Here Comes Santa Claus

Last week Rory got the honey-do bug and FINALLY... after 3 years... finished the rock on the tub in our master bathroom. It looks amazing and I am so excited to have something crossed off our list.

Connor is getting so big. He is really excited to get baptized next July and was the shining star 2 weeks in a row at church. He loves to learn and is doing so well in school. He is in a choir group at school called the Musical Minors and comes home singing Christmas songs all the time.



This weekend Kadence had her first performance of the year at the CEU Craft Fair. She is so beautiful. She did such a great job, but she wouldn't smile. I asked her why, and she said it was just too scary up there.


Kinlee is a little climber. She climbs on everything. The other day I walked into Connor's room and she was to the top of his ladder and didn't know how to get down. She is going to be the death of me, my other 2 weren't climbers so this is all new to me!


We had our church Christmas party last night and Connor was one of the Shepard's, he wiggled his loose tooth the whole time and finally mouthed to me (I was in the audience) and asked if he could sit down. Kadence was in the choir and sang Away in a Manger and some other Christmas songs. Santa made a surprise visit and brought treats for all of the kids. Connor told Santa he wants a guitar, Kadence said she wants an American Girl Doll and Kinlee screamed bloody murder. I guess Santa won't be bringing her a present this year, lol.

November Happenings

I live my life by my calendar. I put every little detail in my phone so I don't miss anything. I am a list maker. I love to make lists and check things off, I love to be involved and right in the middle of everything, and I love to hear I did a good job. This month my calendar has been chuck full so I kick myself that I haven't updated my blog for weeks.

A couple weeks ago Kadence had her first ever Kindergarten field trip (yes, I put it in my calendar). I was so excited I didn't have to teach preschool that day so I could go. We went to the museum, library, and fire station. I love the library. I loved it all, but I especially love the library. I think it's because I love to read and there the possibilities are endless. Kinlee was such a good baby on the field trip. She didn't make a peep and was so patient as we went from one place to the next. Kadee's favorite part? Riding the bus. That's right folks, it wasn't the new fire truck, the craft, or digging for dinosaur bones, it was getting to ride on the bus. She feels so picked on that I drive her to school and pick her up. I mean how cruel is it that I do that? Every. Single. Day. I wish she could ride the bus everyday, but the bus stop is nowhere near our house and I am so paranoid about my kids walking past all the strange houses.


Rory went hunting with Kyle in Colorado last week so my amazing, wonderful grandparents came to stay with me and help me with the kids. They truly are life savers. It was such a crazy week and they helped me in every way possible. I am truly grateful to have such amazing people in my life.

I love the cute crafts and projects my kids bring home from school, but I just don't have the room to save them all and my OCD can't handle it. So, when they have accumulated a few cute things I have them take a picture with them, that way we always have the memory, but less clutter. The other day I had Kadee stand against the wall with some of her crafts to take a picture. She smiled, I took the picture, and she walked away. Kinlee watch all of this and walked right over to the wall and sat down. I said,"Do you want Mommy to take your picture?" She shook her head yes. I said, "say cheese!" and she showed me the cutest, toothless (yes, still no teeth) grin I've ever seen. Man they grow up fast. I think babies are so smart, smarter than most people give them credit for. I really think they understand everything, they just don't know how to communicate yet.




Last night we went to our first ever PTA movie night. It sure was fun. The kids were able to buy cotton candy, popcorn, pop, and suckers. They had a silent auction with donated items for parents to bid on to support the PTA and the best part was the movie: Cars 2. Such a cute movie. The kids loved it but Kadee was sick so she just laid there and dozed, not her normal approach to life. Connor and all his friends sat by us and they were glued to the screen. I love that he has such a good group of friends. Rory and I keep telling him to pick good friends and he really has. We are so proud of our kids and what strong, confident, smart people they already are.

Family pics 2011

These are some of my favorite family pics that Laurie Branch took for us at the Helper Parkway. They turned out so good, I'm never going to be able to pick just one for our Christmas card!

No Trick or Treater Could Ever Be Sweeter!

