Sick Babes

I've been really, really busy.

h

Taking care of my sick babes.

H

So when we are all feeling better,

maybe I will have some pictures of us to post. ( She nailed how I was feeling a couple of days ago...)

I actually lost my voice just in time for my solo and for my big choir performance, which I directed for an hour (did I say with no voice?). And yes, I did have an almost fall-to-the-floor coughing fit while leading the choir and had to walk out at the end, just in case Gavin got his problem (see below) from me. :)

Oh and Gavin is NEVER allowed to get a cough again.

Every time he has a coughing attack,

he PUKES,

from an apparantly very sensitive gag reflex.

Seriously?

All this is really trying my patience.

Can I please, at the very least, get "Mother of the Year"??

H

(photos courtesy of Istock Photo)

Fire Station Tour

Two weeks ago the boys and I went to the fire station for a tour with some friends. I forgot my camera, so here are some pictures that a friend was nice enough to take for me. We had a fun time. Gavin learned how to "stop, drop and roll" and liked to raise his hand while the firemen were talking just so they would ask him what his question was. And he would just smile at them and look back at me. Jackson just liked being with all the other big kids.

Gavin dressed up as a real firefighter. Not exactly loving it.

Gavin checking out the fireman's flashlight.

Me and my boys. Gavin covered his ears the whole time

because of the sirens that would ocassionally go off.

Gavin driving the fire truck and waving.

Jackson coming down from the drivers seat.

Group Shot!

Snow DAY!

Gavin LOVED the SNOW and did not want to go inside. EVER.

But unfortunately little joe (Jacks) didn't like it so much.

Jack in the Snow

Gavin Loves Snow!

Morning Surprise!

After a dreary election night,

I had the pleasure of waking up to this.

And this.

My pumpkins were the least excited.

I think they have finally had enough.

Coming to Terms with the Election

It is going to be a VERY hard term for whoever is elected President due to the state of the economy, unstable foreign policies, problems with our national security and environmental issues. With that being said, I am coming to terms with being okay with whichever way the election goes. But I have to express my thoughts before I know who won.

Obama is so far left on environmental issues. Many of the policies that he has introduced should scare you senseless and make you wonder what exactly is his idea of America. (If you are not afraid of our country moving towards Socialism, then please stop reading.) Topics to research: bankrupting the coal industry (where America gets 80% of our electricity), unions monopolizing business via the card check bill (1937 can we say depression within a depression).

I am very nervous for a filibuster-proof Senate. This will be a very scary situation if democrats or any one party rules the senate. Here is a great article with Sen. Orrin Hatch and Glenn Beck that I think all can appreciate. Here is another one with Gov. Mitt Romney.

Here is my hope: If Obama is elected as President, the country will come swinging back to the right for correction after his 4 debilitating years and then Mitt Romney can finally step up. So I can deal with Obama winning. And yes, I voted!

For the record, McCain has to rethink cap and trade and a couple other things before I'm really even liking him too.

Halloween Fun!

This was my only picture from our ward Halloween parade/party. Daddy was working so it was just me and the kids. We had a great time. There were lots of activities including: a cake walk, fishing game, cookie decorating, face painting, bean bag toss, crafts and a caramel fountain for dipping apples. My little elephant surprised me with his magic talent of a perfected disappearing act. He ran off a couple of times which almost gave me a heart attack. One time I couldn't find him for about 3 minutes (which was like an hour in my head as I was racing through horrible scenarios). He just wanted to go outside in the pitch black night, where no one else was, for no apparant reason. It was a little crowded in the church. Maybe he needed some air. No matter the conversations I have with him, he just doesn't get that wandering away from mommy is dangerous. We'll have to work on that! Gavin loved seeing his friends in costumes and loved all the treats!

Here is Gavin with his skull face paint right after I told him he had to go to bed

which explains his pouty lip.

We had a costume day for our Mommy and Me group on Thursday. Gavin and Jackson were cowboys. Jackson would not let me get a picture of him. So I just have these of Gavin.

These are his two choices of smiles for me:

Wide open mouth or

this one

The thing that I loved about Halloween this year is that it was my first real Fall season. The air is cold and crisp and the leaves just started to really change colors and they are absolutely gorgeous.

It sprinkled on and off while we were out trick-or-treating, but we were having such a great time it was fine. We went with some friends in the neighborhood who have older kids and we were running to keep up with them the whole time. I put the kids in the jogger and then took them up to each door. We had to skip a few houses to stay caught up with the older kids. Gavin was doing great running between houses to stay caught up, it was so adorable. It was funny because Jackson would get really upset if I didn't take him up to each door (which I tried for reasons of time constraints). He really liked trying to say "trick or treat" & "thank you" and watch the candy drop in his bucket. He also did not want to let go of his bucket all night. For Gavin, this is the year we had to work on taking one treat only. One of my friends was passing out full size candy bars and play-doh and Gavin just swept a few of each into his bag. My greedy little guy. Lance was working, but at 7:45 he called and asked where we were. He got off early and was able to go to the last few doors with the kids!

Here we are trick-or-treating on Halloween.
Jackson is a monkey, Gavin a cowboy and I was Jack Sparrow (kind of).

I just threw something together.

Gavin & Jackson being Sweet Then Silly

This was recorded at my grandmother's new home in Alpine. My mom was here and we went to visit my dad's mother. Ignore the converstion going on. The kids were really cute in the beginning then Gavin started being silly, (he forgot his manners and then he was showing off).

Random recent pictures

This was a really sweet moment between my boys.

A spaghetti-night with a 1 yr old. Need I say more?

d

Gavin's not quite as messy spaghetti-night. Still all over everything.

dd

d

Jackson hilarious devilish face.



Cowboy Gavin again this year. He just loves Woody.



Daddy's lil' Rebel.

Pumpkin Patch, Scratch

Okay, I just have to say that our pumpkin patch experience (which is usually such a joy) sucked this year. Unbeknownst to me I happened to choose the Pumpkin Patch from hell. It was literally a pumpkin patch (where they had been grown), and they were so far spread apart and most were rotting. The kids had on their new halloween shirts ($1 at Old Navy) and Jackson fell right away and was covered in dirt. I picked him up to comfort him without thinking to brush him off and my white sweater was then covered in dirt as well. There was nothing fun for the kids. And it is only memorable because I hated it. So next year I will travel far to find a good pumpkin patch. Here are some scary moments:

Here is the pumpkin Jackson wanted.

Looks like it's already been carved buddy.

Best shot of the boys.

Family shot on the only thing out there besides rotting pumpkins and dirt.

I'm all dirty and you can tell I'm loving it.

The boys are thinking they got jipped.


Jackson my little Pigpen from Peanuts.

Carving Pumpkins

So I was so excited to carve pumpkins today with the boys. Gavin was excited too. I cut off the top and told Gavin to put his hand in to pull out the pulp and seeds and he looked at me like I was crazy. I shoved my hand in and showed him what to do. He saw my messy hand and told me, “No way! It’s too dirty mama.” I have no idea where he got this prissiness from. I mean I did teach him how to enjoy digging in the earth this summer. He’s not afraid to pick up worms or bugs. But then after a few minutes of cleaning out the pumpkin by myself I finally resorted to wearing some latex gloves. So again I have no idea where he got this prissiness. :)

Watch the video below of Jackson to see how he reacted.