Carving Pumpkins

My poor kids got humbugs for parents.  Travis and I neither one like the process of carving pumpkins....but our kids do, we let them pick pumpkins early in the month to carve later. and then the week of Halloween we carved them....Travis and I debated cancelling the whole ordeal but I think we would have had a mutiny on our hands....the kids had a blast....I hated the mess and the smell, but they loved it and got along so it was a smashing success and I got over my freakiness....:)

Gwendalin's 9th!

Gwendalin turned 9 on October 24!  She is so beautiful!  I made and took cupcakes into her class - chocolate with chocolate frosting with mini reeses peanut butter cups on top.  I think it was an all around wonderful day for her!  We went out to dinner as a family to celebrate.  She got an iPod touch of her own and on I started painting her room and finished a few days later....it turned out gorgeous!  She loves having a girl room now...I don't know if I have any before pictures...it was just brown with some colored vinyl circles on the wall....this is much cuter.

Here are some highlights of Gwendalin:
*She loves to help
*She can hold her own with any of her brothers
*She loves school
*She is working hard at piano
*She is becoming quite the ballerina- it is fun to watch
*She is very maternal and loves to comfort and help her brothers whenever she can
*She loves to play school
*She hardly ever complains
*She loves to keep her room clean
*She is a friend to everyone

House Flipping....

We started flipping homes in May.  This is our second and it was a doozy.  Travis started on it after he was finished hunting in September.  We repainted in side and out, redid carpets, vinyl, trim, sod, fence, etc.  It was  a huge undertaking and a disgusting task.  The interior had gum plastered on the walls and fireplace stone, marker and nail polish on the walls, and the nastiest bathtubs and showers you can imagine.  I did some major overhaul cleaning - it was ridiculous.  I've never been so sore from cleaning and painting.   Travis even had the opportunity to fall off of the ladder while painting outside...he's lucky he didn't break both knee caps! I wish we had good before pictures but we didn't take any.  So I have a few afters and one exterior before.  What an undertaking.  (this property sold in December for $1k less than our asking price) woot woot!

Most Fun Birthday Surprise #70!!

Mom coordinated a mega surprise this year for Dad's 70th birthday.  All 5 of  us were able to be here and surprise him the day after he turned 70.  We created a box and popped out of it when he answered the door.  There were tears, laughs, hugs, and everything else you can imagine.  It was so much fun even though there was a bit of complaining about jumping out of a box.  Transporting the box to mom's from my house was a task, we originally tried to put it on top of my car and Scottie was going to hold it on...that didn't work, so we walked it over.  We got to go to dinner Friday night and then the BYU football game after - with lots of snacks that Jason discovered from WINCO. :)  

While the boys watched BYU football, we snuck the cake that Lynn was making for Dad's surprise party (Saturday night at friends) over to mom's house and finished it up .  It turned out amazing.  As did the surprise party at on Saturday night.  He (Dad) didn't quite catch on that the party was for him even though there were pictures hanging everywhere of him...he was pleasantly surprised when he realized it.  It was great good, and a great tribute to dad.

Satruday after the party we (the 5 siblings) trekked over to the Maverik to check it out...I'm pretty sure Scott and Jason were exhausted - they acted a bit drunk (something about shart water??)...but we loved every minute. The kids loved holding Anderson...

On Sunday we all went to church with mom and dad and sat on their bench with them.  I think that was the highlight of mom's whole weekend.

2 rows of teeth

Tyler had to have 4 teeth pulled  because his permanent teeth were coming in behind his baby teeth and not pushing them out of the way.  I took a "before" so we could always remember.  :)

Dead Snake

Dallin found this dead snake while he was riding his bike....of course the logical thing to do is pick it up, show all your family members and friends, and carry it around for 2 days even when your mom says to throw it away....he was so proud of it!

Are you a BYU fan????

Dad came to watch the BYU game at my house...Hunter got lucky enough to stay up for a bit and watch the game with grandpa.... :)