Pumpkin Pancakes and OJ

Me and the boys celebrated Halloween by making yummy pumpkin pancakes together to have with our orange juice. Pumpkin pancakes have been a regular item on our breakfast menu these last few weeks. Cole asks for them every day. Yummy, despite the way they look in the picture. And Cole says I should show the pumpkin garland we made to decorate our walls and windows.

Absentee Voting-- Yea!

We finally got our absentee ballots in the mail yesterday and I'm glad for that. We are technically still voters in Enumclaw where we used to live over 3 years ago and we've not ever switched things over. We've gone out there to vote in the past, but I have no desire to do that this year with my kids and all. I'm just happy that I could call my county elections office and have it all sent to me in the mail so I can read through all the candidate and initiative mumbo jumbo and take my dear sweet time about it and not have to leave my house to do it. And this way, Rusty and I can discuss some of the people and issues so that I am clear on them. He listens to talk radio on a daily basis and is more updated on recent national and local campaign happenings, whereas I am not. I'm grateful to be a voter and hope my voice is heard by means of absentee -- I'll-mail-it-when-I'm-good-and-ready Voting.

A Visit with Cousins to the Pumpkin Patch

This last weekend, Rusty's parents took Cole and Mason down to Portland with them a day earlier than we were going (to visit Rusty's sister and family), so we had a night without kids. Rusty had to work late, so we just enjoyed dinner alone, but it was kind of nice to not be interrupted. And though I can't sleep in much even if I try, it was nice to not be rushed to get up b/c of hearing my kids wake up. Rusty and I drove down late Friday night to stay over in Oregon and have all the kids do the pumpkin patch thing together this year. Cole and Mason had a fun time with their 4 girl cousins, and the girls are all great with the boys. They have a lot of fun together. Not sure why I was worried about how my kids would do spending the night away from home (except that they've only done it once before and that didn't work out so well). But obviously it affected me more than them. And now I'm thinking that letting them do the overnight thing once in a while with the grandparents is a pretty appealing idea!

Taking the wheelbarrows on a search for the perfect pumpkin...







And enjoying the firetruck that was on display

Jer, Shannon, and Girls

I just wanted to show my brother and his cute family, since I think their picture is so darn cute. They just had family pictures taken by my friend Kali (check her out at: http://kalileenstra.blogspot.com/). Here is one of their shots:

A Lion and A Frog

Costumes Decided! When we unpacked our Fall Decorations a few weeks ago for Family Night, I was really excited to have costumes for the boys so that I don't have to decide whether to buy/borrow/or just invent from what we have this year. One less thing to do and decide on! Mason is going to wear the lion one that Cole wore a few years ago, and my sister Koriane sent me a few fun costumes a while back for play and the cute froggy one fits Cole this year. Both boys are really excited about them and want to put them on nearly every day. This is a good sign, since past Halloweens have sometimes been a struggle getting the boys to keep them on long enough to make it worth the fight. Hopefully their enthusiasm for their costumes will last through Halloween. Here they are trying them on:

The Harvester, anyone??

On Saturday, I went to an Emergency Preparedness Fair that the Maple Valley Stake hosted for the community. My in-laws were in charge of a booth there and Rusty was hunting that morning, so I took my boys. It was great, since all these emergency topics have been on my mind and in conference and on the news, and everywhere else lately! I made a few 72-hour kits for my family, so I'm now a little more on my way towards not being entirely unprepared for everything! And there were fun things for my boys-- a helicopter that landed that they could tour (of course no camera with me), and other ambulance and police vehicles, etc. to get excited about. One of my personal favorites was the booth about food storage from www.shelfreliance.com For a long time, I have debated about getting one of their can-rotating systems so that I could use what I am storing more effectively. I even almost bought one from a Wal-Mart in Utah a few months ago, and then didn't want to be too impulsive about it and hauling it around on our trip. So anyways, I don't know if any of you need help with food storage or rotating cans or whatever, but their biggest free-standing system was on display there. The lady that I know there had been in touch with someone from shelf-reliance and they'd agreed that they'd give a discount for those bought in connection with this fair. So basically, instead of the $459 price on their web-site (plus tax and delivery, I think), you can buy it for $299 delivered straight to your door (no added charges). I still haven't completely decided on this, since we have no garage and my storage area is limited- I might have to get a smaller unit, but I thought I'd share this in case anyone out there is contemplating a purchase like this. Worth checking out, I think. Just let me know if you are, and I'll tell you how to get it... happy food storage!!

