epic:

Fall.....gone!?!?

I can't belive another season has come and gone.

And I can remember what all happened...thanks to my photo journalist obsessive compulsive tendencies!

I created this epic blog entry to make up for LOST time! and it took LOTS of time!

And now, I introduce you to all of the things that were merely blogged in my brain for the past 3 months.

dunduhtidun..... 

 Top 20 + 1 FALL Favorites!

(in no specific order....featuring the letter F!)

 Flying!

Pillows....re-purposed!

Perfect indoor fun. 

 Fantastic music!

Dallin sure enjoyed himself.

I mainly enjoy the ecstatic look on his face!

Pot lids make a REALLY loud noise!

What fun.

 Fire Drill!

I just had to document this frequent occurrence. FORTUNATELY, our house is equipped with VERY sensitive fire alarms. They go off almost as often as our phone rings. One day I realized that the eardrum piercing sound didn't even phase the kids! So I conjured up a plan. Now, whenever it blares we all run outside for a family fire drill! And since we're sooo efficient around here, we have a fire drill more than once a week. I feel like an overachiever for once! ;)

 FINALLY FINISHED!

We completed our backyard landscaping 1 year after beginning....3 years after moving in to our house.

What a good feeling!
"Smile Patrick!!!"
No thank you. this is HEAVY!!!
Oh.. :)

Funny Fake Faces!

Lately when I take pics of Anna she has been making me laugh. She has this squinty eyed smile...then I tell her, open your eyes! her eyes open wide, her eyeballs circle round and her mouth opens wide too. so cute! ;)my favorite is the one at the top.

 Falling Asleep.....

Following after his big sisters example!
His lunch looks TASTEY HUH!?! What!? You don't like pulverized teriyaki chicken and vegis?? It's daddy's specialty! He has a special affinity towards the food processor!

 Free Flowers

Fresh Free Flowers make me happy!
Dumpster digging (I don't actually "dive" in...is a cheap thrill!  (for me at least!):)

Fresh air! 

I love open window weather and perfect temperatures to hang out in the back yard and stare at the sky with happy little kids, play with fire and read bedtime stories alfresco!!!!

Family Treasure Hunting...

A Saturday morning little hike turned into a long mountain treck aound the hills near our house as we searched in vain for some "treasure" aka a non existent geo-cache. Note to self... bring a sack lunch...just in case!

 

Friday "field" trip!
We headed up to the cabin in search of fall colored leaves not too far from home up at Mt. Charleston! We hung out, did a math lesson, napped and hikes. On our excursion, we found a monarch caterpillar, met a dead bird and spoke about the circle of life, read about native animals and learned of a U-2 spy plane that crashed on Mt. Charleston in 1955. Homeschool hours for the day...P.E., Science, Math, History, Reading: check!

Fixing a flat!

Because tires pop when your husband rams into a curb....even on Sunday! Justin thought it was better than watching a movie! And that is saying a lot!

Feeling pumpkin goo....

and carving too!

....I LOVE the smell of fresh pumpkin!

I also love kid designed carved pumpkins.

Freaky kids and freaky foliage! 

2 things...

These pics of my kids just make me laugh!

Dallin w/ crazy hair, Anna and her mouth, and Justin dressed up in way too big camo w/ a belt on his head!

AND

THE FREAKY CRAZY SWEET POTATO PLANT THAT TOOK OVER THE WORLD! 

o.k.....so it wasn't the world, just our lil' garden!

Patrick planted a random sprouting sweet potato from our kitchen pantry just for the heck of it at the end of summer and look what is grew into!!! A wild forest! Can you find Justin???

 Fruits of Labor.

Lots of labor....just a bit of fruits. :)

Our first garden was "a LEARNING experience." We got about 7 tomatoes, a hand full of microscopic grapes, a pile of peppers/jalapenos, onions and a bunch of mint.......AND  a pile of sweet potatoes we grew accidentally! I was amazed when I pulled up the crazy vines to find almost 8lbs of sweet potatoes! ;) Next year, we're growing sweet potatoes on purpose! There's also a picture of my fun gardening neighbor Laura.

F-i-n-g-e-r Stretching....

Justin Can read!!!!

and Dallin is aspiring. ;)

I taught him to use his fingers to tell the difference between b and d.

(b is before d in the word bed!)

The amazing K-12 curriculum did the rest!

We're having a good time...and Anna and Dallin have created a tag team in order to more rapidly dismantle the house!

We're all about unity here!

 Fun at Springs Preserve! 

...and free style stroller riding.

We finally went and checked it out. We only went 2 hours before dark so we missed the park I've always heard about. Next time. ;) Lots of great education mixed in with a bit of global warming nonsense accompanied with fun little things for the kids to do.

Falling down!?!?

More than leaves fall down around these parts!

Fancy skating... 

and more falling down! 

Justin's first ice skating abilities amazed me!

Anna could barely stand up!

When I got my skates on, Dallin did quite well riding in the stroller. Fun times. :)

Filled!

Every time General Conference rolls around, I am always excited to hear what the Prophet and leaders have to say....Now that there are 3 kids around, getting everyone to stay put and excited it more of a challenge. Whoever thought of the brilliant idea to watch it from a tent as did the people in King Benjamin's time was brilliant! We love the tent tradition! I'm not so sure  Anna loved tent ENTRAPMENT however. I had to disguise my laughter while escorting Justin to thinking time. It was just hilarious to see her flailing around in that window flap! Sooo sad! And funny too. :)

Feasting.....

(well, sort-of....in a round about sort of way)

...and loosing over 30 lbs. of fat; and feeling fantastic! 

It's a bit embarrassing to put not so flattering fat pics on here, but whatever, I'm too excited not to share with all of you dear people and blog stalkers!

Hooray!

Fantasy becomes a reality!

Justin is five pulling his own weight!. Kind of. I remember fantasizing about the day when I had older kids that could REALLY do chores! Well, the time has come and I am THRILLED. Thrilled to hear the clanking of dishes ever morning as I awake in the morning! Thrilled to not have to empty the dishwasher...

Funny thing is, he is thrilled too. He loves his job! And if for some reason he's not up to it there's always the line: No problem, I feed you breakfast when your job is done. :)

HAVE AHAPPY BOXING DAY!

J/K ;) I have no clue what boxing day is. I just was it listed on my calendar.