Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year that was enjoyed by all...this is the first year that everyone has enjoyed the festivities. It started out with the parade at Canyonview--this seems to be one of the best attended school activities of the year and it was fun to see all the kids show off their costumes. Jax was the "crypt keeper" and scotty was a ninja, and cassie went in plain clothes, because even getting those on was a battle!

We also got the cutest cookies that I have ever seen. (thanks meagan!) they were gone in about two seconds because they were also very tasty.

Armando got really creative this year and set up our front porch like a spooky cave. It was awesome! I love that he gets into the spirit of a holiday (he always does the Christmas lights etc.) because I don't think I would ever get around to it even though I think that it is so fun. So our front cave was complete with orange lights, a skeleton, cobwebs, and a jack-o-lantern. Cassie was excited to learn about trick-or-treating. The first house we went to she just walked right on in. Then she figured out that all she had to do was stick out her hand and they would give her candy--a dream come true for her! She tried her hardest to run between houses and keep up with the boys. After all the candy we headed over to our neighbor Dave's house ( Jackson's opinion is "Dave is practically my favorite old guy.") for a Halloween feast. All in all it was a great night!

Timp Cave

On Saturday we took an outing to Timp Cave--something that I've been wanting to do for a long time, but hadn't gotten around to. It was so awesome! The kids (and adults) loved it! I had been a little wary because I remembered the hike be really long. Good news was that it wasn't that long, even though I had to try to keep up with Jax and Scotty who seem to be of the mountain goat variety. Jess and Dan joined us for the excursion and taught us how to "work" the switchbacks.

The formations inside the cave were very cool. The tour actually takes about 45 min, so you get a lot of time to really feel like an explorer. Apparently you can do a more serious spelunking tour with ropes and getting dirty if you are of 14--I think that we will need to plan an adult trip for next summer because I would love to do more exploring. Jax and Scotty informed me that they would be old enough in 8 more years, so that trip we be planned too!

We were glad that Armando got home from work in time to go (always a gamble on a Saturday). He had never been to the cave before and it was fun to get in a family outing-and to have someone help carry Cass! Cassie got praise from the tour guide for being the best two-year old he'd had in the cave! She loved it and insisted on walking through most of the cave all by herself. I had to tell her that "mommy needs help" to get her to hold my hand on some of the sketchy parts.

Cool stuff. We're game to go next year if anyone wants to join us!

Have a great day!!!

School is in full swing and the kids are absolutely loving it! I am so excited for them--it is so fun to watch and help them learn. I never used to like homework, but I love to watch my kids do it! Every evening we have them sit at the kitchen table while I make dinner. That way I can answer questions without hovering too much.
Scotty loves to get his reading books and do his worksheets. Today he surprised me by getting Jackson's math worksheet and doing it fairly quickly. I checked it for him and he had only missed one! I think that he really likes a challenge and loves to work! What great qualities to have, we hope that he keeps it up!
Jax gets a little distracted with his homework--he usually tries to help Scotty or Cassie with their projects instead. He is awesome at his spelling and his math facts. The best development thus far is that he now loves to read! He has discovered Beverly Cleary books and Captain Underpants and will happily read for an hour at a time now! He is also very willing to read to Cassie and Scotty which just melts my heart--what a great brother!
Cassie will always find a project for herself at the table with the boys. She loves to "color" and loves to organize cards. Our kitchen table has drawers in it and Cass has them all full of fun things that she can pull out and line up. It's great to have these little munchkins growing and becoming wonderful little people in the house!

Fun in the Sun...freezing water...

or maybe i'm the only wimp who thought it was cold! here it is..."ode to rosanne's ski-boat" with an official picture. let me say that i am so impressed with rosannes boating prowess--this trip was done minus husbands (ok, she did recruit her brother! ) and we all had a great time with no mis-haps! (rosanne, you are so competent!) I almost froze my rear off because i can't waterski to save my life apparently, but the kids all tubed and enjoyed the boat ride! cassie was so impressed with the smoothe sailing that she fell asleep sitting up in the boat and then...
continued her nap on the rocky beach! she stayed asleep while i lifted her up, jumped off the boat into the water, then carried her to the blanket and slid a wetsuit under her head! (i was totally amazed!) thanks rosanne! you rock!

