Halloween

The kids were very specific with their costumes this year. They wanted to be the characters from a new Disney Channel cartoon called, Jake and the Neverland Pirates. It's super cute, and features 2 boys and girl. They do share a striking resemblance to my children, and yes, they think they are them. My mom helped me whip up costumes for them. They LOVED it!

It's Jake, Izzy, and little Cubby.
We went trick or treating with a bunch of friends around our neighborhood. The kids had a full day of parties and activities. It was a great Holiday!
Ryan was a little disappointing because he doesn't really care for candy. He was the most excited when one house gave out pretzels! He came running out shouting to me that he got pretzels. He did like some suckers and M&M's but the rest he could care less about. Jayne loved it all, and was continually leaving a trail of pixie dust (ie. glitter) everywhere she went. We couldn't figure it out. I thought the sidewalk had sparkles in it because everywhere we went it was sparkling. Jason finally figured out it was Jayne. Lovely. Glitter across the entire neighborhood.
And Kyle was along for the ride :-) A Happy Halloween indeed.

October Happenings

We did so much in October! We had so much fun. Here's some highlights...

We went to a pumpkin patch. We rode rides, looked at animals, and got a pumpkin.

Jayne was asked to be in a photo shoot for a website. I'll put up a link once it goes live. It's for a new company that friends of ours are starting. She LOVED getting to pose for pictures for 45 minutes straight :-)

We got to see a bunch of cousins/extended family. We had so much fun when Jason's brother's family and parents came to town. We all got together several times to celebrate all the October birthday's in the family and enjoy some time together.

I took Ryan (and Kyle) on his first Preschool Field Trip. We went to a real working farm/pumpkin patch. He LOVED it!

Ryan's Class

Ryan picking vegetables. Then he got to pick his own pumpkin!

Kyle going on a run with Mommy. (It was crazy to be back down to 1 kid in the jogger. It felt so light! We went during the short time that Ryan was in Preschool and the baby wasn't taking a nap.)

Super fun birthday dinner with a bunch of my girl friends!

Kyle graduated to the next size up tub. Unfortunately, he tries to lay down in it so I have to help keep him propped up, but he's getting the hang of it.

Kyle ready for church. I love his mohawk.

Carving pumpkins with Dad! This year, Jayne loved pulling the "guts" out. Ryan wouldn't touch it. We'll see if he grows out of that like Jayne did.

Awesome pumpkins!

Ryan as Buzz lightyear for his Halloween party at school and a friends party on Halloween.

Tiffany at the Temple

I had the awesome privilege to go with Tiffany and her husband Aaron when they went through the temple last weekend. It was such a special day! I felt so lucky to be there.

Kyle 6 and a half months

I can't believe 6 months have come and gone already since this little guy came into our life. He is so adorable! I love kissing his big round cheeks and making him laugh! At 6.5 months....

Kyle HATES baby food. He gags and throws up. Not sure what I'm going to do about this yet. I've tried everything.

Kyle loves to be held. All day. When my arms are too tired to hold him anymore, he lives in the Bjorn.

Kyle now loves to roll around the floor and play with toys. He really wants to crawl and I think we're close to his army man crawl starting.

He absolutely LOVES his big brother and sister! And who wouldn't. They spoil him and absolutely love him to pieces. (Ryan did this all on his own, hence the lined up books. I was getting dressed so Ryan was entertaining him while I got a shower. I ran to get my camera and caught the moment when I discovered them. I love these moments)

Saturday's- USC and Soccer

The college football season is upon us and as everyone knows, we were in full USC regalia. The opening weekend/game was a holiday at our house. Jason had 3 TV's going, and a big BBQ with lots of friends to enjoy the day. The kids couldn't wait to get their USC clothes on and get our flag hung to start our day.

My boys!

