L I V I N G joyfully

Monday, October 30

Cowgirl Christina

🐴 Christina has always loved dressing up as a cowgirl because it's who she is deep-down. She was headed to a Halloween party this afternoon with a bff. What a fun and busy time of year. I hope my energy holds out until Halloween is actually over!

Spooky Halloween Dinner 2017

💀 We had our annual Halloween spooky food dinner (or should I say appetizers) a little early this year. I loved having it on a non-rushed night and will do it again like this. The kids helped me make Mummy Dogs. Daniel prepared the guacamole for Spider Web Dip 'n Chips. We also served Witch's Fingers, Spider Eggs, and Goblin's Blood. It's a fun family tradition!

Thursday, October 26

Ward Fall Festival 2017

🎃 Christina makes a cute Hermione from Harry Potter! We squeezed in a few pics before we headed to our ward Fall Festival! I went as a blonde cowgirl. Still deciding if blondes have more fun. I have an awful lot of fun in my life. Ha ha!

😍 Shhh. I have a crush on Indiana Jones! Ben's a very handsome archeologist-wanna-be.

Daniel is not keen on costumes these days, so this was the best he could do.

Monday, October 23

Horse Girl

🐎 I've never had a child who thinks and talks more about her future, dreaming constantly of owning a horse, living on a ranch, and caring for lots of animals. She has felt this way since she was a preschooler. Seeing Christina so happy at horseback riding today and helping her feel one step closer to what she envisions for herself someday, makes me feel good as a Mama too.

Saturday, October 21

Fall Break 2017

Just uploading photos from my Canon camera. Most of these were taken from the truck, while in motion. We saw some beautiful places in the last three days - Fairview Canyon, Goblin Valley, and the San Rafael Swell.

San Rafael Swinging Bridge

The historic San Rafael swinging bridge was a lovely stop yetserday. This 160 foot suspension bridge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937. Until the 1990s, it was the only bridge crossing the river. The golden cottonwoods stole the show!

Wednesday, October 18

Christina's New 'Do

✂️ I took Christina for a much-needed hair cut and style today. This girl has always had super thick hair that's more like adult hair. We had to do a mini photo shoot (with fall accents) when we got home. I think she looks cute and I love her new look!

Funnies in the Family

4/2016 Christina told me tonight at bedtime, "You're the best Mom" and paused. Then continued, "...that I ever had!" We both laughed.

12/2015 Christina asked me for a Bandaid while showing me her sore finger and explained it this way. "My tentacle is coming off!"

6/2013 While putting Christina to bed, she said, "Mom - can I hold your other hand? I wanna be able to see your face. It's so pretty. And so are your arms and ears and neck. And I like your pjs. They are kind of my fashion. Can I have them when I'm as big as you?"

1/2013 Christina often tells me that when she grows up she wants to live on a ranch. Today she told me her friend-boy in kindergarten doesn't want to live on a ranch someday. She told me, "I'm not going to marry Jack anymore."

10/2012 The other night Christina wanted Ben to stay by her during the thunderstorm. After a couple of minutes, she said "please stop the snowing." Ben said "Honey, it's raining, not snowing." She politely said "no, Dad, please stop SNORING." Ben didn't even know he was asleep!

8/2012 Christina is struggling to write her first name without looking at an example. She usually has the longest name in her school class. Tonight she told me she would like to be called Christa. She practiced writing it and didn't think it was much easier.

8/2012 My kids have all gone through phases where they had nervous habits. Right now, Christina's is chewing on her hair. It makes her snarly hair even harder to comb in the mornings. I was asking her about why she likes doing this. She said, "Well, it tastes like pork." Katie replied to this, "She's such a ham!"

8/2012 Christina and I have been reading nursery rhymes lately. She loves this, especially when we run across one she memorized last year in Pre-K. Tonight I started one that goes, "Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary. How does your garden grow? She responded, "With taco shells and taco shells..." Have we really eaten at Taco Bell that often?

6/2012 Daniel is thinking a lot about what he wants to do when he grows up. Current plans include underwater exploring, being a millionaire, and being a scientist. Ben asked him what kind of work he'd do as a scientist, and he said he's going to cure vertigo and Alzheimer's. Ben suggested he might try curing cancer, too, to which he replied, "No, that's what Nolan's going to do, and I'm not going to steal his dream."

3/2012 After having a conversation about money management with the kids and saying, "Money doesn't grow on trees," Christina said, "Well, at least paper towels do."

2/2012 "Mom almost ran into a deer. Then we would have our dinner!" said Daniel.

When she found out she had a fever over 100 degrees, Christina shouted, "Hooray! Now I don't have to go to school tomorrow."

1/2012 Grandma shared this story. "Christina was cute when we took her to school. She wanted to carry her zebra in to school in her arms. Ben said that Mom said it had to be in her backpack. She got quiet for a few seconds and then said, 'He gets lonely when he's in my backpack.' Very funny. Ben was great--he said, 'Well, let's just let his head stick out a little bit. He won't get lonely then.' That worked."

9/2011 Ben took Daniel fishing one Saturday. On their way, they picked up a few new fishing supplies at Walmart. Daniel told him, "Dad - you're kind of a spender. I kind of like that about you."

9/6/2011 With the cooler weather, we've enjoyed having windows down in our van. That is until Christina shouted, "Roll up the windows. My hair is getting stuck in my lipstick!"