Christmas is coming

At the little light parade in monticello

Decorating the tree. Scott cut it down. It is a really prickly spruce but it's pretty. We got home from the light parade and decorated a bit with the girls and then I finished it off. They are all very excited about everything. Sara and I spent one Sunday at home from church together because we were sick and we put up all the decrations around the house. The others were suprised when they got home. I even put nails in the walls and hung up a lot more than I did last year. I think it all turned out cute. We now have presents under the tree, but I am pretty close to locking them up for the next week. The poor kids can't resist them.

We had a crazy time at our ward party, that is where Santa was. They had good food and good entertainment. we have so many talented people here. But carrying food and drinks and everything for four crazy kids isn't a ton of fun for mom and dad. Scott barely got home in time to go. Anyways, it was good and we are so thankful church is across the street...makes these things much simpler.

Scott is performing in two concerts of the Messiah, playing his trumpet. Last week it was in Blanding, and this week it will be here. We are hoping to catch some of it tonight, but maybe not all two hours. Another perk of the church across the street :)

My brother Dan and his girlfriend Melissa fly in Monday night, then Mom will be here wednesday, then Dan leaves Thursday, and Mom stays until january. Should be fun and crazy, we are excited and almost have the house cleaned up. On big tub of toys is packed up, making room for Christmas. Most everything is wrapped, mailed, cards are almost done and after we get a few groceries i think we are all sset for the big day! We are excited mom and Dan will be here for the girls' school concert, that has never happened! And i haven't spent Christmas with my mom in about nine years, since the Christmas Scott came up to visit me. After that we lived in California, and then seemed to have babies and were not wanting to travel in the winter. So it should be fun for all.

ps. Whitney LOVES santa...hahaha. she can say a really cute hohoho, though.

All I want for Christmas

First top tooth gone

Before it came out

Abby says:

I looked real funny cuz the tooth stuck out of my face and when I closed my mouth I could feel it. Mom pulled out my tooth cuz it looked weird and she accidentally pulled it out. It was funny wiggling it and I got a whole dollar, as usual, from the tooth fairy. And I found out that when I woke up real early in the morning.

And I have another loose tooth on the other side. I am probably gonna lose it cuz it it's wiggly. and I can stick my toungue through it and it looks like I have a pink tooth and the tooth that is underneath is growing in. The rest of my teeth that have been lost are growing in, exactly the same as the weird lookin' one.

For Christmas I would like a pink tooth pocket with hearts and teeth on it, so i could put my tooth in it whenever I lose one. I would also like a caramel apple so maybe it might make my tooth looser, and it would taste good.

I am going to sing in a Christmas concert and yesterday i built a snowman almost all by myself, but today the head fell off. Instead of using a carrot for its nose we used a pinecone. Isabel's was the big sister, mine was the little sister but now their heads are both ruined. mine fell off and Isabel's pieces fell off. Mine was nothing but arms and the pinecone nose.

Sara's first haircut

Before

During

After!

Sara's hair has always been long and beautiful. She loved it more than a 3 year old should love her hair. When I put a shirt on her, her arms couldn't go in the sleeves because her hair would get in the way. When we tried to do up her seatbelt in the car, the hair had to be moved, when she ate, she wiped everything up with her hair. She loves it down and in her face, taking out every clip or elastic band I put in it. She got tons of compliments on her hair all the time, but there comes a point when it just has to go. It was a hard decision. Sara agreed to it but still misses her hair a little.

Anyways, she was very good and sat still and I just went for it. I think it turned out cute and she still loves it down and in her face but it is much easier to brush, and still long enought to do things with. win-win

Forest Service Award

This year Scott's District Ranger (not his boss, but the guy in charge of this area of national forest) nominated him to get the Law Enforcement officer of the year award. And he got it! The area for the award includes Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. It came as a suprise and was not something Scott was aspiring to, or even really aware of, but nevertheless it is an honor. He went to a luncheon and received the award, along with a beautiful wooden bowl inlayed with some turquoise. He also got a plaque which will soon be mounted to a nice chunk of tree Scott got while working and has cut and varnished up.

