Emmaline's 5!!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet ball of fire, Emmaline! We are so blessed to have Emma part of our family. I don't ever remember being so happy to have a baby than when Emma was born. I had wanted her for so long and I finally had a baby to fill my arms and an empty space in my heart! Besides Adilyn, it was the most tramatic birth experience, but nonetheless, worth every second!

6 lbs at 9:43 p.m.

All hooked up in the NICU:As healthy as a bug: Gotta love the cheeks:

1st Birthday:2nd Birthday:

3rd Birthday:
4th Birthday:5th Birthday:

Happy Birthday, Adilyn!

Addy would have been 6 years old today....now that's crazy! We released 6 balloons for her and burned her candle. Kaden was so upset when we all let the balloons go - why would we let go of such treasures? We had fun with the kids going through her box and remembering what a special member of our family she is.

I Can See Your Future

Gypsy Fortune Teller in 1982: Gypsy Fortune Teller Now: (with the psycho psychiatrist)

We had a great night with friends doing a Murder Mystery:The Archeologist and Heiress with us:Crazy Cat Lady with the Evil Congresswoman (aren't they all?):The Fortune Teller, Psycho Psychiatrist and Ventriloquist:The Murderer himself:

The Not-so Righteous Reverend and Wannabe Kung Fu Man:Thanks for such a fun night!

Chariots of Fire

The "Kids Marathon" is a big deal amongst the kids in our ward that go to our elementary school. Taylor and Ethan did such a great job....I am one of those weird moms that got a little teary-eyed as my kids crossed the finish line. I realized how hard they worked to get to this point and see them reach their goal was quite awesome!

Some of the kids in our ward:

As we have heard before from Ethan's basketball experience, I wasn't sure how he would do. After he saw Taylor's medal she received last year, he was determined to get one this year! He worked so hard and ran the whole race. What a trooper! Doesn't he look miserable?!?!Our super-star sprinting to the finish....she didn't enjoy the side ache that followed:We did it!!!Taylor and McKenzie - Yeah, it's over!!!

Public Enemy #1

I have a love/hate relationship with the item above. I love it because it gets me from point A to point B. I hate it because it isn't successful all the time. I love it because it fits my entire family (verses Chris' car). I hate it because it's a piece of crap. I love it because, um, well.....I think I'm out of reasons.

This is a plea to my husband that it is time to give up the ghost. It is not fun breaking down on the side of the road.....by myself......with all the children. Not fun. Not fun one bit.

Sophistication

Before:

After: (her favorite pair)Another After: (my favorite pair)

School Pictures

Kids got their school pictures back.

Taylor - 5th grade:

Ethan - 3rd grade....said he didn't want to look TOO happy:

More Pumpkins

Emmaline and I were able to go to the Pumpkin Patch again with her class from Gateway.

Ellie, Emma and Emily:

That night all the Dads went back to carve....glad I was invited to do the fun part!And the kids sang some songs for them:Ethan didn't like the idea of Emma having fun without him...he wanted to carve his too. This year I let him do everything by himself and he created a masterpiece! Taylor was so sad when she got home from dance and found that she had missed out on all the fun. We normally do this together, but Ethan was quite persuasive...I told Taylor that we would have a special one-on-one carving night with her too....now to find the time and the motivation again! :)

Pumpkin Patch

'Tis the season for pumpkins! We ventured out to the pumpkin patch with our friends, the Andersons, and had a great time despite the wind.

We started out at the hay maze and the kids loved climbing on the towers. Kaden didn't put up with the wind very well. This is still at the beginning, so he's all smiles:Emma's fav:Taylor, McKenzie, Cooper, Ethan:We tried to get everyone to stay up there, but Chris kept letting Kaden go. So there is a stranger standing in his place (the girl in the front with the pink sweatshirt):Off to the petting zoo:

Then we went to the bounce house/slides:Emma was petrified the first time she went down - it was quite steep, even for me!

A little crazy with so many of us on there:Pony rides:

Finally! Off to find our pumpkins!

The "tweens" were too cool to sit with us! Uh, as if!Officially sick of so many pictures!!!