Date Night

So I'm quickly learning that I am not the blogging type. So much time passes between posts and then here I am saying: Yea for date night! Quite the exciting life we lead here, I really must sarcastically say. But going out with my husband is my recent highlight that I'm sharing... Rusty has been working a lot lately (plus it's now hunting season, so that occupies any remaining free time he may have). Adding to that-- the kids and I have been sick all week, so this has made for some super tired parents and very cranky boys. Not so much love at our home this last week, we'll just say that! So come friday, I was thinking date night at home doing nothing would be ideal. Going out sounded too tiring. Gratefully, I have good in-laws who are often overly-eager sitters, and a sweet husband who is always wanting a date. I couldn't refuse. Combine this with a chance for my favorite Japanese steakhouse restaurant, and I guess I couldn't resist. It's good that I didn't b/c I'd forgotten how good it is to just get out and hold hands with my hubby with no little fingers in between, have a yummy meal uninterrupted, and enjoy an adult movie, too. Of course we were sure anxious to pick the boys up from Rusty's parents that night and cuddle them endlessly, but the night without them was heaven. Just to say-- that I suppose I can survive another week now that I'm rejuvenated a bit.

Wedding Photos

Janni added some photos to her facebook account of her wedding, so I thought I'd share a few here as well...

My boys at the temple-- not so cooperative for photos, but still cute

A deep moment together

Umm, cleaning the floor with his tummy??


Caleb and Janni with my cute parents


All my sisters together: Koriane, Kathy, Janni, Alissa, and me

Janni and Caleb's Wedding

August 16th, my baby sister got married-- what a fun day for family and friends. I didn't take many photos though (something to do with corraling 2 kids and helping in the kitchen...), so I will refer you all to my good friend Kali who was their photographer. She did an amazing job, and has some cute ones posted on her blog. I'm planning to get a few copies from her and my other cute sisters who are more camera-savy than myself and then I'll share from this perspective. Until then.... thanks Kali. And Congrats to Janni and Caleb who are down at BYU so she can finish school.
http://kalileenstra.blogspot.com/

G-ma Jan Remembered

Yesterday was my Grandma Jan's b-day. She passed away last December 27th, and she was my best friend. I just wanted to remember her and be grateful for her in my life. One thing she'd always say to me was "wherever you are, be there." How true that is, and how often I needed and still need to remember that! She lived close to me, so I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with her, though not always as much as I wanted because of obligations to my husband, kids, and life. That was hard for me because I wanted to be more to her, and she'd remind me that we all had a time for things in life and that now was my time to be a wife and mother and I had to devote myself and energy to whatever and wherever I was, and not feel guilty wishing for what was not to be at that time. She was optimistic and taught me well to live in the moment and appreciate the sunshine, which she loved so much. I miss her and just wanted to share my love for her influence in my life.

Cole turns 3!

Cole has had a fever the last few days, but was still looking forward to his birthday. Whenever you asked him about it, he would eagerly spout off that his birthday was August 11th and that he would be three, as he tried to only hold up that amount of fingers to illustrate his point. So although he wasn't his complete self, we still followed through on the plans we had to celebrate his 3rd birthday. Rusty took the day off so we could take the boys to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. We did the same thing last year for Cole's 2nd birthday and had such a fun time that we thought we'd repeat it. We met Cole's little buddy Wesley there, with his mom and sister. Cole and Wesley were both born on the same day and have a lot of fun being pals-- at nursery causing trouble together and whenever Sheila and I get them together to play, they have a great time. So we thought we'd invite Wesley to the zoo to celebrate with us. It was commented more than once to us while at the zoo by other visitors that our boys were more entertaining to watch than the animals themselves. I guess I've always known that many days my kids or myself belonged in the zoo. And here was confirmation!! The animals were great, but it was quite the site to see Cole and Wesley jump around together imitating animals and educate each other on what the animals were doing and not doing. And then to watch Mason try to be the third wheel.



Some of our favorite animals to watch were the playful otters, the monkeys, the walruses, and the beluga whale who was sunning herself right next to us.

Mason's Smile is Back...

