Photo Fun at Ohiopyle

We had our first family outing since we moved back to PA. Steve has been insanely busy, but he finally had some time so we went to Ohiopyle. The fall is so beautiful here.

Cucumber Falls

Jumping on the rocks across the river. Cody must have done that 100 times.

Oops! Stepped in the water! :)

Don't worry he got over it pretty fast.

A lovely self-portrait.

Watching the kayaks.

For obvious reasons this one is our absolute favorite!

Eating Brownies in Style

Cody and Kylee got the bright idea to put every single hair flower Kylee owns in her hair. It probably made the brownies taste better. She looks like she is really enjoying them.

Spicy Drinks, Good Jobs, and Pretty Hiccups

1. When Cody drinks a carbonated drink his comment afterwards is always, "too spicy." I found myself waiting for it the other day when he asked to try some Ginger Ale and took the first sip. Sure enough, he said it.

2. Cody: "Mom do you know why I don't like missing any school?"

Mom: "No, why?"

Cody: "Because I want to get a job someday."

(Whenever the kids ask dad why he has to go to school when he's stepping out the door he always says it is because he needs to get a job someday.)

3. Ever since we got back in our house Kylee has been attached to her new-found purse filled with fake make-up. She takes it with her in the stroller when we pick-up/drop-off Cody at school, on errands with mom, and all around the house. The other day I noticed that she doesn't call her make-up "make-up." If you listen carefully she says, "hiccups."

A Sweet Surprise Note

Cody left a sweet note on Steve's pillow the other night without showing it to anyone first (which is totally not like Cody - he can't keep a secret!) It was a fun surprise for Steve to find it long after Cody was asleep.

The front side says:
"I love Dad."
"Love Cody"
"Harry Potter" (which is something both of them love - notice his two failed attempts to draw Harry Potter's head with the X over them. Then he finally got the third head the way he wanted it. See the scar on his forehead? Cracks me up.

Below Harry Potter is a picture of red rock formations (something else Cody and Steve love).

Then here is the back.

"Family"

And then he drew each member of our family with our ages.

P.S. We are finally moving back into our place tonight!! We are so excited! It has been a long 5 months away from our wonderful home.

Mustard Man

The other day Kylee put her fingers across the top of her mouth and said,

"Look! I have a mustard!" (mustache)

Sweet Things

A few weeks ago (on my sister Sara's birthday) we had a fun Relief Society activity we called Sweet Things. Sweet Things as in dessert and spending time with friends. We gave each sister a paper lunch sack that contained an ingredient and an index card with a step for making a dessert written on it along with a question.

Then the sisters had to figure out what dessert they were making and find their group. Then they were given a stack of tools (bowls, spoons, mixers) and got to work. Each step was numbered and before you could perform your step on the card you had to ask each person the question on your card. Each person in the group had to answer the question before moving on to the next step (What are 5 things you always have in your purse? Where do you call home? What is your natural hair color? You know, the important stuff).

It was a great activity to get to know each other and enjoy 5 different yummy desserts: oreo bon bons, peach pie, cookie dough ice cream, fruit trifle, and peanut butter rice krispie treats.

Here is my sister Sara at work making the finishing touches on the trifle.

Jolene Gearhart and I supervising the madness and waiting patiently to taste test everything.

And here is the yumminess! Boy was it good.

Ole!

The Spanish-speaking group in our ward put on a fiesta for us a few weeks ago. The food was AMAZING! Please enjoy these pictures showing off our Spanishness.

Adios!

Stinky Bathroom Prayers and Other Stories

1. Cody is getting really good at saying meaningful prayers where he is asking or thanking for specific things all on his own. In his bedtime prayers he has been asking for help to stop his thumb-sucking habit. The other day he came downstairs and said, "Mom! When I went in the bathroom it was really stinky so I said a prayer and it didn't stink anymore!"

2. Cody has been funny lately with his "Just in Time" comments: When Uncle Bob comes out of the bathroom (yes! we are still not in our house yet!), Cody is right there. He'll say, "Just in time, Bob! I was just about to go in there!" OR today Cody was finishing his breakfast before school and I ran upstairs to get ready to go. When I came down a few minutes later he said, "Just in time, Mom! I just finished my breakfast!"

