go and scrapbook for a few days and get away from the daily grind. My mom made a birthday cake for me while we were there and everyone sang Happy Birthday. It was nice. I was able to get 44 pages done and I put a small book together for Paxten with 20 pages in it. So the weekend was successful and the kids loved seeing the pages when I got home. It is so nice to be able to get away and spend some time with my mom and sister and the other friends we have made over the years as we have been scrapbooking there. I stayed up way too late, 2:00, 2:30 in the morning. And got up early 7:00 each morning. We laughed alot, ate to much and had a great time. I can't wait to go again!!! It was a great birthday and I think I can settle into my 30's alright, at least 40 is ten years away and I don't have to worry about that for a long time!!

Shoe Tying

Parker came home with a note at the beginning of the month from his teacher. She said, please help your kids learn to tie their shoes, I cannot tie 24 kids shoes all day long. So we immediately started practicing. It seems so simple to me, but it can be quite a difficult thing to learn. Parker has been practicing and can pretty much do it by himself now, he just needs to work on getting it tighter so it will stay in longer. This is just another sigh if him growing up. He will be 7 in less than a week!! 7!! I can't believe I became a mother that long ago. The time just goes to quickly. I love this boy and love the person he is becoming. He loves school and loves his teacher and has improved significantly in his letters and numbers since school has started this year. He is still rambunctious and roudy, but I am beginning to understand that that is just how boys are

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Fabulous

We are getting excited to go on out trip to Disneyland and I have been preparing for a little while now. I was cleaning out the van trying to figure out how I was going to pack all our stuff and have room for Matt's parents things as well. While I was cleaning I found a mirror that you put on the front of a seat to allow the driver to see the baby in the back seat. Paige grabbed the mirror and started looking at herself in it while I was cleaning out some other stuff. After a few minutes she said to me, "Mom, can we take this mirror to Disneyland so I can look in it and see how fabulous I am!" I was quite shocked that this had come out of her mouth and it took me a few seconds before I started laughing. What got me was she said it like it was nothing, and she used the word in the correct usage and everything! Where does she get this stuff?? She is my most confident, hilarious child. She is often the comic relief in our family and she makes me laugh every day with the things she says. I truly do think she is fabulous!

Washable?

I was working on the computer one afternoon and Paxten was right beside me playing in the desk drawer full of crayons, coloring, books and markers. I did not know there were markers in the drawer and within a few seconds Paxten had completely covered himself with teal marker. He had some on his face, his arms, his hands, his feet, his clothing...all over the place. After I had taken a picture to document his mischievousness, I tried to wash off the washable marker. But guess what, it wouldn't come off, and it made an even bigger mess. So we let him wear the marker for the day and then put him in the tub that night where I could really scrub him good and the majority of it faded but didn't completely come off. Lesson learned, move the markers from out of  the reach of the 1 year old! I should know this after 2 other kids!

Best Buddies

Paige and Paxten have been able to spend a lot of time together while Parker is at school. They get along so well and for the most part they play well together and entertain each other. Catching them snuggled up on the couch together is almost a daily occurance, but it makes me smile every time. I love seeing them get along and I love seeing them be kind to each other and help each other out. Paige is a really great big sister and is always helping Paxten out and getting him things he needs. Must be that motherly instinct girls have, because Parker is not like that at all. Paxten often follows Paige around doing what she is doing and sometimes I catch them in her room playing dolls or barbies and Paxten is loving it! He just loves to be included and doing what everyone else is doing. These two kiddos make me smile everyday and sure make me grateful to be a mother! (Parker does too!)