This is what the girls do at night when they should be going to sleep!

Christmas countdown

On the first day of December, we started our Christmas countdown. So fun. It's a big quilted thing with pockets for every day till Christmas. Each pocket has a rolled of piece of paper with a scripture reference of a story from the Savior's life and an activity written on it. We read the scriptures and then we get to do our activity. So far we have dipped pretzels in white chocolate, had a (cotton) snowball fight, had a muppet Christmas Carol movie night, built sugar cube snow castles, made gingerbread men, decorated them, played hide-and-go-seek for 15 min, painted snowman pictures, and another movie night. Good stuff. It has been so fun. We have taken turns pulling out activities. Tomorrow is Rachel's turn. -Ashley:)

Halloween

We had some friends over for a little monster bash on Halloween. About 5 minutes into trick-or-treating it started to rain so the mothers with babies (all of the women present) headed back to the house. A little rain wasn't going to stop the older kids from scoring as much candy as possible and the dad's braved the weather with them. I suspect ulterior motives influenced the noble behavior of at least my husband. He exacts a Halloween candy tax.


Matthew and Ashley were Jedis, Rachel was a witch, Tyler was a knight, and Audrey was a princess. I was supposed to be a witch with Rachel but I was too busy pinning Jedi cloaks, finding baby tights that had mysteriously disappeared, and reminding one of my children that they had wanted to be a witch to even think about putting a costume on myself. Sigh. Mike didn't have costume aspirations this year. Next year he wants us to all be Lord of the Rings characters. I just have to explain to the kids about hobbits and convince them that they really want to be one.

Sweet baby

This, my friends, is the sweetest baby. Ever.

summer trip part 3

On top of a mountain in Island Park, Idaho

summer trip part 2

Mike and Ashley on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. It was windy.

Geyser

Waiting for Old Faithful

Grandpa and Audrey waiting

Stairs down to Inspiration Point. My grandpa helped build the original lookout area here on his summer vacations as a teenager with no ropes or safety equipment. Amazing.
I was dizzy even with the railing.

The view into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone from Inspiration Point.

summer trip part 1

At the Malad Idaho 4th of July Celebration

Swinging as the sun goes down

Waiting for the fireworks to start with Great Grandma and Grandpa Hayden

Happy with uncle Dustin and Mikey and soon-to-be aunt Jessica

The end.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tyler in his red hat

Not long ago, on a drizzly day, I decided to go for a walk. And Mike came. (That requires its own sentence because it is profound. He's not generally into the whole singing in the rain thing.) Here are a few pics from our jaunt...

Sweet Audrey baby chillin' in the bjorn

our house and Matthew chewing on some chives

Mike and Ash (note the fro)

close-up of the fro- Hobbit hair, don't you think?

Where Mike catches the train every day.

Ashley doing her "peace out, yo".

And Rachel in the background ditching her shoes.

One cannot properly jump in puddles with one's shoes on.

Rachel is 4

> Rachel got this super duper ($4 garage sale) kitchen for her birthday. She was pretty excited.

For the record, Rachel is smart, fun, sweet and amazing. She really is.
It's been a great four years. We love you Rache!!

Rachel wanted to go to Chanticleer for her birthday and I said if we must, we must. Ashley and Tyler were sick and had to stay home with dad but Matthew and Audrey came along.