WICKED

Oh lovely night! We had so much fun going to Wicked!!!! I have adored this play for a while now.... at least 3 years and when I found out it was coming to Denver, I made it very known that I wanted Shane to take me. He took the hint, good boy that he is, and we got tickets!!!!

We had a wonderful night. We went to dinner at Maggiano's with friends. We were running quite late! Poor Shane was so stressed out that whole time about the time and who can blame him? He was so funny, checking his watch every minute (literally EVERY minute!) I think I would probably have been more concerned as well but I knew I would see the beginning the next night (How selfish is that???). So because we were running late we were running to the theater when Micaela stopped a pedi-cab! "Come on, you guys! Get in!" We took one look at that little cart and the little dude pedaling the cart and almost walked away until the biker to

ld us he could indeed carry all FOUR of us to the theater (Don't worry, we gave him a NICE tip!). As hard as his little legs peddled, and as many times as we thought we were going to capsize that little cart from taking fast corners, it was to no avail. We did not make it in time for the beginning of the show, but we had a good time getting there!

The show was everything I could have wanted it to be. My cheeks hurt from smiling all night long.

Since my mom was in town (also going to Wicked) we had her babysit. Grandma's make the very BEST babysitters!

My little sister was supposed to come with my mom, but she got sick and so I got lucky and went again to Wicked the very next night. We were in the very very back, but i

t was still wonderful. In fact, I think the performance that night was better than Thursday night's performance. The actors just seemed to be way more into it. It was so wonderful to spend a night with my dear dear husband and then a night with my wonderful mother! It was awesome. Thanks Shane and Mom for indulging my obsession with Wicked!

LOVE IT!!!!

So I know this is a tad early, but one of my FAVORITE things about the holidays is Christmas music. Few genres make me more happy than Christmas music! Anyways, I have found a gem. I saw this and knew of some friends who liked the group so I thought I would try it out!

OH MY GOSH!!! It's so beautiful and wonderful!!!!! I can't wait for the season to officially begin so I can feel ok about listening to this cd over and over and over and over and over and over.......... Get it my friends... GET IT!

Halloween Happenings

So, I can't get it in order, but here are some pictures from our Halloween weekend. We had a lot of fun. Lindsay had a party at school that Logan was able to attend. He just loved loved loved being there and Lindsay was so cute with him. She was very very attentive and took good care of him. We were able to go to Brandon's parade a little later in the afternoon and then our ward "Trunk-or-Treat" that night. The next day was Halloween! A lot of sugar in a little amount of time... needless to say the kids have been having a ball and I admit... it hasn't been too hard for me to deal with either ;)

treak or treating, Sophie just got to hang out in the stroller which she was only happy about for about 1/2 hour.

Our Little Witch

Lightening McQueen! As we were trick-or-treating he was "driving" from house to house making the car noises and everything. It was really fun to watch him enjoy his costume so much!

I love Brandon's face in this picture... it just sums up everything!

Brandon was the Avatar for Halloween. This was the first time I attempted to make a costume and it caused me a HUGE amount of aggravation! It did, however, make me want to learn to sew. I had one particularly hard night and was complaining out loud. Brandon was so cute, "Mom, it's o.k. I don't have to be the Avatar, I can just be a baseball player for Halloween... I mean we already have all the stuff anyways." Awwww... cute! It did teach me a lesson though. Next time I'm working on a project for my kids, I will not complain about it while they are around!

Uncle Robert!

We had a fun visit with my brother Robert about a week ago. He was in Loveland with Weber State's football team and so we went and picked him up! It was a fun few hours for us. Brandon graced us with a performance with his recorder he brought home from school that day and we made cupcakes. Logan was HILARIOUS with his! What a fun time!

Gotta love those black sprinkles!

Bathing Beauty!

Bathing Sophie is becoming a challenge and this is why... she can't keep her toes out of her mouth! What a cutie!

Highchair!

We busted out the high chair for Sophie this week! She seems to like it and it's nice to have somewhere to put her while she makes a mess of crackers and I get dinner ready! She's growing up too fast!

My Daughter, The Chef.