Happy Birthday Scotty!

Scotty turned six this week and got to celebrate with the "utah boy cousins". My sister and brother that live here only have boys, so we had quite the party with 8 boy cousins! (cassie had to hold her own, but no one fought her for the pink bowl!)
Grandma and Grandpa were here visting too and it was great to be able to have such a big family party. Scotty got spoiled with lots of fun presents and had an absolute blast! I've been enjoying the fact that he loves to use his new presents...spirograph (we've caught armando playing with it too), blendy-pens (which are way cool), caps and hand-cuffs (what was i thinking?), legos and a plane! All week he has been sitting at the table and creating new things!what more could a six-year-old (or a mom) want?
Scotty you are tons of fun to have in our family! We love you!

Hangin' with the fam...

Our favorite evening activity lately is hanging out on our front porch and longboarding through the neighborhood. We have a perfect street, with just enough pitch to make it exciting, but not enough to quite hit the point of "scary". Few cars and nice neighbors (who sometimes join us) make it a great trip around the block. (except for the one mean lady on Norwood who likes to tell us to get out of the street--whatever!) Scotty talked Armando into getting him his very own longboard for his birthday, which is still a couple of weeks away. Actually, I don't think Scotty needed to be very persuasive at all, and I have to admit that it is fun to all be able to go together. Armando did tell me that it probably wasn't very safe for me to push Cassie in the stroller while I was on my skateboard, so one of us is now on stroller duty. Cassie has gotten brave a few times and has me hold her hands while she stands on the board and gets pulled along! Its a ton of fun--stop by and join us!

I need to dedicate some time to my second grader, Jax. He is getting big and responsible and capable and I am totally amazed by him! Let me share a few of his comments from the last week. First, I asked him how his day was when he came home from school. The reply "It was so great. It just really was. I really enjoyed myself today." Picture him at saying this with a little half-grin and an air of amazement in his voice. A few days later I asked what he would like for dinner. The reply: "Whatever you want. It doesn't have to be anything fancy for me...I'd be ok with cereal." He was helping Armando with yardwork at the time and said this all with a glance over his shoulder as he continued working. He is quite the little man and I love his personality!
And my Scotty, the longboarding fiend! He is loving school, thrilled to be doing homework, and loves to flash me the "hang loose" sign along with a 'sweet' whenever he gets the chance. He did a report on Johnny Appleseed this week and is starting to be a good reader. He has also been awesome with Cassie when it is just the two of them home before school. What a little stud!
And Cassie...what can we say? She is a crazy two-year old! I was very impressed this week that she managed to share with another little girl her age! It is fun to have alone time with her while the boys are at school and she is starting to show more personality. Armando got her a barbie this week and she it thrilled! Our friend Mark babysat the kids last week and while they watched cartoons, Cassie apparently jumped off the couch and started clapping and waving during every girlie commercial. Hence, the new need for the barbie. I love having a girl!
And the parting shot...Armando decided that I did need a cool pic, so here it is! Remember it, because it may be the last one for another five years or so!

What a great week!

Scotty is officially a school boy! He had his first day of kindergarten last week and he absolutely loves it. He is in the afternoon class along with about six of our neighbor kids and is making new friends everyday. It is a little lonely with him and Jax gone because Cassie is usually taking her nap at the same time--I almost don't know what to do with myself--almost.
To celebrate the weekend (saturdays are much more special when you are in school) we took a hike with cousins up to Lake Mary. Cassie got to ride in style in the backpack, but the boys were awesome hikers. They practically ran the whole trail with the exception of stopping to test their rock climbing skills on huge boulders. Robyn and I would hear them comment "that was fun, but I need something a little more challenging." At one point Robyn went around the back of a rock to find Jackson hanging by his fingertips with still a body-length left to the ground. She helped him down and he said "huh. I'm not really sure how I got up that."
The boys spent about an hour throwing rocks into the lake from various perches. Since Big Cottonwood is a watershed area, you aren't allowed to swim, so skipping rocks and splashing is the next best activity. The boys weren't disappointed!
I was pleasantly surprised that hiking with Cassie on my back has actually gotten easier. She loved it, although she wasn't all that pleased when she got her pants muddy trying to follow her brothers along the banks.
And this picture just had to be included because she is so darn cute!!!!