I'm very blessed to have healthy kids. I've realized that blessing even more so this last week as Mason has been super sick and life has been crazy! It all started last Saturday with a lot of screaming, vomitting, and even a late night trip to the ER. All the Urgent Care places were closed and I was worried about dehydration with all that was coming out and nothing staying in. He was puking so bad on his clothes and stuff that we went thru an infant hospital gown or two at the hospital, and went home late that night with one also. We had a few days of throwing up, and then several more of not eating/hardly drinking, and lots of high fevers and sad days, long nights, and cuddling. Needless to say, he has lost a bunch of weight and still not quite back to his complete old self, but at least the smile has returned. Cole has not gotten sick, although he has conveniently picked up a lot more whining since. Funny how needy he is when he is suddenly not the center of life and attention. Are all kids that way? So patience is indeed a virtue, and one that I am sorely lacking in!
Mason started getting sick in the afternoon, and Rusty is convinced it is because of our ward's service project that morning cleaning the headstones at the local military cemetery. We were there all morning scrubbing the lichen and moss from the graves with bristled brushes and vinegar water. Curious Mason was sometimes spotted with his tongue out licking the tops of the tombs. Yuck, I know, but I didn't really think much of it. He's a tongue kid, and it seemed pretty harmless. I just remember feeling grateful that he wasn't trying to bathe in the water buckets. The trouble started later that afternoon and Rusty's guess is that it came from something nasty off a grave. One doctor visit couldn't pinpoint Mason's ailment-- just that it was some sort of viral infection, which could be just about anything from anywhere. So maybe Rusty's idea is right or maybe he's just looking for a reason why service was a bad idea that morning-- jk. There were a few other kids Mason's age who were doing the same thing, but I haven't asked those parents yet if they've experienced anything similar. I think some nasty stuff has been going around though.

But gratefully, I think we're getting better. Funny how a sick kid can throw everything else off balance-- cancel appointments, no church-- find subs for classes, put life and house-cleaning on hold, don't go to the store (live off your food storage and cold cereal!), lots of sleepless nights, worry, and stress, lots of laundry and wasted, uneaten food from trying to get him to eat and drink-- need I go on?? One bright light was all the cuddling I got to enjoy with my little guy. He's grown up so fast and becoming quite independent, so it's nice to focus on the love. And at least my sanity is starting to return. When getting dressed yesterday, I asked Cole what we should wear and he said Mason wanted to wear his dress (AKA- hospital gown), so he did for a while. At least this time he was smiling in it, so I had to take some pictures!

Birthday suit and a toothy grin!

Mason is quickly becoming my "I don't want to be dressed" kid. He is happy when he's naked or dressed like this, and wearing only a cute, toothly grin.

McChord Air Show

My younger brother, Toby is in the Airforce and stationed at McChord. He's a Load Master for the C-17 planes. They are Cargo planes that often take helicopters and other pallets of things all around the world. The president wants to go to the upcoming Olympics, so they will be transporting SUV's and other items soon. Anyway, there was an air show this last weekend where the public could go and see everything up-close and walk inside the planes, etc. They had a lot of demonstrations and also had the Thunderbirds performing. They are a group of 6 pilots who fly jet planes and do some amazing tricks in the sky-- like flying straight up in the sky, faking an engine fail, and plummeting down, until right before the ground. They also head right for each other and then turn at literally the last second. Crazy stuff. Anyways, we were super excited to see this part of my brother's world, and we had a fabulous time! Cole, Mason, and I went with my parents and my sister, Janni. And then we met there Toby and his wife KyLee and their baby Ryder, and later my older brother Tor and his wife Stacey joined us. Quite the family affair!

When I asked Cole if he wanted to stand up inside a tank and hold onto the gun, he said "yeah, but can I shoot it?". Dang, if he is not his father's son already!
Hmmm, looking for targets?

Northwest Trek

My sister-in-law, Shannon is amazing and kindly invited us to NW Trek last week. We'd never been, but I'd heard less-than-exciting things about the place- just that it involved a lot of walking and not much action. It's an animal park attraction that features "local" animals, so I couldn't see the wow factor in that! We were in for a big surprise and did walk a lot (naps were to come later, thank you), but we had a ton of fun. On a tram ride through the open land, we were very up-close with many animals, including deer, elk, and moose (how Rusty wishes he was there with a shotgun!), goats and rams and bison, and several other animals. Other fun ones were the bears and the racoon. And although racoons are everywhere here in the woods and making nuisances in people's yards, we seldom see them close-up (mostly just as road-kill). So instead of a heap on the side of the road, Cole now has a different idea of what a racoon is really like and it's a favorite of his. Here are some highlights from our day:
Cole and Cousin Jessie looking for wildlife on the tram

And Mason just enjoying the ride!



Mason toddling along behind the group and then mad that he has to join for a photo! Poor guy!


Just in need of one of these.