Lindsay just loves loves loves to cook, bake, whip, stir, puree, or chop( with a butter-knife of course) anything in the kitchen with me. Most of the time, this little hobby of hers is so fun! Sometimes, as all mothers know, I can do without all the "help". If I am in the kitchen, most likely she is right there with me helping

with whatever job I give her. The older she gets, the more she has gotten to do and the more she loves cooking! One of our favorite things to do together is watch "the cooking channel" as she calls it (The Food Network). Her absolute favorite show is Iron Chef. I have always liked how much she enjoys being in the kitchen, but lately it seems to have reached new heights. Luckily she hasn't ever tried to do anything by herself or without

permission, but she has taken to reading cookbooks! She loves going through Cooks Illustrated or Cook's Country (and who can blame her???)looking at all the pictures, trying to decide what she would like us to try out. This is really fun to watch, but for the past three night these magazines are what she wants for her bedtime books! That seems a little crazy to me! She is supposed to be keeping track of the books she reads everyday for school... what I am supposed to write down? Cooks Country "How to Frost a Cake" (this is the article we read tonight). It's only been 3 nights now, but I think tomorrow I will encourage a little Fancy Nancy.

Sydney!

Logan just LOVES this little girl! He is so funny

because for a long time he wouldn't ever admit to liking anyone else. We'd try to talk him into liking more than just one person "Well, you like.... so and so...." and he'd yell, "No! I love Sydney!" He named his hippopotamus after her and if you ever want to make him the happiest little boy ever just tell him "Sydney's coming over." When she does comes over.... LOOK OUT!! You can hear the screaming and excitement no matter where you are in the house. It is so cute and so fun! He has loved her for the past year or so and still thinks the world of her! And who can blame him? She is pretty dang adorable!

Brandon

Many of you know the struggle that Brandon has had in school which began in Kindergarten. In Kindergarten he struggled with his teacher. As a consequence of this Brandon just HATED school!!! He got in trouble almost everyday at school and then again at home. When I volunteered once and saw it was his teacher who didn't understand Brandon, didn't trust Brandon and blamed him for things he didn't mean to do, he quit getting in trouble at home. This helped a little bit, but he still really didn't like going to school. The next year started and 1st grade was good behavior-wise. His teacher was AWESOME!! She totally loved Brandon and didn't let his energy bother her. She was able to help him like school and feel good about being there, but he was still behind in reading. We practiced and practiced and practiced and he improved slowly and steadily but never "caught up". 2nd grade wasn't horrible, but he did get in trouble a lot for his behavior. I would hear parents freak out about how their kid got a warning or their first infraction and think to myself, "Oh please! I would be grateful if my son got his first infraction in March!" (He probably had at least 7-8 by then. On the bright side he always always told us when it happened). In addition he was still behind in his reading. I have always loved my Brandon and always thought he was one of the most awesome kids ever. I knew he was smart and that he was a good boy, but for some reason struggled in school. I tried to stay positive, but every Parent Teacher Conference was more discouraging than encouraging. Well Wednesday I had Parent Teacher Conference and needless to say I was pretty nervous! When I got there, the first thing his teacher told me was, "I just love Brandon." His teachers all have said this (excepting his Kindergarten one... I'm telling you they really didn't get along) so I wasn't getting my hopes up. Then she told me how Brandon is such a hard worker giving 110% to everything he does. She told me that he has such a positive and excited attitude about school which she loves! She said that if she ever needs something done quickly, correctly, and efficiently she knows she can ask Brandon. When she told me Brandon was doing really well in all subjects and was right on grade level for reading..... I got a little choked up. I was so embarrassed, but honestly I couldn't have been prouder than I was at that moment! I told her it had been a long journey with him and I was so glad that he seems to have turned a corner. It was the best Parent Teacher Conference ever!!!! It just goes to show.... don't give up. Even if it takes forever consistency will eventually pay off!

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Last night Brandon was saying good-bye to his friends. They were on their bikes and he was running along side them. He said he was looking down at his feet and "they were a blur I was going so fast!" Unfortunately while admiring how fast he was he didn't see the big ole' garbage can in front of him and ran right into it! That explains the eyeshadow. :)

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These are some drawings Brandon did in art. He said he watched a video that taught him how to draw these cartoon characters. He drew these when he got home. Pretty good, huh?

Hinges

Today in class the teacher commented on how wiggly everyone was. Lindsay raised her hand and said, "I know a song to get the wiggles out." The teacher asked Lindsay to come up and show the class her song so she did. She told everyone they needed to stand up and get room to move around which they all did. When everyone was ready, this is the song she tried to teach her class.......

I can't believe she was so brave and did this!!! She did tell me later that "my tummy felt a little nervous when I was up in front of my class" I told her I didn't blame her one bit!!! She's such a funny girl!

