One little, two little, three little Indians...

 This year for Halloween, I decided that the most fitting costume for these little boys was to be a group of wild little Indian brothers. So, I busily sewed 3 different, but similar costumes...like these 3 different but similar brothers. It was a little crazy sewing with the help of a toddler. Logan really liked the strait pins. He'd say, "Balls. Balls. Balls." Then I showed him that there were pokeys on the ends. Then he said, "Pokey balls." He loved being right where I was...right in the middle of everything. I said to my friend Haley, "Now, remind me why I do things like this?" She reminded me that it is because it is FUN! She is right.

So, our Halloween festivities began with the preschool party. Here are the two scary Indian brothers.

 Logan wanted his costume on too, but he had to just make do with his feather.

 Look at his skinny body. He is just bones. He loved running around with that feather on!

 Then, better late than never, Friday we went to the pumpkin patch. Once again, Carson is miles ahead of everyone leading the way.

 Look at that strong dad carrying the pumpkins that the boys couldn't. I really couldn't either considering I am already looking like I am carrying one.

 Cute wheel barrow...the boys LOVE wheelbarrows.

 It was freezing. Poor little Logy...red runny nose an all. He was crying by the time we got to the car. We had to cheer him up with "nandy".

 We went to lunch. Then it was home for naps then pumpkin carving. What wimpy kids we have. No one would touch the slimy guts of the pumpkins.

 Carson spent his time taking many pictures. This one is of a decoration he drew with "scary pumpkins saying boo."

 This one is Nate's art work...a scary skeleton. He also drew one of a "weird looking bug."

 Here is Carson's photography at its best.

 The final product...just what they wanted...grumpy scary pumpkins.

 Logan didn't mind the slime too much...he's a little braver than his brothers.

 After carving pumpkins, the boys did some "work" outside. While they were working, Carson said, "Mom, come look at this cute little guy in the window well." So I went. It was a mouse. I said, "That is not cute. It is a dead mouse." I went to get Robbie. Removal of all mice is the dad's job. As I was walking away Carson said to Nate, "It is a cute little guy. I would want a mouse for a pet." GROSS! Never in this house. Then when I came back, I heard him telling Nate, "Heaven really is a nice place. I am so glad." Well, if mice are in heaven...I know quite a few Wayments that won't be there.

Last night, we had our trunk or treat at the church. We had it inside this year. It was a good thing because it rained and rained. So, here are our Indian Braves before we went.

 Our only one that could maybe pass for an Indian...Nate's out with his blue eyes...Logan is out with his blond hair...

 Scary Indian face...

 Look at this little cutie. I love one little red feather.

After trunk or treat, we had a bunch of friends over to our house for homemade donuts and apples with caramel sauce. The kids had been waiting for this all week long. Carson...our social butterfly...said, "I can't believe we get to have a party...with friends." It was fun to enjoy friends in our home.

 So, now it is official. I have turned into my mother. I spent a lot of time this month sewing...and I really don't know how...and cooking. It was all in the name of a good party. Sometimes I wonder what Elaine is thinking of me as an adult. I hope she is liking what she sees and is thinking, "Good thing I taught her how to have a party...it is what life is all about" 

A lesson from a 3 year old...

On Monday night, Carson started throwing up around 7ish. It lasted ALL night. I was up ALL night. We kind of tried to have a down day on Tuesday,  but Logan had cried ALL day. I had not slept one bit. 

Well, Robbie had just got home from work, I was busy in the kitchen cooking dinner for a good friend who had surgery that day, and Carson (now feeling a million times better) and Nate were busy kicking a ball around our empty dining room. Logan was still crying. Of course, it was chaos. All of the sudden there was a huge crash...you know the kind...breaking glass into a million little bits.

Robbie shouted and then went running to see what had happened. Sure enough, the kicked ball had knocked off a center piece off the table in our front entry. My first instinct was to get mad. I was too tired to expend that kind of energy. Then I heard little Nate say to his bawling brother, "Cars...it was an accident. It is OK. It was an accident." Carson ran off crying, feeling so bad that he'd broken the glass. However, my eyes were opened by this sweet insight from a concerned brother.