Ryan kept saying all day, "This is the best day ever!" Watching football with his dad, and getting to eat pizza, hot dogs, and BBQ chips, he truly was in heaven.
The other thing we're doing every Saturday for a while is soccer! Ryan is playing for his first year. It's called mini-kickers. And Jayne is playing with all of her friends again on a team called Purple Power!

Ryan's first week didn't go quite as well as we'd hoped. He got frustrated he couldn't play like a British soccer pro and had a minor meltdown (while most of the other kids where running around without even kicking the ball). I'm sure he'll learn to turn and pass the ball soon, in the mean time we're just hoping he'll mellow enough to just have fun. I think that's going to be our motto with him. (He's definitely his father's son. His intensity's going to be great when he's 16. Not so great when he's 3)

He wasn't in the mood to pose for pictures so maybe next week. This game actually got called short due to lightning in the area. (which is crazy for southern CA)

Jayne, our innate cheerleader, had so much fun! and did such a great job!! We were so excited for her. It's going to be a fun season watching her improve every week.

But regardless of everything, Dad splurged on Krispie Kreme Donuts to celebrate our first soccer weekend, so all was well!

I have a feeling their going to want these every weekend after soccer. :-) (and yes, Ryan was sad because his hands were dirty. He's definitely my son)

First Day of School & Preschool

Jayne started 1st grade this year, which means she's in school all day! It is so crazy. I miss her terribly. She is so fun and sweet, the boys and I are sad when she's gone so much. (Don't you just love her purple'ish sparkly converse tennis shoes. So very Jayne)

She was selected to be in a 1st/2nd Grade combo class. I hear this is a good thing and she will have many opportunities to excel. She also got the best teacher for 1st grade so we are really happy.

Jayne is thrilled to have one of her best friends Olivia in class with her again this year. The teacher said sit anywhere so of course Jayne runs in and get the center seat on the front row and saved the two next her for her buddies. It's going to be a great year!

Ryan got to start preschool! It's 2 days a week for just 2 hr. 45 min. but it's a great first step for him. He is so social and active that he loves having activities and places to go. He calls it his "House School" because it's at someone's house and not at Jayne's school, which is where he thought he was going at first. He insists on having a backpack and bringing a lunch box with snack (just like Jayne) so he can eat it on the way home from preschool. He loves it!

Kyle is a great sport! He spends a lot of time in this carrier getting toted back and forth from all of Jayne and Ryan's activities and schools. He's such a happy guy!

Summer Lemonade Stand & Trip to Grandma's

Right before we left on our trip to Montana, the kids and I got to visit my parents house for a few days. It's always fun. Jayne and Ryan wanted to have a lemonade stand as one of our summer activities. I told them they could do this, but only at Grandma's house on the family property. We called cousin Brooklynn over for reinforcements and got to work. My mom had the idea and supplies to make their stand. I had a really awesome recipe for the lemonade. The girls went and picked fresh lemon's from Great Grandma Dover's tree, and made choc. chip cookies to go with it. I called/emailed everyone on "the hill" to come by and see the kids. They had SOOOOO much fun! And made quite a bit too (Thank you family!). I'm sure they'll want to do this every summer now since it was such a hit!

Getting the Stand Ready

In Business

Ryan never left their side all afternoon. He was in heaven, especially when aunts and uncles would keep buying him cookies and drinks :-)

Before school started Jayne got to spend a little time at my parent's house playing. She had so much fun with my mom (we might have to give this tradition a name, like Grandma Camp). They had a fancy tea party, sewed a beautiful dress, made cookies, got their nails done, Jayne finished another doll blanket on her sewing machine, and they wanted to go to the pier and get ice cream at Ruby's. So much fun! Thanks mom and dad!!

The boys and I got to join in the last day fun and get ice cream on the pier. I can't wait till the boys get to go to grandpa's camp and learn to surf and go play golf together.

Here's Jayne with her fancy nails (that was her first time getting them done at a nail salon!) and her new Hawaiin dress headed out to dinner.