Thanksgiving

Not many pictures got taken but mostly because we were having so much fun with Kelli, Dana, Clark, Kristina, Fred, Even, Jillian, and Anderson visiting us.  Too much good food to eat, games to play, legos to build, basketball games to go to, Black Friday shopping to do, pies to bake, fat dogging to do, movies to watch, and cousins to hang out with.

We did visit the lights on Temple Square although it was freezing (always is).

But the visitor center is warm inside and has neat displays of the inside of the temple.

Either totally worn out or can't resist the warm snuggle nap effect of dad.

Reading books with dad.

And finally on their way out of town these guys couldn't resist using our backyard for their Christmas pictures.  Only theirs had snow.

Still the cutest snowman ever.

Family Pics 2015

Ok so the last post was the good individual shots which in truth I probably took 10-15 of each of them but eventually I got a good one (or decent of Isla).  Groups, not so much.  We're talking hundreds so here's a few so you can experience the torture that is: trying to get them all to look at the camera at the same moment, trying to get them all to smile- nicely, trying to keep them standing/sitting straight and posed well, trying not to scream or berate them.

Cheesy Isla

Followed by still cheesy Isla and laughing hysterically boys since I tried to imitate her so she'd change her face.  Fail all 4.

Annoyed cheesy Isla.  Not a single other person looking at the camera.

Try a new pose.  Okay way too GQ + won't sit up straight plus it's getting to late and the sun is going down and you all 4 won't focus!

Ok mom gives up which is good since Esther has shown up (better 3 hours late than never I guess).  Let her try.  Good lighting, cheesy pose.

Good face, bad background.

Good idea but can these 4 even figure out how to lay on the ground without rolling on each other?  Nope!

Alright we give up!  Time to chase mom around and throw leaves at her.  Bring it on!

Good shots Esther!  Mom's finally in a picture and she's got the worst faces ever.

Annual Pictures

So I'm finally wising up and realizing that if I want Christmas card to go out early December (so I can check it off my list) I need to get pictures taken in October so everything can get edited and ordered in time.  Luckily my in-laws put in wooden fences about 10 years ago and they've aged nicely into a distressed background.  

Plus they have lots of these beautiful rocks and fall foliage around the yard.  No need to go anywhere, just in the backyard.

Unfortunately this little one has just "forgotten" how to smile like a normal person and has entered the bad "cheesy" smile phase.  Oh well, maybe we'll finally get a decent group shot in 2 years when you outgrow this.

The Halloween Marathon

Halloween has become a true marathon around here- almost like Christmas with everyone and every organization wanting to throw their own party and parade and event.  But of course it's too much fun to pass up so we do it all, cause we certainly have all the energy we need hyped up on so much sugar.

Thursday:  Here comes Pikachu Isaac at his school parade.

Missed Ethan but here he is the Grim Reaper, minus his hood since it's not allowed at school.

Ethan's class party.

Friday:  First attempt at a family picture.  No one looking.  No one smiling.  Oops that's because you can even see most of their faces and Isla is mad that it's 8am and she's cold in her princess dress.

Very mad.

And here's the next day at Miles' school parade.  Masks allowed this time.

Visit Grandpa Bill.  This is actually the last time we saw him before he passed.  So glad we visited.

And gave hugs.  We'll miss him a lot!

And we also had to visit Grandma and Grandpa-great.

Guess whose seat I stole.

Just as good of a seat.

And just in case we haven't visited enough people yet, off to dad's work for trick or treating and lunch.

Uncle Arty and Stella were the best.

Still not enough visiting?  Off to Miles' and Isla's preschool party and, yep you guessed it, parade!

Ethan and Isaac were happy to pass out treats they'd already collected themselves earlier.  We have too much candy!!!

Saturday:  Do we need one more Saturday activity since it's Halloween day and we've already been to 3 kid's soccer games?  Sure let's throw in a piano recital with everyone in their costume.  Here goes Pikachu Isaac announcing his songs.

And Ethan the Grim Reaper announcing his.  He got quite a few laughs both times he had to announce his songs.  He really can see out fine through the mask but of course we couldn't see him at all.  He really enjoyed this except that it was roasting hot.

One last group shot in front of my amazing neighbor's decorated garage (she was hosting the neighborhood Halloween dinner).

Cutest Rapunzel ever.

Still not shy to show off his moves.

And finally it's time to trick or treat for real with our friends.  First year ever that we all split up- Isla and I with other girls and moms in the neighborhood.  Taylor with Miles and some of his friends and dads.  And Ethan and Isaac with another group of neighbor boys.  We LOVE where we live!

Spoils of the last 3 days.  Finally the marathon is over (too bad mom will donate all this candy in 72 hours and too bad it's Sunday tomorrow morning and mom is in charge of wrangling 60+ primary kids into a primary program rehearsal).