Although he says that he didn't do anything special to deserve the award, he has consistently used his forest service training, military training, his own smarts, common sense, and people skills to make an amazing amount of progress in an area that has many issues going against him. He has also made some great contacts with some very high level people and has already earned a great reputation within the state and the Forest Service. Congratulations Scott!

Arches

Climbing up above Sand Arch

One. Happy. baby.

Sara posing up on the rocks

Sand Arch

Whitney hiking near the Windows

Climbing up in the arch

The girls by an arch

Sara rides in style.

A few weeks ago on an unseasonably warm November day, we decided to go to Arches national Park near Moab. If any of you have not heard of it, google it and you will see some amazing photos. We took tons but just put a few up on the blog. There are a lot of arches everywhere around where we live, but this park has a really high concentration. It may not be as exciting as Disneyland, but the girls truly enjoy seeing them and climbing on them. We only spent a few hours in the park, but as they get older we will definitely be able to do more. There are many easy hikes, and also more difficult ones. The rock formations are really incredible.

We ended the day eating at a restaurant in moab and then window shopping in some of the touristy stores. They have some great local artisans who make all kinds of things, jewelery, pottery, wind sculptures and so much more. We really hadn't spent time playing in Moab, so it was nice.

The best arch we saw was Sand arch. you take a stroll through a little slot canyon thing and the floor is all super fine red sand. the arch is back by itself, it is really nice, calm and quiet there. We had a lot of fun playing around. Whitney LOVED the sand, I might have to give in and get a sandbox next summer. There were all kinds of fun rocks to climb on. The two big girls are getting very independent and were running together the whole time. We let them go as long as they could see us.

It was a good day. There sure are not a lot of interesting indoor things to do here, but when the weather is nice the possibilities outdoors are endless. We even bought the year pass to all the parks around here so we can go whenever we want now. We thought maybe Scott would get in free, but that was not happening.

Moab is also world renowned for its mountain biking and 4 wheel drive trails. One of Scott's favorite things on youtube is to search Moab Jeep and there are some great crashes and climbs on there.

Moab is about 52 miles away from us.

This is Halloween

Whitney found this crown in the closet so i put it on her. She thought it was pretty funny.

All the girls dressed up after the ward Chili cookoff and Trunk or Treat. Whitney wore the little dress cuz she hated the bumble bee outfit.

Last Monday we had a bunch of peple over to carve pumpkins

Our spooky trunk

Abby, and Whitney Knudsen, her friend, at the Elementary school carnival

All the costumes before the Halloween Carnival

Cute as a bug!

So Halloween became quite the big event his year. Monday we were planning on carving pumpkins. I decided to invite some new people who we have meant to have over. I also invited our next door neighbors (our only neighbors), and then at the end decided to invite our friends the Knudsens as well. They are all a lot of fun, and I figured it would work to just have all the mess at our house, most of them were planning on carving that day anyways. I spent most of the day baking and cleaning. I made pumpkin cake and monster cookies. It all turned out really well and oter people brought treats, so we were set. We had a small FHE lesson and then just dug in.

Tuesday I was invited to a food storage party, but scott got home late, so i missed it. There is another one at someone else's house next week. Wednesday i had book club, which i just joined with some of the ladies around. it was funny, my last book club in Eagle Mountain was all young moms. The topic quckly turned to labor and childbirth, nursing, all kinds of things like that. Here the topic began with arthritis, hips and back surgery. I was laughing on the inside, since i had just mentioned this to Scott before I left. But i like it. No one suggested we read Twilight, so this is a step up! Thursday we had a Relief Society activity which was pretty fun.

