A Toy Story Halloween

It is no secret how much I love halloween... It is so much fun to dress and have a reason to be just a bit crazy. Besides when else do you get to be someone else for day right. Here are a few pictures from our halloween.

Isabel's preschool class waiting to start their halloween parade. Love the cute costumes.

Izzy walking at the end of the parade with Tacher Avery. She said she would walk if she got hold a hand. Notice her doll Jesse walking with her. Believe it or not preschool is really helping her be more comfortable with type of stuff.

Izzy with her teacher Ms. Lorie who she adores. She just loves her. Izzy wanted to make sure to get a picture with her. Not sure what is going on with my camera but it was a cool picture nonetheless.

My two adorable kids on Halloween. Love them my little Buzz and Jesse.

The family (Bo Peep, Woody, Buzz and Jesse). And yes I did pink. It was so not me but I would do anything for my little girl even where a girly pink costume for halloween. But I think next year it is my turn to pick.

My Jesse Girl!

BUZZ!

A month of firsts.

Aug/Sept was a business month for with some great firsts for the kids.


AUGUST 22 - Ean's first day in Nursery






What a cute boy. I can't believe how grown up he is getting. We have been counting down the days until nursery. Mostly because he had become so restless with me in Young Womens. He would bounce from one young women to another going through their scripture bags and when he was done with that he would push a chair around the girls as they were listening to the lesson. And no matter what toys I brought to entertain it couldn't compare to the young women.

The first day of nursery was very uneventful. He went into nursery barely even gave me a hug and off he was to play with the toys. The only moment of drama was when Court had to pull him to change a dirty diaper, he was so upset he had to leave.



AUGUST 30 - Isabel's first dance class




Wow! My girl is in dance. Not her first choice. She really wanted to do soccer but they don't have soccer for kids this young that we could find. So asked if she wanted to do dance (tap/ballet) as a second option and she seemed cool with that. The first day was a bit of a challenge. Izzy really struggles sometimes with new things and can be a bit shy. So I sat with her in the circle with all the other kids while the teacher went over the class. However, once they started to do some dance steps she did let me go over and sit with the rest of the parents. And as she danced she woul look over at me and give me a thumbs up as if to say am I ok. So I would return the thumbs up and she would be ok for few minutes before she asked for the thumbs up again. She really seems to be getting the hang of it and really having fun. She has said she wants to continue dance and do soccer as well. Way to be well rounded.



SEPTEMBER 7 - Isabel's first day of preschool







Well we signed up Izzy for Ms. Lorie's preschool. She has been so excited to start school. Making sure she had all the necessary supplies one would need as they off to school. So a week before we went to Walmart and got her pencils, paper, crayons you name it to go in her Jesse backpack she got from grandma and grandpa. Of course, she just totes the backpack back and forth as it really isn't need for preschool. But it makes her feel like a big kid.

Her first day at preschool seem to go a bit better then dance. Mostly due to the fact that the kids got to play while the parents went over the class information. For the first part she seemed to be content playing by herself with all the baby dolls, but by the end of class she was playing with another little girl. When I went over to get her I asked about her friend and found out her name is Isabelle too just spelled different. It is kind of funny that is who she ended up with. I think it might also be that Isabelle is in her dance class as well. But I am not sure Izzy knew that.

Day 2 was a bit more difficult. I think because she knew mommy couldn't go. She kept saying she didn't want to go. I tried to think of all the things I could do to make her feel comfortable and decided that she should decide what to wear. Of course she decided she wanted to dress like a jesse - the cowgirl. And instead of the costume (which she really wanted to wear) I talked her into wear an overall dress with her cowboy boots. And she took Jesse for show and tell. As I dropped her off she give me a big hug and off she went in without any problems. When I cam back to get her she was so excited. So she said all the kids loved Jesse and that she even got to show everyone her cowboy boots. She has been so excited about preschool ever since.

Wow, what a beautiful girl.

Summertime has come and gone.

Below are some of the fun things we were able to do this summer as a family. We did almost everything we had planned. And next year we hope to: take a real camping trip and go on a family vacation to San Diego to see SeaWorld and the ocean.

Cinderella in the park

I took my grandma, mother, and Izzy to see Cinderella at the Murray Park. It was so much fun to have a girls night out with just the 4 of us.

Izzy was so excited that she got to dress up like a princess. During one of the intermissions they allowed the little girls to come up on stage and try on the glass slipper. It was really cute to see Izzy go up on stage. I was quite sure she wasn't going go. But she did, Mommy came of course. She was nervous to stand with the queen and bow. So she just stood there. Then she walked really fast across the stage holding my hand and walked right past the line to try on the slipper. I couldn't get her to go back on stage to get in the line. So we watched as the other little girls tried on the slipper. And she just laughed when she saw how big the shoe was compared to the little girls' feet.

