sweet petes

Happy Halloween! October has been a fairly busy and productive month. It was nice to get back into a routine with school starting. I know that most of the pictures I take are of Liv, but she is the one hanging out with me the most... Making pumpkins out of Play-Doh:

Liv is taking a ballet class. The parents are not allowed in the room, so I took a few photos through the window one day. She is so funny in there and almost seems more distracted each week; asking to go to the bathroom (I always take her right before), and making funny faces at me through the glass door. She looks darling at least:

She hiked her skirt way up under her elbows during the last part of class and I was totally laughing about it (probably good she couldn't hear or see me). The skirt was a little lower here, but still! So funny:

Liv is grounded from scissors until she turns five. She chopped the hair off of most of her Barbie Dolls a week or so ago. A couple have a "pixie" cut (way short), but this one has a sweet mullet. Oh, Liv.

Tic Tac Toe and Hangman have become some favorite games for the younger kids lately. This isn't a great photo, but I like proof of the kids playing well together:

We ran to the store during Rob's lunch break one day, and I got such a kick out of Liv's outfit. Loving the cowboy hat, princess purse, and red flats combo!

We played a family game of hide and go seek a couple of Sundays ago and Liv fell on the tile floor and got a big goose egg on her chin. That poor girl has split her chin open twice, and her lip open once. The bruise is finally going away now.

Liv and I were waiting for Tosh's bus one afternoon and it took the driver a minute or two to open the doors after it had pulled up (the driver was talking to some of the kids about not standing up until the bus stops). When I said something like, "Why is it taking the driver so long to open the door?" Liv said, "Well, maybe he's sending a text!" Ha!

Liv LOVES stories and books. She really likes all of the old fairy tales and stories about princesses. Whenever she tells the story of Cinderella, she talks about her going to the BOMB instead of BALL. It is hilarious. I'm finding myself correcting her mistakes, but then feeling sad about her not saying the cute things wrong any more. She's growing up too fast!

Conducting a train is serious business:

It's important to look the part. So cute!

The boys get their braces off next month! Before the last ortho appointment I noticed that one of Hewitt's brackets was loose on his front tooth. I was a little surprised that he came out of the appointment with the bracket completely gone! It makes for a bit of a funny smile.

Our kids 'passed off' all of their songs for our primary program and so our primary chorister (Brenda) came over to make the kids balloons. Twin Ninjas (the balloon ninja has a staff too)!

Tosh wanted a sword (for the third year in a row?):

Liv's favorite princess is Tiana (The Frog Princess. She's never seen the movie or anything, but it's her favorite). She asked for a Tiana hat and bracelet:

Burke got a cool soccer-type ball and this other toy. Brenda is so talented and generous. I am amazed by some of the things she has created! She has some amazing photos on her website: http://balloonhappyaz.com/

Burke was asked to be a line judge at Hewitt's soccer game last Saturday. It was pretty cool.

I still don't have Burke's soccer pictures back yet (I will post the photos next time), but I think these buttons are so awesome. Wearing it helps me feel like I'm a good soccer mom. The weather is getting cooler for games which is a plus.

Liv playing indoor hopscotch:

Peeling carrots for dinner:

I had to pull Tosh out of school to go the doctor this week; I told him I would buy him an ice cream cone at McDonalds for getting a flu shot. I hope to keep the flu and asthma at bay this winter!

Our primary program was this past Sunday. It was my second year writing the program (and being in charge in general), but our ONLY year with all four kids in it! All of the kids really did an excellent job. Our chorister asked if Liv and two other girls would sing the first verse to "I am a Child of God." I was a bit nervous about Liv singing. The first time I asked her to practice it with me she said, "I hate (bad word in our house) that song!" She can be such a stinker! She was absolutely perfect at the practice, so I wasn't worried after that. At the actual performance, she ended up being the child in the middle and thus right in front of the microphone. She did awesome. I was so bummed that I couldn't see it (I was crouched down directly behind the girls). Rob said that she looked so cute and proud (can you all imagine her 'proud--I'm getting attention' face? We got so many compliments on her great pitch and comments that she 'almost stole the show' and so on. I don't know if Liv's dance career will be long lived, but her voice is promising :).

I was on my own before church (Rob was in meetings) and got to the church 20 minutes after I wanted to, but still had the thought to stop to get a photo before leaving the house (glad I did!).

Tosh is such a nut! He was moving around a lot up on the stand. There were two empty folding chairs next to him (for the cellists on our closing number) and he would move into those seats and then move back to his, etc. I had him wear a tie (I usually don't), but made sure it was the zip kind that I could button down under his shirt (instead of a clip tie that is easy to get off). He kept unzipping his tie and flipping it around and around, twisting it up. My sister tells me that people without little kids hope for kids to entertain them during the program. Just trying to deliver...

In all my rush with the program and kids that morning, I forgot to talk to the bishopric about forgoing a closing hymn, and just letting our final song be the closing hymn. We had the congregation join us for two verses of "I am a Child of God" with the cellos playing, etc. Anyway, I had a moment of panic and took it upon myself to tell the chorister and organist not to do the closing song as they were walking up, and I just jumped up and said the prayer (I had no clue who had been asked). The bishopric were all sitting down with their families and we were already a minute or two over time. I whispered to our primary president, "We don't want these kids to sit through 'Abide With Me Tis Eventide!' Should I just pray and then ask for forgiveness later?" Ha! Classic me, taking charge when I probably shouldn't. So, that's exactly what I did, and everyone seems to have forgiven me (and agreed with my choice).

