Alvin and the Chipminks

Dalin could not wait until the new Chipmunk movie came out in theaters. Of course, it came out right during the last minute Christmas rush. So, I left Bryan at home to finish getting things together and took the boys to the movies. It was fun to be able to take all of my kids, even with the almost 6 year gap to see a movie that they all enjoyed.

Because it was just before Christmas, too, the theater was empty. This ended up being a very good things because my little ones danced in the aisles during every song.

Christmas 2009

The Princess and the Frog

Aunt Victoria called and invited us to go the movies. Her and Tessa were going to see the Princess and the Frog. We decided to go and invited Grandma Mell to join us. The twins are still a little young for the movies, but I assumed they'd like it. What's not to like, right? It's animated, made by Disney, and stars a frog.

Well, I didn't realize it also has a really creepy bad guy. (I should have. All kid movies have a bad guy, right?) Matthew and Micah didn't really like him very much. They would both bury their heads into me whenever that character came on screen. But all in all, it was a good movie and a fun morning to spend together.

We didn't take Dalin. He was at school. Shhhh! Don't tell him!

Micah Being Micah

Micah is such a funny boy. He loves to watch TV! As he watches, he always gets super cozy. He snuggles right down and looks so grown up. I couldn't resist this picture of him on our bed using a pillow as a blanket.

An Owl in the City??

The other day, we went to Red Robin for lunch. Grandma Marshall and Krista had taken us there. We were all happy to spend some time together as we drove to the restaurant. We couldn't believe what we saw as we parked. This little owl was just sitting on the fence watching us. It's not everyday, that an owl is perched in the middle of the city next to a busy road. We all had to stop and enjoy it for awhile. Of course, all three of the boys were fascinated.

Later, we saw a second owl. Apparently, they were together. Kind of crazy!

Our Latest Arrival

Meet Spirit!

This adorable, little bunny rabbit hopped into Grandma Mell and Grandpa Elmo's back yard. She was being stalked by cats when she was noticed and was hungry. They took her in for several days hoping to find her owner, but then needed to figure out what to do with her. They didn't really want to take care of a bunny, so Grandma got a great idea! After lots of thinking, she offered us a trade that we couldn't pass up.

We had a sweet, but very old kitty that needed a good home. Dalin tested positive to a cat allergy last spring and we had promised the doctor the cat would be out of our house before the new year. Dalin's asthma gets real bad each spring, and eliminating allergy triggers should help him stay out of the hospital. So Grandma and Grandpa offered to take in our kitty if we would take in their bunny.

So we took, Bootsy, who was born in our house and lived with us for 14 years to his new home and said good-bye. It was a sad day for the kids and for me! (Not so sad for Bryan. Him and the cat never did see eye to eye!) But the boys quickly cheered up when they got to bring this teeny, tiny bunny home.
Everyone took turns holding her. She didn't seem to mind. She just sat still and let the boys each have turns getting to know her.

Dalin was first...Then Micah...Then Matthew...
The boys sat by her cage all afternoon and evening. I pretty sure she is the most loved bunny in the world right now.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for taking care of Bootsy for us and helping us solve a tough problem! Everything seems to have worked out just as it was supposed to.

Family Lunch Day at School

Every year, Dalin's school has a family lunch day. We get to have a picnic lunch with everyone out in the grass. Matthew and Micah love to go see Dalin at school and Dalin loves to show off his brothers. It is always a fun afternoon!!

After lunch, we played with Dalin and his friends for a little bit on the playground. The twins loved dancing and running around with all of the boys. They laughed and smiled the entire time they played and Dalin had lots of fun with his little brothers. That's always so fun to see!

New Moon!

It finally came out and we were some of the first people to see it, well, I was. Bryan agreed to stay home and watch the kids so that I could see New Moon at the opening showing. (I've never done that before.) Friends in the neighborhood rented out a theater so we could all go together. After selling out the entire theater in just a few days, Harkins offered to move our time up to 9:00. Woo hoo!! Opening night and still in bed before midnight. You can't beat that!