I went and scooped my sweet little heartbroken 5 year old boy in my arms. I asked him if he meant to. He said no through sobs. I then said it was an accident. Then the Spirit helped me recall something from my childhood...similar to this...and how my mom reacted. I told him about a beautiful crystal dish that was on the piano at our house. I was standing in the doorway. Brandon threw a wiffle ball at me (I am sure it wasn't unprovoked). I was in the door way right in line with this dish. I ducked. The ball smashed that dish into a million little pieces. My mom came running. She wondered what had happened. Then she asked me, "Why did you duck?" I said because the ball was going to hit me. She said, "I am sad the dish is broken, but I am glad you are not hurt."

No one got in trouble. No one got yelled at. I learned one lesson at that time...that I was more valuable to her than that vase. So, as I recalled this to Carson, I wanted him to know that he was more valuable than that centerpiece. I hugged him and dried his tears. It was a tender moment.

Sometimes I am quick to react. I need to be slower to react so that I can act appropriately. I am so thankful for the wisdom of a sweet 3 year old to help me see that it was an accident. I am also grateful for the wisdom of a dear mother who taught me that people are more important than things. Here it is almost a week later...I've hardly thought about that glass, but I have thought about Nate and my mom countless times and the hurt feelings of a sweet little 5 year old that were spared because of their wisdom.

Rise and Shout!!!

On Wednesday a couple of weeks ago, my aunt called me and said that their 4 season tickets to the BYU vs SDSU game were available. I told her that I'd talk to Robbie. After all, BYU foot ball is really his thing. We'd talked about taking the boys, but it wasn't something that we ever got the tickets for. I was fine either way. When I called Robbie, he said, "Let's do it. And don't tell the kids. Let's surprise them when we are on our way." Later in the evening, I got back to my aunt and told her we'd love the tickets. I had been off the phone 5 seconds when Robbie said, "Boys! Guess what! We are going to Provo on Saturday and going to the BYU football game!" Some surprise.

We packed up and headed out for Provo on Friday morning. We ate and the infamous Red Iguana. The kids loved it as much as their dad. Then in was on to Thanksgiving Pointe and our hotel. When we got there, behind our hotel was a super fun place called Cornbellys. It was a fall harvest fun land. We went there and the pics speak for themselves! (besides that we kept losing Carson...that boy has a mind of his own!) 

The most fun slides ever! I even took Logan down 8 months pregnant in a skirt...if that doesn't got Mom of the Year Award, I don't know what does!

 This was a favorite...the water pump. Look at the determination on Nate's face!

 The boys loved these bikes. Nate even rode the pink one. They were fun!

 This is on the cow train. Nate wouldn't ride this, but Carson and Logan LOVED it!

 Look at them laughing together!

 Spider man!

 I am glad we tried the kiddie corn maze before we decided to take the kids to a big one. One turn around a corner and we'd lose them! Carson, of course, our born leader, wanted to take charge of the way.  We kept losing him!

 The treat of choice: Blue Cotton Candy

 Here is a race track that the boys and Robbie rode through.

 Nate is the King of the Haystack!

 After Cornbellys, Carson begged for another trip for Mexican food to "that place we ate at for lunch". My pregnant, sensitive, and still full tummy thought otherwise, so we opted for Subway. Then it was back to the hotel for swimming. Robbie took the big boys and I tried to get Logan to sleep. He wasn't having it. He waited for his brothers and when they got in bed, he finally went to sleep.

The next morning all before 9, we ate breakfast and swam. Then, we were was on our to Provo. We walked around campus and then took our kids to the BYU shopping Mecca...the Bookstore. Carson kept saying, "Look at all this BYU stuff! WOW!" They especially loved the candy counter. Here they are enjoying their treats. With these 3 little boys all decked out in BYU gear, a pregnant mom, and a BYU gear dad, we were the totally typical Mormon family. I loved it!  