Then comes Friday, the school carnival. They do not wear costumes at school, which is actually nice. They do a costume parade and then little carnival games in eah classroom. The Cheerleaders also did a little dinner in the cafeteria. Scott worked until right before, so it was crazy getting everything and all the costumes put together, but we did it.We went and did all the activities, talked to some people, and then made our exit. It is so nice to be able to just walk over to these things.

Saturday morning Isabel went to Donovan Atwoods birthday. This is the ex-boyfriend she was going to marry last year. Then we spent a day waiting for the halloween party. Scott worked but got home just before again. It was a chili cookoff and I made my normal chili, nothing fancy. Of course I ran out of chili powder, so it wasn't as flavorful as i would have liked. PLus I cooked it a long time, maybe too long. Anyways, I won 2nd place and got a bag of crackers for a prize. That was nice. The 1st place was a chicken chili, so I'll have to get her recipe. We had chili and cornbread then brownies for dessert. There was a little costume parade as well. Then we went out to decorate for the trunk or treat. We gave out glow necklaces which were a big hit. Scott took the girls around and I stayed at the Suburban. A storm blew in right at the end, so everyone made a quick exit. Soon after, it quit so i took the three big girls around for a little trick or treating. They had fun. Abby was Britney Chhipmunk from Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel, Isabel was a heart butterfly, and Sara was Cinderella. Whiney was a bumblebee and then a little witch, she was just happy to people watch and get a bit of candy. She also liked carrying around her pumpkin. oh yeah, I got a purple wig and skeleton shirt at Wal-mart, since I was tired of being an Army person. I got more compliments last night with crazy purple hair than I have gotten in a long time. Maybe I should make a change...

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

Corn maze

Sara on top of the huge bale slide. She did not want to go, and she did not love it.

Petting a goat

All the girls in the Pumpkin Patch

Dad and Sara getting ready to enter the Corn Maze

Yesterday we decided to vist Grand Junction, Colorado. it is a small city about 2.5 hours from us. it is the closest mall\shopping pretty much. The guy who I knew from Ricks and BYU and Scott knew through friends, also lives there. He actually brought Scott over to my apartment on night and that is how we met the second time. Anyways, this guy, jackson actually ended up marrying a friend of Scott's cousins who grew up in another small town. Anyways...lots of connections, but we haven't seen them for years.

Whitney with her pumpkin. She thinks it tastes delicious.

So we went to the mall and I was able to get outfits for our upcoming family pictures. Shopping online was too difficult. We looked around, and then headed over to visit. They have kids almost the same age as ours, so lots of new toys to play with. They especially loved the pygmy hamsters they had. Isabel managed to let one loose while no one was looking. fun. we caught it. They were lightning fast.

After that we headed to the pumpkin patch. Thank goodness for the internet and google, I already knew about it, and where it was. We had a good time playing in the corn maze. They had a small kids' maze and now Isabel wants one in the back yard.

We ate at a restaurant called "Boston's Pizza" which looked oddly like another restaurant from Canada. If only they would get some Tim Horton's out west, I would be happy.To top off the trip we were able to head to PetsMart and get Flipper #2, or Ariel, as sara calls him. He's a girl, according to her. So we'll see how long this little betta lasts. isabel hugs the tank. she needs something to cuddle but Dad still vetoes. We'll see in the spring.

Walking Whitney and new trees

Three trees in the back, Autumn Blaze Maple, Autumn Purple Ash, and another Blaze Maple.

The ash tree in the front of the house

Cool Whitney

Walking around

How much mess can a one-year-old make with one Halloween oreo?? this much

Life goes on here in Monticello. The fall has so far been beautiful and warm. The leaves are turning now on the mountain. We waited until October first to get our trees 50% off. We were able to borrow a trailer and drive an hour to Cortez to a nursery to get them. They are supposed to be fast growing, and both will display great colors in autumn. We are VERY excited about them. Now just to keep the kids, deer and dryness away from them for a few years and we'll be in business.