3. Cody got to go to a fun birthday party last Saturday where he got a load of candy! While in the car on the way home he took off his shoes after I asked him not to. When we got home I had to wait for him to put his shoes back on and then as he was getting out of the car he dropped his candy bag and candy went everywhere. I was already not happy with him for taking his shoes off and so he quickly said, "Sorry, mom! I didn't mean to!" He was so sweet about it and I felt bad for being annoyed so I said I was sorry. Then he sweetly said, "It's no matter." (Seriously! And I have no clue where he got that from.)

4. I asked Kylee to help me with something the other day and she said, "I can't! I have to check my email."

5. Cody and I still do "I love you more..." every night. The other night (and just like every night) he asked, "Mom, what do you love me more than?" I said, "I love you more than the giant Frankenstein and spider we saw at Lowe's today." Cody said, "And the big skeleton?" I said, "Oh, I didn't see the skeleton. Cool. OK, what do you love me more than?" Then Cody was about to tell me what he loved me more than but then suddenly stopped and said, "Oh wait! Do you love me more than the skeleton?" I said, "Oh yeah! Of course!" and then he went on...

I'm glad we clarified that one! :)

Cody's First Day of Kindergarten!

Cody's First Day of Kindergarten was today! We had a fun morning eating homemade pancakes and homemade syrup for breakfast, packing lunches and snacks, and Cody getting a blessing from Steve to start off the year right. Then, Kylee and I walked him to school after taking some pictures of him on Sara and Bob's porch (which is ours too until we move in to our house again....ah, the memories this porch will bring some day). I took a picture of Cody's new backpack that he got for his birthday from Grandpa Airplane and Grandma Tammy and captured his do-it-himself haircut all at the same time (see the baldspot above his ear??)

When Kylee and I dropped him off at school in the auditorium with the other kindergarteners he made me so proud. Cody was so brave. When it was time for his class to line up and head out he gave me a quick hug and kiss and then said, "bye!" without any hesitation. It made me so happy to see him that way.

While Cody was gone Kylee put on a smaller backpack we have and wore it around the house for a good part of the day.

And guess what? When Kylee (still wearing a backpack), Steve, and I picked him up 7 hours and 16 minutes later he was still in one piece. I was greeted with a big, happy hug.

He survived. And so did we.

And then of course I drilled him for information...

And here are some of the highlights of his comments about school:

"I sit by a girl named Kylee, but she spells it different than we do."

Cody: "I got to color my name tag." Then I asked, "What did you draw on it?"

Cody: "I totally can't remember."

"I wish I could ride the bus, but I live too close so I have to walk."

"There are a lot of black people in my class, but I don't know any of their names because they are hard to remember." :)

And tomorrow we have the day off and so we're going to the zoo. I love Rosh Hashana! :)

The Nail Polish Incident

While on vacation with my family in California we had what we like to call the Nail Polish Incident. Kylee was sleeping on the floor right next to my side of the bed. And since we had just moved out of our apartment and went straight to the hotel we had all of our stuff in our hotel bedroom...including my nail polish. Normally the nail polish is up high, but this was not a normal situation. Steve and I woke up at 6:30 am in a panic at the smell of nail polish only to find Kylee, her bed, and Roberta ("Berta") her pink rabbit covered in puddles of nail polish. Kylee sweetly said, "Mom, look I did it!" She was so proud that she had painted her nails (and Berta's) that there was no way we could be mad. She thought she was being such a big girl.

The amazing part was that a pillowcase was the only damaged item from the hotel and they didn't charge us for it. Because Berta was so stinky and stained we had to get a new one. But, we couldn't find a replica so we had to go with another animal. Steve and I chose a monkey and crossed our fingers that she would be OK with it.

Well, it was love at first sight. This little pink monkey is lovingly called "Monkey Berta" in memory of Roberta the Rabbit and all the sweet memories she brought.