Silly Kids

The kids have loved laying on the stairs like this lately. They all yell, "Mom, come see us!" They are so funny!
By the way, this is Morgan's absolute favorite shirt! She would wear it every day if she could, and if I tell her she can't wear it because it's dirty, she asks if I will "hurry" and wash it so she can wear it... nope I'm not that nice. :) The little chick that Hallie is holding is something she and Jackson found in the storage room and decided to fight over it for about an hour. Sadly, I don't know where the chick ended up. :) And of course Jackson is wearing his favorite shirt. He has decided that we can now name the baby Lightning McQueen if we don't choose Spiderman. (We still don't have a name for the baby boy)
Here is Miss Hallie Belle on the stairs... a daily habit of hers. She has started saying "potty" lately so I have her sit on the potty really fast and then put her diaper on. I am not in any hurry to potty train her because I don't want it to reverse once the baby has come. Tonight after we put her in bed she laid by her door and said, "Potty!" Brian went and got her and asked her if she needed to go potty and she said yes. So, he took her to the bathroom, where she calmly sat on the toliet and then I put her back in bed. Brian then told me that he didn't know if she was serious or if it was just an excuse to get out of bed. Well, 2 minutes later, we hear a soft little voice and the bottom of the door saying, "Potty?" Nice try little chick! :)
Cute girls, as you can see Hallie is wearing different clothes in each picture. Like I said, this is a daily routine for her. :)

Caramel Apples

We LOVE caramel apples! Whenever we go to St. George we always stop and get some. This year I thought it would be fun to start a new fall tradition. So, during the Saturday Conference session we dipped our apples in caramel, then chocolate, and then we each had our choice of Oreos, butterfingers, & heath bits. They were sooooo yummy! The kids loved making their own apple and decorating it. Morgan carefully placed each little heath bit on hers, while Jackson just ate them. :)
I love this picture! This is what this picture says to me...
Brian is thinking, "Okay Meliss, I like the activity, especially the chocolate, but do you really want me to smile for a picture, let alone, do you have to take a picture of me?" :)
Jackson is thinking, "Dad, this is so awesome! I totally look up to you & think you're the best dad ever. When I grow up I want to be strong like you!"
and Morgan is just enjoying the moment. :)

The apples were a little messy, but definatly worth it!

Conference Weekend

I loved conference this year. I always look forward to listening to the messages from Pres. Monson and the apostles, but this year I felt as though I had gained something from everyones talk. I loved Elder Bednars talk about our homes, because that was something I had been praying about... What can I do to strengthen my home & my family? I felt that I got many answers there, especially consistency. I feel that this year with the challenges that Brian & I have faced, that we have been humbled, and because we have been humbled, we were ready to hear each of these messages. I feel that in the past I have heard all the messages and thought they were nice, but this year, both Brian and I felt the spirit bearing witness to our hearts that each of these messages was true, and that the Lord was aware of us. I love how the apostles & Prophet can each speak truthfully & open & that they don't beat around the bush, but they tell it how it is. I love that they speak with so much love for the gospel and Jesus Christ. I LOVED Elder Jeffrey R. Hollands talk--- what power and strength. I felt the spirit so strongly as he spoke. I felt as though he was as a powerful lion declaring the truth. What a great & powerful talk! I am so grateful for the oppourtunity to watch conference. It has been such a blessing to me. If you would like to watch it, go here www.lds.org
Morgan was really excited about playing bingo while watching conference. They started playing with M & M's ( a tradition I have had since growing up) and soon Hallie & Jackson lost interest and went to play. I heard them kind of quiet in the computer room and went to check on them. I found Morgan watching conference on the internet with her bingo all set up--- what a sweet picture.
We always bring the t.v. into the kitchen for the Sunday morning session and watch it while we eat a big yummy breakfast. The was the kids before breakfast was ready.
I love this picture, especially how close they're sitting.
Can you tell Hallie is full of it? :)

Morgan's Scrapbook ;)

Last night Morgan found a stack of old parenting magazines & started to look through them and cut things that she liked out of the magazines. I walked into the room and noticed her looking intently at this picture. I asked her what she was doing, and she told me she was cutting out pictures for her scrapbook. I then looked at the picture & started wondering what was going on in her cute little mind. Here is our conversation.

Me: Oh, that's a nice picture (as I'm kind of smiling)
Morgan: Yeah, I cut it out for my scrapbook.
Me: I like that the little girl is hiding under the bed. :)
Morgan: Yeah & the mommy and daddy are going to kiss.
Me: So, why do you think they are going to kiss?
Morgan: Well, I think they just made the bed, and they said, "Good job!" so now they are going to give each other a kiss. But Mom, her dress isn't modest.
Me: No it isn't very modest is it. (Thinking at least she is dressed this modest) :)
So, what are you going to do with all these pictures? (As I notice pictures of Disney World, Winnie the Pooh, Shrek 2, & a ballerina all perfectly cut out)
Morgan: Oh. They're for my scrapbook

Today Morgan plans on taking each of these pictures and gluing them onto paper in her scrapbook. I am so thankful that she can only read small words right now and did not understand what the title or first sentence above this picture meant. ("Tonights the night, Maybe").... I'm sure that would have opened up a whole new subject and discussion instead of just cutting out pictures for her scrapbook. :) I LOVE the innocence of little kids, especially her.

