Happy Halloween

Our ward Trunk-or-Treat was yesterday. Tyler and Morgan were so excited they could hardly stand it. I made the mistake of telling them we were going that day, and so they bugged and nagged, and talked about it all day. Morgan had to copy her cousin Clarissa, and be a cheerleader this year. She learned a couple funny cheers and had fun doing them for her friends, and Grandma and Grandpa. I found the COOLEST frog costume for Tyler, and Brooklyn is cute in anything, so she wasn't too hard. We had a lot of fun, especially now since both Tyler and Morgan "get it!" Tyler was of course thrilled with the first 2 candy bars he got and could have called it a night, but since I was insistent he get some loot so mom could have some too, we made sure he made a few rounds. Tyler's favorite activity was the Pumpkin bowling. I didn't get any pictures because I was in line with Tyler, but Jared had fun too taking on the challenge of the Bishop and the Elder's Quorum President in a doughnut eating contest. He would have won had his doughnut not fell, but he was a close 2nd Place! Amongst our move, I'm not sure how we are going to pull off trick-or-treating around the neighborhood this Friday, but Morgan and Tyler are definitely certain they are going to do it!

GO JAZZ..... LAKERS STINK!

So Jared has personally taken it upon himself to teach our children " GO JAZZ.... LAKERS STINK!" I on the other hand try to stay politically correct being that we LIVE in in CA to always cheer for the Lakers and like both teams, but if the Lakers play the Jazz. I am a Jazz fan. Sorry Lakers- Koby you still are extra extra good! Jared and I fell in love during b-ball season. It was one of our favorite past times to watch the Jazz games, eat 2 lg. Pizzas, and a box of hot wings! Yum. Yes I held my own and gained like 15 lbs during this time. Well he's passed this on to our kids and now my kids randomly will come marching around the house chanting "GO JAZZ... LAKERS STINK!" Men! So competitive that they have to bring their children into it. But it makes for fun around the house and rally the troops for all of you Fans out there. GO JAZZ!

Joy School Pumpkin Patch

Thursday, Morgan's Joy School group invited siblings and mommies to come to the Pumpkin Patch with her class. We found the coolest place called Pulitzer Farms out in wine country that has a real farm, farm animals, pig racing, and a great pumpkin patch. We got to pet all the animals, learn about them, go in a corn maze, and pick our favorite pumpkins. It was a HIT! I put tyler in a pair of tan overalls which was my attempt to dress the part, to fit in with all the farmers we'd get to meet. He liked that he had pants on like Farmer Ben. I however thought he looked like a hillbilly and have decided that I am officially NOT a fan of overalls. I think I wore a pair back in the early 90's when it was cool to wear them and one strap hanging down! Did any of you do the same and feel as "COOL" as I did? I look back and just shake my head, SERIOUSLY - what was I thinking! But anyway, back to the pumpkin patch, Tyler's favorite part was the train, he went back to it like 3 or 4 times. Morgan loved the corn maze! She was the leader most of the way through it. I think we got stuck in every dead end the maze provided. Brooklyn was taken with all the animals, but would scream everytime I tried to put her down. This was the first time ever, I think she's seen a live animal up close, and was not sure of her safety. After the maze we got to see the pigs race and push volleyballs around the pen, then walk by the HUGE sunflowers. After that we had a snack at the picnic table and picked out our favorite pumpkins. It was a fun day. It has now become our official tradition to visit at least 1 pumpkin patch every October. We took Morgan since she was 1 yr old, and ever since her 2nd visit, it has been something she really looks forward to. Its so fun to now see Tyler's excitment. What was once so fun to do with one child, is even now more fun and enjoyable to make memories with the both of them and see Brooklyn now coming up in the ranks. We are looking forward to going to a 2nd one this week for Family night so daddy can join in the fun this next time around.

