Halloween Prep

Pumpkin painting.

Jared was done painting in a few minutes but....

Nathan could have painted all day long. He used up all the paint on his one pumpkin. That a boy!

FHE game night for carving our bigger pumkin.

That's right get those hands dirty boys.

This was a very fond memory for me as a child, and I have scrapbook pictures from every year showing us carving pumpkins. What fun to pass these traditions on to my children.

Nathan helped carve, but he mainly told me what shape he wanted me to carve out.

Wow...they all look exhausted and not too happy.

Happy Halloween. My fire fighter Nathan and Handy Manny Jared. They loved to trick or treat in our neighborhood. Nathan would take Jared's hand and lead him to the doorbell. Nathan would ring the bell and say trick or treat and thank you. Jared would only say it if prompted. They did great and loved it.

Nathan and Jared outside eating a drumstick together.

Sonogram picture of baby #3, which we think is a girl. What a great profile picture.

Nathan and Jared liked to push each other on their lawn mower. I was a little concerned for their well being as they would fly by, but they were having such a good time.

Nathan making a picture frame and then glueing his colored noodles that we made. What a blast.

Missed this picture of the firetruck from our Nauvoo trip. This was in Liberty. What a good lucking group.

Kansas, Missouri, and Nauvoo Trip October 2012

It seems like it is a tradition in our family to see firetrucks when we are on vacation. We were at liberty jail and saw a fire station within walking distance. The boys were very excited to see them.

Liberty Jail

Papa and Jared at Liberty Jail.

Adam-onhi-amen...Jared thinks it is a ball. Good thing he didn't try and eat it.

Doesn't get prettier than this!!!

I loved this picture of Nathan runny at Adam-ohni-amen. The boys wouldn't not wear jackets the entire trip, and it was quite chilly. Nathan decided that he would wear Grammy's long sleeved shirt.

Going for a walk at Adam-ondi-amen, but Jared being a little hesitant. He sticks to him mama like glue.

I love this picture too.

Cool dude. I almost mistook Jared for Nathan in this picture. They are both getting so big. Probably twice a month, I have strangers ask if Jared and Nathan are twin...they are two years apart.

PJ being his happy, calm, mild self.

Family Center on main street in downtown Nauvoo. The boys also got to make a rope and see how a barrel was made. We also went to the blacksmith, bakery, and many more places where the early saints lived.

Chelsea and PJ  with John, Nathan, and Jared in the background

Nathan's rope that he made.

The window that Joseph Smith fell out of at Carthage Jail where he was shot.

Carthage Jail. All of these places were so neat to see and really strengthened my testimony of Jospeh Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the sacrifice of the early saints.

Nauvoo Temple

My sweet parents.

Dad and I ran a 5K together. I was so grateful to have my dad along. It made it so enjoyable, and it was crazy how much I was able to run with not much training, being pregnant, and not feeling well. Thanks Dad. We jogged the entire first mile after which I had to take a potty break. We jogged/walked the rest of it. It took 42 minutes and 17 seconds. I was happy with how I did.

Matt ran a 1/2 marathon as well as Chelsea's parents. He did great!!

Nathan holding PJ and being as sweet and gentle with him as ever.

Jared saying bye to PJ. PJ looks so big next to Jared.

Nathan saying bye to PJ.

It was such a nice trip, and we appreciate John and Chelsea's hospitality as well as her parents. Everyone spoiled me and I didn't have to cook or help cook a single meal...now that is vacation. I thought that I would gain a lot of weight, but as soon as we got 5 minutes from my house in Dallas, I threw up. It was so nice to see family, and yet so hard to say goodbye.

The boys loved to play in the box that our new washer came in. They loved to pretend to play 3 Little Pigs, and I was the Big Bad Wolf.

Nathan being such a good big brother and taking care of Jared.

I think that Nathan was trying to show Jared how it was sprinkling outside.

Nathan holding Alyssa. Both of the boys loved having Lisa and Alex's family to visit. When they left, Nathan said, "I miss all of my cousins." He loved to hold Alyssa and was so sweet and gentle.

The Gilmore Gang.

Lisa found that Jared had crawled up into the crib with Alyssa. Jared had a special connection with her. It was difficult to get him to sleep at night because if Alyssa was unhappy, he wanted to be near her. He adored her. It was cute until it lasted until 1AM.

I think someone got ahold of the camera. Nice picture Elizabeth.

I was amazed at how well Jessica who is a few months older than Nathan held Alyssa so well.

My little one is screaming so no more captions. We had so much fun with the Gilmore family and glad that they made the trip down.

Go Cart that Daddy, Nathan, and the young men made.

The new addition to the fire man costume is the yard in the back which Nathan calls his oxygen. What a smarty pants, and so creative.

I took the boys to Lowe's one Saturday, and we made firetrucks. They loved it. I was glad to capture this sweet picture on camera because they don't really play much together yet.