This is Halloween.....

We had such a fun Halloween this year! Taggart was Ben 10, Maddie was a Cheetah, and Parker was a dragon.

Grandpy and Grammy surprised us and hid in our shower and we had to find WALDO? They looked awesome!!

We then went to our ward Trunk or Treat and got loads of candy! I think Taggart went around the parking lot several times!

Parker was very excited about chosing his candy and putting it in his bag. Then he loved lugging it around full of candy!!

After the Trunk or Treat we went to a fun Driveway party and did a little door to door Trick or Treating. It was such a warm beautiful night (for Logan on Halloween), which was really nice to not have to bundle up and wear coats. The kids got a ton of candy which I am sure we will be eating for months!!

Fall Festivities

Fall in one of my most favorite times of the year. It is beatiful in Logan, with all the leaves turning, and the crisp air. We really had a nice, warm fall and took advantage of it by having some fun! We had fun shopping for our pumpkins. Parker especially loved pulling the wagon around.

  

                                  Taggart was so proud of his cool tall pumpkin.

We also love going to America West Heritage Center. The kids had fun jumping into the hay, going through the maze, down the slide, and riding the train.

What a little stud! He is in love with these old boots of Taggart's by the way.

I just love this little guy!!

Parker has become obsessed with the trainer bike that he got for his birthday. The weather has been so nice this fall, so he has gotten a lot of practice. He sure is getting good and fast on this thing!

First Day of School

It was an exciting first day of school at our house.  Taggart started 2nd grade and Maddie started Kindergarten.  Since we switched campuses, I was worried about Taggart finding friends, but he didn't have any problems at all!! He seemed to completely forget about the last two years and just embraced his new school.  His teacher is Mrs. Trina and he seems to love every day!

Maddie started Kindergarten and was so excited to have Mrs. Bosshardt, since she was our old Primary President and Maddie new her well.  I stayed with her for the first day of class, but on the second day, I just dropped her off and she didn't even care!  She has loved every day since and both of the kids have been great at doing their homework each night!  Here's to a great school year this year!!

Parker turns 2!

I can't believe my sweet, little boy is 2 now!!  He really has brought such joy into our house and it makes me very sad that he isn't a baby anymore (although I do still call him my baby!)  We had a big Summer bash, complete with a bounce house and huge waterslide and pool.  We invited friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate Parks' special day.


A few things about Parker at 2:
* He still is in love with his blanket and becoming more obsessed daily.  He calls it his baby, and if it is in sight he wants it!!  If he gets sad or tired he wants it too.  He likes to suck and play with the ears of the animal on it, and it is starting to tear so hopefully it will last him for as long as he loves it!

* He is starting to talk a lot more.  He is becoming quite the mimicker and will copy with me and the kids say.  It is so cute to hear his little voice and watch him learn.

* He is still such a happy, sweet, calm boy! He is becoming a little more independent and has thrown a few tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants though.  I guess it is just the age.

* He loves shoes! He is always trying on everybody else's shoe regardless of where we are!! 

All the kids had such a fun time down this slide! I can't believe my baby is now 2!

Here is Parks saying how old he is.  He says 2, but holds out five fingers! Gotta work on getting just 2 fingers!

We love you Parker!!

Cabin Fourth of July Fun

 

After the fourth of July, we headed up to the cabin in Bear Lake to spend a few days.  We had a ton of fun playing in the sand, boating, riding on the tube, and soaking up the sun! All the kids loved that beach and boat and could have spent all day outside!

 

We had a ton of fun and spent a lot of time out in the sun!

Happy Independence Day!!

4th of July

We had such a fun 4th of July this year! We first started off the day with breakfast with our friends The Smiths. Then we hit the Hyrum parade where the kids got a TON of candy!

We ended the night at the fireworks up at the stadium.

Parker spent most of the fireworks show hidden under his blanket...poor kid! The rest of the kids loved the show!! Happy Independence Day!!

Ayotte Camping Trip

This year we went camping for our Ayotte Family trip.  We sure missed Jason and his family, but had a lot of fun with the rest of the fam.  We stayed up in Coalville at Echo Island Campground.

Sophie and Parks just hanging out while we set up camp.  We really had a pretty cool little set up with a few tents and my parent's trailer.  Check it out!

Auntie Kelle is always good to entertain the little ones.  Ring around the Rosies anyone??

Cooking yummy breakfast! Food always tastes better when you are camping!

Hanging out in the trailer

Playing games

We spent a lot of time swimming at the pool.  Parker is really starting to enjoy the water and he fell in love with this kiddie pool.

Sophie and Maddie playing with play dough

We celebrated my Mom's birthday up there and the kids had fun with the balloons.  My cute little boys!!

All the kids enjoying their balloons and popsicles!

We had a great time!! This was our second camping trip this year and we feel like we are becoming quite the little campers! This time Taggart and Maddie slept in their own little tent next to ours and loved it!  After we get home and get everything clean and the smell of campfire gone, it makes me want to do it again!!

Performance Time

Every year we look forward to Maddie's big Dance Recital.  This year she has really grown to love dancing and was VERY excited about her recital.  After it was all done she said, "Can I do my dance recital again?" So cute!

   

There is a part of the recital where they introduce the dancers and they walk through the curtain and strike a pose.  Maddie struck her pose and then wanted to do the disco dance move.  Here she is doing it at the dress rehearsal, but only did the pose at the actual performance.  I guess she got a little scared!!

I love my little dancer!! She did such a great job of smiling and remembering the dance moves.  Way to go Maddie!!

Taggart also had his perormance for tumbling tigers on the same day.  Here he is with his big ball that his teachers gave him for doing such a great job!! They danced to Grease Lightning and he did awesome! It was pretty funny to watch the little boys, we loved it!

Spring Soccer

This Spring Taggart played soccer with lots of his friends from school.  We were lucky to have pretty decent Spring weather this year and didn't have to sit through any snow storms while we watched him.. Lucky for us!!

He really liked playing goalie especially this year and I don't think he had any goals scored on him!  He scored one goal, had several assists, and really hustled for the most part.
 

Here he is with his good buddy Max.  They had a great time together!!

                                

Maddie's Preschool Graduation

Maddie went to All About Kids again this year and was so excited to GRADUATE!! She is so excited to start Kindergarten in the Fall, but will really miss her friends and Teacher Trina. She did a great job this year and sang all of their songs really well. They recited the book 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear' and at the end they added, "Children, children what do you see?" And then they said, "We see our parents proud of me!" It was So cute and we are, in fact, very proud of Miss Maddie!!