Morgan's Grandparent Day

Yesterday was Morgan's grandparent day at school. They got to choose a Grandma or Grandpa that would come with them for an hour of school. My mom said that we never got to do this when we were growing up because we didn't live close to any grandparents. Morgan got some homework this week to interview grandma & write some things about her. One of the questions asked, "What is your Grandma's job?" Morgan wrote down, "The laundry" I'm not sure where she got this idea, because we have never been to grandma's house when she is doing the laundry. :)
Morgan was so excited to have Grandma come with her. She kept asking me how many more days until Grandma could come to her school. They had been reading a book that week about a girl named Coco and how she wants to go and visit her Grandma, but they keep missing each other. Morgan told me that since she was sitting quietly and folding her arms, that she was chosen to be Coco as they acted it out. I had no idea they were actually performing this little play for the Grandparents until my Mom went and said that Morgan had played the main girl Coco in the little story they did. She even got to say, "I can't wait any longer!" Morgan & Grandma had so much fun at school. I'm grateful that Morgan has all of her grandparents close to her so she can build wonderful relationships and have lasting memories with each of them. Thanks Grandma for coming to Morgan's school!
Morgan loved having a little snack with Grandma. She was so excited that Grandma had brought cherry tomatoes... Morgan's favorite!
Everyday Mrs. Hyer has a question for the kids to answer so she can tell who is absent. The question yesterday was "How old is your grandparent?" Morgan put her paper doll un the 80 yrs old. When Brian came home from work and we told him that Morgan thought Grandma Smith was 80, he asked her how old she thought Grandma Karen was. She replied, after much thought, "90?" Sorry Karen, I don't think the whole "29" thing is going to work anymore. :)
Here is Morgan (Coco) & her Grandma eating apples underneath the tree where they finally met. ;) What would we do without grandparents?

The Raspberry Patch

I haven't really wanted to can any vegetables or fruit this year because of all the work that goes into it, but last night at an Enrichment, after having yummy homemade bread, topped with delicious freezer jam, I decided I could do it! Morgan didn't have school today, so I was trying to think of something fun we could do. My friend last night had told me about a raspberry patch about 5 minutes from our house where they let you pick your own fruit. So, this morning I called my friend Nicole & we were on our way. I told the kids we got to be kind of like Strawberry Shortcake and go and pick berries. They had a blast! Hallie was so funny! She started picking the berries, and they immediatly went to her mouth. We soon worked out a good system. I would pick and hold the berries in my hand, she would then "softly" take them out of my hand to put in the bucket (which she would not let go of) :) The raspberries were starting to slowly grow in our bucket. Morgan & Jackson loved having their own little buckets and filled them up really quick. We all had such a fun time and I decided to make this a yearly tradition. It was fun, a great price, and delicious! Morgan said her favorite part was picking the berries. Hallie's was eating them, and Jackson's favorite part was feeding the reindeer an apple. (yes, actual reindeer... I think ) :) In the picture with the 3 of them, they were too busy watching the deer, and then they noticed the cows so they started saying "MOOOOO." I love that Hallie is laughing while Morgan & Jackson are yelling "MOOOOO." After our berry picking we went to the store to get some ingredients for the freezer jam. Morgan & Jackson were such a big help mixing up the berries. Morgan wanted to keep her bucket of berries and the sweet lady, Joyce, got Morgan her own little container to take home. Morgan immediatly hid them in the back of the fridge so no one (especially me) would eat them. I love fall! I am so excited to start this new tradition. It was a great day in the berry patch and now we have yummy freezer jam & fresh raspberries for raspberry shakes tonight. Mmmmmm. :)

Sisterly Love

I loved having sisters growing up, and even though we didn't always get along, I loved watching movies with them, doing their hair, staying up late talking, & everything else that sisters do. Every girl needs a sister. I love seeing Morgan & Hallie's love for each other & the good sisters that they are. Today my friend dropped Morgan off after school. When I opened the door, Hallie was pleasantly surprised to see Morgan standing there. She ran to her and Morgan scooped her up. Hallie then wrapped her arms around Morgan's neck and laid her head on her shoulder. It was the cutest thing! Sometimes Hallie hates being carried around by Morgan, but Morgan is such a good big sister, and does such a good job at being Hallie's friend & taking care of her. The other day when Morgan came home from school they were both sitting at the little table eating a snack and they had their arms wrapped around each other. Morgan said, "Look Mom, we're friends!" I love my girls so much!
And, she's ready to be put down. :)

This is what happens when you fight a toddler all morning to go down for a nap. In the 2nd picture, Morgan & Jackson had just walked in & this was the sweet face she gave them... "who disturbs my slumber?" :)