4 generations. Izzy was scared of the nice lady who offered to take our pictures and ended up burying her face in my chest. All in all it was a great night. Izzy had so much fun.

Isabel's faith:

I have to tell this little story. We almost didn't make it to Cinderella that night. It had been raining late that afternoon and I told Izzy if it didn't stop they would have to cancel Cinderella and we won't be able to go. (it was the closing show). So she decided we needed to pray. We said a pray and within about 10 minutes not only did it stop raining but the sky cleared as well. So off to the show we went.

Shortly after the 1st intermission it started the sky started to get really dark and gray. Not long after it started to sprinkle on us. So Izzy said really really loud, "Heavenly Father please stop the rain so we can see Cinderella." and low and behold it stopped raining. It didn't rain again until after we got home for the night.

What a great example she is to me of pure faith. She had no doubt that the Lord would stop the rain. No doubt that he heard her and would answer her. I am so blessed to be her mother.

Lagoon

No summer is complete without a Lagoon trip right? This was especially fun since both kids could go on rides. Here are some of the pictures.

Izzy and Ean riding on the boats one of the only rides I could get both of them to go on together. Most of the time they wanted to be on separate rides.

The annual ride on the train. As you can see Court's parents spent the day with us. It was so nice to have them there with us. And the kids loved sharing the day with them.

On my gosh, the only time Ean fussed at all while at Lagoon was when he wasn't on a ride. He loved it all. Here he is waiting to get on another ride.

My little girl fell in love with rattlesnake rapids. We had this little poncho for her from our trip to Niagara Falls a couple years back so I decided to bring it with just in case she decided to give the rapids a try. She loved it. We went 4 times in a row. And we only stopped because it was time for dinner and the rest of us soaked. I am sure she would have kept going if we would have let her.

Bees game

We took the kids to a Bees game in June. We got seats right in the front of the bullpen. With in the first few minutes of us being there one of the relief pitchers came over and gave Izzy a ball. Being the shy person she is she couldn't even say thank you at first. But after a few minutes she was so excited jumping up and down, waving her ball at the pitchers.

Here she is with her ball and her green glove that she got for Easter. She has really become fascinated with baseball. We hope to get her in T-ball next year.

As for Ean, he was not at excited about baseball. Too slow I think. He spent most of the time climbing on the chairs or eating food. When we left we asked him if he liked baseball and he shook his head no.... Funny kid.

Both of the kids favorite part of the game, was the bee train. We stood in line for 45 minutes so the kids could ride it but where they excited.

Roughin' it NOT!

So Court and I have been wanting to take the kids camping. But we aren't that daring of parents to just head up the canyon. So we decided we would do a trial run. So during Memorial Day weekend we set up the tent in Court's parents backyard. Some would say it is close to real camping. Just over the fence there are horses, cows and a view of the mountains.

Here are the kiddos. Just out of church ready to start the camping fun.

Izzy got a new sleeping bag. Toy Story of course. It works really well for overnighters at grandma and grandpas too. After some yummy dinner it was on to smores.

Ean went to town. He was covered by the time it was done. But he loves them.

Izzy not so much. She ate just the chocolate because the rest was "messy". However, she did get her fair share of sugar as I found her eating the chocolate and marshmallows out of the bag.

After smores and a campfire. We tried to put the kids to bed. With little luck. Ean wasn't going to have any of the sleeping in tent nonsense. For the first hour we played musical sleeping bags. Then after an hour Ean just started yelling. Shortly after Grandpa came out and saved it. Once he was laid in the crib inside he was out like a light. Izzy fared much better.

The next morning, after a yummy breakfast of pancakes on the camping stove, the kids all got to go for a ride on the john deere lawnmower. One of their favorite past times.

That was our only camping trip for this year. Hopefully next year we will actually get out of the city and go camping.

Young Womens

About a week and half ago I was released from Young Womens. I had been in almost 3 full years (this is the longest calling I have ever had). Although being release was hard time for me, I know that the Lord is in charge.

I worked with some amazing women.

Below are a bunch of pictures from our Personal Progress Sleepover in June. Yes, that is my house. We had such a great night.

Girls Camp July 2010.