After thinking I was out of luck with peaches this year, Bountiful Baskets had some, and I now have about 60 lbs set out on the counter to ripen! Scott promises to help me can them, so we'll see how it goes. I need to see if I have enough jars...

Whitney is now fully walking everywhere, and is getting faster by the day. She LOVES ring-around-the-rosie, but likes to fall down the best. She doesn't need to wait until the end! it is so cute. She is really following and copying her sisters now. She doesn't say much, but I think she's on the verge of breaking out in full sentences. Whitney does things on her own schedule, and that's ok with us.

Halloween decorations are up and costumes are being put together. On October 21st we are getting family pictures by a great photographer in our area. I hope the weather will cooperate and we will get some great shots. So far, Whitney likes getting pictures taken, so we'll hope she keeps it up. When we pay for them, we get a CD, so any of you who may want copies, we can print as many as we want, in any size.

Happy Fall to all of you!

September This and That

Making necklaces, they are all old enough to do it themselves, and when the baby is sleeping it is nice! Anyone with kids, you can get huge bead sets at WalMart and have a lot of fun

A herd of deer we saw last night on our Sunday drive in the mountains. Saw lots of mommas with babies.

Sara and her flowers. She wanted to keep them "the rest of my life!" but they didn't make it through the drive home. oh well.

This is what happens with ZhuZhu pets and hair when kiddos can't listen to mom. During our trip back home after Labor Day.

There are some beautiful wild sunflowers everywhere around our house. i wanted to get some pictures of them, and Isabel happened to be the model in her (Abby's) cute dress.

We also went to The Lion King in SLC on labor day weekend. We couldn't take pictures, bu it was really cool and I think Isabel and Abby liked it.

Scott has been working like crazy, having fun with some hunting issues and issues with the local sheriff. People here think they can do whatever they want,whenever they want because it is on public land, including destroying barriers to trails they want to go on. It is frustrating but Scott continues to try to be professional and deal with these things. He also finally got his new truck, which is a whole other story. it is a 2010 Ford pickup.

Fall is coming on quickly, leaves are turning, nights are brisk, but things are good here. Hope they are good where you are.

Back to School 2010!

This is a pic of the balloon launch they did at school. The kids love it. It was super windy, so they all went sideways instead of up.

Our little friend who likes the apples in the neighbor's yard, and the nice construction they started the day school started. smart!

How excited was Isabel to see the monkey theme! She loves kindergarten.

We walked her over to school.

Abby in Second grade, in her new class. Her teacher is Mrs. Keyes.

Abby was so excited to go, too.

School started on August 18. Both girls were totally ready to go. They haven't looked back since. Abby likes everything, but already has a lot of homework. It think it is more to force parental participation, which bothers me, but I guess it's necessary these days. She is reading very well and now is starting spelling and a lot of math and science. She had quite a few friends in her class, so no problems there. Abby also started piano lessons and is doing amazing, she picks up the little songs so quickly and then can do them by memory, so we have to work on reading the music and playing at the same time. It is crazy to realize we will have piano practice every day forever, but I really hope she sticks with it.

Isabel's kindergarten was lopsided between the am and pm classes, so after a request from the school,we decided to change to afternoon. It is working out pretty well. Just a lot of "is it time for school yet?" going on. It is nice for her to walk over when there are less people, and then Abby can bring her home. We certainly love being right next to the school. Her teacher is Mrs. Garcher.

Sara misses the girls when they are gone, but she also enjoys getting a little time to be with me. She also gets a little time with Dora, which the big girls are way over. It's all iCarly and older shows now.

Whitney is walking everywhere now, thank goodness! it took her a while. We also just took her binky (pacifier) away. I had to throw them out so there's no going back. She has always been so good at putting herself to sleep that now it is hard. We never rocked her, sang to her, or anything like that, so it's been a little rough. But it was time. She still doesn't talk but she understands. She can fold her arms for prayers, copies her sisters and likes to pick in the garbage. She is also getting jealous, if anyone else sits on my lap.