This past week was Red Ribbon Week at the school. The kids had crazy sock day, mismatch day, wear red day, crazy hair day, and hat day. For crazy hair day Connor had a blue and green Mohawk and stars around his head. Kadence had pink hearts and pink Christmas trees. On mismatch day the school had a "better things to do than drugs" talent show. Kadence and 2 girls from her dance class did their beach babies dance and did so great. Both the kids won red ribbon week prizes. Connor got a football and Kadence got a slap bracelet. On Friday I was the Mystery Reader in Kadence's class so I surprised her and went in and read a Halloween book and played Halloween games with her class. It was so much fun and I love, love, love volunteering at the kids school.



So Talented!



This hole is awesome!



Crazy Hair!


On Thursday night Grandma Rhea had a Halloween Party at the church. The food was so yummy! After we ate we sat around in a circle with the lights off and grandma told us a scary story. After her story Rory's uncle Miles came out and sang a haunted song. Kinlee was so transfixed. She really could not take her eyes off of him, so at the end of the story when he screamed, it scared her to death! She bawled and bawled. As mean as this sounds it was so funny!

Tonight was our ward Halloween party. We had soup, trick or treated around the church, and played games. The kids got so much candy and are insisting we have to go trick or treating again on Halloween night. Rory went to a drug court training in Park City for a few days last week, so it was nice to have him at the party with us. Life sure is hard when he's not around, I am so grateful he is such a great husband and daddy.


Football Star


50's Girl


Poky Little Puppy

A Hunting We Will Go!

Last weekend Rory had the opportunity to go Elk hunting on the Mathis property up Indian Canyon. Opening day he shot a beautiful 5x5 and the next day brought it home. He was way excited for the hunt and had lots of fun.


Today we went swimming to kick off UEA weekend. Kinlee had fun but her lip shivered the whole time. She couldn't stand for the tubes to be in the water, so she would push them out and then try to sit in them. I love my kids so much and love when we have long weekends to hang out together.

Happy Fall Y'all

Wow! Where did September go? Between school starting, Kinlee's birthday, and teaching 3 preschool classes my blog has been totally neglected. I am going to try and summarize our month. Connor and Kadence had SEP's. They are both doing super well in school and love to learn. Connor moved up to Level E on the leveled library (a reading program based on what they can read at a comfortable level). He is playing flag football this year and is once again obsessed. His team is the Cowboys and he practices almost every night. Since starting football he has made 5 touchdowns, some interferences, and captured plenty of flags. His friend Cole Cripps is on his team and both of them agree the games get very "intense." :)

Since Kadence has been in school she has learned lots of new sight words, has made applesauce with her classmates, has met ambulance drivers and a banker, and has taken a Praying Mantis to school for bug week. Her teacher does lots of hand on activities which is right up her alley. I get to be the mystery reader in her class in a couple weeks and I am so excited. She doesn't know I'm coming and I am going to read a Halloween book and do some fun Halloween activities. She is always so excited to see me when I volunteer in her classroom so I think it will be a pleasant surprise for her.

Kinlee still isn't walking!!! She will take 4 steps then just sit down. She has no desire to walk, but can say Kadee, Connor, kitty, and many more words (some we understand, some we don't!). She is battling another cold but is always laughing, smiling, climbing, chasing her brother and sister around, chasing the cat, pushing chairs, sitting in her little red car and moving it Flinstone style, and dumping out toys.

Kindergarten

The First Day of Kindergarten
Everyone has a "first day" when they feel sad and all alone.
It can be so scary when you're out on your own.
Take my hankie, dry your tears.
You'll find lots of things to do
And you'll probably make new friends.
I promise we'll be together when the school day ends.
Here comes the teacher, blow your nose and be brave.
Come on now, wipe your eyes, this is no way to behave.
"Well good morning teacher. We must really beg your pardon.
No, Mommy doesn't always act this way.
But it's my first day of KINDERGARTEN!"

Kadence's Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Penry, sent us this poem and a picture to welcome her to her class. I thought it was really fitting since I cried after I dropped Kadence off. They grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday she was a little tiny baby. She really enjoyed her first day as a "Penry Pirate." They went on a Treasure Hunt and she made lots of friends at recess.