Hey Remember when . . .

I told you that I wouldn't write like long mushy posts about how I love my kids and my own crazy emotional rollercoaster of motherhood? Well I remember that too . . .but please forget that for the moment . . . or just don't read this. First of all I love my kids and my husband . . .now that is out of the way onto what I really wanted to post about.
So last night I went to Zumba . . .I do that twice a week in an effort to lose my fantastic baby weight . . .I know I should do it more often but that's not the point. Anyways last night I stayed after and chatted with a friend there who I will not name. I will just call her Rikki Nobinette. So our conversation started friendly enough talking about our hatred of laundry and how our kiddos are in school now and what that is like. Our conversation lasted about a half an hour but I can't stop thinking about it or what she taught me. In fact I couldn't sleep about it and I wrote about it in my journal . . .I know it took me a while to find it since I've not written in it for almost a year. But even that didn't seem to be enough because here I am today still thinking about it and now posting about it when I should be battling the pile of presents that I had hoped to wrap during this precious 3-kid-nap-time.
She probably doesn't even realize how our conversation affected me or how it has started to get me thinking about my life and my role as a mother. Her comments were all appropriate to normal conversation about kids and life and she probably didn't even think twice of what she was saying, but there was an underlying theme that struck me. I was so impressed with how the gospel is taught in her home on a regular basis, her relationship with her children and how she regards it, and her selfless attitude as a mother. It made me evaluate my conversations, my relationships, and my selfishness. It also made me really want to be her apprentice for a while. In fact I can think of quite a few people that I would like to apprentice in their homes to learn how to be a better wife and mother.
I guess what meant the most to me about this experience is the uplifting it brought. Rikki and I don't get together that often now that our boys are in different Elementary schools. But the thing about Rikki is I always feel uplifted, a desire to be better and I think that is what makes her amazing. I love having people come into my life that give me inspiration to be better. Where you can walk away from each interaction with a greater determination to be a better daughter of God. And I hope I in turn do that for her or for anyone that I come into contact with.
Do you know many of those people? And can I schedule a time to be your apprentice?

Don't Judge Me

Don't judge me on a few things. First of all we like to buy Halloween costumes on sale after the before mentioned holiday. SO we have a lot of ninja's in our house and Darth VaderBut don't worry that is just Isaacand some Storm Troopers who like to hang out with Power Rangers

Or don't judge that the carrots that we worked so hard growing actually turned into snowman noses instead of tasty meals.Kyler made his first ever snowman by himself.

Or don't judge me that I already put my baby girl in sponge rollers on sunday morning and to add to her discomfort I let Isaac play her songs on the flute.

And don't judge that I really love this girl!

Or that I worked this last week on getting a Christmas advent calendar done for my family (these beauties along with Eldon's creations at the bottom, are going to go on our Christmas tree. Each envelope has a different Christmas thing to do like; make the house smell like Christmas, dance to Christmas songs, call Grandparents up and sing Christmas Carols- you know all the fun things you've read on Pinterest but this is our spin on the creation)

Don't judge that we painted rocks that we got from an unexpecting river bed . . . or that I made my child go with me to the said river bed in cold weather to find them.

or that Eldon got involved and it got messyor that I made this thinking it would be so fun for all the things that we are thankful for

Or for the grand finale!!! Don't judge me that I have a hard time figuring out how to be the best mom for my kids. I am not good at being spontaneous. Also I have a three year old that is seriously the hardest kid for me ever! I can't seem to figure him out, how he works, or what the best way to go about raising him. This question has been asked in prayer, with husband, and at the temple. Finally last Sunday I looked at a friends blog that is home schooling her kids. It all hit me then that I really need to take the time to teach my children. So I read a few more blogs, searched the halls of Pinterest, and decided to come up with something that would best benefit my children. Now this might not be the answer but it is what we are going to be trying the next few weeks. I've found the best time of day for our activities is after nap and before we pick up Kyler. So every Monday and Wednesday is going to be used for Workbooks. Tuesday and Thursday are for smaller fun activities. Like lacing cards that we are going to be doing this Thursday. Fridays are going to be saved for bigger activities. This Friday we are sorting buttons!!!!! They go in their coordinating day drawer so they are all ready for the day. Sunday is the day that I am going to put all the stuff in for the week so we are ready. Shape goes on the side so that they can see what day it is and what drawer we are going to be playing in later.There you have it. So don't judge us!!!

