Christmas Trees, Messes, Music, Smiles

We have a new favorite area where you can eat and let the kids play. This tree was there when we got there. 

Katelyn has this new thing where she dumps everything from her tray onto the floor and then laughs. I'm not a fan.

This is Grant and Katelyn at playgroup. He is a sweet ward friend and has this very cool jeep. Katelyn obviously enjoyed herself. 

Troy had his first performance last Monday at my recital. He played Jingle Bells and Ode to Joy. I was nervous for him, and for all of my students. No one told me how nervous I would be as a teacher for my students. But then, he did great. And so did my students. Big smiles on both our faces. Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for letting us hold this beautiful piano for them!

I played an arrangement of Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. It's fun to be able to perform sometimes.

Katelyn was sneaking the recital treats. Haha. She loves wearing Liam's hat. 

I got all of Katelyn's hair into a ponytail! Not a great picture, but it's true! I did!

This boy can melt my heart so fast. It happened at least 5 times today.

I played the harp for our Relief Society Christmas dinner. The theme was Angels. I played O Holy Night. I wish you could see all that they did to decorate. It was like walking into a very well done reception. The program went great and I got to play background music. I tried not to cry during the tender parts, so I could focus on the music. I loved the messages shared about being angels to one another.

What Katelyn would look like with a beard... I gave her some chocolate and it was mint. Apparently she didn't like it and just smeared it everywhere. OOPS!

Miss Independent. She was determined to have no help to open this banana. She stabbed it with that knife for about 10 minutes.

She made a small whole and eventually pulled it apart. Then, she ate it with the knife. Haha. To each her own.

Random November Memories

Our sweet Sister Missionaries came and did a family night with us. We are spoiled with such wonderful missionaries!!

Grandma Jana sent turkey stickers!

Fall party at Troy's school!

Michael and Troy

Katelyn has been into blocks lately. Well, the whole house has been, but she is actually starting to build little buildings. 

Mirrors are magical. 

It takes quite awhile to walk home from the bus stop everyday. But I don't mind. Troy said he wanted to help Katelyn push. 

Thanksgiving Outdoors

We spent Thanksgiving with our wonderful neighbors, the Boyers and Torbits, and their family at Stephen F. Austin park. They know how to cook outdoors! Everything was very good. Most of all, we loved just being with everyone. The kids loved it. 

They steamed the turkey.. I think. They had an oven for the pies and stuff, and the dutch ovens for most everything else. We came the morning of Thanksgiving, so I cooked at home and then brought it. More in my comfort zone ;) I made sweet potatoes while we watched The Giver. I LOVE that book. I know it's not an exciting movie, but I love the message behind it, so I loved the movie. I think I'll be buying that one.

They made super hero capes and wore them the whole time.

Lots of tree climbing. The trees have branches that connect like vines. We also played some volleyball. Loved it!

The kids made these cute turkey hats. Liam never keeps anything on very long, but he did make one.

It got colder towards the evening. These little chairs are adorable. 

Girls camp songs at night. Lots of smores and a fire. Katelyn is warming up to Stefan!

These two were always together.

To be honest, we slept horrible. Katelyn kept waking up the first night because she would wake herself up by coughing and then couldn't fall asleep. So, she tried sleeping with us, and it didn't work super well. Then, Troy was similar the second night, but he wasn't coughing, he just said his leg hurt. It took a couple of days for me to actually recover from the sleep. BUT everything else was great. I think we will get better at knowing how to help us all sleep better and be better prepared. We would definitely do it again.

Dentist

Liam's first visit to the dentist was pretty successful. We had a couple of close calls (biting, crying) but Liam pulled through for the ultimate reward of a toothbrush. Troy was super good. He made up for the last time when I decided the dentist was an evil place for children. This time, I wasn't even in the room most of the time because Liam and Troy went at the same time. And obviously, the 3 year old requires more attention. Although the boys were good, the dental hygienists were better. They were so good at having them hold things, being part of the process, and enjoying it. You know I'll be going back there again!

Troy LOVES sunglasses and when they pulled those out, he was pretty excited.

Liam was very apprehensive to sit down. Jane, the hygienist, got him interested in the faucet and let him get his own drink of water. That made him smile.

I brought a few bags of cereal for Katelyn to go through while we were there. By the end she got one of the other staff members to give her 3 suckers (to share... because 1 year olds share... that caused a fit on the ride home.) That smile of hers with "peas" is hard to reject.

The boys got to choose a toy from the treasure box at the end because they were good. Their toothbrushes were their favorite though. Troy doesn't want to use his because he doesn't want to get it dirty. It is shaped like a blue crayon. Liam brings his everywhere he goes. It has a bunch of dots on it, but mostly red, of course.

Dewberry Farm School Field Trip

Troy got to go to Dewberry Farm with his Kindergarten class. He had the time of his life. Stefan, Michael's mom, went along and took lots of fun pictures. (Thank you Stefan!) I'm so grateful that Troy and Michael are such good friends.

Our start to November

Preschool at our house this week. We planted vegetable gardens (leftover from junior achievement - a 1/2 hour block each week that I get to teach Troy's class.) 

Troy has been playing camera man lately. I have been practicing a lot because of Christmas. I have my own piano recital with my students, I play for our choir, and I am playing the harp for a concert that is a combined choir of our stake choir, children's choir, and a catholic church choir. It will be at the catholic church. I'm pretty excited about it!

Going to the library. Repeat from instagram. 

Ben and I were very lucky to find a sweet friend in the ward to babysit our kids Friday afternoon to go to the temple. We went and did some names that my cousin, Kim Parker, found with her kids. It was so special! I have a renewed desire to teach my children about those who have lived before them. 

Daddy had to do a couple of things Saturday morning, so we went to the park. 

I love that they are starting to pose for me!

The Boyer's invited Troy to go to Home Depot's activity that they do once a month. He loved it! He loves doing anything with Michael.

This little girl loves her daddy and has a hard time in sacrament meeting. 

Hat day! Well, it was actually Red Ribbon week and somehow wearing a hat helps you commit to not to drugs. We only had one hat that would fit Troy. But it's a favorite! Go Cougs!

Birthday party!

We got to go to Damien Walker's 5 year old birthday party! Fire station themed. We had so much fun celebrating!

I loved my Aunt Colleen's comment when I posted the picture above on instagram. "What did she do?" Lol. p.s. That's Damien right behind Katelyn.

Favorite moment of Liam's I think. 

Katelyn didn't want to stand up there with the kids, and it probably wouldn't have been safe for this little mover anyway. So we got her own shot on the other fire truck. ;)

Holding the fire house was so cool. I think these kids could have played here ALL day.. or week. 

Caitlyn did such a great job with all of the food and decor.

There was a fire man obstacle course. The kids got to put on a coat and hat and then went through..

ending with putting out a fire! So cute.

Only the girls were cooperating to come for a picture. Haha.

Caitlyn has this great camera and is a secret photographer, apparently. I loved this shot she took of Katelyn.

Thanks again Walkers! We had a blast!