VOTE YES on PROP 8 and Get INVOLVED for 4 wks

Last night Jared and I attended a Proposition 8 Broadcast from the General Authorities. It was overwhelmingly certain that this issue on Prop 8 is more important and more influencial on our families and values than most of you probably realize. The ripple effect of this not passing will have very negative reprocussions that will influence our ability to protect and teach the values we so strongly believe in, to our children. I want to reach out and challenge each of you to please take an active role to promote what we believe and how protecting marriage will maintain the core of our society and God's plan of happiness. In the broadcast they asked members within California to get involved as best you can to promote, stand-up, and teach about this to all you can. They asked each of us to dedicate 4 hours a week to this through organized methods for the next 4 weeks. This is our time to show our faith and to do the things the lord has asked of us. Many times I think we can forget that just going to church, staying within our little member community, and living the gospel is not always enough. What is needed is a voice- a loving, respectful, freindly informed person, reaching out to those who are indiferrent or un-knowing of what we believe and the values that drive our beliefs, and the positive influence those beliefs will have if they join us in our cause can help promote and protect that which is good and right.

Elder Oaks stated "This is much bigger than just a question of whether or not society should be more tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle. Over past years we have seen unrelenting pressure from advocates of that lifestyle to accept as normal what is not normal, and to characterize those who disagree as narrow-minded, bigoted and unreasonable. Such advocates are quick to demand freedom of speech and thought for themselves, but equally quick to criticize those with a different view and, if possible, to silence them by applying labels like “homophobic.” In at least one country where homosexual activists have won major concessions, we have even seen a church pastor threatened with prison for preaching from the pulpit that homosexual behavior is sinful. Given these trends, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must take a stand on doctrine and principle. This is more than a social issue — ultimately it may be a test of our most basic religious freedoms to teach what we know our Father in Heaven wants us to teach. "

I invite you all to stand with me, in California or not, make a difficult sacrifice this month, and dedicate 4 hours a week to help teach about Prop 8 to your friends, communities, and be brave enough to speak out in the grocery line, or in stores you go to, inviting kind friendly discussions with strangers about family, getting involved and these values, and ask them for a YES vote on PROP 8. Go to http://www.protectmarriage.com/ to find ways you can contribute. Best of Luck to you all.

Visit http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/ to watch a few clips and highlights from the bretheren on Prop 8.

OUCH!

So as you can see from Morgan's expression, she was NOT a happy girl this morning. She fell while I was working-out on the treadmill and her head hit the end of the treadmill and her hair caught around the wheel, basically scalping a small section of her head. OUCH!
Morgan's bald spot. It is not a glare or a bright light, this is her whole bald spot. I can luckily still hide it pretty well in styling her hair.
Brooklyn is LOVING trying big girl food! Especially the sweets, just like mommy. her favorite is to soggy up a cookie and dissolve it in her mouth. This is her 1st cookie moment. YUM!
last night Brooklyn pulled herself up to the pool and walked along the side, and in a split second reached in to touch the water and ...... SPLASH! in she goes. Here is Morgan and Tyler reaching in to help her out. I forget what a busy moving baby is like now that she's mobile, I can't turn my head for a second.
Brooklyn on the go.

Exercise woes!

Last Resort to get the final 5 minutes in of my work-out.

Tyler mad at me for not helping him move his car.
Brooklyn crying because she can't reach me on the treadmill.

Brooklyn making her way on her own to get to me on the treadmill

I now fully understand why mom's either exercise at the gym or just accept the baby fat they've gained because there are way too many days that working out is a JOKE! Things always start out happy and fine, each child entertaining themselves as I start my daily work-out, but never fails the chain reaction begins usually about 10 minutes into it once I get my heart rate going. One child gets going then the next one is crying, and then comes the yelling and arguing between Morgan and Tyler. Then I ask why oh why do I try. So I write to you bloggers out there asking does anyone else go through this but still persist? Still keep pushing through the screaming and crying and fighting? Just so you can drop a pound or two or de-stress? I ask you does it de-stress you? Or does it cause more stress? Some days I'm not quite sure. But in the end I must say to you all YES! I keep trying, keep going, keep persisting. I know that having a healthy me, makes me happy and feel better about myself. The better I feel about me the better I can be to them, and the better I can be to them, the happier they are overall..... even if it means an awful 30 minutes while mommy gets in her workout!