Our ward had a trunk or treat/chili cook off FHE activity on Monday. It was a great activity with lots of families and non-members too. Our twin nephews dressed up as the cutest nerds for their ward party, and it inspired Burke to do the same. It was so fun that he actually dressed up this year! He looked so cute (the braces, glasses, and skinny-ness help the look along)!

I was asked to judge the chili, decorated trunks, and costumes at the party. Technically I was the "French Judge"--ha! My brother sent me this beret from his mission, and I saw it and thought it would make the perfect (easy) costume. I made this hand-stitched scarf from one of the kid's old soccer shirts. Am I crafty and frugal or what???

Unfortunately Burke lost the privilege of going Trick or Treating tonight. It was fun handing out candy with Burke (he had such a great attitude!). We put some chairs in our driveway, brought out one of Rob's big speakers and cranked some Halloween tunes. We ended up riding around on scooters during slow times, and visited with a bunch of neighbors. It was my favorite Halloween yet. Rob took the younger three around the neighborhood. We have so much candy it is out of control!!!

Our tough Ninja (Hewitt asked for this costume for his birthday, and was excited to get to wear it to several events including Tosh's school's Monster Mash last Friday):

A handsome Jedi (Tosh's hair makes any costume better, I've decided):

Jedi vs Ninja:

Liv dressed as Tiana (light green dress and little plastic princess high heels) for the two Halloween parties we went to. I was so excited that she was willing to dress as a cheerleader tonight! So much more comfortable to be in sneakers, leggings, and long sleeves for trick or treating. She looked adorable too:

Happy Halloween!

Rob and I were asked to provide about 20 minutes of entertainment for a mother/daughter "Mad Hatter" dinner party (for Activity Days). It fell at the same night/time as one of Rob's soccer games. When I got back to the organizer (a friend old enough to be my mother) to tell her we wouldn't be able to do it, she said something like, "Oh Tamsen, you are great and don't need Rob to sing with you. Don't sell yourself short!" It was actually pretty funny and sounded like something my mom would tell me. Truthfully, the thought of singing alone (without Rob) is very stressful. I can't imagine finding background music, or even sheet music for a pianist?? No harmonies? No 'funny guy' that I can count on to entertain the crowd? Actually having to prepare in advance instead of the night (or hour) before? Gah!! I realize that I've gotten very spoiled over the years; it's pretty great (and convenient!) being married to such a talented guy.

This whole topic came up when we were over to dinner at some friends' house (both play on Rob's co-ed team), and the wife said, "Can I make a suggestion? Why doesn't Rob play just the first half of the game and then go sing with you?" I was thankful for her suggestion and joked with Rob saying, "Yes, how stressed out do you want me to be this week?" So Rob, the good man that he is, agreed to miss half of his game to support his wife that is very much a 'pleaser' (didn't want to bail on my friend) as well as a 'stresser' (didn't want to sing alone).

The husband of my friend was there taking photos during the activity (our activity day leaders are a DREAM team! Everything was so well planned and pretty awesome). He brought some copies by the other night and I snapped photos of the photos to share:

This photo is not at all flattering of me (I look seriously geeky), but it certainly shows that my cute husband still makes me laugh!

Thanks for singing with me, Rob. I know that the memories of times we've sung together will be some of my most treasured memories when we're old(er) and gray(er).

We were lucky to have our good friends, the Haynies, come down to visit the second week of our fall break. We tried to take full advantage of the last days it would be warm enough to swim for the year:

Liv was Abbi's shadow pretty much the entire week. I think both of these cuties enjoyed having another girl around.

The friend I walk with suggested that we go to "Organ Stop Pizza" for dinner. The pizza was good (thin crust and not greasy at all), and the entertainment was pretty awesome. Rob was so impressed with the organist on this amazing Wurlitzer--it was connected to so many instruments all over the room. We'd recommend going again with any of our family that is interested. Our kids loved making requests and listening to all sorts of things from "Star Wars" to "Mary Poppins." It was a fun night! This first shot is cute of Abbi watching bubbles fall from the ceiling:

I caught Liv taking a bite of pizza (love that her eyes are closed):

We stopped to walk around the Mesa Temple before heading home:

The kids are always sad when it's time to say goodbye. Burke and Zac have been BFs for eight years now!

Abbi and Hewitt --playing less together now as they are getting older and more awkward :/. Still hoping they may get married some day.

Carter and Tosh (Tosh introduced Carter as his 'cousin' when he saw some friends at the park!)

Liv and Gavin. How are they both four already?!

Sunny shot of the gang:

Silly shot:

Liv still LOVES to get into my things and had fun wearing my wedding slip around on Sunday afternoon. Just practicing for the big day, I guess:

The kids built a big fort in our playroom (Liv had knocked some of it down before I got this photo). I suppose she planned on permanently moving in, since she brought every single clothing item into the playroom! I guess she knew I needed some motivation to put some of the summer things away...