Pumpkin Carving

We did some pumpkin carving the other night! The kids had a blast! We went and they all picked out their pumpkins at the store. Then we came home and started digging out the pumpkin guts! This was so funny! Ty and Kailee loved it! Kyler looked inside and said "Gross I am not touching that!"...so I came over to start digging out his "guts"...when he saw my first handful he totally gagged and had to run to the bathroom! :) He didn't throw up and was ok after that...just the initial sight of "guts" was too much for him! Austin didn't gag but he didn't want to touch the "guts" either. {goofy kids...that's the fun part}
The carving began...they had so much fun...there wasn't a whole lot of talking cuz they were all concentrating so hard on carving their pumpkins perfectly! They took this job very seriously! Look how hard Kyler is working...he has that tongue workin'! {reminds me of Adam when he was little....does he still do that I wonder?...I will have to watch him next time I see him!}
The finished pumpkins...they were so proud to pose with their works of art! Tyson made a face on his with tears...but they were tears of joy not sadness...I asked why...he said they were tears of joy because he (the pumpkin) was carved by Ty! Kailee did a bunch of different things on hers...the word"pickles", a face or two and a peace sign. Austin made a dragon/dinosaur thing he created. Kyler did a face with teeth and drew in a forehead. (that would be the black rectangle you see!) Our front porch has never looked better! :)

ugly boots and career day

So Shawn has always bought the ugliest boots for hiking! I know some of you may not think so...some of you may even think these boots are great! BUT...don't be confused they are ugly! Last Thursday night when Shawn was on his way home from work his car started overheating so he had to pull over...and can you believe he just happened to make into the REI parking lot! :) It's crazy how cars break down right in front of your favorite stores!! {the car really was in trouble...and it's fixed now} So to let it cool off and then see if he could get it any further he decided to kill some time in REI. He has needed a new pair of hiking boots for all the field work he does. He found these ugly things and claims that are the best boots! I still think they are ugly and I told him that I am pretty sure he just walks in and asks the workers to show him the ugliest pair they have and he will take those home! He wore them on Friday to the campout he and Austin went to so he could break them in! He clearly does not care at all about any fashion sense when he is camping or out in the field!! {I will say though...these are not the ugliest pair that have ever come through the front door over the years!}
**On Friday Tyson was able to dress up in career clothes! He just got this apron for his birthday and so he decided to wear that and dress up as a chef. He LOVES to bake and cook with me so he decided that this was an acceptable outfit for school "since I really might be a chef if the geologist job doesn't go the way I like it to."

Dating Tips from a Kindergartener!!!

When did this cute little thing start having a girlfriend?...read on!
So...Kyler is a sponge. He soaks up everything from school and everyone around him! He loves to say words he hears and repeat phrases too. Most of the time it's just funny and then a gentle reminder that maybe those aren't the best things to say or repeat! This morning as we were eating breakfast he was reminding me that he didn't want to sit next to this certain boy at lunch because yesterday this boy hurt him. I told him that was fine, just sit next to some of his other friends and I listed off the few boy names I could remember and a few of the girls names I could think of. To which his response was "Hello, I only sit next to boys at lunch!" I said "Oops, sorry I forgot!" He then told me that he only sits next to his "girlfriend" in his class...they are both at table 8 together! I said "Oh, she {we'll keep her anonymous} is your girlsfriend still?" He said, "Yeah, until we break up. We both have a sticker on our color boxes and so that tells people we are boyfriend and girlfriend. When we break up I have to give the sticker back to her then she won't be my girlfriend anymore and I have to find another sticker!"
:) wise words from a 5 year old...huh!!!

Tyson's backwards birthday party

Ty had a backwards birthday party this year to celebrate turning 8! We sent out invites that were written backwards so that you had to read them in the mirror....

We told all the kids to wear there clothes backwards to come for some "crazy, mixed up backwards fun that would leave you smiling...or was it frowning?" All the kids that came loved it and all showed up with shirts on backwards!

We hung balloons from the ceiling and had signs that said "NOSYT YADHTRIB YPPAH". We served cupcakes first, upside down on the plates. We had dinner last {pizza}...
and jumped in the moonwalk most of the time. We played backwards charades where all the kids acted out the thing and one kid guessed! It was alot of fun! We had a great time!!!
Then their take home treat was this...
and it was filled with candy bars and fruit snacks.

I LOVE FREE!!!

Look what I found! FOR FREE!!! I scored! I haven't found a place for them yet so they are just hanging out in my office and entryway so that I can admire them and show them off to any who might drop by! So there is kinda a funny story with how I found them...wanna hear?
I had to come home during church because I realized I had left all my stuff on the desk (had the bag just no stuff...that's what happens when you are a super efficient Primary Secretary who is always on top of updating lists and things {{wink, wink}}...not really) Anyway...I ran home to get my stuff and on the way back to church I drove by a house in our neighborhood and these things were on the sidewalk with a sign that read "FREE, please take both". Well I had to obey the sign...couldn't just take one! (the green table is what caught my eye) So I quickly got the table in my car and then looked at the big star cupboard. {running through my head while looking at it was this...Shawn is going to die, he is going to think I am crazy, where might it look best?, oh I know I can use it for stamp storage, my dad will say "Big surprise you have another something with stars on it", how to I get this in the car by myself and I have to get back to church!} So I took a deep breath and heaved that thing into the back of the 'burb, broke a nail in the process and drove off with a huge smile on my face, breathing heavily the whole way back to church!!
I love free stuff!! :)

Another Happy Birthday

The headstone...they are buried in St. George, Utah.

The actual feet and handprints of Taylor {the hospital did that for us!!}

Shawn's feet and handprints. {amazing how perfect they are!}

Today is the day the day that Taylor Matthew and Shawn Matthew were born and died. We miss them dearly but can feel their presence in our family almost daily! I know it is due in large part to the strong spirits of my kids...that they know and understand that they have 2 sweet brother waiting for us in heaven!! It boggles my mind to think if they had lived they would be 14 yrs old now. Can you see me having identical twin boys that would be that old and having 6 kids? My hair would be much more grey I think!! Anyway...how grateful I am for the blessings of the temple and that our whole family will be together for time and all eternity!! I don't have pictures of them to share on the computer ...{although we do have a beautiful scrapbook of pictures and memories to look at whenever we want} I will share this picture of my goofy kids! I think Taylor and Shawn would be just as silly as they are!! Taylor and Shawn are never far away when I am mixed up with this clan! love you boys....

a late HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY

Some cute pics of Tyson...sorry it's a little late! Can you believe he is 8? I can't...it seems like just yesterday he was born! He has always been such a sweet, mellow, laid back kid! He has THE best sense of humor and such a way with words! I know as he gets older there will not be a lack of girls phoning him and dropping by to see him! He is a charmer! :) Happy Birthday Ty!