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!

Lindsey's Baby Boy Shower

I got to go see Lindsey's beutiful home, see her very cute and pregnant at her shower on Saturday. She is so sweet, and very cute pregnant. I love her mom, sister, and grandma who are always so nice when I get to see them. The food was amazing, I think Kelsey's truffles were the big hit. I certainly had to have at least 3. YUM Kelsey, thanks for all the hard work! Morgan was so excited to get to come see Avery and be at the shower, she felt like such a big girl. Brooklyn crawled around on the floor finding crumbs to taste. Good thing Lindsey's house is nice and clean. I hadn't seen Anna since finding out she was pregnant so it was fun to see that she also has started to show a tiny bit.

Brooklyn is officially sitting up, and able to push herself up to a sitting position from on her tummy. Morgan is loving her preschool and able to read most any 3-letter words, and Tyler is CRAZY about cars/motorcycles/Trucks and any vehicle in general. I am so in love with these 3 little people, I can't even express it! They are the humor in my life that bring me more Joy than I could ever hope for.

Whirlwind trip to Utah to see baby Sawyer

So first of all, sorry for the delay in an update. I just got called to be the Cub committee chair over two wards in our scouting program. It is a great calling but there's so much to do and learn and lots and lots of meetings. A couple of weeks ago, Morgan, me, and Brooklyn got to stow-away in Gma and Gpa's car for a trip to Utah to visit Jamie and Brody, and see little Sawyer be blessed. He was such a little ANGEL! It was really special to get to hear Brody give such a beutiful blessing and feel his tender emotions while doing so. Nice job Brody, we love you! We also got to have 1 day with Gma and Gpa Braden, see Uncle Adam the first time since his return home from Tiwan, go to Tanner's first football game, and have a few hours with Mary and little Haley! It was a BLAST, but exhausting. Hope you enjoy the slide show and movie clips of our fun 3 day road trip

Beach Day with the Bracken's

Chrystal and her Kids have been here since last Thursday, and I was so sad to see them leave today. We mostly had fun just "BE-ing." We had lots of fun girl chats, a couple chick flick nights, and lots of kiddie play. Of all that we did together, Beach Day was I think my favorite. Morgan and Clarissa had so much fun jumping in the water, Brenna warmed up to it the 2nd half of the day, and can you guess?? Yes, Tyler digs digs digs. Morgan was more brave that day than she has been all summer going once a week. I think her swimming lessons got her more confident in water- that now I have to worry about her being too brave. I am waiting for more pictures to come from Chrystal's camera (she has the best one) and will be sending me a copy of all of her cute pictures. I will add them to this slide show when I get them. I didn't get any pictures of little sweetie-pie Brenna on my camera- but will add them soon.

Morgan's Swimming Lessons

Morgan has been really enjoying her swimming lessons with my freind and neighbor 'Miss Becky' She has gotten really brave this past week and has done everything Miss Becky has challenged her to do such as swim across the pool with her head down, float on her back, and a trick she came up with on her own, the dead man's fall.

A fun week with Jamilyn

Although Jamilyn and I spent a lot of time together this past week, I realize she and I were both hiding from the camera and have no pictures of us together. LOL! But we are both proud of our cute kids, so here are a few snapshots of some of the cute pictures we captured while we hung out.

Crowder Kids August 2008

Saturday we gathered as a family to have all the Crowder grandkids have their pictures taken together. It turned out to be quite the fiasco of tears, tantrums, and melt downs on all fronts. We got lucky that Morgan, Tyler, and Brooklyn were happy just long enough for us to catch it on camera. But as you can see there was NO hope for the group picture. Believe it or not this was the best one of the batch. Pretty funny memory. We were cracking up with laughter at each other, all trying to control our kids emotions at nap time, lunch time, and a long wait prior to our appointment. There truly was no hope for happy kids.

Little Einstein Theme Song Singers

Little Einsteins has become the #1 morning show accompanied by breakfast. Tyler and Morgan must sing along every word every time. If you listen closely you can hear Tyler attempt to say all the words.

Meet Little Sawyer Carlson

We have been counting down the days and finally she has arrived. Jamilyn is here to introduce her little PRIZE! Sawyer Shea Carlson. He is our newest cousin, nephew, and cuddle bug. He is all Smiles this week. He must like us here in California. I guess the only solution is he can't leave. No way can we let him go back to Utah! Just kidding Brody, you just better be sure he comes to visit again soon. We have had super fun together going to Morgan's swim lessons, the Hemet Aquatic Playground, and just chill'n. Jamie means 'FUN' at our house. When they here Jamie is coming Morgan, Tyler, Grandma, and me too get very excited. Hooray for Fun!