 Here we are out side the stadium. The band kids kept walking by. Carson and Nate were wide eyed with wonder at their shiny instruments. They told each one, "You are so cool." or "I like your instrument." or "You are awesome!" It cracked me up!

 Logan wasn't about to miss out on the fun. It took all his might, but he made it to the Cougar.

 A nice band girl offered to take our picture.

 Finally, we are inside. I grew up with a dad who's motto was if you were late for batting practice, you were late to the game. Well, then I married a man just like that. Here we are practically the first ones there. I love these two brothers...so excited.

 During the game, Carson asked me, "Mom, how do I get in that band?" Carson, don't you want to play football. "No, I want to be in that band." We'll see what he thinks when he is 16. He was mesmerized by the drummers.

 Cougar Tail...YUMMY!

 Logan fell asleep right as the game started. Nate was soon to follow. They slept almost the whole first half.

It was a great day for our family. BYU won. The band was great. The food was yummy...so yummy that Carson threw up popcorn all night when we got home! They keep asking us when we are going back. It was so fun. Our seats were right by the portal on the end. It was very easy to go in and out. If we can have those seats, maybe we'd take them back again and again! They LOVED it!

Yard work begins...sort of...

We have been waiting for some money to come back from our taxes now for about 6 months. We endured another summer with out grass. BOOO! But, I am so glad to say that our dirt and pokey weed filled summers are over! Yea! We finally got the money we needed. It is a little late for us to plant our grass though. So, first thing in the spring we will do that. Robbie said the other day, "This is going to be a LONG winter. I can't wait to plant grass!" He is right. But, thanks to a lot of hard work and time from my dad, brothers, husband, and kids (sort of), we have sprinklers!!!

Thanks to my friend Alisha who volunteered her husband to haul a lot of dirt in for us! Robbie also got to help. He had to learn to drive a sugar beet truck. So, I guess if dentistry doesn't work out, maybe he can have a job during harvest! Our cute little boys were so excited to have a beet truck come that they couldn't even have naps.

 

One last play on the dirt hill. It was a good dirt hill. Hours and hours of the boys' lives have spend digging. I am surprised they never reach China!

 They were ok with breaking down this one because we promised them a place to play...even when we get grass. You would think the promise of grass would be enough...nope...dirt too!

 Playing in the trenches...

 The hard HOT work. 

 See...it was HOT. Poor Logan! Still in jammies at 6:00 pm...He'd had enough. He was melting.

 Brandon's family came and stayed over night so he could continue working. We had so much fun with them. It was a little crazy when the guys were pouring cement...lots of interested boys to keep out. We only had one accident...Nate stepped on the back step. OOPS! Good thing Brandon (who has a little more patience than my dad or Rob) was there. It was a quick fix with no harm done.

Brandon and Steph left in the late evening on Friday. It was after dark. They had worked so hard. The kids had played so hard. Everyone was tired. So, of course, on the way back to Idaho Falls, they got a flat tire. No fun. They couldn't get the spare off. A nice man stopped to help. After and hour of trying to get the spare off, he (a stranger) offered them his spare if they would just return it. So, off they went home with the help of this nice man.

We did not find out about this for a couple of days. When we did, we found out that they were just by Raft River and the nice man who offered his tire was Brother Steadman...of Steadman's Ranch. I had met him at a ward activity at their place. What a nice man. He really was an answer to Brandon and Steph's prayers.

This has me thinking...would I be willing to help some one...a complete stranger who was in distress? We have been talking a lot about the Good Samaritan in our family. I hope that I would help. I do want to be the answer to some one's prayers because there have certainly been a lot of people who have answered mine!

So, now the real work begins...taking care of a yard. I got so excited that the other day at Costco, I bought 370 tulip bulbs to plant. What was I thinking??? I wasn't!!! 270 have been planted so far, so now, maybe Robbie is right...it is going to be a LONG winter...BUT at least there is the promise of grass AND tulips in the spring!