To my young women: You are all amazing talented young women and it has been my pleasure to serve you. I will never forget the long nights at Youth Conference and girls camp, forking the Faits yard, service scavenger hunt, synchronized swimming, playing crab soccer, the spaghetti dinner auction, rolling dies to get the temple and getting lost, long talks, Arctic Circle shakes, the amazing race and much much more. It has been an amazing 3 years. You have all taught me so much and helped me in my quest to a better person. Thank you for that. I know the Lord has some amazing things in store for each of you. Always be yourself, and know you are loved by many. Including me.

Ean's first haircut

Wow! I can't believe how fast Ean's hair has grown. Isabel was bald until she was almost 2. And here he is16 months and his hair was already down past his eyes. So after much threating from his grandpa to do it for us, we decided we had better get his hair trimmed.

Here is the before picture. Don't you just love the curls. The one thing I wanted to make sure of was that the curls stayed. I would so miss the curls.

The during picture. He was so good for Kim, much better then Izzy. Even now she won't sit still very long and hates having her haircut. Way to go, Ean.

All done. His hair turned out so cute. Thanks Kim. And you can't tell from this picture but he still has a headful of curls in the back. What a cutie.

Jesse Rules the house

Isabel is in love with everything Jesse (Toy Story). It started before Christmas and although we had all expected it to die out it hasn't. Early in the year, she got her very own jesse doll from Grandpa Doug and Grandma Cindy. She takes it pretty much everywhere with it. As she says, "jesse is my best friend."

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Here she is with her new best friend, watching her favorite movie. Of course Toy Story 2. Court and I bought her this hat she had been eyeing after she kept her room clean for a week and helped out around the house. It has become a constant thing too.

Time for bed. Jesse and her hat have to be left on each of their horses. And where does Jesse and Izzy sleep?

You guessed it: together in her bed.

As you may have guessed Toy Story 3 has been a greatly anticipated event. And it was an event. First Izzy decided she needed to be dressed just like Jesse. So the creative decided to kick in. I got an old shirt at DI which I painted (yes painted) to look like the real thing. Then I made chaps from some dollar fabric we got with cowprint on it. The boots she got last year for her birthday.


She loves her new costume. And wants to wear it all the time. The only complaint I got from Izzy is that she wanted her hair red and eyes green. She even informed me that she could paint her eyes.

(back view)

Overall it turned out great, if I do say so myself. Can you believe that I was the one who made that? I can't. And I didn't even get help from Uncle Mikey.

Ean's first birthday

Wow my baby Boy turned one! Feburary 19, 2010 Everyone told me that boys were so much different then girls. And I didnt believe them until I had this little one. He is so much more active then Isabel was at this age (and Izzy has always been very busy). Ean loves to climb and explore. He is completely fearless. He will continue to jump off things even if he got hurt the first time. The first thing he does with any new toy is turn it over and try to figure out how it works.

Ean love the outdoors and would spend all day out there. Anytime he gets fussy it is a sure bet that just walking outside will put him a better mood. He adores his sister and will do whatever she does. And he loves to read. I love my little boy.

Here are some pictures I took for his birthday.

One thing is for certain: Although my life whole lot crazier when Ean came into our family, we also receive a whole lot more joy. I love my little monkey.

Christmas 2009

Here is the christmas pictures.

Each of the kids got to sit on Santa's lap at the Ward Christmas party. I was quite surprised that Izzy was ok with it. When we first arrived she wanted nothing to do with him. But after a few pictures she decided that she wanted to give it a try.

She was a good sport and got his lap just fine but she wanted nothing to do with him after that. She wouldn't look at him talk to him nothing. But it is one step closer then last year.

Ean was fine. Especially since his sister just did it and then of course she was making faces at him as he sat oh old saint nicks lap.

Christmas eve brings cooking making days. Which is one of Izzy's favorite things. She loves making cookies and the whole time we were working on them she kept telling me they were santa and no one else. Even when Daddy asked if she could have some he was told No, only Santa.

Isabel decided she need to have a cookie of her hand. She wanted to me cut it out like you do when you draw around your hand. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to tell what it was if I did it that way (the fingers baking together), so I just cut around it. It turned out way cute.

Of course Izzy was allowed to eat the frosting as she decorated. It is only fair.


Christmas Moring came. here are a few of the gifts the kids got.

Ean got his own Thomas the Train Engine. He loves to ride it and push all the buttons that make noise.

Izzy got her own washer and dryer (with iron) so she can wash her baby doll's clothes. The first couple of days I found her own dirty laundry in it. I had to explain it was only for pretend and she could only wash her dolly's clothes.

Then they both got a Toy Story table and chair set for the family room. Izzy is crazy about Toy Story (more on that later). We had a great christmas.