Hogman 2011 Halloween

Our Halloween celebrations started on Friday when we were able to watch my little nephew James. He and Maggie are one month apart and it is so fun to have them together. He was a trooper! He went with me to my outdoor work party with my other crazies. And he of course enjoyed some much needed down time with his uncle.

On Saturday we did our traditional making of donuts which turned out fantastic . . .but no pics. Then Sunday we got down to business. It was pumpkin carvin' time!I love having older kids who want to scoop out the pumpkin guts!
And little kids that still hate it
And mom's who do it though some times it still grosses her out (and no not pregnant still just look it)
Then the team carving began. Mom, Eldon, and Isaac on one team:

Papa, Kyler, and Maggie on the other.Isaac with his two pumpkins.
Eldon with hisKyler with his masterpiecesAll the gang with all of them and yes this is the best pic we could get- Kyler cross eyed, Maggie worried, Eldon with tongue out, and Isaac on the verge of tears.Carved pumpkins lit and looking fantastic!
Halloween started with me getting called to work in the Nursery at the Rec Center. Not wanting real constumes ruined I told the boys to go down stairs and pick out something from the dress-up box. Eldon is a Pirate-Fireman-Superhero-who is brilliant. And Isaac is a Super Fireman.

Maggie's impromptu costume- Minnie Mouse which ended up being sooo adorable!
Soooo. . . Kyler dropped off at school at 9:00. Rec Center at 9:30-11:30.

11:30-12:00 MacDonalds lunch out of necessity but very happily recieved by the littles. 12:00-1:00 nap. 1:00-2:00 dress littles and get pics taken. Charlie Brown:

His dog SnoopySnoopy's best friend Woodstock: (you can't see it but she has feather sewn under her arms and on her bottom):

My attempt at a Peanut Gang picture . . .not successful

2:00-3:40- Go to Kyler's school and help with Halloween Party and see school Parade. He was a knight (which I was so happy with! At first he wanted to be Bumblebee from transformers. We looked at a bazillion costumes and this is what he really wanted to be.)Kyler's class . .. yes that girl is a peacock isn't that fantastic?3:40-5:00- Down town trick or treating.

5:00-5:30- Making and eating dinner as quick as we could.

5:30-7:00- Ward Trunk or Treat and playing at Playground. Attempt to get all the kids together in a picture . . . also not successful.
7:00-9:00- Candy review and watching Casper. Busy but memorable Halloween!Note to future self: When you hear about the idea that on Halloween let your kids eat as much candy as they want, don't try to implement it in your home. Just remember back on 2011 when you witnessed a 2 year old boy completely on a sugar high. Hilarious yes . . .but let's not put any of us through that again.

October Thus Far

Of course October means General Conference! Which we love! So we made our tent:went shopping and picked out our snacks:And settled down for a good two days of inspiration . . . clearly Isaac felt that sunglasses were a necessary part of the experience.Maggie and Travis took a needed nap- I think it was during the Father and Daughter talk . . .literally.We tried to tame Maggie's mullet by putting it in it's first pony tail ever . . . I thought she looked like Ikabod Crane, Travis thought she looked like a drug dealer.And we've spent the rest of the month reading:sleeping

harvestingreading some moreand having accidents with mustard and applesauce. It was at this point of the month that our camera died. Sad day. Really sad day. So we got no pictures of the children-

-picking out pumpkins at Grandma and Grandpa Porter's house

-Going to see the witches at Gardner Village

-playing outside in the fall weather

-trying on costumes

And you know those moments that your heart takes a picture and you think "I am never going to forget this moment because it is so dear to me." Well I feel as if I have those moments a lot but I don't remember them. Heck I hardly remember were I put my keys five minutes earlier. But the other day Eldon and Isaac and I had an impromptu picnic outside. And the moment I want to remember is running into the kitchen and coming back out and seeing my two boys sitting next to each other in the beautiful fall surroundings eating their peanut butter sandwhiches as happy as can be. It was a picturesque moment and it made my heart smile so big!!
Hopefully we'll get Travis' camera good and charged so that we can document the next few fun days that will be filled with crazy Halloween celebrations. Because I am sure that you want to see our Charlie Brown themed costumes + a black knight . . . Kyler didn't want to be part of the theme this year- sigh I guess he's growing up.