6 months

I am completely shocked that Sophie is already 6 months! She is growing up so fast it's almost sad! She can sit up pretty much all by herself, we just need to pad the area around her because she still falls every so often. Her brothers are the very best at making her laugh and getting her to laugh is getting easier, although she still can be very stingy with talking and laughing. She loves her baths, and loves to watch herself in the mirror while I comb her hair. Sophie sucks in her index finger and middle finger. She loves rattles and keys and her doll. We just love her to pieces!

Cousins!

Over Labor Day weekend we got to go to Utah and meet a new cousin! Graham was born the end of July and it was so fun getting to finally meet him in person! We had a wonderful weekend! Family dinners, football parties, baptisms, blessings, and family pictures! Can't beat that! :)

This is my favorite picture from the whole weekend! I don't know why I like it so much, but I LOVE IT!!! Sophie, Steph, Zach and Graham

Sophie and Graham meeting for the first time

Our kids finally have a cousin on the Shelton side! Aren't they SO CUTE?!?!?

Graham is already shocked at how over dramatic girls can get... even at 5 months.

The Shelton girls

Sitting?!?!

Over Labor Day Sophie started sitting! She is still pretty wobbly, but is getting pretty good at it! Which, as you can tell from the picture, she is just thrilled about!

Curly Sue!

We wanted to capture a bit of Sophie's curly hair before it goes away. It's already starting to straighten.... so sad. Lindsay's hair did the same thing.

Funny!

The kids are cleaning their rooms right now. They are pretty bad as it's been about 2 weeks since I've had them do it. Brandon came down the stairs and I asked him if he was done. He said, " Well, I was just wondering if it's ok if I just make a walkway?" I laughed. "No, it's not ok" He thought for a minute, "What if it's a really big walkway?" What a hilarious kid!!!! Being a mom cracks me up sometimes!

TWINNERS!

Many of you know that I think Sophie and my mom look very much alike. Some of you might have even witnessed this likeness, but I wanted to post a few pictures to prove to all how RIGHT I am about these two!

at the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple open house.

my mom was a super good sport about this... hopefully she'll be an even better sport about my posting it! Love you mom!

Challenge!

Look at this face! It's just adorable right? Logan can be the most tender-hearted, sweet little boy. Since school has started however, he has become quite a challenge. Yesterday, for example, he had 5 major melt-downs before 2 o'clock. He throws at least 1 huge temper tantrum every day. The first happened when we are on our way to pick up Lindsay from school. He wanted to ride his bike, but sure enough he started crying almost as soon as we left. Even though I left a half hour early we were going to be late because he was going too slow. And he was going too slow because he was stopping every 3 feet to cry and scream and howl into the sky at the top of his lungs. One of the times he stopped was right in the middle of a really busy street. He wouldn't come and I tried everything! Finally I had to pick him up, but he held on to his bike with his legs. It was a nightmare! There were about 6 cars and who knows what the people inside them were thinking. I just don't know what to do. I thought I needed to spend some time one on one with him and that would help. It does a little but he still cries about EVERYTHING!!! I am just really hoping this stage leaves sooner than later!

CA-UTE!

Sophie @ 4 1/2 months

This baby is cute! Even when she is being a pain in the rear end... she is CUTE!

She's been sleeping through the night really well until about a week ago so we tried giving her cereal to see if that helped (it has). Here are pictures of her very first time taking it.

She did really well. We were expecting her to spit it all over, and she did, but it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. I love doing all these firsts with babies. It's fun to watch them grow!

8/19/09

Brandon's first day of 3rd (eek!!!!) grad and Lindsay's first day of kindergarten (double eek!!!) went without a hitch! They were both very excited. We met their teachers the night before and had back to school night Wednesday and I am really thrilled about their teachers this year. I think Lindsay's is going to be perfect for her and same with Brandon's. It's been nice getting back into a schedule although I already miss having them home ( and under my control) all the time!

Riding to school is something Lindsay has been looking forward to since we started last year with Brandon.

This is actually Lindsay's second day.

1st day in class! She is one excited Kindergartner! I didn't think she was going let me walk her in!!! She was just ready to go. I had to call her back to me and she told me she was going to go by herself. I told her, "Oh no you're not! It's my right as your mother to walk you to class on your first day!" Thank goodness she let me!

Cool Dude! He was super excited about getting a back pack that slung over his shoulder.

2nd day of school.