Breanna, Amy, and I went together.

Krista, Haley, and Tamara came, too. They sat back and laughed at us "old" ladies. They kept saying, "Is this how we are going to be when we are older?" I kept assuring them, "Yes, it is!!"

I even got my picture taken with Jacob. What a hottie!! I'd have to say, I've always liked Jacob. Really!! I mean it. I'm not just saying that because he is totally hunky in New Moon. I swear I liked him before I saw him take his shirt off. You know the scene!!

Happy Birthday, Bryan

Bryan is a very private person when it comes to his birthday. He doesn't want anyone to know about it or celebrate it. This year, however, I was able to convince him to go out to lunch with my parents and go to his mom's house for dinner and cake. It was fun to spend the day with him and of course, the boys loved helping him blow out his candles.

Happy Birthday!!

"I Eat Cake!"

At around 11:00 AM, as I was jumping in the shower, Matthew told me he was hungry and wanted some lunch. Since I was naked, I told him that I'd feed him as soon as I was out of the shower and dressed. He sat on the floor next to Micah in my room to watch TV.

When I was out of the shower and dressed, I realized that Matthew was no longer next to Micah on the floor and realized immediately that he was probably getting his own lunch. I was correct, although I'm not sure you could call it lunch.

I found him sitting on the kitchen floor eating cake. He had pulled the pan off the counter, got a fork, and helped himself. There was no mess and very little cake left in the pan that had been almost completely full.

When I asked what he was doing, he said, "I not hungry. I not need lunch. I eat cake!!!"

So, I guess learned my lesson. When Matthew is hungry for lunch, I better feed him or he'll do it himself, even if it is cake!

Halloween 2010

Our family had such a fun Halloween. We spent all week getting ready for the big night, we went to a few costume parties, carved our pumpkins, and decorated our house and yard. Matthew and Micah were fascinated with what was inside of a pumpkin. I tried to get them to help take the seeds out, but they told me it was too "icky and gooey" inside. Bryan and Dalin had way too much fun carving the jack-o-lanterns. Of course, Bryan had to break out all his fancy tools to get them just right.

Our boys looked great as we got their costumes on them! Dalin was Captain Rex from Star Wars.

Matthew and Micah were M and M's again this year and were adorable.

Even Bryan and I dressed up this year. We were hippies.

It didn't take long for the twins to figure things out. Once they realized that all they had to do was say "trick or treat" and people gave them candy, they were hooked and ran from house to house. We brought the wagon thinking that they'd get tired and want to ride in it. We were wrong. They were too excited to ride. Even Dalin had a hard time keeping up.

Micah just wanted to stop and eat his candy in between each house and really had a hard time waiting until we were back home to get a bite of something yummy! We often found him nibbling on stuff as he walked around.

Matthew loved the jack-o-lanterns and couldn't get enough of the fire inside.

As tradition has it, we hang out in front of our house after we trick or treat and spend time with our neighbors. Our numbers have dwindled over time, but we still try to get together. Alan and his girls joined us this year and it was fun to visit with them.

I even found a minute to snuggle with Dalin. That doesn't happen very often now that he's 8. I still love it though!

After getting the boys in their jammies. We had a hard time convincing them to go to bed. They just wanted to eat candy, as if they hadn't already had enough. They wanted to sort it and count it and just look at it. All three of them were so funny and it brought back fu n memories of past Halloweens as a kid with my own brothers.

Halloween Party with Friends

For our playgroup this week, we had a Halloween party. Everyone came in costume and we did Halloween crafts, ate pumpkin cookies, read scary stories, and had lots of fun. I really miss teaching as the holidays approach because I have so many fun projects for kids to do. It was fun to get out my old teaching files and do all the fun things with my boys and their friends.

We made these fun spider hats and the kids loved them.

It was so cute to see all the little ones dressed up, especially the twins.