All Hallows Eve

As always, the kids were mondo excited to dress up for Halloween. The boys each wanted to be Link (from the Zelda video games), and their Aunt Mel made them hats and tunics -- from scratch, without a pattern. I thought that was pretty amazing. I couldn't sew if my life depended on it!

Bradley gets in a good jab at his brother.

Playing their ocarinas.

Lindsey of course went as Cinderella, her alter ego.

We took them to the church for Trunk-or-Treat, which was great because they were contained in a parking lot and safe. Lindsey was a little scared at first, but she soon got the hang of it and came back with a bag full of candy. All ended up with the yearly sugar rush.

Lindsey's Big Day!!!

What??? My baby is 3 years old already? I honestly can't believe it! Well, either way, it happened. She turned 3 on the 25th of October, and she had a wonderful day!


She began her day with some star treatment -- a luxurious bath followed by a manicure and pedicure (by Aunt Mel).
We decorated the house for a princess party, and Lindsey wore her Cinderella get up.


The presents excited her greatly. She got lots of cool things, more than any 3 year old needs. But she was in hog heaven!

She got a little money, which she thought was way cool.

A cool fairy costume came from Aunt Manda.

Rockin' out to the new Princess CD player from Aunt Aimee.

Dad got her a grocery cart complete with toy food.

She was pretty happy about her Princess cake. Courtesy of Aunt Mel.

No more photos, please.

All in all, a wonderful day for a wonderful daughter. I really enjoyed seeing her so happy, and most of all, reflecting on how much happiness and true joy she has brought into our lives for the last 3 years. Lindsey, you're an amazing blessing, and I love you.

Chuck E Cheese

We broke down and took the kids to Chuck E Cheese the other day -- something we never do. I really hate places like that. All the pandemonium and germs and disturbing animatronic whatever-you-call-them. Blech. But we took them, and I have rarely seen them as excited. (Which is kind of sad in a way.) Anyway, we let them go nuts and ride on and play whatever they wanted, and at the end of the evening they had collected enough tickets to cash in for about 12 cents worth of junk. And they were thrilled.

Nathaniel looked like a natural with this rifle game (grrr.)

(So did Lindsey. Double grrr.)

Park Fun

A few shots of the kids at the park the other day. Nathaniel is quite a monkey!

I can't believe how many shots I had to take to get all 3 of them looking at me, eyes open! How will I ever get a photo of 4 kids?

Anyone know what this was all about?? Interesting.

Random Happenings

If only I kept up with my blog, I wouldn't have to do these sweeping recaps of what's happened lately. But I'm not likely to change soon. Oh well. . .
Here's Nathaniel receiving some future mission training on how to properly iron a pair of (his dad's) pants.

Lindsey in yet another new dress.

Bradley and Nathaniel participated in Chris' EMS class as mock patients. The trainees used them as car crash victims to practice their techniques, and the boys really liked it. Fake blood and everything. . . pretty cool.


Here's a shot of my big boy on his way to pre-school, which he really loves!

New Dresses

Lindsey loves a new dress more than almost anything. She is such a girly-girl that I honestly can't believe she is mine sometimes. We couldn't be more opposite in that area! She was eager to have her picture snapped in these new "big girl" dresses from Aunt Shannon.