On the hunt...

So, my wee ones are really into Harry Potter right now. Well, except Kel, she hates it, a little too scary for her, but the other ones can't get enough. We just finished listening to the fourth on cd. Aaron and I had a long (like weeks) discussion on if we should let them watch the fourth movie. It seems a lot scarier than the first three. Finally we decided that they could watch the fourth movie, but then we would be done with the books and movies until they were a bit older and we would continue on. In celebration of our family movie night I was so excited to make the kids a special treat. I found what was claimed to be a fabulous recipe for butter beer and so I whipped some up. It looked sooooooo good! I love rootbeer floats, so I thought this would be comparible, uh, no. Well, take a look.....

Seriously, doesn't this look nummy!?!

Big baby!

I think she's trying not to barf. Thanks for holding it in dear!

I think she'd love it if she tried it....not!

So Kel didn't even taste it. She sniffed, yelled "Yuck" and stuck out her tongue! Way to try new things, baby girl!

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, so now I am on a mission. I have, yes, have to find a good recipe. Maybe there isn't one, maybe butter beer is just plain gross, but who knows. I'm gonna keep looking! Never say die, that's my motto! Well, at least not until the butter beer kills you. I am proud to report that there are no future wino's  in my family. Aaron said it was the rum extract that gave it the awful taste that we all hated.
If you're reading this and have a tasty recipe, please let me know, it would save me a lot of time! And no, contrary to Louie's popular belief, I did NOT read the recipe wrong! Louie did give it a champion try, she tried it again in the morning, thinking it might be better....then she ran to the sink and spit it out, yep, still crap!

Miss Evie

I know my brother-in-law and his wife didn't plan their special day around us, but they have great timing! We were heading home from southern Utah on Sunday and that was the day that baby Evie was getting blessed in Salt Lake, so sweet, we got to go! The kids weren't too happy about traveling in their Sunday clothes, but they would do anything to see Evie, so we didn't get too many complaints! We feel blessed to have been included in this sweet babies blessing day. She is a great baby, and put up really well with all the people and pictures. But seriously, who could resist taking this little ones picture. Her Mommy made, yes, you read that correctly, made her dress and a ruffle diaper cover (can't remember the correct terminology) for her! Whit says she can't sew, but I would hire her! The kids loved holding and kissing Evie. They all are totally in love with her. I came down with a cold, so no cuddling with her for me, so I was disappointed, but I'll get her next time! She can't hide from me forever! Love you baby Ev!

Yeah, she loves me, or she could just be a happy kid, but let's go with the "she loves me" theory!

A pretty dress for a pretty girl!

Crazy Cousins!

Random

Just some random picks of Kel being chased by Lanny and then Kessie. She was in heaven! Love her laugh and smile, I could sit and watch her having fun all day long and never feel like I wasted a minute!

Technology Down!

So I missed Halloween, I missed writing that my two older girls both had birthdays, and Kessie had a horse themed birthday party. And well, all of November...apparently, that just didn't happen at all, but I have a good excuse. My computer crapped out (yes Mom, I said crap) and then my phone...good times, good times! So now I have a new phone and Aaron tweaked my computer, but good news, my old phone is working again, yes, I'm growling. So I thought, since I'm not that late, I'd tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving! We went down to southern Utah to have Thanksgiving with my sis and her family. It was sooo fun! My nephew loves me (maybe he loves Lanny more, but let's just not think about that)! I love just hanging out with my sister and for my Mom's information, Ronan and I hung out in our pajama's together all day long! (Ronan actually was dressed but had an accident and therefore got to put back on his pj's. No accident for me, I intentionally stayed in my pj's!). We went swimming a couple times, and of course shopping. Aaron actually spent about three days at Walmart, trying to get my phone. Success, he got it, but it took a bit of effort! I think we might make it a tradition to spend Thanksgiving down there...Surprise, Heather, aren't you excited!?!

I was taking pics of the boys and Kel had to climb up and be included. Kel and Ronan had a love/hate relationship. They totally adore each other, but not at the same time, and they always want to be in the same place as the other one, but they don't want to share anything. It got to be quite humorous and loud!

Sorry ladies, this is the boy couch!

Too cute!

Heather has this little cabinet with all her Precious Moments in it. Kel loved it! She would go over and talk to it and kiss the glass. It was the cutest thing!

My skinniest child has to grab the biggest piece of meat. She is such a carnivore!

Thanksgiving dinner, actually lunch, Uncle Murray had to work early. Look close and you'll see my sister and her hubby. It is the only shot I got of them. They're cute, but their son is waaaay cuter...no offense, sis!

Are you noticing a trend...Ronan loves Lanny! He would climb up onto the couch and join Lanny in whatever he was doing! Lanny felt pretty proud.

We're Trying...

to get a family picture. Just one family picture of us all looking at the camera, no one crying, no one punching someone else. Straight ahead, blank expressions would be fine, but we can't even manage that. We asked Grandma Karen to take our family picture last week. These are a few of what we got.

The sun, oh, the pain, don't make me look at it! I love Lanny's face in this one, I think someone was pinching him.

Shin kicking contest anyone? Rules: soft shoes only, no shin guards, just straw taped to your legs....kick away!

Okay, so here's the girls "saucy" pose. Yeah, Kessie hasn't quite mastered it yet! I giggle every time I look at her face!

Kel absolutely would not look at the camera for any reason. We were walking back to the car, obviously, our light was gone, when she turned around and smiled at me. Yeah, it was all worth it for this pic. Love it. Natural and joyful, that's my girl!

As you can see, our Christmas cards will be interesting this year...there's even a couple where it looks like I'm growling. Go me!

Eternity!

So, it's not just official, now it's eternal. My sweet nephew was sealed to my sister and her hubby in September and we were blessed to be able to go. I even got to torture him and "try" to hold him during the sealing. We are sooooo excited to have him in the family! He is a sweetie. Being his Auntie, I have a lot to teach him, like how to eat a cheeseburger followed by a cheesecake. If you notice, he's a bit on the skinny side, but I told his Mommy not to feed him squash anymore, although he loves it, it's cookies and cake from now on! Love you Mr. Ronan!

 

As you can tell, he loves his Auntie...I'm his favorite! Although after the sealing he was a bit wary of me, but we galloped around and I acted like an idiot and pretty soon he realized I wasn't going to be torturing him anymore!



Hands down, my favorite picture of the day. This is just outside the temple after the ceremony. Although he actually didn't make a sound, you can just tell he is thrilled to be with his Mom and Dad forever! "Yipppeeeee! We're a family!"

The little Mr. is so handsome in his sealing suit. He is a bit shy, but always has a sweet soft smile waiting for you.




This is my family. All these great people came to celebrate with Ronan. In all the rest of the pics we smiled like normal people, but I like this one, because it is our true selves.

Here is our family picture from the day! Yeah, this is our life! My blog isn't titled Every Day Chaos for nothing!

Arrows, Arrows Everywhere

Lanny has a thing for archery. This last summer, he tied some floss around a loose tooth, then tied the other end to an arrow and shot the arrow with his bow. His tooth flew out and plink, plink, plinked across the concrete. Yeah, he's nuts. The video is hysterical! Anyways, what I actually wanted to share was that he got his Arrow of Light in scouting. Due to our move in May, neither ward had a place for him in scouting and so he had to finish quite a bit on his own, and he did it. I was really proud of him. So here's a pic of him getting his award! Good job, Buddy!

Here was the highlight of the night. Right after Lanny got his award, as Aaron and I were walking back to sit with the girls, a very cranky Kel decided she didn't want her pants on. So she started pulling them off and then dramatically walked across in front of the audience. I was in hysterics!