Countdowns

This was our countdown to Halloween. I made it all with my Cricut Machine. Sorry, it's not a better picture, but I think you get the idea. We had all 31 days represented and each day we'd put a new "Halloweenish" thing up. The boys enjoyed looking at it, in fact Tanner was pretty sad when I took it down.

Last year we did a Turkey Countdown for Thanksgiving. It was fun, but I decided to go with something a little different. We are still writing down things we are grateful for, but we're using this cute Thanks Tree. She also has a Giving Tree where you write down things service you've done. However, we're just sticking with the first tree as we will be doing something with service later on in the month. It took some coaxing to get Vance to think of something he was grateful for the first day, but after that he has been the one to bring up that we need to put a leaf up and had something in mind to write down. Anyway, here are the first few days... Hopefully we can get Tanner to tell us a thing or two as well.

1. Balloons (I think we can thank my mom for this one since she brought the boys black balloons on Halloween)

2. Grandparents- I couldn't put just grandpa's or grandma's, it had to be both.

3. Family- Technically he made sure I wrote down Mom, Dad, Vance, and Tanner

4. Sunbeam Teacher- I thought that was pretty sweet. I am thankful he has a good Sunbeam teacher too.

5. Horton the Elephant- Very important. Not only did he make me write it down on a leaf he made me draw a picture of an elephant on another piece of paper. Folks, I can't draw. I'm not even one of those people who says they can't draw, but are decent at it. Stick people are a stretch for me.

My kids are enjoying countdowns so much. What are we going to countdown to after Christmas is over?

Because it makes me happy...

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

This may be the last year I can get away with avoiding Trick-or-Treating. However, if I think I can get away with it next year I will sure try. :)

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I wish I would write down all the funny things my kids say because they come up with some entertaining stuff sometimes and I usually don't even remember by the end of the day. I thought I'd write down some things before I forget.

Vance's speech is improving all the time (yay!) Yesterday he went in to use the bathroom and had a little shadow (named Tanner). Vance said, "No, Tanner! You don't need to go potty, you wear a diaper!"

Today I had my shirt pulled up a little because my clothing was irritating my pregnant belly. Tanner came over and laughed at my belly button and then he proceeded to pull my shirt back down and said, "Put that away." Sorry, my stomach is so disgusting to you Tanner.

Oh, the things your kids say. Too much to try and remember for one post. I will note that there were a few days where Vance decided I was Cinderella and would call me that instead of Mom. I am their slave and she was a slave to her stepsisters so why not? Also, every time Tanner gets up from a nap or up for the morning he announces, "I'm awake!" Of course, I'm suppose to be equally as excited even if it is 5 am and he shouldn't be awake.

Primary Program

Vance participated in his first primary program ever this morning. He wasn't overly reverent, but he blended right in as far as that goes. He got up and did his part, however he wouldn't get close enough to the microphone to hear anything he said. Oh well. He's got pleny of more primary programs to go through before he is done. I took a picture of him all ready for church this morning and then Tanner actually wanted his picture taken too so here's pictures of both of them. They both look much cuter in their buttoned up shirts and ties, but I know how much Vance plays with his tie and I didn't want him doing that in front of the entire ward so I opted for the polos shirts this morning. Don't my kids look so grown up?

Pumpkin Time

We decorated pumpkins today. I didn't want the boys to get their clothes all dirty, but as it turned out there was no danger of that happening. Tanner wouldn't have anything to do with the pumpkins once I cut the tops off them and he looked inside. Vance was brave enough to put his hand in, but only just. He made a face everytime and then wanted to wash his hand in between.
He was very proud of the seeds he pulled out of the pumpkin (about three of them).

We carved one and drew on the other two. Vance wanted me to draw a face on his and he told me just what to do. Two triangles for eyes, an triangle for the nose, and then he made a face for the mouth that looked something like this pumpkin's.

Tanner definitely enjoyed drawing on his pumpkin.

Our pumpkins this year came from my parents garden. Woo-hoo for free pumpkins. :)

Interrogation

We were going about our business this morning and someone rang the doorbell. Not a usual occurance at 9:30 in the morning. I answered it to find two cops at my doorstep. They began by telling me that a neighbor had received some threats and was I home around such and such a time late yesterday afternoon and had I witnessed anything. I was and I didn't. I figured that would be that, but things took a weirder twist than that. They asked me if I was so and so. I told them I wasn't. They asked me if I knew so and so, I don't. Then they ask me for some form of identification (things were turning a little weird). I showed them my drivers license. It continued with them asking me questions like how long had I lived there and was it just me and my son that lived here (Vance was in the kitchen playing with play doh so they'd only seen Tanner). Then they asked me for another form of id. Well, I don't have another picture id except my old BYU-Idaho student card so I showed that to them and then they got the last four digits of my social. At this point I'm wondering if I should invite them in to look at all my scrapbooks and journals and what not.

Finally they explain to me that I match the description of this gal who has a warrant out for her arrest. Sorry, guys. I've never had so much as a traffic violation let alone something more serious with the law. They asked me several more times if I knew this gal. Okay, you got me, I'm a bad neighbor. I've lived here for over 8 months and I can't tell you the names of anyone that lives near me. The last thing they asked about is if anyone on the other side of the duplex might match a similar description. I wanted to laugh a loud about that since they are African-American.

Anyway, I had a nice chuckle to myself after they left. It's not everyday you are interrogated by the police because you match the description of a criminal.