Nativity set

I have been wanting a Nativity set for a few years, but never found one that I love.  My friends mom makes them, but she only fires them in the Spring and I always forget to call her.  I mean who is thinking of buying a nativity set in May?  Anyway, I saw my friend and her mom at a craft fair recently and mentioned again that I really wanted one.  She called me a few days later and she had found a set that was almost done- it only needed a couple more times in the kiln.  Of course I bought it and  I was so excited when she dropped it off a few days ago, so I had to set it up and take pictures.

The three wise men.

The holy family.

All the animals.  Three camels, a donkey and a cow.

Two shepherds.

I'm in love and it makes me so happy every time I look at it!

Back from China

Three weeks was a long time, but I made it and Ben got home safely.  Sophie was kind of amazed that Daddy could hold her and kiss her again.

Brandon got a Buddha that he really wanted.

Sophie in her cute dress.

Sara and Brandon in their outfits.

Brandon trying a chicken foot.  Gross!

Daddy brought Sophie a tea set.

Cute pictures from October

Sophia gets to do chores on Saturday morning with Sara and Brandon.  Her chores are bringing her dirty clothes to the laundry room and putting the shoes away.  As you can see she LOVES it!

Snuggling with Sophie before Daddy leaves on his trip to China.

Sophie "watching baby' videos on Daddy's phone.

Typical morning around here.  Sophie eating a pop-tart, drinking milk and watching Dora.

My new smart phone!  I got this while Ben was in China and I was so scared that he would be mad.  He wasn't after I told him I got two years of free data :)

Halloween part 3

I finally got pictures of Sara and Brandon in their costumes on Halloween right before they left to go trick-or-treating.  Ben was still working in China, so Sara and Brandon went trick-or-treating with friends and I took Sophie out around our house quickly before getting back to hand out candy.

Brandon was a Gryffindor student.

Sophia loved knocking on the door, saying trick-or-treat and thank you.  She was really into it this year and even though the weather was horrible she would have stayed out longer.

Sara was an 80's chick

Everyone came home with lots of candy!

I'm so happy Halloween is over and I can't wait to have all the decorations down and the candy gone!  Bring on Thanksgiving and Christmas my two favorite holidays!

Halloween part 2

The friday before Halloween was a busy night for us!  We started off at the kids school for their annual Halloween carnival.  Sophia loved playing the games this year and getting more candy.

Sophia getting her face painted

Brandon getting his face painted

Sophia loves dumping out her candy and then putting it back in.

We stayed at the carnival for an hour then went over to our ward dinner/party/trunk-or-treat.  Sara had her first middle school social that night too, so after we ate dinner I left Brandon and Sophia at the church and took Sara back to the school.  When our ward party was over I got Brandon and Sophia in bed then went and got Sara from school when the social was over.  I was so happy when that day was done, but unfortunately Halloween was not over.

Halloween part 1

This year I thought Sophia would look so cute as an M&M, so we borrowed the costume from a friend.  She would not put it on.  Everyone in the family tried talking her into it, but she would have none of it.  Next I borrowed a tiger costume from a different friend.  She let me put it on her, but then when I took her in front of the mirror to see herself she said, "Really all done.  Take it off" and wouldn't put it back on.  Next I tried a Care Bear costume that I had.  It was a little big for her, but I just rolled up the sleeves.  She hated it!  I finally decided to choose something for her and not try it on before.  I chose a ladybug.  I bought the headband and wings, black shirt and black pants.  I made the cute red and black tutu.

She did not like it much at first,

but warmed up after a bit.

Ben was still working in China, so I took Sophia to Melaleuca before her nap and the older kids went after school with a friend.  As Sophia started getting candy she forgot all about her costume and had so much fun following the footprints.

Some areas were a little scary for her, but she liked Scooby.

The IT department did Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds.  I think it turned out pretty cute!

Utah in October

The kids didn't have school Monday and Tuesday October 23rd and 24th because of parent-teacher conference, so we went down to Utah for a couple of days.  On Sunday we drove up in the mountains to see the pretty colors and find some leaves.  

My sister Rachel and her adorable little girl Emma came with us.

Grandma and Olivia

My brother Aaron and his wife Nicole came up with their kids and my other brother Owen came up with his wife Crissy and their kids.  

Raking the leaves into a big pile so they could jump in and throw them.

Brandon may have started a war with my brother Aaron by shoving leaves down his shirt.  My brother got him back by shoving leaves down Brandon's shirt and up his pant legs.  The kids had so much fun!